FR2622534A1 - Method for placing retail products, layer by layer, in a container, containers, and a system for implementing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for placing retail products, layer by layer, in a container. The method is characterised in that the container is constructed from a first separated part in the shape of a U, constituting the bottom and two lateral walls of the container and obtained by folding from a flat blank and from two parts advantageously in the shape of a U, which are obtained from flat blanks and constitute the front and rear lateral walls provided with two lateral flaps for fastening to the lateral walls of the first part, and in that the layers of retail products are formed and are stacked onto the bottom of the container by being introduced laterally at least before positioning of the last lateral wall. The invention can be used, for example, for placing packs of butter in a container.

Description

 The present invention relates to a layer-by-layer method of containerizing retail products, such as strips of butter, the container being constructed by folding from at least one blank into a suitable material such as cardboard, containers. and a system for implementing this method.

 The technique which has hitherto been used for placing containers of butter, for example, involves the complete constitution of the container beforehand in the form of an open structure upwards. The filling of the container is then done manually from above.

 This technique of placing retail products in containers has the major drawback that it excludes or makes particularly complicated automatic filling of the containers.

 The present invention aims to overcome this drawback of the state of the art.

 According to the invention, this object is achieved by proposing a method of containerizing retail products, which is characterized in that the container is constructed from three separate parts, namely a first part in the form of a U constituting the bottom and two side walls of the container and obtained by folding from a flat blank and two parts advantageously in the form of a U, obtained from a flat blank and constituting the front and rear side walls and , if necessary, provided with two lateral flaps for fixing to the side walls of the first part, and in that the layers are formed and stacked on the bottom of the container by introducing them laterally at least before the installation of the last side wall.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first U-shaped part is stapled by its bottom to an advantageously wooden pallet, the layers of retail products are successively placed on the bottom, the elements forming the side walls are reassembled and the parts forming the front and rear side walls on the U-shaped configuration of the first part.

According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first part is laid in
U containing the bottom on a pallet, if necessary, stapling the bottom on the pallet, fixes one of the parts forming front or rear side walls on the first part in the shape of a U, fills the container structure with lateral opening thus obtained and then places the missing rear or front side wall portion.

 The system for implementing the method is characterized in that it comprises a device for supporting a pallet carrying a container in a partially constructed configuration, with lateral filling opening, advantageously movable vertically, a device for forming layers of products to be placed in the container, which comprises a plate forming a container-setting floor, mounted to be displaced, advantageously substantially horizontally between a position inside the container and a position withdrawn, through said filling opening, and means for transfer of a layer located on said sole, on the upper layer of the stack of layers already present in the container, and means ensuring an advantageously relative vertical displacement between said sole and the container.

The container for implementing the method according to the invention of substantially parallelepiped shape and which can be constructed by folding from at least one flat blank is characterized in that it comprises a first part in the form of a U obtained by folding-from a flat blank and forming the bottom and two side walls of the container and of the second and third parts advantageously also in the form of a
U respectively forming the front and rear side walls of the container and comprising lateral flaps for fixing to the first part in the shape of a U.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating a embodiment of the invention, and in which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention
- Figure 2 shows the constituent parts of a container according to the invention, in their flat configurations
- Figures 3 and 4 illustrate two intermediate phases of the construction of the container according to Figure 1;
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a container according to Figure 1, in a slightly modified version; and
- Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a containerization system according to the present invention.

 Referring to Figures 1 and 2, we see that a container 1 according to the invention consists of three parts 2 to 4. A first part 2 has the bottom 5 and two side walls 6 and 7 and has a shape of a U obtained by folding along lines 8 and 9 of a flat blank shown in FIG. 2. Parts 3 and 4 are intended each to form one of the two remaining side walls, namely the front side walls 10 and rear 11 Each of the parts 3, 4 consists of a central element 12 and side flaps 13. Each part 3 and 4 is shaped like a U, by folding along the lines 14. The flaps 13 then forming the branches of the parts 3 and 4 allow the attachment of these parts to the side walls 6 and 7 above.

