EP4308462A1 - Method for packaging food products and machine implementing the method - Google Patents

Method for packaging food products and machine implementing the method

Info

Publication number
EP4308462A1
EP4308462A1 EP22709823.3A EP22709823A EP4308462A1 EP 4308462 A1 EP4308462 A1 EP 4308462A1 EP 22709823 A EP22709823 A EP 22709823A EP 4308462 A1 EP4308462 A1 EP 4308462A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
release
pick
products
containers
container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22709823.3A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Daniele ANDREOLI
Fabio PASCALI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Original Assignee
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA filed Critical IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Publication of EP4308462A1 publication Critical patent/EP4308462A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/06—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
    • B65B25/068—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products of cheese
    • 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
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/10—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
    • B65B5/105—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by grippers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/14—Adding more than one type of material or article to the same package

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method for packaging food products.
  • the invention also relates to a machine for packaging food products implementing the method.
  • food products means creamy and semi-solid products such as cheeses.
  • the forming plants usually only form one type of food product (that is to say, only one flavour).
  • the final package produced must comprise food products having different flavours inside it (from a minimum of two different portions to at least eight different portions per package, depending on market or production requirements and on the type of final package which may have a polygonal or circular shape).
  • each group of single flavour products is housed in a suitable containment base, which is moved into a storage system configured to receive a series of containment bases, each containing a single flavour of products to be packaged.
  • the containment bases with the group of single-flavour products in the storage system are fed along a feed line and normally with a stepwise movement, according to a predetermined succession: that is to say, each base for containing a flavour alternates with a base for containing another flavour.
  • Each containment base is intercepted, at a point of the feed line, by a first pick-up and release device configured to pick up the group of individual single-flavour products from the containment base and then release the same single-flavour products into an intermediate plate geometrically similar to the containment base positioned on a conveyor belt alongside the feed line.
  • the intermediate plate advancing along a feed direction, intercepts a second pick-up and release device configured to pick up the group of single flavour food products and release them, from above, on a station for separating the groups of single flavour food products and for forming groups of multi-flavour food products.
  • the separating station comprises a pyramid-shaped separating device provided with a plurality of chute channels (along its surfaces) configured to channel corresponding individual single-flavour food products towards a rotating carousel (about a vertical axis) provided with corresponding forming containers (again geometrically similar to the containment base) configured to position the individual food product in a predetermined position inside the container.
  • This operating step of releasing the food products on the pyramid-shaped separator is performed for each group of single-flavour food products provided for the final package until completion of each formation container rotating on the carrousel.
  • Each formation container completed with a group of multi-flavour food products, during its rotation, is intercepted by a third pick-up and release device configured to pick up the group of multi-flavour food products and release it inside one of the containment bases which has been previously emptied and then moved to a filling and closing station.
  • the step of filling the containment base is followed by a step of closing the package with a suitable lid.
  • the step of separating the individual single-flavour products obtained using the pyramid-shaped separating device provided with a plurality of chute channels and the need to release the individual single flavour food product from above may create imperfect positioning of the individual product due to uncontrolled falling in the chute.
  • Each head is configured to pick up from a container the single-flavour products from the first line and then to unload them all together into the multi-flavour package to be formed and feeding along the second line.
  • the aim of this invention is to provide a method for packaging food products which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
  • the aim of the invention is to provide a machine for packaging food products which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
  • a further aim of the invention is to provide a method and a machine for packaging food products which can make the formation of packages of groups of multi-flavour products extremely precise and safe, maintaining an adequate productivity.
  • a further aim of the invention is to provide a method and a machine for packaging food products which are able to manage different combinations for packaging groups of food products in the packages without the need for modifications to the production steps and in the stations of the machine. Said aims are fully achieved by a method and a machine for packaging groups of food products according to the invention as characterised in the appended claims.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a machine for packaging food products implementing the packaging method according to the invention
  • - Figure 2 is a schematic exploded side view of a package for food products obtained with the method and the machine according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of a release container forming part of the machine of Figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a pick-up and release station forming part of the machine of Figure 1 in a configuration for picking up the food products;
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the pick-up and release station of Figure 4 in a configuration for releasing the food products;
  • FIGS. 6a to 6c are schematic top plan views illustrating corresponding series of steps of filling release containers with multi-flavour or mixed packages of products according to the method and the machine according to the invention.
  • the expression “food products” according to the invention means creamy and semi-solid products such as cheeses.
  • the packages are circular in shape and each portion of food product has a triangular cross section, but this does not limit the scope of protection to these embodiments described.
  • the method and the machine may be used for regular and non regular polygonal packages (with a square or triangular shape or with more than one side, such as, for example, octagonal) and with products having a different geometrical shape from the triangular shape.
  • packages of four products will be referred to but the packages of products may be within a minimum of two, increasing without thereby limiting the scope of protection.
  • the method for forming multi-flavour or mixed packages of products, in particular food products comprises a step of preparing, at a pick-up station 1 , a plurality of pick-up containers CA - CD.
  • Each of the pick-up containers CA - CD houses a plurality of products AI-4 - Di-4 which are identical to each other, but different from the products of the other pick-up containers forming part of the plurality of pick-up containers CA - CD.
  • the forming method comprises a step of also preparing, in a release station 2, a plurality of release containers Rn to be filled.
