EP4019438B1 - Méthode et système pour empiler des produits - Google Patents

Méthode et système pour empiler des produits Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4019438B1
EP4019438B1 EP21214992.6A EP21214992A EP4019438B1 EP 4019438 B1 EP4019438 B1 EP 4019438B1 EP 21214992 A EP21214992 A EP 21214992A EP 4019438 B1 EP4019438 B1 EP 4019438B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
packages
seats
seat
equal
compartments
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EP21214992.6A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP4019438A1 (fr
Inventor
Maurizio Ceci
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Tiber Pack SpA
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Tiber Pack SpA
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Publication of EP4019438A1 publication Critical patent/EP4019438A1/fr
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/54—Feeding articles along multiple paths to a single packaging position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/36—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers
    • B65B35/38—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers by suction-operated grippers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/50—Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/16—Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the sector of the packing of packages of articles and, in detail, the sector of packing of units of packages; preferably, through not exclusively, of single-dose packages of comestible articles.
  • the invention relates to a method, a system and a computer program for forming units of packages to be packed, and is especially applicable in the services of boxing machines or packaging machines.
  • the articles are first packaged and then the packages are grouped together, thus forming units i.e. one or more groups of two or more packages arranged in an ordered way, as compact as possible and ready for the successive step of packing.
  • These steps are generally managed at high velocity, i.e. with high frequencies of packages grouped and then packed so as not to impact negatively on upstream processes. In general the frequencies increase in the case of single-dose packages.
  • the grouping of packages must necessarily take account of these eventualities in order to avoid having units, and therefore packs, with a number of packages that is different to the desired number.
  • the rejects and/or malfunctions are generally managed by waiting for the unit to complete or for a sub-multiple of the unit, which when joined with other sub-multiples will form the unit, completes.
  • the same approach can be replicated in a case of a plurality of inlet lines, the packages of which are groupable independently, for example when the packages from every inlet line are loaded onto a relative outlet line.
  • the management of the rejects and/or the malfunctions becomes complicated when two or more lines are inter-related with one another, typically when the packages thereof must be loaded onto a same outlet line.
  • one of the inlet lines can supply a wrong number of packages causing, without corrective actions, a unit, and therefore a package, that is incorrect.
  • one or more packages are lacking.
  • the corrective actions of known type operate according to two opposite approaches.
  • the incomplete groups i.e. a number of packages that is smaller than desired, are rejected or reintegrated, adding a number of packages equal to the missing number from a reintegrating store.
  • Neither solution is without drawbacks: in the first case not all the packages in arrival are packed, while in the second case it is necessary to load the store with packages.
  • US 2015/158611 A1 discloses a method for forming units of packages to be packed, each unit comprising a multiple of a number n of packages, with the packages in arrival from a line.
  • the method comprising steps of providing seats, each for accommodating stacks of packages; providing compartments for receiving packages; forming in succession groups of two or more stacks of packages, each with the packages in arrival from the line; supplying in succession groups of two or more seats, each seat with a stack of packages and the step of transferring the packages from the seats, with a number of packages equal to the number n, to the compartments which are made available in sequence.
  • the compartments are made available on the basis of the seats with a number of packages equal to the number n, so that each compartment receives a unit comprising a multiple of a number n of packages.
  • US 2015/158611 A1 also discloses a system for forming units of packages to be packed, each unit comprising a multiple of a number n of packages.
  • the system comprises seats, each for accommodating a stack of packages; loading means for loading the seats with stacks of packages, configured to supply in succession groups of two or more seats; movement means for moving compartments to receive packages; transfer means for transferring the packages from the seats to the compartments and control and command means for controlling the number of packages in each loaded seat.
  • the movement means are configured to make the compartments available in sequence on the base of the seats with a number of packages equal to the number n, so that each compartment receives a unit comprising a multiple of a number n of packages.
  • a first aim of the present invention is to ensure a correct unit of the packages from two or more lines so as to avoid packs with an erroneous number of packs.
  • a second aim is to guarantee the processing, i.e. the successive packing, of the packages in arrival without rejects i.e. processing all the arriving packages.
