ES2338900T3 - PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and device for filling a container with tablets; the device has a conveyor for feeding the container through a number of filling stations, at each of which is located a respective dispenser unit for dropping a predetermined number of tablets from the bottom end of a stack of tablets into the container.

Description

Procedure and device to fill containers

Technical field

The present invention relates to a procedure and device for filling a container.

The present invention can be used to result in for the benefit of packaging of confectionery products, to which the The following description refers merely by way of example.

More specifically, the present invention is refers to a device for filling a container with items individual (that is, separated).

Background Technique

The devices known to fill a container usually comprise a conveyor to feed the container through a filling station, where an assembly feeder supplies several items inside the container. The Items are normally supplied to the filling station by a conveyor called "slats" and they are dropped freely up to a funnel-shaped ramp inside the container.

An example of a known device for Filling containers is described in US Pat. US2,920,743.

Known devices of the type described previously they have numerous drawbacks, including: frequent obstruction of the ramp; damage to items, especially as they fall down the ramp into the container; inconsistency in the number of items supplied within the containers; low production rate; and cleaning difficulties, in particular, the slat conveyor must be disassembled Completely to be cleaned.

From the document US-A-2002/0108356 are known a procedure and a device according to the respective preamble of the claim 1 and claim 9.

Exhibition of the invention

An object of the present invention is provide and filling device and procedure designed to  at least partially eliminate the inconveniences of the technique known, and at the same time be economical and easy to implement.

According to the present invention, a device and procedure for filling containers, according to attached independent claims and preferably a any of the claims that depend directly or indirectly from the independent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

By way of example, an embodiment will be described non-limiting of the invention with reference to the drawings Attachments, in which:

Figure 1 shows a partial front view of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a larger scale detail of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a partial view in perspective, on a larger scale, of an additional detail of the device of Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 show side views partially in section of a detail of Figure 1 in two positions  successive operation;

Figure 6 shows a section along the line VI-VI of the detail of Figure 4.

Best way to carry out the invention

The number 1 of Figure 1 indicates in its a whole device to fill a container 2, and that comprises a conveyor assembly 3 to feed the container 2 continuously along a substantially horizontal path P through several filling stations 4; and various assemblies feeders 5, each located in a filling station respective 4 to supply a given number of items individual 6 -in particular, tablets- inside the container 2 through an upwardly oriented opening 7 of the container 2.

It should be noted that alternative embodiments they can comprise feeder assemblies 5 different from the ten shown in the embodiment of Figure 1.

The conveyor assembly 3 (Figure 3) comprises two substantially parallel chains 8 and 9 that move to the time along the path P, and of which the chain 9 is located above the chain 9.

The conveyor assembly 3 also comprises several clamping members 10 that protrude horizontally from the chain 9 to accompany and push the containers 2 along the tour P. During actual use, each container 2 is housed between two successive clamping members 10.

The conveyor assembly 3 also comprises several - in the example shown, three - lanes 11, between which, during use, the container 2 slides as it is supplied along the path P; and a top lane 12 to hold a panel T of the container 2 in a position such that allow free access to the interior of the container 2 through the opening 7.

With particular reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the device 1 comprises several actuator assemblies 13, each one to activate feeder assemblies 5 as the vessel 2, during use, it is placed in (that is, scrolls through) respective filling stations 4.

Each actuator assembly 13 comprises a plate of respective support 14 mounted integrally on chain 8; and a respective arm 15 having an end 16 mounted on the plate of support 14 to swing around an axis substantially respective horizontal 17 parallel to the path P.

Each actuator assembly 13 also comprises a respective elastic member 18 (in particular, a spring) having one end 19 connected to the relative support plate 14, and a end 20 connected to relative arm 15. Each elastic member 18 hold relative arm 15 in a lowered position (shown in the Figure 4), while at the same time allowing arm 15 swing up to a raised position (shown in Figure 5).

Each actuator assembly 13 also comprises a respective bearing 21 mounted on relative arm 15 and rotating about a respective axis 22 substantially transverse (in particular, perpendicular) to axis 17. When the actuator assembly 13, during use, reaches the filling stations 4, the bearing 21, as it travels parallel to the P path, it enters contact with a profile B, and is raised to move arm 15 to the raised position (Figures 4 and 5).

Each feeder assembly 5 (Figures 1 and 2) it comprises a respective dispensing unit 23 for supplying a given number of items 6 (in the example shown, one) within the container 2; and a respective feeder conduit 24 for supply 6 items, stacked one on top of the other, down from a hopper 25 (shown schematically in Figure 1) to the relative dispensing unit 23.

Each feeder conduit 24 (as shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5) it is externally delimited by a respective rolled elastic sheath, and is deformable for adapt to the geometry of device 1, and to allow the quick and easy intervention by the operator in case block the feeder duct 24. In this regard, it must be done emphasize that the rolled elastic sleeve allows localization visual of a stuck article 6, stretching the fed duct 24, and the release of the stuck article 6, moving the duct feeder 24, without having to remove any other part, or stop the operation of the device 1.