  • the forming method comprises the step of preparing a plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD.
  • Each pick-up and release unit UA - UD is movable between the pick-up station 1 where it picks up the products AI-4 - DI-4 from the pick-up containers CA - CD and the release station 2 where there are the release containers Rn.
  • the pick-up and release unit UA picks up products AI-4 which are identical to each other, but different from the products BI-4, Ci-4 and Di-4, picked up by the other pick-up and release units UB, Uc and UD.
  • the forming method comprises successively the step of moving (preferably simultaneously) the pick-up and release units (UA - UD) towards the release station 2, where the following further steps are performed in succession.
  • each pick-up and release unit UA - UD performs the first and the second release in different release containers of the plurality of release containers Rn so as to fill the release containers Rn with different products AI-4 - DI-4.
  • the first and second release steps are performed one after another without each pick-up and release unit UD performing a further picking up of products Ai-4 - Di-4 (from the pick-up containers).
  • the steps of releasing the pick-up and release units UA - UD are performed by each unit UA - UD at different times and in different containers Rn, respectively.
  • the steps of releasing the pick-up and release units UA - UD are repeated in a number equivalent to the number of products which have been picked up previously in a single step and until the complete release of each food product for each pick-up and release unit UA - UD.
  • each pick-up and release unit picks up all the products present in the corresponding pick-up container and then starts to unload further products in sequence and one single product at a time, and at different times, in different release containers, maintaining the release position until products are finished and without returning to pick up further products from the pick-up containers before having finished all the products picked up.
  • each pick-up and release unit UA - UD remains in the same position when the first and the second release are performed, as well as the subsequent releases until all the products picked up are completely released.
  • step of first releasing and/or second release by each pick-up and release unit UA - UD is performed simultaneously in each corresponding release container R n .
  • the number of products A1-4 - D1-4 released at the first release is identical to the number of products A1-4 - D1-4 released at the second release, and is preferably equal to 1.
  • the step of the relative movement between the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD and the plurality of release containers Rn consists in feeding the plurality of release containers Rn along a feed direction D and with an intermittent movement, whilst the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD remains stationary in the release station 2.
  • the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD picks up the products A1-4 - D1-4 using a suction system 3 (which will be described in more detail below).
  • a suction system 3 which will be described in more detail below.
  • the products A1-4 - D1-4 present in each release container R n are picked up for being housed in a respective package CAD with subsequent coupling with a lid 4.
  • the packages CAD correspond to the pick-up containers CA - CD and are labelled with the same reference.
  • the mixed products present in each of the release containers Rn are picked up and housed in a corresponding package CAD previously emptied during the above-mentioned step of picking up the single-flavour products by the pick-up and release units.
  • each pick-up and release unit UA - UD picks up each plurality of products AI-4 - DI-4 simultaneously from the pick-up containers CA - CD.
  • each pick-up and release unit UA - UD completely picks up each plurality of products AI-4 - DI-4 from the pick-up containers CA - CD (emptying them).
  • all the pick-up containers CA - CD are positioned in the pick-up station 1 in a single row and on a shared surface.
  • Figure 1 shows a machine for forming multi-flavour or mixed packages of products, in particular food products.
  • the machine (denoted in its entirety by the numeral 100) comprises a pick up station 1 comprising a plurality of pick-up containers CA - CD (in this example, circular in shape).
  • Each pick-up container CA - CD houses a plurality of products AI-4 - DI-4 which are identical to each other but different from the products AI-4 - DI-4 of the other containers for picking up the plurality of pick-up containers CA - CD (in this non-limiting example, each container has four single-flavour food products, which are different from the single-flavour food products of the other containers in this combination: CA houses the four products AI-4, CB houses the four products BI-4, Cc houses the four products Ci-4, CD houses the four products DI-4.
  • the pick-up station 1 comprises a conveyor 8 where, through a coordinated movement unit 9, the containers CA - CD are positioned in succession along a row.
  • the conveyor 8 (for example, a endless belt) comprises a plurality of separating elements 9 interposed between each pick-up container CA - CD.
  • the conveyor 8 is moved at a constant spacing, each step corresponding to the feeding of a container such as to move after each step to the position in which prior to the feeding the container preceding it in the feed direction D was in.
  • each step there is a lift unit 10 located below the conveyor 8 and configured to lift and lower vertically the pick-up container CA - CD above when it is stationary.
  • the lift unit 10 is actuated when the pick-up container CA - CD is positioned in the pick-up station to facilitate the picking up of the products from the pick up and release unit UA - UD (see Figure 4 and as described in more detail below).
  • the lift units 10 lift the pick-up containers CA - CD from the conveyor 8 and each pick-up and release unit UA - UD picks up all the products ( Figure 4) from the respective pick-up containers, the lift units 10 subsequently lower the empty pick-up containers CA - CD and return them to the conveyor 8.
  • the conveyor 8 is fed with containers CA - CD of single-flavour products from a suitable storage unit 21 located close to the conveyor 8 upstream of the pick-up station 1 and configured to feed it in phase with the feeding of the conveyor 8.
  • the machine 100 comprises a release station 2 comprising a plurality of release containers R to be filled.
  • the station 2 preferably comprises a conveyor belt 11 (closed in the form of a loop) positioned parallel and alongside the conveyor 8 of the pick-up containers CA - CD.
  • the conveyor belt 11 advances with a constant step movement identical to that of the conveyor 8 and with a movement which alternates with that of the conveyor 8 (intermittent movement).
  • the conveyor belt 1 1 feeds the release containers Rn one step and vice versa, that is to say, when the conveyor 8 of the pick-up containers CA - CD moves forward by one step, the conveyor belt 11 is stationary.
  • release containers Rn which are geometrically similar to the pick-up containers CA - CD and are preferably provided with partition walls 12 for forming the zones for receiving the food products released by the pick-up units ( Figure 3).
  • Figure 3 shows a circular-shaped release container with four walls 12 to form the four housings for the food products.
  • the machine 100 also comprises a plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD, which in the case illustrated are equal to the number of products to be inserted in each release container R n , in our example they are equal to four.
  • Each pick-up and release unit UA - UD is movable between the pick-up station 1 where it picks up the products AI-4 - DI-4 from the pick-up containers CA - CD and the release station 2 where there are the release containers Rn.
  • Each pick-up and release unit UA - UD is configured to pick up from the pick up station 1 a number NA-D of products AI-4 - DI-4 respectively from each pick-up container CA- CD ( Figure 4), in such a way that each pick-up and release unit UA - UD picks up products AI-4 - DI-4 which are identical to each other, but different from the products AI-4 - DI-4 picked up by the other pick up and release units forming part of the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD.
