ES2950886T3 - Packing - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging machine (100) comprising a first conveyor belt (10), in which said first conveyor belt (10) transports a multiplicity of groups of products (200) arranged in a first step (210) at a distance from each other at a first speed. (v1), a second conveyor belt (20) that transports a multiplicity of extended packaging sheets (300) at a second linear speed (v2), wherein said multiplicity of extended packaging sheets (300) are arranged in a second step (310) away from each other, a third conveyor belt (30) being arranged in succession to the second conveyor belt (20), at least one roller (40) arranged between the second conveyor belt (20) and the third conveyor belt ( 30), wherein said at least one roller (40) is coupled to a front portion of each extended packaging sheet (300) carried by said second conveyor belt (20) converting it into an extended packaging sheet coupled (304) with said at least one roller (40), wherein said at least one roller (40) rotates at an angular speed such that it allows each coupled extended packaging sheet (304) to go from said second linear speed (v2) to a fourth speed linear (v4).), wherein said fourth linear speed (v4) of the coupled packaging sheet (304) is greater than the second linear speed (v2) of the packaging sheet (300) transported by the second conveyor belt ( 20), wherein each extended coupled sheet (304) is transported at the fourth linear speed (v4) by said at least one roller (40) until a rear portion of the coupled extended packaging sheet (304) is disengages from said at least one roller (40) becoming a disengaged sheet. extended packaging sheet (303), in which each extended packaging sheet (303) is transported by said third conveyor belt (30) at a third linear speed (v3), in which at least a front part of the sheet coupled packaging (304) superimposes at least a rear portion of the previous uncoupled packaging sheet (303), a docking station (110) in which said extended uncoupled packaging sheet (303) transported by said third conveyor belt ( 30) is coupled with said group of products (200) forming a package of packaged products (201). (Figure 2). (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Packing

The present invention relates to a packaging machine.

In the state of the art, packaging machines are known that use a cardboard support to package a variety of products, such as cans, bottles or cardboard boxes. The packaging machines are structured in such a way that they have a two-level supply. The product is arranged in groups of products to be packaged. The groups of products pass at a fixed pitch relative to each other on a horizontal plane, while the cardboard box that serves as a support for creating the packages also passes at a fixed pitch at a lower level. The step between one carton and the next is longer than the total length of the extended carton. The cardboard boxes are removed one by one and deposited in a transfer medium, which is a removal station. The extraction station typically comprises a single belt or chain or, more generally, a single conveyor belt. The conveyor belt comprises profiles or prongs which are notches arranged substantially in the passage of the cartons themselves so that the profiles push the carton from the back of the carton to be transferred from the extraction station to a loading station. coupling with the product to obtain a package. Consider, for example, a "wraparound" carton, that is, a carton that completely wraps around the group of products to be packaged, the carton that is coupled with the product to be packaged. packaged, after the coupling itself, has a rear part called the tail. This queue, together with the length of the products to be packaged, reduces the useful space in which the step of introducing the next extended cardboard box into the docking station can be carried out. Inconveniently, if the packaging speed must be increased, a dynamic problem exists.

The dynamic problem is due to the fact that when a higher packaging speed is required, it is necessary to increase the linear advance speed of the product group, the advance speed of the extended cartons, and the insertion speed of the carton. cardboard extended on the docking station. It is not possible to increase the speed beyond a certain physical/technological limit, because once certain linear speed values are exceeded, instability phenomena may occur that cause the groups of products to be packaged to overturn.

To overcome these problems, the known technique reduces the feed rate of the product, so that the linear speed of the product groups to be packaged is reduced when a production rate is established. Although this has a benefit in terms of package stability, it has a detrimental effect on the insertion of the flat carton, since the reduction of the pitch has a detrimental effect on the usable space for inserting the carton extended between a group of products and another, with negative consequences for the maximum length of the extended carton and therefore the maximum package size. The known technique requires increasing the speed at which the cardboard box is introduced. Unfortunately, this parameter also has physical and technological limits, since above certain speeds it is no longer possible to physically control the correct introduction of the cardboard box, since fluid-dynamic viscosity effects arise, which disadvantageously determine a so-called sail effect. which causes the extended cardboard box to fly off the conveyor belt in an uncontrolled manner, hitting the group of products in the docking station and not allowing the correct packaging of the products to be packaged.

Inconveniently, the known solutions lead to continuous jamming of the packaging carton and downtime of the machine.