  • Another aim is to obviate the issues of the prior art solutions.
  • An aim of some embodiments is not to request or require limited loading operations of the reintegrating store.
  • a further aim of some embodiments is to guarantee the processing operations of the packages without significant differences between the flow in arrival and the flow in outlet, i.e. between the sequence of packages in arrival and the sequence of packages in outlet.
  • a further aim of some embodiments is to provide a system for forming units of packages which is particularly rapid, while guaranteeing a high level of reliability.
  • the method comprises steps of:
  • the compartments are made available on the basis of the seats with a number of packages equal to the number n, i.e. regardless of the seats with a number of packages equal to zero, so that each compartment receives a unit comprising a multiple of a number n of packages.
  • the system comprises:
  • the displacement means are advantageously also configured to displace the packages from the seats to the at least a depot and the control and command means are configured so that the number of packages in each seat is equal to the number n or to zero. Further, the movement means are configured to make the compartments available in sequence on the base of the seats with a number of packages equal to the number n, so that each compartment receives a unit comprising a multiple of a number n of packages.
  • the system can realise the method with the use of a computer program.
  • the teachings of the present invention enable correction of previous errors and/or rejects so as to prevent the formation of units, and therefore of packs, with an incorrect number of packages, i.e. with a number of packages that is different to a predetermined multiple of numbers n of packages, i.e. n packages, 2n packages, 3n packages, etc.
  • reference numeral 100 denotes a system for forming units (B) of packages (A) to be packed, each unit (B) comprising a multiple of a number n of packages (A).
  • the number n represents a plurality of packages, obviously the number n is a natural number greater than 1.
  • An embodiment of the system (100) comprises:
  • the stacks of packages (A) loaded in each seat (1) of a group of two or more seats (1) can have a number of packages (A) different to one another, the control and command means (7) correct the seats (1) which bear a stack of packages (A) with a number of packages (A) that is different to the number n.
  • the store (2) can also receive packages (A), so as to transfer the packages (A) from a seat (1) which has been loaded erroneously, and the system (100) manages the presence of seats (1) without packages (A).
  • the system (100) of the invention thus avoids rejects and reduces or, possibly, eliminates the need to refill the store (2).
  • the compartments (61) can be a part of the system (100), such as for example in the case of the embodiment of figure 1 , considered as in service to a successive boxing machine, or can be packs, for example in the case of packaging machines. Especially in the second case it is possible for a plurality of stacks of packages (A) to be transferred into a compartment (61).
  • the transfer means (5) can transfer packages (A) into each compartment (61) from a plurality of seats (1), so as to form a unit (B) comprising a multiple of a number n of packages (A).
  • the depots (21, 22, 23, 24) are designed to accommodate packages (A) in a stack.
  • the control and command means (7) generally comprise a programmable logic controller (71), shown by way of example in the guise of a cabinet in figures 1 and 4 only, or a computer.
  • the control and command means (7) can receive information before or after the formation of the stacks; the items of information might arrive from the control system of the packaging.
  • the control and command means (7) comprise passage detectors, such as photocells (72), each arranged on a phase belt (91, 92, 93, 94).
  • the control and command means (7) might also comprise other devices such as, for example, photographic cameras or scales.
  • the programmable logic controller (71) also controls and commands the other elements of the system (100).
  • the store (2) preferably comprises a plurality of depots (21, 22, 23, 24) and the displacement means (4) of the packages (A) are configured so as to be able to move packages (A) from each depot of the plurality of depots (21, 22, 23, 24) to each of the seats (1) of each group of two or more seats (1).
  • This characteristic advantageously enables reducing the disparity in the filling of the depots (21, 22, 23, 24) due to the different number of packages (A) loaded in each seat (1), preventing one depot (21, 22, 23, 24) from accumulating many more packages (A) than the others. Further it enables reducing the change of order of the packages (A), between the inlet and outlet of the system (100), thus guaranteeing units (B) as homogeneous as possible. For example, this prevents packages (A) remaining for a long time in the depot (21, 22, 23, 24) from mixing with packages (A) produced long after since the depot (21, 22, 23, 24) exclusively serves a line in which rejects are rare.
