FR2641520A1 - APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTING THE SUPPLY OF A FILLING MACHINE OF ALVEOLES OF A CONTINUOUS BELT - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for interrupting the operation of a filling machine is disclosed. When a detector 51, 54 detects a defect in a strip 2 comprising cells or in a closure film 6, a jack 25 clamps the strip against a cross member 30 so that a closure plate 30 is driven with the strip. and closes the opening of a supply channel 11 and thus prevents the disposal of products 4 in the cells. When the defective part has passed, a pneumatic cylinder 40 returns the plate 30 to the rest position. Application to packaging machines for pharmaceutical products.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of automatic machines

  used for the packaging of various products in packages formed by gluing

of a film.

  The invention relates in particular to a device

  intended to cause the temporary interruption of food

  products, in many cases of the pharmaceutical type.

  ticks, such as capsules or pills, which must be

  placed in cells formed on a strip of material

thermoformable material.

  As everyone already knows, the band, in which cells already contain the aforementioned products, must

  to be covered with a film, for example a thin metal film-

  which is attached to the band so that the cells are

locked.

  Finally, the strip is cut into numerous sections of predetermined dimensions, each of them containing a

  predetermined number of cells and as a result of

  in the form of a film packaging

glued.

  Currently known filling machines with various constructions are generally provided with a product feed device placed after a post

  of thermoforming the cells on a strip which is usually

  it consists of a thermoformable material.

  The strip, with the cells already formed, slides longitudinally on a sliding surface having

  longitudinal channels through which the cells pass.

  The feeding device operates above the sliding surface and comprises a container, for example of the vibrating type, from which is formed a

  set of channels suitable for the guidance of the products

  nally aligned. The channels lead directly to

  above the aforementioned band and each correspond to a longitudinal row of cells. Products leaving the

  container and exiting through the channels are placed automatically-

in a cell.

  Certain bonded film packages are formed in a strip section having a connection, for example made so that the strip is continuous after a break or at the end of a coil on which it is wound. These packages are discarded because the tape does not have acceptable appearance characteristics and

  feature at this location.

  In addition, it is usually necessary to put

  discarded all bonded film packaging obtained

  bare with stretches of tape that remained too long

  time at the heating station of the thermoforming machine

  cells. In fact, these parts have a modified color

  which is darker than that of the normal band

  transparent, because of prolonged heating. An undesirable stoppage of the strip at the heating station of the thermoforming apparatus can be caused for example

  by a temporary stop of the machine.

  In addition, there are other, more

  in the band that may require scrapping

of packages already: filled.

  The products already placed in the cells are usually recovered so that only the packaging is discarded and the products are preserved because they are sometimes very expensive, and are put back into the production cycle. The most convenient method for this recovery is the manual emptying of already sealed and cut packages after they have been scrapped.

by the filling machine.

  Some devices have been made for the emptying of bonded film packaging, already sealed and

  discarded by the filling machine.

  Obviously, the assignment of staff to the recovery

  packaging products manually reduces the profit from the recovered products to almost zero. Machines destined to empty already sealed packages have structures

  complicated which therefore have obvious disadvantages.

  Various types of assemblies have already been made to eliminate these problems and allow the emptying of the cells already filled but not yet sealed, into sections corresponding to packages which must then be discarded, with subsequent recovery of the products placed at the disposal. inside. These sets, arranged

  after the feeding device and before the feeding station

  application of the sealing film of the cell, ensure suction of the products outside the cells or their fall by a slot whose opening is properly synchronized with the movement of the strip. The slot is

  find a location that corresponds to a vertical loop

  slippery surface, in particular in a region of the surface in which the strip is returned with its

upper side down.

  These sets have obvious disadvantages, especially in the case of the type which causes a fall in

  products and in which the slot, during the iron phase,

  can break up products that are only

  ejection from the alveoli, so that the

  The breakdown of the disaggregated products is compromised and the proper slipping of the strip can also be prevented (causing the machine to jam). In addition, it is obviously very desirable to handle the products as little as possible because they are often fragile and can be deteriorated or peeled even under the action of weak shocks. It is obvious that the arrangement of the products in the cells, their extraction and their insertion into other cells contribute to increasing the risk of deterioration of the product and are undesirable in all.

cases.