Patent EP3181467A1 discloses a packaging machine comprising a first conveyor belt, wherein said first conveyor belt carries a multitude of groups of products arranged at a first step distance from each other at a first speed, a second conveyor belt carrying a multitude of sheets of extended packaging sheets at a second linear speed, wherein said plurality of extended packaging sheets are arranged at a second pitch distance from each other, a third conveyor belt which is arranged in succession to the second conveyor belt, and a docking station in wherein said separate extended packaging sheet carried by said third conveyor belt engages said group of products forming a package of packaged products.

The object of the present invention is to provide a safe and fast packaging machine that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and allows various groups of products to be packaged more quickly than prior art packaging machines.

According to the invention, said object is achieved with a packaging machine according to claim 1.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic packaging process to make a safe and fast packaging machine that overcomes the disadvantages of the known art and allows various groups of products to be packaged faster than the processes used by prior art packaging machines.

According to the invention, this other objective is achieved by an automatic packaging process according to claim 11.

Other features are provided in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the following description, which should be understood as illustrative and not limiting, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first operating stage of a packaging machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a second operating stage of the packaging machine;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a third operating stage of the packaging machine;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a first operating stage of an alternative packaging machine according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a second operating stage of the alternative packaging machine;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a third operating stage of the alternative packaging machine.

With reference to the aforementioned figures and, in particular, to figures 1 to 3, a packaging machine 100 is shown comprising a first conveyor belt 10.

The first conveyor belt 10 is arranged on a first level above the ground.

The first conveyor belt 10 transports a multitude of groups of products 200 arranged at a first step distance 210 from each other at a first speed vi.

The packaging machine 100 comprises a second conveyor belt 20 carrying a plurality of extended packaging sheets 300 at a second linear speed v2, wherein said plurality of extended packaging sheets 300 are arranged at a second pitch 310 distance from each other.

The packaging machine 100 comprises a third conveyor belt 30 which is arranged in succession to the second conveyor belt 20.

The second conveyor belt 20 and the third conveyor belt 30 comprise at least one transport part of said unfolded packaging cardboard boxes 300, 303 that is in the same geometric plane, where the last geometric plane intercepts the level of the first belt conveyor 10 into a docking station 110 of the packaging machine 100.

The packaging machine 100 comprises two rubber-coated rollers 40 arranged between the second conveyor belt 20 and the third conveyor belt 30.

The two rollers 40 engage a front portion of each unfolded packaging carton 300 transported by said second conveyor belt 20, causing it to become an unfolded packaging carton engaged 304 with the two rollers 40.

The two rollers 40 rotate at an angular speed such that they allow each engaged unfolded packaging carton 304 to go from said second linear speed v2 to a fourth linear speed v4, wherein said fourth linear speed v4 of the packaging carton 304 is greater than the second linear speed v2 of the packaging carton 300 transported by the second conveyor belt 20.

Preferably, the two rollers 40 are rubber coated to increase friction with the surfaces of the unfolded packaging carton 300, so that, as they rotate, they engage the unfolded packaging carton 300 and transport it to the fourth linear speed v4.

Each hooked extended carton 304 is transported at the fourth linear speed v4 by the two rollers 40 until a rear portion of the hooked extended packaging carton 304 is disengaged from the two rollers 40 causing the carton to be disengaged. deployed packaging carton 303 of said two rollers 40, wherein each unfolded packaging carton disengaged 303 of said two rollers 40 is engaged by said third conveyor belt 30 and is transported by said third conveyor belt 30 at a third linear speed v3.

When the two rollers 40 are transporting the engaged deployed packaging carton 304, at least one front portion of the engaged packaging carton 304 overlaps with at least one rear portion of the preceding unlatched packaging carton 303 as shown, in particular, in figures 2 and 3.

The docking station 110 of the packaging machine 100 contemplates that said packaging carton unhooked deployed 303 transported by said third conveyor belt 30 is coupled with said group of products 200 forming a package of packaged products 201.

It is specified that, preferably, said second conveyor belt 20 comprises a plurality of first profiles 21, where each first profile 21 of said plurality of first profiles 21 pushes a rear part of each unfolded packaging cardboard box 300 of said plurality of boxes of unfolded packaging cartons 300 moving said multitude of unfolded packaging cartons 300 at said second linear speed v2. The plurality of profiles 21 is arranged at a fixed pitch and the pitch between the profiles 21 is greater than the length of the unfolded packaging carton 300.

Furthermore, preferably, said third conveyor belt 30 comprises a plurality of second profiles 31, wherein each second profile 31 of said plurality of second profiles 31 engages said rear part of the unengaged unfolded packaging carton 303 and pushes it to said third linear speed v3.

It should be noted that a step between the second successive profiles 31 is less than the length of said unfolded packaging cardboard box 303.