Each dispensing unit 23 comprises a respective conduit 26, which extends substantially vertical, has an upper end 27 connected to a lower end 28 of the relative feeder conduit 24, and allows to supply the stacked items 6 down.

Each dispensing unit 23 also comprises a respective annular connection member 29 (see in particular the Figure 6) mounted substantially coaxial with conduit 26 and which oscillates around a substantially horizontal axis 30 transversely to conduit 26. A respective control arm 31 is integrally connected to each connection member 29, and is raised by arm 15 when arm 15 is in position rise.

Each dispensing unit 23 also comprises two respective arms 32 and 33 extending down in opposite sides of axis 30 and, in particular, substantially vertical from the connecting member 29. A support tab respective 34 is connected to a lower end 35 of each arm 32, and extends substantially horizontal to support, during the use, from below and in a relative position L on the tour P, a bottom article 6 'of a stack 36 of articles 6 formed inside conduit 26 and feeder conduit 24 (Figure 4). A respective support tab 37 is connected to a lower end 38 of each arm 33, and extends substantially horizontal inside a hole H in the conduit 26.

During actual use, when the arm is raised control 31 (Figure 5), the connecting member and arms 32 and 33 they oscillate around axis 30, so that article 6 'falls, and the support tab 37 supports the bottom of the stack 36 by entering contact with the following article 6 above article 6 '. As can be seen, the number of items 6 supplied within the container 2 at each filling station 4 can be changed easily changing arm length 33 and the location of the hole H along the conduit 26.

Device 1 also comprises several known detectors 39 (shown schematically), each located at a lower end of each duct 26 to detect the passage of articles 6 along the conduit 26 and, therefore, the insertion of articles 6 into container 2; and a unit of control 40 electrically connected to the detectors 39, and for activate one or more feeder assemblies 41 as a function of the detector results 39. More specifically, if detectors 39 find that a given number of items 6 have not been supplied inside container 2, a number of feeder mounts 41, corresponding to said given number, they are activated to compensate for the fault detected. Obviously yes each feeder assembly 41 allows to supply only one article 6 inside the container 2, the number of feeder assemblies 41 activated is equal to the given number of items 6 not supplied inside the container 2.

It should be noted that, although the completion of the Figure 1 comprises two feeder assemblies 41, device 1 may comprise a different number of feeder assemblies 41, for example, one, three or four.

The feeder assemblies 41 are located at along the path P, downstream of the feeder assemblies 5, and are substantially identical to feeder assemblies 5, being the only difference that they are activated pneumatically, in mechanically as opposed to the passage of the assemblies actuators 13.

The operation will be described below. of a feeder assembly 5, from the moment the container 2 is supplied to the respective filling station Four.

When container 2 enters the station filled 4, the arm 15 is moved to the raised position (Figure 5), by interference of the bearing 21 with the profile B, and enters contact with one end 42 of the control arm 31 opposite the connecting member 29. End 42 is thus raised, so that the connecting member 29 and the arms 32 and 33 swing around of axis 30, article 6 'falls (Figure 5), and stack 36 is supported  from below by the support tab 37. It should be noted that, in this phase, the container 2 is placed directly under the conduit 26, and article 6 'is released from the lower end of the battery 36.

Once container 2 leaves the station of filling 4, the end 42 is lowered and, by virtue of a system of spring (not shown), connection member 29 and arms 32 and 33 oscillate around axis 30 in the opposite direction to the previous one, so that the battery 36 falls and is supported from below by the support tab 34, and the lower end of the stack 36 is shifts to position L previously occupied by the article 6 '.

It should be noted that, defining articles 6 the battery 36 in the filling station 4, the number of items 6 supplied inside the container 2 can be controlled so extremely accurate, and articles 6 can be transferred from the feeder assembly inside container 2 very quickly, without risk of damaging the items 6. Feed the container 2 continuously along the P path, combined with the rapid insertion of articles 6 into container 2, allows to achieve extremely fast filling speeds.

The overall production rate of the device 1 it is further improved by the possibility of activating the assemblies feeders 41, and clearing the ducts 24 without the need for remove any other part of device 1 and / or turn off the device 1.