  • the machine 100 also comprises an actuating system 5 for actuating the pick-up and release units UA - UD from and towards the release station 2.
  • the activation system 5 is programmed to perform the following further steps in succession.
  • each pick-up and release unit UA - UD performs the first and the second release at different times and in different release containers Rn so as to fill the release containers Rn with different products AI-4 - DI-4.
  • the first and second release steps are performed in succession without the pick-up and release units UA - UD performing a further picking up of products Ai-4 - Di-4 (from the pick-up containers).
  • the plurality of release containers Rn is configured for feeding linearly along the feed direction D with step-by-step motion in such a way as to always be in a stationary position when they receive the products AI-4 - Di-4 from the pick-up and release units U-UD.
  • the conveyor 11 moves in a stepwise fashion and in phase with the pick-up and release units UA - UD in such a way as to always move a release container R n beneath each of the pick-up and release units UA - UD.
  • each pick-up and release unit UA - UD comprises a pick-up and release head 13 having a plurality of suction elements 14 connected to the above-mentioned suction system 3.
  • the number of suction elements 14 is equal to the number of products AI-4 - Di-4 present in each pick-up container CA - CD and, in this case, there are four.
  • the pick-up and release head 13 is associated with a linear actuator 15, defining the drive system 5 of each pick-up and release unit UA - UD.
  • This linear actuator 15 allows each head 13 to be moved along a horizontal plane above the corresponding pick-up container CA - CD which, thanks to the lift unit 10, is moved towards the head 13 which picks up the products Ai-4 - Di-4 and allows the picking up, using the suction elements 14 (see Figure 4).
  • the linear actuator 15 performs a movement of each pick-up head 13 along a direction transversal to the feed direction D.
  • the linear actuator 15 performs a movement of each pick up head 13 along a direction perpendicular to the feed direction D.
  • the movement system 5 makes the pick-up and release units UA - UD perform movements only on a horizontal plane, that is to say, without other movements in space outside the horizontal plane.
  • This structure of the movement system 5 for the pick-up and release heads 13 causes the products AI-4 - DI-4 to be released by falling from the top towards the release containers Rn (with a reduced release height). After picking up, the actuator 15 carries the head 13 with the products AI-4 - DI-4 picked up in the release station 2 (see Figure 5).
  • the pick-up and release units UA - UD are controlled by a control unit 16 programmed to coordinate the steps of moving, picking up and releasing the units UA - UD.
  • the pick-up and release head 14 is also provided with a movement device 17, about a vertical axis Z of the head 14, for adjusting the reciprocal position of each suction element 14 once the corresponding food product has been picked up.
  • the movement device 17 moves away from each other the products picked up from the pick-up containers CA - CD before releasing them in the release containers Rn. This mutual moving away of the products picked up guarantees, during release, a safer falling, that is to say, without any contact with the product(s) already released.
  • the step of picking up products of the same flavour always occurs in the same pick-up position and with the pick-up and release unit UA - UD, which therefore picks up products of the same flavour for each pick-up cycle, completely emptying the pick-up container.
  • the unit UA always picks up the products AI-4 of the same flavour in the same position, at the end of the picking up the same position will be occupied by a new container CA to make the products of type AI-4 available to the same unit UA and so on for the remaining pick-up and release containers CB-D and the remaining pick-up and release units UB-C.
  • the machine 100 comprises a system 20 (for example of the optical type) for checking the correct presence of the multi-flavour products located downstream of the pick-up and release units relative to the feed direction D and above the conveyor 11 .
  • a system 20 for example of the optical type
  • the machine 100 comprises a further independent pick-up and release unit 6 configured to pick up the products AI-4 - DI-4 present in each release container R n and house them in a respective package CAD.
  • the unit 6 is located downstream of the control system 20 in such a way as to activate only in the presence of a correct filling signal.
  • the independent pick-up and release unit 6 comprises an operating head which is able to simultaneously pick up all the formed multi-flavour products and to position them, in a predetermined order, inside the package CAD which, preferably, is an original pick-up container which, emptied by the pick-up and release units UA - UD, continues its path on the conveyor 8 until reaching a final position for filling multi-flavour food products.
  • the empty container/package CAD is monitored by two control units 18 and 19 configured to detect its correct presence and position and the absence of products inside it.
  • the machine 100 also comprises a closing device 7 designed to then couple a lid 4 to the package CAD filled with the multi-flavour products.
  • the closing device 7 is configured to pick up the lids 4 from a storage unit 22 and to place them above the package CAD.
  • a filling cycle is started (that is to say, starting an empty machine) wherein the four pick-up and release units have already picked up the corresponding products from four pick-up containers in the pick-up zone, while the four empty release containers have arrived in the release station under the respective pick-up and release units.
  • Figure 6a shows the first simultaneous release of the first product of each flavour with Ai, Bi, Ci and Di, respectively in Ri, R2, R3 and R4.
  • each product is in the same angular position as the containers, that is, in 1 Ri, 1 R2, 1 R3 and 1 R4 and such as to define:
  • the release containers R1-4 are advanced by one step along the feed direction D in such a way as to move the container Ri to the most advanced position outside the release station (and therefore rejected since it has a single product) and a new empty container Rs takes the place of the last container R4 in the row of the containers filled with the first product which is advanced by one step (see Figure 6b) together with the remaining release containers.
  • the release containers R2-5 are further advanced by one step along the feed direction D in such a way as to bring the container R2 to the most advanced position outside the operating release zone (and therefore rejected since it has only two products) and a new empty container R6 takes the place of the last container Rs in the row of containers filled with the second product which is advanced by one step (see Figure 6c).
  • a new empty container R6 takes the place of the last container Rs in the row of containers filled with the second product which is advanced by one step (see Figure 6c).
  • a further advancement by a step along the feed direction D moves the container R3 to the most advanced position outside the release operating zone (and therefore rejected since it has only three products) and a new empty container R7 takes the place of the last container R6 in the row of containers filled with the third product which is advanced by one step (see Figure 6d).
  • a new empty container Rs (not illustrated) takes the place of the last container R7 in the row of containers filled with the fourth product which is advanced by one step.
  • the successive filling steps allow a constant and complete filling of the release containers.
  • the four pick-up and release units pick up the products from four pick-up containers in the pick-up zone and restart the release of the first product Ai, Bi, Ci and Di in such a way as to have:

