ES371622A1 - Method and apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles in predetermined arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

Cans 10, frictionally-retained in a plastics carrier 16 by the upturned lip 24 of each canreceiving aperture in the carrier, are each individually rotated in the carrier until its respective label or other identifying mark faces outwardly. Groups of cans assembled in their respective carrier are advanced by a continuously-driven conveyer 30 (Fig. 8) to a clamping station 40 whereat a pair of opposed pivotable and reciprocable clamps 44, 46 (Fig. 1) engage the first of the succession of can packs and transfer the first can pack to a working station 42 at which the individual cans are rotated to the desired orientation. The clamps are guided on longitudinal rails 36, 38 and are each reciprocatably driven by a cam and crank disc 56, 58 through a slotted crank 86, 88 and connecting rod 98, 100 so that, after the clamps engage the first of the can packs, the clamps are accelerated to separate the first pack from the successive packs. During this movement, enlarged cam segments 132, 134 on the crank discs acting through cam rollers 136, 138, 148, 150, Fig. 5 (not shown), on cam surfaces hold the clamps in engagement with the cans. On reaching the working station 42, the cam segments are no longer effective and a spring 126 pivots the clamps laterally away from the cans and holds them in this position whilst they are reciprocated back to the clamping station for engagement with the next can pack. At the working station, the top of each can is simultaneously raised into frictional engagement with a respective one of a plurality of continuously driven rotating pads 164 (Fig. 2) by a respective one of a plurality of heads 166, which are carried on a lifting frame 174. The frame is raised by cam and cam follower linkage 176, 178, 180, 184, Fig. 3 (not shown), so that each head urges each can upwards into driving engagement with its respective pad. Each head is rotatably mounted on a spindle 170 which is supported in a spring- loaded cup 192. Each cup is slidably mounted in a sleeve 172 and is held in an extended position therein by a latch plate 202. On engagement of the cans with the pads 164, the cans are rotated in the carrier until a photo-cell 216 associated with each can is actuated by a label or mark on the can when the can reaches its desired orientation and energizes a solenoid plunger 214 (Fig. 2) to release the latch plate so that the respective cup and head are urged downwardly by the cup spring 200 thus lowering and declutching the respective can from its drive pad. When all the cans of the pack have been thus orientated, the lifting frame is lowered, this movement automatically raising the cup against the cup spring to its extended position and resetting the latch plate to hold the cup in the extended position. The next pack is moved into the working station and pushes the processed pack on to a discharge conveyer 34.