Preferably, in the described embodiment, said second linear speed v2 of the second conveyor belt 20 is on average greater than said third linear speed v3 of the third conveyor belt 30 because the first profiles 21 are arranged at a larger pitch than the second ones. profiles 31.

Preferably, the speed of the second profiles 31 is not constant in the work cycle.

Said third linear speed v3 of the third conveyor belt 30 is chosen as a function of the first linear speed v1 to couple the unhooked packaging cardboard boxes 303 from said two rollers 40 and transported by the third conveyor belt 30 with the groups of products 200 transported by the first conveyor belt 10.

As far as operation is concerned, it is possible to define an automatic packaging process that operates the packaging machine 100. Said automatic packaging process comprises a first operation of transporting a multitude of groups of products 200 arranged in the first step 210 of distance between yes at the first speed v1 by means of the first conveyor belt 10 of said packaging machine 100.

The process comprises a second operation of transporting a plurality of unfolded packaging cartons 300 at the second linear speed v2 along the second conveyor belt 20 of said packaging machine 100, wherein said plurality of unfolded packaging cartons 300 are arranged to a second step 310 distance from each other.

The process comprises an acceleration operation in which at least one roller 40 of said packaging machine 100 that is arranged between said second conveyor belt 20 and said third conveyor belt 30 engages the front part of each unfolded packaging carton 300 transported by said second conveyor belt 20 converting it into an unfolded packaging cardboard box engaged 304 with said at least one roller 40.

The process comprises a superposition operation in which said at least one roller 40 rotates at an angular speed such that each engaged unfolded packaging carton 304 goes from said second linear speed v2 to said fourth linear speed v4, wherein said fourth linear speed v4 of the hooked packaging carton 304 is greater than the second linear speed v2 of the packaging carton 300 transported by the second conveyor belt 20, where each hooked extended carton 304 is transported to the fourth linear speed v4 by said at least one roller 40 until the rear of the engaged deployed packaging carton 304 is disengaged from said at least one roller 40 becoming a disengaged deployed packaging carton 303, wherein, During said overlapping operation, at least one front portion of the engaged packaging carton 304 overlaps at least one rear portion of the previous disengaged packaging carton 303 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The process comprises a third transportation operation, in which each unlatched unfolded packaging carton 303 is transported by said third conveyor belt 30 at said third linear speed v3. The process comprises a coupling operation that takes place at the coupling station 110 of said packaging machine 100, wherein said uncoupled unfolded packaging carton 303 transported by said third conveyor belt 30 is coupled with said group of products 200 forming a package. of packaged products 201.

Advantageously, to obviate the technological limitations of the prior art, the strategy adopted is to divide into at least two conveyor belts 20, 30 the members that are responsible for introducing the unfolded packaging cardboard box onto a work surface defined by parts. of the two conveyor belts 20, 30 in succession to be able to dock them with the group of products 200 that are going to be packaged in the docking station 110. By doing this, it is in fact possible to partially overlap two cardboard boxes: the hooked packaging cardboard box 304 and the packaging carton disengaged 303 from said two rollers 40 and engaged with the third conveyor belt 30 during the introduction step into the docking station 110. The superposition of the two cartons 303, 304 occurs just before the docking station 110. In this way, with the same passage 210 between the groups of products 200, the useful space for inserting the unhooked packaging cardboard box 303 from the two rollers 40 and transported by the third conveyor belt 30. Basically, it is as if the length of the cardboard box to be inserted is reduced by overlapping the two cardboard boxes. In the prior art, on the other hand, a larger step 210 would have to be left between two groups of products 200 to introduce the next packaging carton 303 into the docking station 110. The natural consequence is that for the same production speed , the insertion speed v3 of the packaging carton 303 into the docking station 110 is advantageously significantly lower than it would be if the prior art were followed. The third speed v3 lower than that allowed by the prior art, when an increase in the packaging speed v is necessary to reach the physical-technological limit of the maximum linear advance speed v3 of the cardboard box 303 without any sailing effect , at a higher nominal production speed vi.

Advantageously, the packaging machine 100 according to the present invention is safe and fast, overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and allows various groups of products 200 to be packaged more quickly than prior art packaging machines.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the packaging machine 100 may also comprise a single roller 40 which, when rotating, engages the packaging carton 300, 304 causing it to move from the first linear speed v1 to the second linear speed v2.

Alternatively, there may be more than two rollers 40 to better engage the unfolded packaging carton 300, 304.

Alternatively, at least one roller 40 may not be rubberized.