  • each seat (1) of a group of two more seats (1) is loaded with a respective stack of packages (A) in arrival from a line of two or more lines (C).
  • the system (100) preferably comprises a transporter (10) that moves the seats (1) from a loading zone (11) of the packages (A) to a transfer zone (12) of the packages (A) according to a movement direction (M).
  • the stepped movement of the transporter (10) facilitates the loading of the seats (1) with stacks of packages (A) and/or the transfer of the packages (A) to the compartments (61): in fact these operations can take place between one step and the next.
  • Reducing the number of pickups at each step advantageously accelerates the movement of the seats (1) towards the transfer zone (12): the transfer means (5) do not have to wait for a plurality of movements of the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) before receiving the successive seat (1).
  • the store (2) must comprise a number of depots (21, 22, 23, 24) which enable the correction of the seats (1), regardless of the number of seats (A) they bear.
  • each seat bears at most a number n of packages (A) and in which each of the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) displaces at most one package (A) at each step of the transporter (10)
  • this condition takes place with a number of depots (21, 22, 23, 24) that is greater than or equal at least to the whole part of half the number n.
  • At least one depot is required in the minimum condition of number n of packages (A), being two which in the case of the number n of packages (A) is three; at least two depots are required if the number n of packages (A) is five, so as to operate in the worst conditions in which the stack of packages (A) has been loaded with two or three packages (A).
  • the store (2) comprises a number of depots (21, 22, 23, 24) equal at least to the number n minus one, i.e. greater than or equal to number n-1.
  • a system (100) as described above is capable of correcting any seat (1) with a number of packages (A) equal to the number n, also in the case where the store (2) is completely unloaded or in any case has a number of packages (A) that is smaller than the difference between the number n and the number of packages (A) in the seat (1).
  • the embodiment of figure 1 comprises a cup rotor, i.e. a conveyor belt (62) which follows a closed pathway and which bears a plurality of cups which have the function of seats (1) for accommodating stacks of packages (A).
  • a cup rotor i.e. a conveyor belt (62) which follows a closed pathway and which bears a plurality of cups which have the function of seats (1) for accommodating stacks of packages (A).
  • the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) are preferably moved in unison; in this way the management thereof is simplified and the production and/or maintenance costs are reduced.
  • a single shaft (46), set in rotation by a driven pulley (47), and appropriate crank mechanisms guarantee the movement of the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) between the depots (21, 22, 23, 24) and the respective seats (1), while the activation of the gripping elements (41, 42, 43, 44) determines the displacement of the package (A).
  • a cogged belt is associated to each of the cranks bearing a pick-up element (41, 42, 43, 44) so as to appropriately orientate the pick-up element by means of the rotation of the shaft (46) which determines the rotation of the cranks.
  • the driven pulley (47) will obviously rotate first in one direction, so as to bring the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) onto the seats (1), and then in the opposite direction, so as to bring the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) onto the depots (21, 22, 23, 24).
  • the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) can comprise a suction cup which is connected via an air conduit (45) to an aspiration system provided with valves.
  • pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44), moving in unison can be easily cadenced with the transporter (10).
  • the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) are moved in unison if the displacement of at least a package (A) is required; this minimises wear on the displacement means (4).
  • the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) move from the depot (21, 22, 23, 24) to the seats (1), and vice versa, at each step of the transporter (10); the number of packages (A) in the seats (1) is thus relevant only for activation thereof.
  • the loading means (3) preferably comprise two or more wings (32, 33, 34, 35), each for supporting packages (A).
  • figure 3 illustrates, for each of the lines (C), a wing that is formed by two parallel tabs which extend from a bracket (31).
  • the two or more wings (32, 33, 34, 35) are arranged in a line along the movement direction (M) so that each is above a respective seat (1) of each group of two or more seats (1) when in the loading zone (11).
  • Each of the two or more wings (32, 33, 34, 35) is movable between a first position in which it supports the packages (A) so as to form a stack of packages (A), and a second position in which it does not support the stack of packages (A) so as to load the respective seat (1) with the stack of packages (A).