 Figures 3 and 4 show intermediate phases of the formation of the container 1 from the three parts 2 to 4 shown in Figure 2 in their flat configuration. It can be seen that the container 1 is placed on a pallet 16, for example made of wood. As indicated in 17, the bottom 5 of the container can be stapled to the pallet. One could also, as indicated in FIG. 5, staple the bottoms of the parts 3 and 4 forming the side walls 10 and 11 to the pallet 16.

 According to the method shown, according to the invention, the container filling operation begins when the container formation has reached the stage shown in Figure 4 where the elements 6 and 7 of the first part 2 are already reassembled and the side wall rear 11 is fixed to the U-shaped configuration of part 2 and the front side wall 10 is not yet mounted. Through the lateral opening 19 created by the absence of this front side wall 10, the retail products can be loaded into the container, automatically using the system shown in FIG. 6.

 Referring to this FIG. 6, it can be seen that an automatic containerization system for retail products indicated at 21 such as butter plates essentially comprises a vertically movable table 23, on which rests the container 1 to be filled in its configuration shown in FIG. 4, a conveyor 24 for supplying the retail products 21 intended to be loaded into the container 1, a device 25 for automatically forming product layers 21 and means 26 for transferring the layers thus formed in the container 1 on the top layer of the stack already contained therein.

 The device for forming the layers 25 essentially comprises a stationary plate 27 for the grouping in rows as indicated in the figure, of the products 21 brought by the conveyor 24, and a movable plate 28 for the formation of the product layers 21 by transfer rows of plate 27 on the plate 28. The two plates extend horizontally, the plate 27 being situated slightly above the plate 28. The latter is movable along guide rods 30 under the effect of means of control indicated schematically at 29 such as a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, between a position in which it occupies the horizontal cross section of the container 1, above the upper layer of products 21 already loaded therein, at a distance predetermined (this position is shown in the figure) and a withdrawn position in which it releases the interior of the container. It can be seen that the plate 28 passes through this lateral opening 19 for this purpose.

 The plate 27 is associated with means for arranging products 21 in rows on this plate 27, above the movable hearth 28, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the latter. These means essentially comprise a stop 31 capable of making a slight recoil and disposed on the plate 27 so as to allow the formation of a group 32 of for example 4 products 21 brought continuously by the conveyor 24, a first push plate 33, adapted to move the group 32 laterally to the location 34 shown in broken lines, a second push plate 35 capable of pushing the group of products located at location 34 to location 36 in view of the formation of a row above the container bottom 28 as well as a third push plate 39 adapted to move a row located at location 36, laterally, at location 38 just in front of the lateral opening 12 for loading the container 13. The stop 31 as well as the push plates 32, 35 and 39 carry out their back-and-forth movement while being driven by drive means of any suitable nature, such as by example of v hydraulic jacks. These drive means which are known per se are only shown schematically at 40, 41, 42 and 43 respectively.

 It should be noted that the push plate 33 is associated with a part 45 extending perpendicularly to the latter. This plate part 45 is adapted to constitute a stop for the products 21 brought by the conveyor 24 during the movement of the plate 33.

 It should also be noted that the pusher plate 39 is suitable for transferring the rows of products 21 formed on the stationary plate 27 onto the sole for placing in a mobile container 28, with a view to the formation of layers of products thereon.

 The means for transferring the layers formed on the movable sole 28, on the upper layer of the stack of layers already formed in the container essentially comprise a barrier member 47, advantageously produced in the form of a plate with a length corresponding to the width of the opening 12 and vertically movable between a position lower than the level of the floor 28, in which it constitutes a stop for the products 21, and an upper position for releasing the floor 28. The control means of the barrier 47 can be of any suitable nature and are shown diagrammatically at 48.

 Regarding the table 23 on which the container 1 rests during loading, it is vertically movable under the effect of a drive device of any suitable nature and of a system of articulated arms of crossed guide 51, 52 Thus the table 23 serves as an appropriate leveling table for the containers 13 during their loading.