  The invention relates to the construction of an apparatus for preventing the supply of products of the regions of the strip which must be subsequently discarded, so that the repeated handling of products which

  should be otherwise extracted, is avoided.

  The invention also relates to a construction apparatus

  a simple but effective and reliable

  profitability to the above problems.

  The invention also relates to an apparatus which prevents the disintegration of the products during its operation. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for temporary interruption of the supply of products which must be placed in corresponding cells formed on a strip, in a machine for filling a strip of cells, the machine comprising in particular a sliding surface on which the strip having the cells slides

  in a predetermined direction, and a first feeding device

  product, this first device being placed

  above the aforementioned slip surface and work-

  lant above it; the apparatus, secured to the structure of the machine, comprises a slide connected to said surface by slideways and intended to move along a predetermined length in opposite directions,

  forward and backward respectively, parallel-

  the direction of sliding of the web between two limit positions, a working position and a rest position respectively, a second device for positioning the slide in the working position, a third device for intercepting the products coming out of the first feeding device, the third device being attached to the slider and working with the supply duct of the first device so that when the slider is placed in the working position, it causes the interruption of the supply of products, a fourth device for moving the slide towards

  its resting position, the feeding of products recom-

  then, and a fifth device intended to provoke

  activate the second positioning device and

  fourth positioning device.

  As can be noted from the description that

  precedes, the device does not cause the emptying of the cells already filled, because this would require the handling of extracted products, and instead avoids the filling

  prior to the cells that should be emptied.

  This optimizes the operation of the filling machine.

  wise, without the necessary facilities for the delivery

  products in the work cycle are needed.

  In addition to the simple construction and operation of the device, it is clear that it has a favorable effect on operating costs and subsequent maintenance costs, and that the number of products that can be deteriorated during the phase without filling

is reduced.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  tion will become more apparent from the following description,

  with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an apparatus according to the invention and a part of the filling machine with which it is intended to cooperate; Figures 2 and 3 are sections of the apparatus of

  Figure 1 along the lines II-II and III-III respectively

  tively; and FIG. 4 is a section of a detail of the apparatus,

  along the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

  In the figures, reference numeral 1 designates a surface

  slip on which a strip 2 of a thermal material

  moformable is drawn longitudinally, in the prede-

  A. The sliding surface 1 is integral with the structure 5 of a filling machine which is not shown because it is already known and which is of the type

  described in the introduction to this memo.

  Pellets 3 have been formed on the strip 2 at a thermoforming station (not shown) and slide in the grooves 7 formed on the surface 1. A device 10 of known type ensures the advance of the products 4 at the station P of

  filling of the cells 3 with these products.

  tif 10 can be for example of the type indicated in the introduction

  duction. A supply duct 11, forming part of the supply device and by which the products 4 are

  distributed, consists of a number of

  The number of channels depends on the number of longitudinal rows of cells 3 formed on the strip 2, i.e.

  channel is present for each row.

  As clearly shown in Figure 2, the strip 2 has several groups of rows of cells placed side by side so that several packages in bonded film

  at the same time: the particular case

  felt corresponds to the manufacture of two packs

  at the same time. The feed duct 11 leads directly

  above the band 2 so that the distance between its lower edge and the surface of the band

  is less than the thickness of a product 4.

  The products thus aligned in the channel then come out one by one when the cells 3 pass under the

  exit, and on the contrary, they are stopped when

  bandages between one cell and the next

pass under the canal.

  The apparatus according to the invention works in cooperation with

  This apparatus essentially consists of a slider 60 connected to the surface 1 so that it can move a predetermined length in opposite directions, towards the rear R and towards the front V respectively, in a direction parallel to

  sliding direction of the strip 2.