  • the bracket (31) is moved to disengage the two or more wings (32, 33, 34, 35) from the drawers (37) in which the packages (A) in arrival from the lines (C) are stacked.
  • the stacks of packages (A) cannot follow the two or more wings (32, 33, 34, 35) due to the presence of abutments (36) and thus fall into the seats (1) arranged below.
  • di figure 1 at the mouth of each crate a photocell counts the packages (A) which transit so as to move the bracket (31) and transmit information to the control and command means (7).
  • the lines (C) in arrival are in general packaging lines of the articles or in any case branches of one or more packaging lines of the articles; for example, it is common to distribute the packages (A) produced on several lines (C) to subject them to checks and, possibly, to rejection.
  • the lines (C) in inlet are synchronous, i.e. they supply packages (A) with the same cadence, except for errors due to checks and/or errors.
  • the phased supply of the packages (A) facilitates the loading of an outlet line from a plurality of inlet lines (C) but is not strictly necessary, as long as the timings or the elements present enable this operation.
  • the system (100) preferably comprises phasing means to phase the packages (A) from two or more lines (C) so that the loading means (3) receive the packages (A) simultaneously from the two or more lines (C).
  • the phasing means comprise phasing means (91, 92, 93, 94) which cause the packages (A) to reach the drawers (37) at the same instant.
  • the simultaneous arrival of the packages (A) does not imply the arrival of a package (A) from each of the two or more lines (C), as a reject or an error may have occurred which did not enable the phase belt (91, 92, 93, 94) to receive a package (A) in a predetermined time interval.
  • the phasing means facilitate the management of the two or more lines (C) as they guarantee the synchronous inlet of the packages (A) into the drawers (37).
  • the loading means (3) no longer work on the basis of the arrival of the single package (A), but in rows, i.e. by successive groups of packages (A) made up of a single package (A) for each of the two or more lines (C), unless in the case of rejects or malfunctions that cause the absence of the package (A) in each of the two or more lines (C) involved.
  • the teachings of the invention enable effective management of empty places in the rows.
  • the system can comprise a presser (8), downstream of the loading means (3), which compacts the packages (A) so as to reduce the risk of errors on the part of the pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44).
  • the transfer means (5) preferably comprise a pusher (51) for pushing the packages (A) of a seat (1) when located in the transfer zone (12).
  • the pusher (51) is movable in a pushing direction (P), transversal to the movement direction (M), between a retracted position and an extracted position. In the movement between the two positions the pusher (51) pushes the packages (A) that might be present in the seat (1) into the compartment (61).
  • the transporter (10) is advantageously configured so as to be stationary when the two or more wings (32, 33, 34, 35) are in the second position and the pusher (51) is configured so as to move towards the extracted position between two steps of the transporter (10). In this way the transporter (10) is stationary when the two or more wings (32, 33, 34, 35) unload the stacks of packages (A) and when the pusher (51) pushes the packages.
  • the transporter (10) performs groups of steps equal to the number of stacks of packages (A) supported by the two or more wings (32, 33, 34, 35) and then pauses to enable the stacks of packages (A) to fall into the seats (1).
  • the pusher (51) can be moved downstream of each step or only when it is adjacent to a seat (1) with packages (A).
  • the movement means (6) preferably comprise a conveyor belt (62) which bears groups of two or more compartments (61) arranged in a line, according to the direction in which they are made available.
  • figure 2 illustrates a group of two or more compartments (61) of a compartmental rotor (60), the latter being partially represented.
  • the system (100) can also be operated to fill a part of the compartments (61) of each group of two or more compartments (61), so as to enable processing of different sizes.
  • the movement means can comprise conveyors or the like for the movement thereof.
  • the movement means (6) are preferably configured to make available one compartment (61) alone, between two seats (1) with a number of packages (A) equal to the number n, so that each group of two or more compartments (61) forms a unit (B) of packages (A) comprising a number of packages (A) equal to the product of number n and of the number of compartments (61) made available.
  • Each unit (B) of packages (A) thus-formed can be translated onto the bundle forming plane and, successively, compacted or taken directly into a boxing machine.