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)

Abstract

Described is a method for forming multi-flavour or mixed packages of food products, comprising the steps of preparing a plurality of pick-up containers (CA - CD), where each container (CA - CD) houses a plurality of products (A1-4 - D1-4) which are identical to each other, but different from the products (A1-4 - D1-4) of the other pick-up containers; preparing a plurality of release containers (RA - RD) to be filled; preparing a plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD), where each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) is configured to perform a step of picking up a number NA-D, with N >=2, of products respectively from each pick-up container (CA - CD,) so that each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) picks up products (A1-4 - D1-4) which are identical to each other, but different from the products (A1-4 - D1-4) picked up by the other pick-up and release units, each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) then performs in succession: a first release of a first number M1A-D (with N > M1 >=1) of products (A1-4 - D1-4), in a single respective release container, followed by a relative movement between the plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD) and the plurality of release containers (RA - RD), to then perform a second release, by means of each unit (UA - UD) for picking up and releasing a second number M2A-D, with N-M1>= M2 >=1, of products, of the N-M1 products remaining from those picked up, in a single respective release container (RA - RD), in such a way that each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) performs the first and the second release in different release containers (RA - RD) so as to fill the release containers (RA - RD) with different products (A1-4 - D1-4) and wherein the first and the second release are performed in succession without the pick-up and release units (UA - UD) carrying out a further pick-up of products (A1-4 - D1-4).