Alternatively, the position of the at least one roller 40 is not fixed, but depends on the length of the carton itself. Essentially, said at least one roller 40 is spatially arranged according to the length of the extended cardboard box 300, that is, said at least one roller 40 can be located at any of the points of a geometric line parallel to the direction of advance. of the cartons 300 ascending towards the docking station 110. Advantageously, depending on the length of the extended carton 300, this device allows the extended carton 303 to rest on the third conveyor belt 30 in a manner controlled so that the third conveyor belt 30 hooks said extended cardboard box 303 by means of the second profiles 31.

Alternatively, it is possible that said at least one roller 40 is not covered with rubber, but has physical characteristics, for example high friction with the surface of the unfolded packaging carton 300, to be able to engage the carton. deployed packaging 303 and transport it by rotation from the second speed v2 to the fourth linear speed v4 imparted by the rotation of said at least one roller 40.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the second 20 and the third conveyor belt 30 transport the packaging cardboard box 300, 303 without folding, without using profiles 21, 31, but other methods already contemplated by the prior art.

Alternatively, said second linear speed v2 of the second conveyor belt 20 and said third linear speed v3 of the third conveyor belt 30 may be different, and the third linear speed v3 is in phase with the first linear speed v1 of the first conveyor belt 10. The second speed v2 of the second conveyor belt 20 is in phase with the fourth speed v4 imparted to the engaged deployed packaging carton 304, imparted by said at least one roller 40. In fact, it is not necessary for the second speed v2 is equal to the third speed v3, in fact, the second speed v2 is related to a supply speed of a packaging machine extraction station 100, which supplies the second conveyor belt 20 with unfolded packaging cartons 300.

Alternatively, said conveyor belts 10, 20, 30 may be chains or belts.

Alternatively, it may be contemplated that the unfolded packaging carton 300, 303, 304 may be more generally replaced by a packaging sheet, which may be a die-cut cardboard sheet as described in the embodiment of a plastic sheet or other material that can be used to package a group of products 200.

Still alternatively, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, the packaging machine 100 further comprises an elevator 50 that raises said hooked packaging carton 304 with respect to a first geometric plane. defined by said at least one roller 40 and by at least a portion of the third conveyor belt 30, wherein said elevator 50 is arranged in succession to said at least one roller 40. Said elevator 50 moves in phase with the third conveyor belt 30 that passes from a position close to said first geometric plane suitable for intercepting said front part of said hooked packaging cardboard box 304 from below as shown in Figures 4 and 5 to an elevation position with respect to said first geometric plane which raises said hooked packaging cardboard box 304 as shown in Figure 6, until it intercepts a geometric plane above which the first conveyor belt 10 is located in the docking station 110. Advantageously, said elevator 50 allows increasing a insertion angle in the docking station 110 of the engaged packaging carton 304 with respect to the disengaged packaging carton 303 preceding it.

Even more advantageously, according to the last proposed alternative, the process comprises a lifting operation in which said lift 50 makes it possible to increase an insertion angle in the docking station 110 of the hooked packaging cardboard box 304 with respect to the unclipped packaging cardboard box 303 preceding it.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to many modifications and variants, all trained within the same inventive concept; Furthermore, all details can be replaced by equivalent technical elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as their dimensions, can be of any type in accordance with the technical requirements.

Claims (10)