  • the packages (A) might, for example, be sachets which contain tea, coffee, sugar, cocoa or other products, including non-comestibles.
  • the invention also relates to a method for forming units (B) of packages (A) to be packed, each unit (B) comprising a multiple of a number n of packages (A), with the packages (A) in arrival from two or more lines (C) which operate contem poraneously.
  • the step of learning the number of packages (A) can be done in various ways, for example by receiving the datum directly from the lines (C), or making a count on arrival from the lines (C), or after.
  • the count can be done during the passage of the packages (A) in the field of action of the photocells (72) or scales.
  • packages (A) are advantageously moved from the seats (1) to the store (2) and vice versa, so that the number of packages (A) in each seat (1) is equal to the number n or to zero.
  • the compartments (61) are made available on the basis of the seats (1) with a number of packages (A) equal to the number n, i.e. regardless of the seats (1) with a number of packages (A) equal to zero, so that each compartment (61) receives a unit (B) comprising a multiple of a number n of packages (A).
  • the method of the invention enables transfer of the packages (A) without rejects, i.e. it guarantees the processing of all the packages (A) in arrival from the two or more lines (C). Further, with the bi-directional nature of the displacement in the step of correcting the number of packages (A), the demand for supply to the store (2) is reduced or eliminated..
  • the empty seat (1) has no influence on the performance of the machine actuating the method, in the sense that no package is rejected in the ambit of a no product no bag operating logic. In fact, the loss of performance occurs when a number of packages (A) is packed that is smaller than the number supplied.
  • each group is preferably completed when at least a stack of packages (A) comprises a number n of packages (A) equal to the number n.
  • the stacks of packages (A) all tend to have a number n of packages (A) excluding rejects and/or errors.
  • the number of operations required is limited during the step of correcting the number of packages (A) and/or it is not necessary to accumulate packages (A) in the store (2).
  • one compartment (61) alone, between two seats (1) is preferably made available with a number of packages (A) equal to the number n, regardless of the number of seats (1) interposed there-between, with a number of packages (A) equal to zero, so that a sequence of compartments (61) houses a unit (B) of packages (A) comprising a number of packages (A) equal to the product of number n and of the number of compartments (61) made available.
  • the use of the store (2) is advantageously reduced and the tendency is to unload it; some advantages result from this. Firstly, the reaching of the limit of packages (A) that the store (2) can collect is avoided. Secondly, the times that would be required to use up the packages (A) in the store (2) are reduced, when the two or more lines (C) stop operating. Thirdly, the greater the number of packages (A) in the store (2), the greater the variation in the order of the packages (A), between inlet and outlet. For example, the order might be important if there emerges a nonconformity of a part of the packages (A), due to a process upstream.
  • the number of packages (A) collectable from the store (2) depends on many factors; for example, with reference to the embodiment of figure 1 and with pick-up elements (41, 42, 43, 44) that move a single package (A) in phase and are cadenced with the transporter (10), the number of packages (A) housed in the single depot (21, 22, 23, 24) is irrelevant.
  • the step of forming groups of two or more stacks of packages (A) in succession preferably comprises a preliminary step of:
  • the invention also relates to a computer program for forming units (B) of packages (A) to be packed, each unit (B) comprising a multiple of a number n of packages (A), with the packages (A) in arrival from two or more lines (C) which operate contemporaneously.
  • the program comprises instructions for control of the system (100) according to the invention, as described in the foregoing, so as to carry out the method of the invention, as described in the foregoing.
  • figures from 6 to 11 show an operating example of the system (100) which enables application of the method. These figures represent only a part of the system (100) visible in figure 1 .
  • Figure 6 shows a group of four stacks of packages (A) borne by the same number of seats (1) moved by a transporter (10) towards the transfer zone (12) to a compartmental rotor (60).
  • the number n is in fact five and the first and third stack of packages (A) have been loaded with a number n of packages (A); this means that there is no need for them to be corrected.
  • the first stack of packages (A) is the most advanced according to the movement direction (M), i.e. the one on the extreme right in the figure.