Description

DESCRIPTION
METHOD FOR PACKAGING FOOD PRODUCTS AND MACHINE IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD
Technical field
This invention relates to a method for packaging food products.
The invention also relates to a machine for packaging food products implementing the method.
Background art
The expression “food products” according to this invention means creamy and semi-solid products such as cheeses.
These products are formed and packaged in single portions (in a shape normally, but without limiting the scope of the invention, with a triangular cross-section) by suitable forming machines.
The forming plants usually only form one type of food product (that is to say, only one flavour).
In order to make a package with different products (of different flavours) it is necessary to firstly produce each type (flavour) of product for each production cycle and then mix the products of different types (flavour) to make the desired package.
In practice, the final package produced must comprise food products having different flavours inside it (from a minimum of two different portions to at least eight different portions per package, depending on market or production requirements and on the type of final package which may have a polygonal or circular shape).
After the individual formation of the food products, each group of single flavour products is housed in a suitable containment base, which is moved into a storage system configured to receive a series of containment bases, each containing a single flavour of products to be packaged. In a subsequent step, the containment bases with the group of single-flavour products in the storage system are fed along a feed line and normally with a stepwise movement, according to a predetermined succession: that is to say, each base for containing a flavour alternates with a base for containing another flavour.
Each containment base is intercepted, at a point of the feed line, by a first pick-up and release device configured to pick up the group of individual single-flavour products from the containment base and then release the same single-flavour products into an intermediate plate geometrically similar to the containment base positioned on a conveyor belt alongside the feed line.
The intermediate plate, advancing along a feed direction, intercepts a second pick-up and release device configured to pick up the group of single flavour food products and release them, from above, on a station for separating the groups of single flavour food products and for forming groups of multi-flavour food products.
The separating station comprises a pyramid-shaped separating device provided with a plurality of chute channels (along its surfaces) configured to channel corresponding individual single-flavour food products towards a rotating carousel (about a vertical axis) provided with corresponding forming containers (again geometrically similar to the containment base) configured to position the individual food product in a predetermined position inside the container.
This operating step of releasing the food products on the pyramid-shaped separator is performed for each group of single-flavour food products provided for the final package until completion of each formation container rotating on the carrousel.
Each formation container completed with a group of multi-flavour food products, during its rotation, is intercepted by a third pick-up and release device configured to pick up the group of multi-flavour food products and release it inside one of the containment bases which has been previously emptied and then moved to a filling and closing station.
In effect, after the containment bases are emptied of the group of single flavour food products, they are fed beyond the separating and forming station and carried to the filling and closing station.
The step of filling the containment base is followed by a step of closing the package with a suitable lid.
However, this process for forming the packages, and the relative machine, have several drawbacks.
In particular, the step of separating the individual single-flavour products obtained using the pyramid-shaped separating device provided with a plurality of chute channels and the need to release the individual single flavour food product from above may create imperfect positioning of the individual product due to uncontrolled falling in the chute.
This uncontrolled falling of the individual product, together with the fact that the product has a consistency which is, so to speak, “springy” and therefore deformable, can cause accumulations with consequent blocks in the falling along the chute or its arrival on the formation container in an incorrect position.
These blocks or the incorrect positioning of the products cause frequent machine stoppages, with consequent intervention by an operator and therefore with consequent reductions in productivity of the production line. Other types of formation of packages with mixed products are known, such as, for example, in patent documents DE 20 2005 019 906 U1 (bottle packaging) and DE 20 2011050807 U1 (yogurt packaging).
These documents illustrate plants in which there are two product feed lines, a first line with containers filled with products of the same type (single flavour) and a second line with containers to be formed with products of different types (multi-flavour).
There are robot units between the two lines with pick and place heads. Each head is configured to pick up from a container the single-flavour products from the first line and then to unload them all together into the multi-flavour package to be formed and feeding along the second line.
In short, there are a series of pick-up and release heads (equal in number to the types of single-flavour products present) which, as they move continuously, pick up a certain quantity of single-flavour products from a pick-up zone and release it all into a package to be formed.
In practice, all the products picked up are released together simultaneously.
Aim of the invention
The aim of this invention is to provide a method for packaging food products which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
In particular, the aim of the invention is to provide a machine for packaging food products which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
A further aim of the invention is to provide a method and a machine for packaging food products which can make the formation of packages of groups of multi-flavour products extremely precise and safe, maintaining an adequate productivity.
A further aim of the invention is to provide a method and a machine for packaging food products which are able to manage different combinations for packaging groups of food products in the packages without the need for modifications to the production steps and in the stations of the machine. Said aims are fully achieved by a method and a machine for packaging groups of food products according to the invention as characterised in the appended claims.
Brief description of the drawings
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a machine for packaging food products implementing the packaging method according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic exploded side view of a package for food products obtained with the method and the machine according to the invention;
- Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view of a release container forming part of the machine of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a pick-up and release station forming part of the machine of Figure 1 in a configuration for picking up the food products;
- Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the pick-up and release station of Figure 4 in a configuration for releasing the food products;
- Figures 6a to 6c are schematic top plan views illustrating corresponding series of steps of filling release containers with multi-flavour or mixed packages of products according to the method and the machine according to the invention.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention
With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular Figure 1 and Figures 6a to 6c, the method and the machine according to the invention are intended for packaging multi-flavour or mixed food products.
Preferably, the expression “food products” according to the invention means creamy and semi-solid products such as cheeses.
According to the following description, the packages are circular in shape and each portion of food product has a triangular cross section, but this does not limit the scope of protection to these embodiments described.
In fact, the method and the machine may be used for regular and non regular polygonal packages (with a square or triangular shape or with more than one side, such as, for example, octagonal) and with products having a different geometrical shape from the triangular shape.
Moreover, in order to simplify the description, packages of four products will be referred to but the packages of products may be within a minimum of two, increasing without thereby limiting the scope of protection.
As illustrated (Figure 1 ), the method for forming multi-flavour or mixed packages of products, in particular food products, comprises a step of preparing, at a pick-up station 1 , a plurality of pick-up containers CA - CD. Each of the pick-up containers CA - CD houses a plurality of products AI-4 - Di-4 which are identical to each other, but different from the products of the other pick-up containers forming part of the plurality of pick-up containers CA - CD.
The forming method comprises a step of also preparing, in a release station 2, a plurality of release containers Rn to be filled.
Moreover, the forming method comprises the step of preparing a plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD.
Each pick-up and release unit UA - UD is movable between the pick-up station 1 where it picks up the products AI-4 - DI-4 from the pick-up containers CA - CD and the release station 2 where there are the release containers Rn.
The forming method also comprises the step of picking up in the pick-up station 1 , by means of each pick-up and release unit UA - UD, a number NA-D, (with N >=2) of products respectively from each pick-up container CA - CD. In the example illustrated, all the products (four in total) are picked up from each pick-up container CA - CD.