  The slide 60 moves along slides formed of two horizontal bars 13 and 14, held by two supports at their ends, a front support 15 and a rear support 16 respectively (taking into account the sliding direction A of the band); these supports are formed of two fixed parallelepipedal metal bars. The two supports 15 and 16 are each integral, at one of their ends, with the ends of a plate 17 fixed for example by screws 18 to the structure 5 of the filling machine, so that the supports 15 and 16 located in vertical and transverse planes at

  the sliding surface 1, below it.

  The slider 60, formed of an element having a shape

  essentially parallelepipedic, carries a cylindrical rod

  61 integral with its rear face and placed with its axis parallel to the surface 1, this rod passing through a

  corresponding hole formed in the rear support 16.

  Two rings defining shoulders, a first 63 placed at the front and a second 64 placed at the rear, are fixed to the rod 61, at a convenient distance from each other, on either side of the support 16. The role of the two rings 63 and 64 is to limit the travel of the slider by determining two limit positions, for the latter, a working position T (shown in broken lines) and a rest position E (shown in solid lines in Figure 3). The front face of the slider 60 cooperates with the free end of the shaft 42 of a pneumatic cylinder 41,

  attached to the outside of the front support 15 and placed parallel-

  1. The role of the cylinder 41 constituting the device designated by the reference 40 on

  FIG. 1 is to move the slider 60 towards the position

  resting E after the devices 20 and 25 described hereinafter have caused the slider 60 to move to the working position T. The slider 60 finally has a cross member 62 which is placed just above the strip 2, in position transverse to it. The crossmember 62 is connected to the slider 60 by two sections 67 and 68 formed for example

  of metal and which are integral with the ends of the

  are poured and are connected to the two outer ends of the slider 60, placed on both sides of the surface 1. The cross-member 62 supports a device 30 intended to prevent

  the advance of the products 4 leaving the conduit 11 of

  tion. This device 30 comprises a thin plate 31 fixed to the cross member 62 in a manner already known and parallel to the

sliding surface 1.

  The thickness of the plate allows its displacement in the space formed between the surface 1 and the lower edge of the duct 11, when the slide is in the working position T. When the slide is in the latter position and the thin plate is placed between the duct 11 and the band 2, the products 4 aligned in the same way.

  duit can not go out and are retained in this posi-

  until the slide is returned to the

  rest position E by cylinder 41.

  The devices 20 and 25 indicated above consist of an element 23 which is placed in a slot 24 formed on the surface 1, for example in the region between two sets of slots 7 corresponding to two groups of rows of cells 3, and which can move in such a slot, and a second pneumatic cylinder 21 placed on

  the slide 60 between the latter and the surface 1.

  The shaft 22 of the jack 21, turned towards the surface 1, acts, via the element 23, directly on the strip itself by applying a pressure to a corresponding section of strip against the cross member 62 placed over the band. When the jack 21 is controlled, the band is stopped between the element 23 and the cross member 62, so that the slider 60 advances in synchronism with the advance of the strip 2 in the direction A. The apparatus further comprises devices 50 and 55 for causing the flow of the operation of the two cylinders and accordingly to position the slide 60 in the working position T, with interruption of the advance of the products 4, or in the rest position E, with recovery of advance. The devices 50 and 55 are formed of a photosensitive cell 51 which can detect

  any defect of the band 2 and a proximity sensor 52.

  The cell 51 is placed before the filling station P and

  detects any defect in the tape, for example changes

  2, these defects being due either to a connection formed between two strip sections, or to stopping the defective strip section during the heating step of the thermoforming station for a length of time

26 # 1520

  time. When the photosensitive cell detects such defects, it transmits a signal to an electronic control unit (not shown because it is of known type) which, with a suitable delay, ensures the operation of the cylinder 21. The slide 60 and As a result, the thin plate 31 moves forward in synchronism with the strip 2, being pulled by it, so that the thin plate 31 closes the product supply duct 11. defective strip section, which must then be discarded, passes to the filling station P. It should be noted in this regard that, for the advance of the products 4 ceases, it is sufficient that the edge of the thin plate 31 exceeds the central axis of the duct 11, so that

  total closure is not necessarily necessary.