  • the second and fourth stack of packages (A) instead have respectively four and three packages (A) and, consequently, must be corrected.
  • the first pick-up element (41) the one visible on the extreme left, which is above a stack of packages (A), does not move any package (A) of the first stack of packages (A).
  • the first pick-up element (41) instead moves a package (A) from the seat (1) to the store (2) as the store is empty and therefore has a number of packages (A) that is lower than the difference between five and four packages (A).
  • the successive pick-up elements (42, 43, 44), as visible in figures from 8 to 10, will collect the other three packages (A).
  • the second stack of packages (A) shows how it is possible to load the store (2) when it is empty, or in any case with an insufficient number of packages (A), and how it is advantageous to have a number of depots (21, 22, 23, 24) equal at least to the number n minus one, i.e. at least four.
  • the third stack of packages (A) crosses the displacement means (4) without being affected by displacements of packages (A).
  • the fourth stack is instead corrected with the packages (A) just moved into the store (2) from the second stack of packages (A); this can be observed especially in figures from 9 to 11.
  • the transporter (10) realises one step at a time and the displacement means (4) realise at most a pick-up for each seat (1) flanked to a depot (21, 22, 23, 24).
  • the bracket (31) can be newly retracted to load another group of stacks of packages (A) from the lines (C).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Un procédé pour former des unités (B) d'emballages (A) à emballer, chaque unité (B) comprenant un multiple d'un nombre n d'emballages (A), les emballages (A) arrivant de deux ou plus lignes (C) qui fonctionnent simultanément, le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    - fournir des sièges (1), chacun pour loger des piles d'emballages (A) ;
    - fournir un magasin (2) pour loger des emballages (A) ;
    - fournir des compartiments (61) pour recevoir des emballages (A) ;
    - former en succession des groupes de deux ou plus piles d'emballages (A), chacune avec les emballages (A) qui arrivent d'une ligne respective de deux ou plus lignes (C) qui fonctionnement simultanément ;
    - alimenter en succession des groupes de deux ou plus sièges (1), chaque siège (1) avec une pile d'emballages (A) ;
    - apprendre le nombre d'emballages (A) alimentés dans chaque siège (1) ;
    - corriger le nombre d'emballages (A) alimentés dans chaque siège (1) qui loge un nombre d'emballages (A) différent du nombre n ;
    - transférer les emballages (A) des sièges (1), avec un nombre d'emballages (A) égal au nombre n, aux compartiments (61) qui sont rendus disponibles en séquence ;
    le procédé étant caractérisé en ce que :
    - au cours de l'étape de correction du nombre d'emballages (A), des emballages (A) sont déplacés des sièges (1) au magasin (2) et inversement, de manière à ce que le nombre d'emballages (A) dans chaque siège (1) soit égal au nombre n ou à zéro ;
    - au cours de l'étape de transfert des emballages (A), les compartiments (61) sont rendus disponibles sur la base des sièges (1) avec un nombre d'emballages (A) égal au nombre n, c'est-à-dire indépendamment des sièges (1) avec un nombre d'emballages (A) égal à zéro, de manière à ce que chaque compartiment (61) reçoive une unité (B) comprenant un multiple d'un nombre n d'emballages (A) .
  2. Le procédé selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel, au cours de l'étape de formation en succession de groupes de deux ou plus piles d'emballages (A), chaque groupe est terminé lorsqu'au moins une pile d'emballages (A) comprend un nombre n d'emballages (A).
  3. Le procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel, au cours de l'étape de transfert des emballages (A), un seul compartiment (61) est rendu disponible entre deux sièges (1) avec un nombre d'emballages (A) égal au nombre n, indépendamment du nombre de sièges (1) interposés entre ceux-ci avec un nombre d'emballages (A) égal à zéro, de manière à ce qu'une séquence de compartiments (61) loge une unité (B) d'emballages (A) comprenant un nombre d'emballages (A) égal au produit du nombre n et du nombre de compartiments (61) rendus disponibles.