It should be noted that the pick-up and release unit UA picks up products AI-4 which are identical to each other, but different from the products BI-4, Ci-4 and Di-4, picked up by the other pick-up and release units UB, Uc and UD. The forming method comprises successively the step of moving (preferably simultaneously) the pick-up and release units (UA - UD) towards the release station 2, where the following further steps are performed in succession. Carrying out a first release using each pick-up and release unit UA - UD to release a first number M1 A-D of products AI-4 - DI-4 (with a number N of products greater than M1 which is greater than or equal to 1 ), of the number of products NA-D picked up, in a single respective release container of the plurality of release containers Rn.
Carrying out a relative movement between the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD and the plurality of release containers Rn.
After the above-mentioned relative movement between units and containers, performing a second release, in a time different from the first release, by each pick-up and release unit UA - UD in order to release a second number M2A-D of products (with a number N of products from which the M1 products already released are subtracted and where M1 is greater than or equal to M2 which is in turn greater than or equal to 1 ), of the N-M1 products remaining from those picked up, in a single respective release container of the plurality of release containers Rn.
This operation is achieved in such a way that each pick-up and release unit UA - UD performs the first and the second release in different release containers of the plurality of release containers Rn so as to fill the release containers Rn with different products AI-4 - DI-4.
The first and second release steps are performed one after another without each pick-up and release unit UD performing a further picking up of products Ai-4 - Di-4 (from the pick-up containers).
In light of this, the first and second steps of releasing products occur whilst the release containers Rn remain stationary.
The steps of releasing the pick-up and release units UA - UD are performed by each unit UA - UD at different times and in different containers Rn, respectively.
Moreover, the steps of releasing the pick-up and release units UA - UD are repeated in a number equivalent to the number of products which have been picked up previously in a single step and until the complete release of each food product for each pick-up and release unit UA - UD.
It should be noted, therefore, that each pick-up and release unit picks up all the products present in the corresponding pick-up container and then starts to unload further products in sequence and one single product at a time, and at different times, in different release containers, maintaining the release position until products are finished and without returning to pick up further products from the pick-up containers before having finished all the products picked up.
Therefore, each pick-up and release unit UA - UD remains in the same position when the first and the second release are performed, as well as the subsequent releases until all the products picked up are completely released.
It should be noted that the step of first releasing and/or second release by each pick-up and release unit UA - UD is performed simultaneously in each corresponding release container Rn.
Preferably, the number of products A1-4 - D1-4 released at the first release is identical to the number of products A1-4 - D1-4 released at the second release, and is preferably equal to 1.
It should be noted that the step of the relative movement between the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD and the plurality of release containers Rn consists in feeding the plurality of release containers Rn along a feed direction D and with an intermittent movement, whilst the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD remains stationary in the release station 2.
The plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD picks up the products A1-4 - D1-4 using a suction system 3 (which will be described in more detail below). Preferably, at the end of the filling of the release containers Rn, the products A1-4 - D1-4 present in each release container Rn are picked up for being housed in a respective package CAD with subsequent coupling with a lid 4. In the example illustrated, the packages CAD correspond to the pick-up containers CA - CD and are labelled with the same reference. It should be noted that at the end of the filling of the release containers Rn, the products A1-4 - D1-4 released into each release container Rn are picked up and moved to a respective pick-up container CA - CD after being emptied by the pick-up and release unit UA - UD.
In light of this, therefore, the mixed products present in each of the release containers Rn are picked up and housed in a corresponding package CAD previously emptied during the above-mentioned step of picking up the single-flavour products by the pick-up and release units.
It should be noted that each pick-up and release unit UA - UD picks up each plurality of products AI-4 - DI-4 simultaneously from the pick-up containers CA - CD.
In light of this, each pick-up and release unit UA - UD completely picks up each plurality of products AI-4 - DI-4 from the pick-up containers CA - CD (emptying them).
It should also be noted that all the pick-up containers CA - CD are positioned in the pick-up station 1 in a single row and on a shared surface.
In order to implement the method described above, Figure 1 shows a machine for forming multi-flavour or mixed packages of products, in particular food products.
The machine (denoted in its entirety by the numeral 100) comprises a pick up station 1 comprising a plurality of pick-up containers CA - CD (in this example, circular in shape).
Each pick-up container CA - CD houses a plurality of products AI-4 - DI-4 which are identical to each other but different from the products AI-4 - DI-4 of the other containers for picking up the plurality of pick-up containers CA - CD (in this non-limiting example, each container has four single-flavour food products, which are different from the single-flavour food products of the other containers in this combination: CA houses the four products AI-4, CB houses the four products BI-4, Cc houses the four products Ci-4, CD houses the four products DI-4.
The pick-up station 1 comprises a conveyor 8 where, through a coordinated movement unit 9, the containers CA - CD are positioned in succession along a row.
The conveyor 8 (for example, a endless belt) comprises a plurality of separating elements 9 interposed between each pick-up container CA - CD. The conveyor 8 is moved at a constant spacing, each step corresponding to the feeding of a container such as to move after each step to the position in which prior to the feeding the container preceding it in the feed direction D was in.
At each step there is a lift unit 10 located below the conveyor 8 and configured to lift and lower vertically the pick-up container CA - CD above when it is stationary. The lift unit 10 is actuated when the pick-up container CA - CD is positioned in the pick-up station to facilitate the picking up of the products from the pick up and release unit UA - UD (see Figure 4 and as described in more detail below).
In practice, when the pick-up containers CA - CD arrive at the pick-up station 1 , during a stop, the lift units 10 lift the pick-up containers CA - CD from the conveyor 8 and each pick-up and release unit UA - UD picks up all the products (Figure 4) from the respective pick-up containers, the lift units 10 subsequently lower the empty pick-up containers CA - CD and return them to the conveyor 8. The conveyor 8 is fed with containers CA - CD of single-flavour products from a suitable storage unit 21 located close to the conveyor 8 upstream of the pick-up station 1 and configured to feed it in phase with the feeding of the conveyor 8.
The machine 100 comprises a release station 2 comprising a plurality of release containers R to be filled.
The station 2 preferably comprises a conveyor belt 11 (closed in the form of a loop) positioned parallel and alongside the conveyor 8 of the pick-up containers CA - CD.
In the example illustrated, the conveyor belt 11 advances with a constant step movement identical to that of the conveyor 8 and with a movement which alternates with that of the conveyor 8 (intermittent movement).
In other words, when the conveyor 8 of the pick-up containers CA - CD is stationary, the conveyor belt 1 1 feeds the release containers Rn one step and vice versa, that is to say, when the conveyor 8 of the pick-up containers CA - CD moves forward by one step, the conveyor belt 11 is stationary.
Associated with the conveyor belt 11 there are the release containers Rn which are geometrically similar to the pick-up containers CA - CD and are preferably provided with partition walls 12 for forming the zones for receiving the food products released by the pick-up units (Figure 3).
The number of walls 12 and their arrangement are a function of the number of products and their geometrical shape being processed on the machine. By way of an example, Figure 3 shows a circular-shaped release container with four walls 12 to form the four housings for the food products.
The machine 100 also comprises a plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD, which in the case illustrated are equal to the number of products to be inserted in each release container Rn, in our example they are equal to four. Each pick-up and release unit UA - UD is movable between the pick-up station 1 where it picks up the products AI-4 - DI-4 from the pick-up containers CA - CD and the release station 2 where there are the release containers Rn.
Each pick-up and release unit UA - UD is configured to pick up from the pick up station 1 a number NA-D of products AI-4 - DI-4 respectively from each pick-up container CA- CD (Figure 4), in such a way that each pick-up and release unit UA - UD picks up products AI-4 - DI-4 which are identical to each other, but different from the products AI-4 - DI-4 picked up by the other pick up and release units forming part of the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD.
The machine 100 also comprises an actuating system 5 for actuating the pick-up and release units UA - UD from and towards the release station 2. The activation system 5 is programmed to perform the following further steps in succession.
Carrying out a first release using each pick-up and release unit UA - UD to release a first number M1 A-D of products AI-4 - DI-4 (with a number N of products greater than M1 which is greater than or equal to 1 ), of the number of products NA-D picked up, in a single respective release container of the plurality of release containers Rn.