  The arrival at the operating limit position T is detected by the proximity sensor 52 which is fixed by a bracket 53 to the front support 15. The sensor therefore detects the arrival at the position T of the slider 60 and allows, by the intermediate of the electronic control unit, the deactivation of the cylinder 21. As a result, the slide is stopped at the position T.

  A small cylinder 65 placed in a corresponding seat

  it is made in the rear support 16 above the rod 61, is pushed by a spring 66, for example of the blade type, against a flat formed on the rod 61 so that

  the undesirable oscillations of the slide 60 are evident

  after being abruptly stopped by the impact of the rear shoulder ring 64 against the rear support 16. The friction of the cylinder 65 on the flat is sufficient for

  the damping of these oscillations.

  When the photosensitive cell detects the return

  of band 2 under normal conditions, the entire

  order tronic, with a suitable delay, order

  cylinder 41 so that the slider 60 returns to the position

  The thin plate 31 leaves the exit of the

  led 11 and the advance of products 4 recommences normal-

  so that the products fill the cells 3.

  In addition, a second photosensitive cell 54 may be mounted along the strand formed by the metal film 6 which must be applied to the cell strip 2 so that the cells 3 are closed, at a station M (shown schematically on the figure 1). When the cell 54 detects the passage of a suitably marked connection between two successive metal films, it functions in the same way as the cell 51 and causes the stopping of

advance of products 4.

  The photosensitive cell 54 may be mounted so that the length of the metal film 6 between it and the application station M of the film 6 is equal to the length of the cell strip 2 between the cell 51 and the same station M applying the metal film 6; in this

  In this case, the cell will close the output of the con-

  11 by means of the same components which are already connected to the photosensitive cell 51, that is to say that the output of the duct 11 is closed with the same delay,

  after the passage of the connection of the film 6, after the detection

made by cell 51.

  In the case where the lengths of the sections of the

  band 2 and the film 6 respectively between

  The corresponding units 51 and 54 and the item M are

  special delay electronic circuits must be used for the device to operate

suitable manner indicated.

  In the case of certain products, it may be necessary to use an inclined supply duct as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 12. In this case, the plate represented in FIG. reference 32 must be of suitable length, that is, it may be

longer.

  It is understood that the foregoing description

  is only an example because many variants are possible, and include in particular the use of a more

  large number of rows of cells.

  Of course, various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the apparatuses which have just been described solely as non-limiting examples.