Claims (16)

1. A method of filling a container (2) with individual articles (6; 6 '), the method comprising the step of feeding the container (2) along a path (P) through a first station of filling (4) where at least a first individual article (6; 6 ') is supplied inside the container (2) through an opening (7) of the container (2); the method comprising a control step to determine if the first individual article (6; 6 ') is supplied inside the container (2); and, in case the first individual article (6; 6 ') is not supplied inside the container (2), at least a second individual article (6; 6') is supplied within the container (2) through the opening (7) of the container (2); and the procedure being characterized in that the container (2) is fed through at least a second filling station (4), which is downstream of the first filling station (4) and in whose area the second individual article (6 ; 6 ') is supplied inside the container. 2. A method according to Claim 1, in which the container (2) is fed through at least one third filling station (4) where at least a third article individual (6; 6 ') is supplied inside the container (2) to through the opening (7) of the container (2); being supplied the individual items (6; 6 ') to the first filling station (4) successively, to define a first stack (36) of articles individual (6; 6 '); and being the individual articles (6; 6 ') supplied to the third filling station (4) successively, to define a third stack (36) of individual articles (6; 6 '). 3. A method according to Claim 2, in which the first individual article (6; 6 ') is released from a relative end of the first stack (36), and then supplied inside the container (2). 4. A method according to Claim 3, wherein said first individual article (6; 6 ') is supplied down into the container (2). 5. A method according to Claim 3 or 4, and comprising a waiting stage, in which the first individual article (6; 6 ') is held in a position (L) on the route (P); and a release stage, in which it is allowed that the first individual article (6; 6 ') scroll down in opposite direction to the first stack (36) and inside the container (2); during the release stage, being maintained the first stack (36) substantially fixed and the container (2) in the first filling station (4). 6. A method according to Claim 5 and comprising a charging stage, in which the first stack (36) is advances until the end of the first stack (36) reaches said position (L) on the path (P). 7. A procedure according to one of the Previous claims, wherein the first stack (36) is supplied down to the first filling station (4). 8. A procedure according to one of the Previous claims, wherein the second article individual (6; 6 ') is supplied to the second filling station (4) and inside the container (2) as defined for the first individual article (6; 6 '). 9. A device for filling a container (2), the device (1) comprising a conveyor assembly (3) for feeding the container (2) through a first filling station (4); and a first feeder assembly (5) located in the first filling station (4) to supply at least a first individual article (6; 6 ') inside the container (2) through an opening (7) of the container (2) ); and detection means (39) to determine if the first individual article (6; 6 ') is supplied within the container (2); and the device (1) being characterized by comprising at least a second feeder assembly (41), located in a second filling station (4) downstream of the first feeder assembly (5), to supply at least a second individual article (6 ; 6 ') inside the container (2); and a control unit (40) for activating the second feeder assembly (41) based on the results of the detection means (39); feeding the conveyor assembly (3) to the container (2) through the second filling station (4). 10. A device according to Claim 9, in which the conveyor assembly (3) feeds the container (2) to through at least a third filling station (4); the device (1) comprising at least a third assembly feeder (5) located in the third filling station (4) for supply at least a third individual article (6; 6 ') within of the container (2) through the opening (7) of the container (2); supplying the first feeder assembly (5) the items individual (6; 6 ') successively to the first filling station (4), to define a first stack (36) of individual items (6; 6 '); and supplying the third feeder assembly (5) the individual articles (6; 6 ') successively to the third station filling (4), to define a second stack (36) of items individual (6; 6 '). 11. A device according to claim 10, in which the third feeder assembly (41) is defined as the first feeder assembly (5). 12. A device according to Claim 10 u 11, wherein the first feeder assembly (5) comprises a dispensing unit (23) for releasing the first individual article (6; 6 ') from one end of the first stack (36) and supply the First individual article (6; 6 ') inside the container (2). 13. A device according to Claim 12, wherein the dispensing unit (23) comprises first means of retention (32, 34) to retain the first individual article (6; 6 ') in a position (L) on the path (P); second means of retention (33, 37) to retain the first stack (36) directly on said position (L); and control means (29, 31) to activate the first retention means (32, 34) and deactivate simultaneously the second retention means (33, 37); also activating the control means (29, 31) the second means  retention (33, 37) and simultaneously deactivating the first retention means (32, 34) to supply the first article individual (6; 6 ') down into the container (2). 14. A device according to Claim 13, wherein the first retention means (32, 34) comprise a first support member (34) to support the first article individual (6; 6 ') from below, and a first arm (32) connected from substantially integral way to the first support member and transversely to the first support member (34); understanding the second retention means (33, 37) a second member of support (37) to support the battery (36) from below, and a second arm (33) connected substantially integral to the second support member (37) and transversely to the second member of support (37); and comprising the control means (29, 31) a connecting member (29) integrally connected to the first and the second arms (32, 33), and mounted to swing around an axis (30) transversely to the first and second support member (34, 37). 15. A device according to one of the Claims 9 to 14, wherein the first feeder assembly (5) comprises a feeder conduit (24) to supply the individual items (6; 6 '), stacked on top of each other, to down towards the dispensing unit (23); and the feeder duct (24) comprises an elastically deformable rolled sleeve, inside from which the individual articles (6; 6 ') slide during the use. 16. A device according to one of the Claims 9 to 15, wherein the second feeder assembly (5) is defined as the first feeder assembly (5).