Carrying out a relative movement between the plurality of pick-up and release units UA - UD and the plurality of release containers Rn, and then performing a second release, in a time different from the first release, by each pick-up and release unit UA - UD in order to release a second number M2A-D of products (with a number N of products from which the M1 products already released are subtracted and where M1 is greater than or equal to M2 which is in turn greater than or equal to 1 ), of the N-M1 products remaining from those picked up, in a single respective release container of the plurality of release containers Rn.
This operation is achieved in such a way that each pick-up and release unit UA - UD performs the first and the second release at different times and in different release containers Rn so as to fill the release containers Rn with different products AI-4 - DI-4.
The first and second release steps are performed in succession without the pick-up and release units UA - UD performing a further picking up of products Ai-4 - Di-4 (from the pick-up containers).
In the case shown in the accompanying drawings, four releases are programmed in sequence of individual products AI-4 - DI-4 inside the release containers Rn without the pick-up and release units UA - UD performing further pick ups.
Preferably, the plurality of release containers Rn is configured for feeding linearly along the feed direction D with step-by-step motion in such a way as to always be in a stationary position when they receive the products AI-4 - Di-4 from the pick-up and release units U-UD.
In other words, the conveyor 11 moves in a stepwise fashion and in phase with the pick-up and release units UA - UD in such a way as to always move a release container Rn beneath each of the pick-up and release units UA - UD.
As illustrated, each pick-up and release unit UA - UD comprises a pick-up and release head 13 having a plurality of suction elements 14 connected to the above-mentioned suction system 3.
The number of suction elements 14 is equal to the number of products AI-4 - Di-4 present in each pick-up container CA - CD and, in this case, there are four.
The pick-up and release head 13 is associated with a linear actuator 15, defining the drive system 5 of each pick-up and release unit UA - UD.
This linear actuator 15 allows each head 13 to be moved along a horizontal plane above the corresponding pick-up container CA - CD which, thanks to the lift unit 10, is moved towards the head 13 which picks up the products Ai-4 - Di-4 and allows the picking up, using the suction elements 14 (see Figure 4).
Preferably, the linear actuator 15 performs a movement of each pick-up head 13 along a direction transversal to the feed direction D.
More preferably, the linear actuator 15 performs a movement of each pick up head 13 along a direction perpendicular to the feed direction D.
It should be noted that the movement system 5 makes the pick-up and release units UA - UD perform movements only on a horizontal plane, that is to say, without other movements in space outside the horizontal plane.
This structure of the movement system 5 for the pick-up and release heads 13 causes the products AI-4 - DI-4 to be released by falling from the top towards the release containers Rn (with a reduced release height). After picking up, the actuator 15 carries the head 13 with the products AI-4 - DI-4 picked up in the release station 2 (see Figure 5).
The pick-up and release units UA - UD are controlled by a control unit 16 programmed to coordinate the steps of moving, picking up and releasing the units UA - UD.
The pick-up and release head 14 is also provided with a movement device 17, about a vertical axis Z of the head 14, for adjusting the reciprocal position of each suction element 14 once the corresponding food product has been picked up.
The movement device 17 moves away from each other the products picked up from the pick-up containers CA - CD before releasing them in the release containers Rn. This mutual moving away of the products picked up guarantees, during release, a safer falling, that is to say, without any contact with the product(s) already released.
It should also be noted that the step of picking up products of the same flavour always occurs in the same pick-up position and with the pick-up and release unit UA - UD, which therefore picks up products of the same flavour for each pick-up cycle, completely emptying the pick-up container. For example, the unit UA always picks up the products AI-4 of the same flavour in the same position, at the end of the picking up the same position will be occupied by a new container CA to make the products of type AI-4 available to the same unit UA and so on for the remaining pick-up and release containers CB-D and the remaining pick-up and release units UB-C.
The machine 100 comprises a system 20 (for example of the optical type) for checking the correct presence of the multi-flavour products located downstream of the pick-up and release units relative to the feed direction D and above the conveyor 11 .
The machine 100 comprises a further independent pick-up and release unit 6 configured to pick up the products AI-4 - DI-4 present in each release container Rn and house them in a respective package CAD.
The unit 6 is located downstream of the control system 20 in such a way as to activate only in the presence of a correct filling signal.
The independent pick-up and release unit 6 comprises an operating head which is able to simultaneously pick up all the formed multi-flavour products and to position them, in a predetermined order, inside the package CAD which, preferably, is an original pick-up container which, emptied by the pick-up and release units UA - UD, continues its path on the conveyor 8 until reaching a final position for filling multi-flavour food products.
As it moves forward, the empty container/package CAD is monitored by two control units 18 and 19 configured to detect its correct presence and position and the absence of products inside it.
The machine 100 also comprises a closing device 7 designed to then couple a lid 4 to the package CAD filled with the multi-flavour products. Preferably, the closing device 7 is configured to pick up the lids 4 from a storage unit 22 and to place them above the package CAD.
In order to illustrate the release logic of the pick-up and release units UA - UD, an example is shown in Figures 6a to 6d.
In the case illustrated, a filling cycle is started (that is to say, starting an empty machine) wherein the four pick-up and release units have already picked up the corresponding products from four pick-up containers in the pick-up zone, while the four empty release containers have arrived in the release station under the respective pick-up and release units.
In this case:
- UA has picked up the products Ai, A2, A3 and A4;
- UB has picked up the products Bi, B2, B3 and B4;
- Uc has picked up the products Ci, C2, C3 and C4;
- UD has picked up the products Di, D2, D3 and D4.
Figure 6a shows the first simultaneous release of the first product of each flavour with Ai, Bi, Ci and Di, respectively in Ri, R2, R3 and R4.
It should be noted that the positioning of each product is in the same angular position as the containers, that is, in 1 Ri, 1 R2, 1 R3 and 1 R4 and such as to define:
- Ri with Di,
- R2 with Ci,
- R3 with Bi,
- R4 with Ai.
At this point, the release containers R1-4 are advanced by one step along the feed direction D in such a way as to move the container Ri to the most advanced position outside the release station (and therefore rejected since it has a single product) and a new empty container Rs takes the place of the last container R4 in the row of the containers filled with the first product which is advanced by one step (see Figure 6b) together with the remaining release containers.
Subsequently, again shown in Figure 6b, there is the second simultaneous release of the second product of each flavour A2, B2, C2 and D2 with release in an angular position, for each release container, different from the previous position, that is to say, in 2R2, 2R3, 2R4 and 2Rs so as to define:
- R2 with C1+D2,
- R3 with B1+C2,
- R4 with A1+B2,
- R5 with A2.
At this point, the release containers R2-5 are further advanced by one step along the feed direction D in such a way as to bring the container R2 to the most advanced position outside the operating release zone (and therefore rejected since it has only two products) and a new empty container R6 takes the place of the last container Rs in the row of containers filled with the second product which is advanced by one step (see Figure 6c). Subsequently, again shown in Figure 6c, there is the third simultaneous release of the third product of each flavour A3, B3, C3 and D3 with release in an angular position, for each container, different from the two previous angular positions, that is to say, in 3R3, 3R4, 3Rs and 3R6 and so as to define:
- R3 with B1+C2+D3,
- R4 with A1+B2+C3,
- Rs with A2+B3,
- R6 with A3.
A further advancement by a step along the feed direction D moves the container R3 to the most advanced position outside the release operating zone (and therefore rejected since it has only three products) and a new empty container R7 takes the place of the last container R6 in the row of containers filled with the third product which is advanced by one step (see Figure 6d).
Subsequently, again shown in Figure 6d, there is the fourth simultaneous release of the fourth product of each flavour A4, B4, C4 and D4 with release in an angular position, for each container, different from the three previous angular positions, that is to say, in 4FU, 4Rs, 4R6 and 4Rz and so as to define:
- R4 with A1+B2+C3+D4,
- R5 with A2+B3+C4, - R6 with A3+B4,
- R7 with A4.
At this point, the release cycle is completed and the complete container R4 may be fed towards the further processing stations.
At this point, a new empty container Rs (not illustrated) takes the place of the last container R7 in the row of containers filled with the fourth product which is advanced by one step.
At this point, the successive filling steps allow a constant and complete filling of the release containers. In effect, the four pick-up and release units pick up the products from four pick-up containers in the pick-up zone and restart the release of the first product Ai, Bi, Ci and Di in such a way as to have:
- Rs with A2+B3+C4+D1,
- R6 with A3+B4+C1,
- R7 with A4+B1.
- Rs with Ai. From the container R4 onwards (following the operations described above), the filling steps allow a complete and constant filling of the release containers which are advanced to the release station 2.