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

  1. Apparatus for temporary interruption of the food   products to be placed in corresponding cells formed on a strip, in a machine for filling a strip of cells, the machine comprising in particular a sliding surface (1) on which the   band (2) having the cells (3) slides in a prede-   completed (A), and a first power supply device (10)   in products (4), this first device being placed   above the aforementioned sliding surface (1) and work-   above the latter, the apparatus, secured to the structure (5) of the machine being characterized in that   it comprises a slider (60) connected to the precise surface   (1) by slides (13, 14) and intended to move   on a predetermined length in opposite directions (V forward and R backward), parallel to the sliding direction of the web (2) between two limit positions, a working position (T) and a position of rests)   respectively, a second device (20) for posi-   move the slide (60) into the second position of   (T), a third device (30) for inter-   cepter the products (4) leaving the first feeder (10), the third device (30) being attached to the slider (60) and working with the supply duct (11) of the first device (10) so that, when the slider (60) is placed in the working position   (T), it causes the power supply to   (4), a fourth device (40) for moving   the slider (60) towards its rest position (E), the food   then starting with a fifth device (50, 55) for activating the second positioning device (20) and the fourth positioning device (40).   2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in   the second device (20) comprises a sixth device   device (25) for causing the temporary mechanical connection of the slider (60) and the aforesaid strip (2) so that the slider (60) is moved forward (V) in synchronism with the displacement of the strip (2). ) until the slider (60) reaches the working position (T). Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that   the sixth device (25) comprises a pneumatic cylinder   tick (21) placed on the slider (60) below said surface (1), its shaft (22) facing this   surface (1), this sixth device acting, through   diary of an element (23) placed inside a slot of said surface (1), on the strip (2) so that it is pressed against a cross member (62) made integral with the   slide (60) by two sections (67, 68) and disposed   above the surface (1) and the strip (2).   4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the third device (30) for intercepting the products (4) is constituted by a plate (31, 32) intended to be parallel to said surface (1), one sides of the   plate being attached to a cross-member (62) which is made   slide the slide (60) by two sections (67, 68) and.   passing over said surface (1) and the strip (2), the plate (31, 32) being intended to be displaced between the lower edge of the supply duct (11) and the strip   (2) to intercept products (4) that are advancing.   5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the fourth device (40) consists of a   pneumatic cylinder (41) fixed to said surface (1) parallel-   to the latter and whose shaft (42) acts on the slide (60). 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the slides (13, 14) consist of two bars (13, 14) passing in respective seats formed on the slide (60), the bars being held at their ends by two supports, a front support (15) and a rear support (16) which are integral with the structure (5) of the machine, so that the slides are placed   under said surface (1) and parallel thereto.   7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the front supports (15) and rear (16) are formed by two parallel parallelepipedal metal bars parallel to each other fixed by their ends to the ends of a plate (17). ) which is also fixed to the structure (5). 8. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the fourth device (40) for positioning the slider (60) comprises a pneumatic cylinder (41) fixed to the front support (15) and whose shaft (42) passes through a hole formed in this front support (15) so that it acts on the slide (60).   9. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that a rod (61) is integral with the slide (60) and passes through a hole formed in the rear support (16), the rod comprising two shoulder rings, a ring front (63) and a rear ring (64) placed on the rod on either side of the rear support (16) so that the rings determine the two limit positions of the slide (60),   a working position (T) and a rest position (E).   10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that a small cylinder (65) placed in a corresponding housing formed in the rear support, is held against the rod (61) by an elastic device   (66) so that the slider (60) does not undergo oscilla- adverse reactions.   Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the elastic device (66) is formed of a leaf spring.   Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized   in that a dish is formed in the region of the shank (61) -   which is braked by the small cylinder (65).   13. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the fifth device (50, 55) comprises a photosensitive cell (51) placed upstream of the station of   filling (P) and intended to detect faults   webs (2) and a proximity sensor (52) fixed to the structure (5) of the machine and intended to detect the szszezvp: u8Tos (g) s; Ts sSOons senbTTIT mw swITT xnap eA ue spaoioez sel anb 9TIS ST a9.Tuem aun, p '(E) saoT0AT2 SalT zmaaG, 9uTsap Zue9 mTT ao' SATovITQ, p apumq rT ans (9) anbT1TT mw wmTT; a.p uoT4eoTIddep (w) aesod a.UmAe aeVOed u249 (PS) alqTs -ueso; oqd SInTIaO apuoDas eT '(z) SaTO9ATE.P spueq UT' P sTsnsuag s; ################################################################## 01 ap aosod sT Sueae aeoeTd Sue; 9 (Ig) eTqTsues8oZod sInTSo elaTmead UT '(L) tT9Ae: $ ap eTwMTTI uOTTsod UT V (09) nes -sTTnoo np souesad el s $; ZDep ITnb uT; e euToeu el op (gS ) alnZonals and V 9xT; (z5) 94TwTxoad sp inazdeo an e '(pS) epuooes sun its (IS) aegTwazd sun' saiqFsuesooqd seTnuTo S xnep 94lodmoo (SS 'OS); T; -sodsTp amuTnbuyo and enb ao ua 9sTZ9a; De.eD' IoTseoTpuaaaz el uoTBS IaTeeddy '1' - (&) TeaUZ1 ap Tm.ITT uoTzTsod and V (09) nesssHInoo np eoueszd SlT OZSL 9z