  4. Le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 1 à 3, dans lequel, au cours de l'étape de correction du nombre d'emballages (A), si le nombre d'emballages (A) dans le siège (1) est inférieur à n :
    - des emballages (A) sont déplacés du magasin (2) au siège (1) si le nombre d'emballages (A) pouvant être prélevés du magasin (2) est au moins égal à la différence entre le nombre n et le nombre d'emballages (A) dans le siège (1) ;
    - des emballages (A) sont déplacés du siège (1) au magasin (2) si le nombre d'emballages (A) pouvant être prélevés du magasin (2) est inférieur à la différence entre le nombre n et le nombre d'emballages (A) dans le siège (1).
  5. Le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 1 à 4, dans lequel l'étape de formation en succession de groupes de deux ou plus piles d'emballages (A) comprend une étape préliminaire consistant à mettre en phase les emballages (A), qui arrivent d'une ligne respective de deux ou plus lignes (C) qui fonctionnent simultanément, les uns avec les autres.
  6. Un système (100) pour former des unités (B) d'emballages (A) à emballer, chaque unité (B) comprenant un multiple d'un nombre n d'emballages (A), comprenant :
    - des sièges (1), chacun pour loger une pile d'emballages (A) ;
    - un magasin (2) comprenant au moins un dépôt (21, 22, 23, 24) pour loger des emballages (A) ;
    - des moyens de chargement (3) pour charger les sièges (1) avec des piles d'emballages (A), configurés pour alimenter en succession des groupes de deux ou plus sièges (1) ;
    - des moyens de déplacement (4) pour déplacer les emballages (A), configurés pour déplacer les emballages (A) dudit au moins un dépôt (21, 22, 23, 24) aux sièges (1) ;
    - des moyens de mouvement (6) pour mouvoir des compartiments (61) pour recevoir des emballages (A) ;
    - des moyens de transfert (5) pour transférer les emballages (A) des sièges (1) aux compartiments (61) ;
    - des moyens de contrôle et de commande (7) pour contrôler le nombre d'emballages (A) dans chaque siège (1) chargé et pour commander les moyens de déplacement (4) de manière à corriger le nombre d'emballages (A) dans chaque siège (1) chargé avec un nombre d'emballages (A) qui est différent du nombre n ;
    le système (100) étant caractérisé en ce que :
    - les moyens de déplacement (4) sont également configurés pour déplacer les emballages (A) des sièges (1) audit au moins un dépôt (21, 22, 23, 24) ;
    - les moyens de contrôle et de commande (7) sont configurés de manière à ce que le nombre d'emballages (A) dans chaque siège (1) soit égal au nombre n ou à zéro ;
    - les moyens de mouvement (6) sont configurés pour rendre disponibles les compartiments (61) en séquence sur la base des sièges (1) avec un nombre d'emballages (A) égal au nombre n, de manière à ce que chaque compartiment (61) reçoive une unité (B) comprenant un multiple d'un nombre n d'emballages (A) .
  7. Le système (100) selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel le magasin (2) comprend des dépôts (21, 22, 23, 24) et dans lequel les moyens de déplacement (4) des emballages (A) sont configurés de manière à pouvoir déplacer des emballages (A) de chacun des dépôts (21, 22, 23, 24) à chacun des sièges (1) de chaque groupe de deux ou plus sièges (1) et inversement.
  8. Le système (100) selon la revendication 6 ou 7, comprenant un transporteur (10) qui déplace les sièges (1) d'une zone de chargement (11) des emballages (A) à une zone de transfert (12) des emballages (A) selon une direction de mouvement (M), dans lequel :
    - les sièges (1) se succèdent dans la direction de mouvement (M) ;
    - chaque dépôt (21, 22, 23, 24) est disposé entre la zone de chargement (11) et la zone de transfert (12) de manière à ce que, lors du mouvement des sièges (1), un dépôt vienne s'accoler successivement à chacun des sièges (1) ;
    - le transporteur (10) est configuré pour déplacer les sièges (1) pas à pas ;
    - les moyens de déplacement (4) comprennent un élément de prise (41, 42, 43, 44) des emballages (A) pour chaque dépôt (21, 22, 23, 24), l'élément de prise (41, 42, 43, 44) étant mobile entre un dépôt (21, 22, 23, 24) respectif et la position des sièges (1) lorsque ceux-ci sont accolés au même dépôt (21, 22, 23, 24), de manière à pouvoir déplacer les emballages (A) des sièges (1) au dépôt (21, 22, 23, 24) et inversement ;
    - chacun des éléments de prise (41, 42, 43, 44) déplace au maximum un emballage (A) à chaque pas du transporteur (10) ;
    - le magasin (2) comprend un nombre de dépôts (21, 22, 23, 24) égal au moins à la partie entière de la moitié du nombre n.