1. A packaging machine (100) comprising a first conveyor belt (10), wherein said first conveyor belt (10) carries a multitude of product groups (200) arranged at a first pitch (210) distance from each other at a first speed (vi), a second conveyor belt (20) carrying a plurality of extended packaging sheets (300) at a second linear speed (V2), wherein said plurality of extended packaging sheets (300) are arranged at a second step (310) of distance from each other, a third conveyor belt (30) that is arranged in succession to the second conveyor belt (20), at least one roller (40) arranged between the second conveyor belt (20) and the third conveyor belt (30), wherein said at least one roller (40) engages a front part of each extended packaging sheet (300) transported by said second conveyor belt (20) converting it into an extended packaging sheet engaged (304) with said at least one roller (40), in wherein said at least one roller (40) rotates at an angular speed such as to allow each hooked extended packaging sheet (304) to go from said second linear speed (v2) to a fourth linear speed (v4), wherein said fourth speed Linear speed (4) of the hooked packaging sheet (304) is greater than the second linear speed (v2) of the packaging sheet (300) transported by the second conveyor belt (20), where each deployed sheet hooked (304) is transported at the fourth linear speed (v4) by said at least one roller (40) until a rear part of the engaged extended packaging sheet (304) is disengaged from said at least one roller (40), becoming a sheet extended packaging sheet (303) disengaged from said at least one roller (40), wherein each extended packaging sheet (303) disengaged from said at least one roller (40) is engaged by said third conveyor belt (30) and is transported by said third conveyor belt (30) at a third linear speed (vb), wherein said second linear speed (v2) of the second conveyor belt (20) is on average greater than said third linear speed (v3) of the third conveyor belt (30), wherein at least one front portion of the engaged packaging sheet (304) overlaps at least one rear portion of the previously unhooked packaging sheet (303), a coupling station (110) in which said disengaged extended packaging sheet (303) transported by said third conveyor belt (30) is coupled with said group of products (200) forming a package of packaged products (201). 2. The packaging machine (100), according to claim 1, characterized in that said second conveyor belt (20) comprises a multitude of first profiles (21), wherein each first profile (21) of said multitude of first profiles (21) pushes a rear part of each extended packaging sheet (300) of said plurality of extended packaging sheets (300) moving said plurality of extended packaging sheets (300) at said second linear speed (v2), because said third conveyor belt (30) comprises a plurality of second profiles (31), wherein each second profile (31) of said plurality of second profiles (31) engages said rear part of the disengaged extended packaging sheet (303) and pushes it to said third linear speed (v3). 3. The packaging machine (100), according to claim 2, characterized in that the pitch between the second profiles (31) is less than the length of said extended, unhooked packaging sheet (303). 4. The packaging machine (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said third linear speed (v3) of the third conveyor belt (30) is chosen according to the first linear speed (v1) in such a way that the unhooked packaging sheets (303) transported by the third conveyor belt (30) are coupled with the groups of products (200) transported by the first conveyor belt (10). 5. The packaging machine (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said at least one roller (40) are two rollers. 6. The packaging machine (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said at least one roller (40) is covered with rubber. 7. The packaging machine (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said at least one roller (40) is spatially arranged along a line parallel to the direction of advance of the extended cardboard boxes. (300) depending on the length of the cardboard boxes (300). 8. The packaging machine (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said conveyor belts (10, 20, 30) can be chains or belts. 9. The packaging machine (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises an elevator (50) adapted to raise said hooked packaging sheet (304) with respect to a first geometric plane defined by said at least a roller (40) and for at least a part of the third conveyor belt (30), wherein said elevator (50) is arranged in succession to said at least one roller (40), wherein said elevator (50) moves in phase with the third conveyor belt (30) moving from a position close to said first geometric plane suitable for intercepting said front part of said hooked packaging sheet (304) from below to a lifting position with respect to to said first geometric plane that raises said hooked packaging sheet (304) until it intercepts a geometric plane above which the first conveyor belt (10) is located in the docking station (110). 10. An automatic packaging process operating a packaging machine (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said automatic packaging process comprises a first operation for transporting a multitude of groups of products (200) arranged at a first step (210) distance from each other at a first speed (v1) by means of a first conveyor belt (10) of said packaging machine (100), a second operation for transporting a plurality of extended packaging sheets (300) at a second linear speed (v2) along a second conveyor belt (20) of said packaging machine (100), wherein said plurality of extended packaging sheets (300) ) are arranged at a second step (310) away from each other, an acceleration operation in which at least one roller (40) of said packaging machine (100) that is arranged between said second conveyor belt (20) and said third belt conveyor (30) engages a front part of each extended packaging sheet (300) transported by said second conveyor belt (20) converting it into an extended packaging sheet engaged (304) with said at least one roller (40), an operation of superposition in which said at least one roller (40) rotates at an angular speed such that each engaged deployed container (304) goes from said second linear speed (v2) to a fourth linear speed (v4), wherein said fourth speed linear speed (v4) of the hooked packaging sheet (304) is greater than the second linear speed (v2) of the packaging sheet (300) transported by the second conveyor belt (20), where each deployed sheet hooked (304) is transported at the fourth linear speed (v4) by said at least one roller (40) until a rear part of the engaged extended packaging sheet (304) is disengaged from said at least one roller (40) becoming a sheet of extended unhooked packaging (303), wherein, during said overlapping operation, at least a front portion of the engaged packaging sheet (304) overlaps at least a rear portion of the previously unhooked packaging sheet (303), a third transport operation in which each unhooked unfolded sheet (303) is transported by said third conveyor belt (30) at a third linear speed (v3), wherein said second linear speed (v2) of the second conveyor belt (20) is on average greater than said third linear speed (v3) of the third conveyor belt (30), a docking operation taking place at a docking station (110) of said packaging machine (100), wherein said unhooked extended packaging sheet (303) transported by said third conveyor belt (30) is docked with said group of products (200) forming a package of packaged products (201).