Claims

1. A method for forming multi-flavour or mixed packages of products, in particular food products, comprising the steps of:
- preparing, in a pick-up station (1 ) a plurality of pick-up containers (CA - CD), each pick-up container (CA - CD) housing a plurality of products (AI-4 - D1-4) which are identical to each other, but different from the products (A1-4 - D1-4) of the other pick-up containers forming part of the plurality of pick-up containers (CA - CD);
- preparing a plurality of release containers (Rn) to be filled in a release station (2);
- preparing a plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD), each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) being movable between the pick-up station (1) where it picks up the products (A1-4 - D1-4) from the pick-up containers (CA - CD) and the release station (2) where there are the release containers (Rn);
- picking up in said pick-up station (1), using each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD), a number (NA-D), with N >=2, of products from each pick-up container (CA- CD) respectively, in such a way that each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) picks up the products (A1-4 - D1-4) which are identical to each other, but different from the products (A1-4 - D1-4) picked up by the other pick up and release units of said plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD), then
- moving the pick-up and release units (UA - UD) towards the release station (2), where the following further steps are performed in succession: i) carrying out a first release of products using each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) in order to release a first number M1A-D (with N > M1 >=1) of products (A1-4 - D1-4), of the NA-D products picked up in the pick-up station (1), in a single respective release container (Rn) for releasing said plurality of release containers (Rn), ii) carrying out a relative movement between the plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD) and the plurality of release containers (Rn), and then iii) performing a second release of products, in a time different from the first release, by means of each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) in order to release a second number M2A-D, with N-M1 >=M2 >=1 products, of the N- M1 products already picked up, in a respective release container of said plurality of release containers (Rn), in such a way that each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) performs the first and the second release of products in various release containers of said plurality of release containers (Rn) so as to fill the release containers (Rn) with products (A1-4 - D1-4) picked up from different pick-up containers (CA - CD) and wherein the pick-up and release units (UA - UD) do not perform any pick-up step between the first and the second release of products.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) remains in the same position when the first and the second release are performed at different times and in different containers, respectively.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first release and/or said second release of products by each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) is performed simultaneously in each corresponding release container
(Rn).
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of products (A1-4 - D1-4) released at the first release of products is identical to the number of products (A1-4 - D1-4) released at the second release of products, and is preferably equal to one.
5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of the relative movement between the plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD) and the plurality of release containers (Rn) consists in feeding the plurality of release containers (Rn) along a feed direction with an intermittent movement, whilst the plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD) remains stationary.
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD) picks up the products (AI-4 - D1-4) using a suction system (3).
7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the end of the filling of the release containers (Rn), the products (A1-4 - Di- 4) released in each release container (Rn) are picked up and moved in a respective package (CAD) with subsequent coupling with a lid (4).
8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the end of the filling of the release containers (Rn), the products (A1-4 - Di- 4) released in each release container (Rn) are picked up and moved to a respective pick-up container (CA - CD) after it has been emptied by the pick up and release unit (UA - UD).
9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) picks up each plurality of products (A1-4 - D1-4) simultaneously from the pick-up containers (CA - CD).
10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) completely picks up each plurality of products (A1-4 - D1-4) from the pick-up containers (CA - CD).
11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second steps of releasing products occur whilst the release containers (Rn) remain stationary.
12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein all the pick-up containers (CA - CD) are positioned in the pick-up station (1) in a single row and on a shared surface.
13. A machine for forming multi-flavour or mixed packages of products, in particular food products, comprising:
- a pick-up station (1) through which a plurality of pick-up containers (CA - CD) transit, each pick-up container (CA - CD) housing a plurality of products (Ai-4 - D1-4) which are identical to each other but different from the products (A1-4 - D1-4) of the other pick-up containers of said plurality of pick-up containers (CA - CD);
- a release station (2) through which a plurality of release containers (R) to be filled transit;
- a plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD), each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) being movable between the pick-up station (1) where it picks up the products (A1-4 - D1-4) from the pick-up containers (CA - CD) and the release station (2) where there are the release containers (Rn), each pick up and release unit (UA - UD) being configured to pick up from the pick-up station (1) a number NA-D, with N >=2, of products (A1-4 - D1-4) respectively from each pick-up container (CA - C), in such a way that each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) picks up products (A1-4 - D1-4) which are identical to each other, but different from the products (A1-4 - D1-4) picked up and released by said plurality pick-up and release units (UA - UD);
- an actuating system (5) for actuating the pick-up and release units (UA - UD) from and towards the release station (2), said actuating system (5) being programmed to perform the following further steps in succession: i) carrying out a first release using each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) in order to release a first number M1 A-D, with N > M1 >=1 , of products (A1-4 - D1-4), of the NA-D products picked up, in a single respective container for releasing said plurality of release containers (Rn), ii) carrying out a relative movement between the plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD) and the plurality of release containers (Rn), and then iii) carrying out a second release, in a time different from the first release, using each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) in order to release a second number M2A-D, with N-M1 >= M2 >=1 , of products (A1-4 - D1-4), of the N-M1 products remaining from those picked up, in a single respective release container of said plurality of release containers (Rn), in such a way that each pick-up and release unit (UA - UD) carries out the first and second release in different release containers of said plurality of release containers (Rn) in such a way as to fill the release containers (Rn) with different products (A1-4 - D1-4) and wherein the first and second release are carried out in succession without the pick-up and release units (UA - UD) carrying out a further pick-up of products (A1-4 - D1-4).
14. The machine according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of release containers (Rn) is actuated to linearly feed along a step-by-step feed direction (D), stopping when the plurality of pick-up and release units (UA - UD) release the products (A1-4 - D1-4).
15. The machine according to claim 13 or 14, comprising a further independent pick-up and release unit (6) configured to pick up the products (A1-4 - D1-4) from each release container (Rn) and house them in a respective package (CAD), a closure device (7) being designed to then couple a lid (4) to the package (CAD).
EP22709823.3A 2021-03-15 2022-03-10 Method for packaging food products and machine implementing the method Pending EP4308462A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102021000006038A IT202100006038A1 (en) 2021-03-15 2021-03-15 METHOD FOR PACKAGING FOOD PRODUCTS AND MACHINE IMPLEMENTING THIS METHOD.
PCT/IB2022/052157 WO2022195413A1 (en) 2021-03-15 2022-03-10 Method for packaging food products and machine implementing the method

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EP4308462A1 true EP4308462A1 (en) 2024-01-24

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JP (1) JP7705472B2 (en)
IT (1) IT202100006038A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2022195413A1 (en)

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JPH0717518A (en) * 1993-06-30 1995-01-20 Shizukou Kk Apparatus and method for boxing object
DE102005039842A1 (en) 2005-08-23 2007-03-01 Khs Ag Process for producing mixed containers, and apparatus for carrying out the method
DE202005019906U1 (en) * 2005-12-19 2007-04-26 Autefa Automation Gmbh Package-handling plant assembling e.g. packs of mixed drinks bottles, has series of conveyors feeding bottles of individual type to transfer stations feeding mixed package conveyor
DE202011050807U1 (en) * 2011-07-26 2012-10-29 Ac-Automation Gmbh & Co. Kg Umpackeinrichtung
JP6988294B2 (en) * 2017-09-14 2022-01-05 富士電機株式会社 Transport device and transport method

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WO2022195413A1 (en) 2022-09-22
JP2024510464A (en) 2024-03-07
IT202100006038A1 (en) 2022-09-15

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