  9. Le système (100) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le magasin (2) comprend un nombre de dépôts (21, 22, 23, 24) égal au moins au nombre n moins un.
  10. Le système (100) selon la revendication 8 ou 9, dans lequel les éléments de prise (41, 42, 43, 44) se déplacent à l'unisson avec la cadence du transporteur (10).
  11. Le système (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 8 à 10, dans lequel :
    - les moyens de chargement (3) comprennent deux ou plus ailes (32, 33, 34, 35), chacune pour supporter des emballages (A), les deux ou plus ailes (32, 33, 34, 35) étant disposées en file le long de la direction de mouvement (M) de manière à ce que chacune soit au-dessus d'un siège (1) respectif de chaque groupe de deux ou plus sièges (1) dans la zone de chargement (11), chacune des deux ou plus ailes (32, 33, 34, 35) étant mobile entre une première position dans laquelle elle supporte les emballages (A) de manière à former une pile d'emballages (A) et une deuxième position dans laquelle elle ne supporte pas la pile d'emballages (A) de manière à charger le siège (1) respectif avec la pile d'emballages (A) ;
    - les moyens de transfert (5) comprennent un pousseur (51) pour pousser les emballages (A) d'un siège (1) dans la zone de transfert (12), le pousseur (51) étant mobile dans une direction de poussée (P), transversale à la direction de mouvement (M), entre une position rentrée et une position sortie ;
    - le transporteur (10) est configuré de manière à être à l'arrêt lorsque les deux ou plus ailes (32, 33, 34, 35) sont dans la deuxième position ;
    - le pousseur (51) est configuré de manière à se déplacer vers la position sortie entre deux pas du transporteur (10).
  12. Le système (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 8 à 11, dans lequel les moyens de mouvement (6) comprennent une bande transporteuse (62) qui porte des groupes de deux ou plus compartiments (61) disposés en file et dans lequel les moyens de mouvement (6) sont configurés pour rendre disponible un seul compartiment (61), entre deux sièges (1) avec un nombre d'emballages (A) égal au nombre n, de manière à ce que chaque groupe de deux ou plus compartiments (61) forme une unité (B) d'emballages (A) comprenant un nombre d'emballages (A) égal au produit du nombre n et du nombre de compartiments (61) rendus disponibles.
  13. Le système (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 6 à 12, comprenant des moyens de mise en phase pour la mise en phase des emballages (A) provenant de deux ou plus lignes (C) de manière à ce que les moyens de chargement (3) reçoivent les emballages (A) simultanément des deux ou plus lignes (C).
  14. Un programme d'ordinateur pour former des unités (B) d'emballages (A) à emballer, chaque unité (B) comprenant un multiple d'un nombre n d'emballages, avec les emballages (A) qui arrivent de deux ou plus lignes (C) qui fonctionnent simultanément, comprenant des instructions pour le contrôle du système (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 6 à 13 de manière à exécuter le procédé selon l'une des revendications de 1 à 5.
EP21214992.6A 2020-12-22 2021-12-16 Méthode et système pour empiler des produits Active EP4019438B1 (fr)

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IT1103752B (it) * 1978-02-16 1985-10-14 Cir Spa Divisione Sasib Bologn Metodo e dispositivo per la formazione sequenziale di pile numerate di oggetti regolari come pacchetti di sigarette e simili
DE102006049828A1 (de) * 2006-10-23 2008-04-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Gegenständen, insbesondere Blisterstreifen
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