 The containerization method according to the present invention and the operation of the system intended for its implementation will be described below.

 In a first series of operations, the container 1 is constituted until it has the configuration according to FIG. 4, leaving the lateral opening 19 remaining. In this laterally open configuration, the container resting on the pallet 16 is placed. on the table 23 which is in its high position. The placing of a layer of products 21 in the container 13 is carried out as follows: under the pressure of the products 21 brought in permanently by the conveyor 24, it forms on the stationary plate 28, in front of the stop plate 31, a first group of four products. After a slight recoil of the stop plate 31 to eliminate friction forces between the two neighboring products was respectively on the plate 27 and the conveyor 24, the push plate 33 moves the group towards the location 34, the plate part 45 acting as a stop for the products 21 which arrive continuously and accumulate on the conveyor, during the movement of the plate 33.

 This first group is then pushed by the pusher plate 35 to the location 36. The plates 33 and 35 having returned to their starting position, a second group of four products is formed in front of the stop 31 and is brought before the plate 35 to be pushed towards location 36 by pushing the first group further with a view to forming a complete row of products, indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 4. This row is moved one step by the push plate 39. After the formation of a second row, this plate pushes the two rows on the movable floor 28 which is in its position inside the container 13. By repeating these operations of forming groups and rows and transferring them from the stationary plate 27 on the movable floor 28 is formed on the latter inside the container 13 a layer which is located above the upper layer already laid in the container.

 Then the barrier plate 47 is lowered into its low position blocking the loading opening 12. When the movable sole plate 28 is then moved to its withdrawn position, the products being on this plate, because They are retained by the barrier 47 and reach the upper layer already loaded in the container. Given the low height of the sole 28 above the upper layer, the transfer of the new layer on the old is done without disturbing the layered arrangement of the products newly placed in the container.

 After the layer loading operation, the leveling table 23 is lowered by one step and the movable floor 28 is again brought into its position inside the container 13 in order to form a new layer of products 21.

 When the container 1 is filled, the lateral opening 19 is closed by fixing the front side wall 10 to the side walls 6 and 7.

 Many variants can be made to the principle of the method and of the system according to the present invention. Thus one could provide retaining means in the container, products of the layers already loaded therein, for example in the form of rods or retaining plates arranged in front of the loading opening 19, below the loading floor 28 .

This effect of retaining the products in the container could also be ensured by slightly tilting the container 1 as well as the plates 27 and 28 of the loading device so that the part opposite to the opening 12 of the container is at a lower level. . The products 21 would then be retained in the container under the effect of their own weight.

 Finally, the means forming the push plate, or at least some of these could be combined with additional control means making these plates retractable. By way of example, the push plate 35 is thus provided with control means 54, which act perpendicular to the plane of the stationary plate 27.

 It should also be noted that the means of movement of the various push-plates operate at a higher speed than the speed of supply of products 21 by the conveyor 24. The ratio of this speed will be chosen so as to avoid accumulation too much product 21 in front of the stop 45 of the pusher plate 33 during its travel for the purpose of transferring the group of products 32 to location 34 on the plate 27.

 It is also evident that the stacking of the layers of products 21 on the bottom 5 of the container, resting on its pallet 16 can begin at a stage of constitution of the container 1, prior to that shown in FIG. 4. Thus the loading of the container can begin at the stage shown in Figure 3, the side walls 6, 7 can then be held in place by any suitable holding means, for example associated with the table 23. We could also consider stacking the layers of products 21 on the bottom 5 before having the side wall elements 6 and 7 reassembled. In this case, it would be advantageous to staple the bottom 5 on the pallet 16. After loading, the elements 6 and 7 will be raised and put in place, for example by gluing or any other suitable way, the two front and rear wall elements 3 and 4.

 It should also be noted that the loading of a container according to FIGS. 1 to 5 could be carried out using any other suitable system which would allow the formation of the layers and their stacking, through a lateral opening formed by the absence at least one side wall.

Claims (12)

 1. Method for placing in containers layer by layer, retail products, such as strips of butter, the container being constructed by folding from at least one flat blank in a suitable material such as cardboard, characterized in that that the container (1) is constructed from a first separate part (2) in the shape of a U constituting the bottom (5) and two side walls (6, 7) of the container and obtained by folding from a flat blank and two parts (3, 4) advantageously in the shape of a U, obtained from flat blanks and constituting the front (10) and rear (11) side walls provided with two lateral flaps for fixing to the side walls (6, 7) of the first part (2), and in that the layers (21) of retail products are formed and stacked on the bottom (5) of the container by introducing them laterally at (19) at least before the placement of the last side wall.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part (2) is stapled in U by its bottom (5) on a pallet (16), lays the layers of retail products (21) successively on the bottom (5), remounts the elements forming the side walls (6, 7) and fixes the parts forming the front (10) and rear (11) side walls on the U-shaped configuration of the first part (2).  3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part (2) in U containing the base (5) is placed on a pallet (16), if necessary staples the bottom (5) on the pallet (16 ), fixes one of the parts forming the front (10) or rear (11) side walls on the first part (2), fills the container structure with lateral opening (19) thus obtained and then sets up the part of the rear side walls (11) or before (12) missing.  4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the front (10) and rear (11) side walls is stapled onto the pallet 5160.  5. System for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a support device (23) advantageously movable vertically, of a pallet (16) carrying a container (1 ) in a partially constructed configuration comprising at least one lateral filling opening (19), a device (25) for forming layers of product (21) to be placed in the container, which comprises a plate (28) forming a setting sole container, mounted movable, advantageously substantially horizontally between a position inside the container and a withdrawn position, through said filling opening (19), and means for transferring (47) a layer lying on said sole, on the upper layer of the stack of layers already present in the container, and means (50, 51, 52) ensuring a relative vertical displacement between said sole (28) and the container (1).  6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the layer forming device (25) comprises a stationary plate (27) for grouping in rows the products (21) to be loaded into the container, and transfer means ( 39) of these rows on the movable plate forming a container-fitting floor (28), a transport device (24) for the products (21) to be placed in the container, such as a conveyor, being provided for bringing the products to the layer forming device.  7. System according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the stationary plate (27) for forming rows are associated with a plate forming an abutment (31) for the formation of groups of products brought by the conveyor (24) and of push plates (33, 35) of the groups formed on said plate, for the formation of the rows, the means for transferring the rows from the stationary plate (27) to the movable floor (28) being advantageously formed by a plate pusher (39).  8. System according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the means for transferring the rows (47) comprise a member forming a movable barrier between a position for blocking the products located on the movable floor (28) when that -this moves to its withdrawn position and a release position thereof, this barrier member (47) being adapted to occupy its blocking position when the movable sole (28) carrying a layer of products (21) is withdrawn of the container (13) for the aforementioned transfer of this layer.  9. System according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the support device (23) of the containers (1) to be filled is formed by a vertically movable table.  10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the movement device (50, 51, 52) of the support table (23) is adapted to lower the table by a step of a predetermined length after removal of the container (1), the movable floor (28) and before the return of the floor to its position inside the container (1) for the formation of a new layer of products (21).  11. System according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the product conveyor (24) (21) is adapted to bring the products (21) continuously and the stop plate (31) is placed on the stationary plate (27) in the extension of the conveyor (24) to allow a grouping of products (21) on the plate (27) under the pressure exerted by the products brought by the conveyor.  12. Container for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 4, of substantially parallelepipedal shape and capable of being constructed by folding from at least one flat blank, characterized in that it comprises a first part (2) U-shaped obtained by folding from a flat blank and forming the bottom (5) and two side walls (6) and (7) of the container (1) and the second (3) and third (4) parts also advantageously in the form of a U respectively forming the front (10) and rear (11) side walls of the container and comprising lateral flaps (13) for fixing to the first part (2) in the form of a U.