FR2772001A1 - PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR JOINING LOTS OF ALIGNED ARTICLES BY MEANS OF ADHESIVE TAPES WITH FLAPS - Google Patents

Abstract

The method consists, by stopping the upstream conveyor (B), while keeping the downstream conveyor (C) in operation, in spacing the articles (2a, 2b) forming a batch (A), only after they are linked by the adhesive strips (3), then, after stopping the downstream conveyor (C), to apply the strips (3) to the first article of the following batch, to cut them, and to fold back the cut ends. In the installation, each of the rollers (23) for returning the adhesive strips (3) is carried by means (27) capable of moving it transversely so that, at least in the phase of cutting the adhesive strips, it applies and clamps the strip (3) against the first article (2c) of the following batch, then stopped on the upstream conveyor (B). After severing of the bands (3), the ends of these are folded by brushes on the articles in vis-à-vis.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an installation for bringing together

lots of items aligned, at

  by means of sections of adhesive strips with flaps.

  Currently to make batches of several articles, such as bottles or cans, the articles are arranged in a continuous line on an upstream conveyor bringing them to means spacing two, three or four articles from the rest of the line to form a batch, then this batch is brought, by a downstream conveyor, to a station for gathering articles, where means apply two sections of adhesive strips to them. Each section extends

  between a front end, folded against the front part of the first article in the batch, and a rear end, folded against the rear part of the last article in this batch.

  Most current devices implement

  applying the means described in the French patent FR-

  A-1 474 009, that is to say comprising in addition to the aforementioned conveyors: - means which, arranged on either side of the trajectory of movement of the articles, each deliver an adhesive tape unwinding from a reel, and each comprise, on the one hand, a deflection roller and plating of the corresponding strip against one of the longitudinal faces of the lots, and, on the other hand, a strip cutting knife in the meantime between two batches, this knife being provided with means for folding the ends of the strips onto the batches, - a set of monitoring and control of these various means, - and at least one sensor detecting the passage of the articles and reacting on the set of control and command to interrupt the movement of the downstream conveyor and trigger the movement of the sectioning knives

tapes.

  Under these conditions, when vertical articles receive connecting strips and during the sectioning of these strips, they are simply supported by their base on the downstream conveyor. As a result, under the forces they receive, they can tilt to one side or the other, of a greater or lesser value, but still sufficient to modify the vertical positioning of one or both bands. adhesives and, consequently, the aesthetic appearance of the lot. In addition, if one of the articles of a batch is not perfectly pressed against the other articles of the same batch, the fitting of the adhesive strips does not remove this defect, so that the final batch retains this defect , lack of rigidity and must be rejected, since out of the overpack format and

unsightly.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a method and an installation making it possible to remedy these drawbacks. The method according to the invention consists in: - depositing the adhesive strips on two opposite sides of the scrolling articles composing a batch, but while they are still in continuous line, - spacing the articles, composing a batch, from the first article of the next batch, before this first article is in contact with the adhesive strips, temporarily stopping the upstream conveyor, - temporarily stopping the downstream conveyor and applying the adhesive strips to the front end of the first article of the next batch, - and in a known manner, to carry out, in the interval between the batch and the first article of the following batch, the cutting of the adhesive strips and the folding of their ends on the articles, before

  restart the two conveyors.

  Thanks to this, when the adhesive strips are placed on the articles, they are pushed mechanically by the articles which follow them, so that it is not possible for articles from a batch to be spaced. The bonding by the adhesive strips of the articles forming the first batch with the first article of the following batch5, improves the stability of the articles, avoids the variations in vertical positioning of the adhesive strips and improves the sectioning, since this is carried out while each strip is perfectly held by its adhesion on the articles delimiting the interval between10 the batch and the line of articles. This guarantees the regularity of the longitudinal positioning of the sections of adhesive strip on the articles of the batch and allows the use of pre-printed strips requiring cutting and

precise positioning.

  In its application to the batching of cylindrical articles, this method also consists, after the batching phase, by stopping the upstream conveyor, in moving each of the return rolls of the adhesive strips, from a return position, into which it returns this strip on a tangent trajectory to the articles, to a plating position in which this roll intersects the normal trajectory of the adhesive strip and pinches it on the front part of the first article of the next batch, waiting in the conveyor upstream, then, after sectioning the strip, bringing the

  roller to its original return position.

  Thus the deflection rollers not only ensure the return of the adhesive strips by communicating to them a trajectory parallel to that of movement of the articles and by pressing them against these articles, but also, before cutting, the plating of these strips on the upstream part of the first article following a batch and pinching these bands on the article,

  to improve their retention during sectioning.

  In its application to the batching of rectangular articles, this method consists, simultaneously with the stopping of the upstream conveyor, in moving each of the rollers for returning the adhesive strips between a return position, in which this roller returns the adhesive strip on a trajectory parallel to that of the articles, and in a recessed position, in which the adhesive strip describes a trajectory which, inclined with respect to that of displacement of the batch, goes towards it from the deflection roller up to to the last article in the batch being formed, then, after stopping the batch and 10 before actuating the knives, to bring each roll to its initial position for returning the adhesive tape and plating it on the first article of the following batch . The displacement of the rollers moves them transversely from the sides of the waiting articles, so that the adhesive strips, which will be pulled by the advancement of the batch on the downstream conveyor, cannot come into contact with the flanks of the first article of the following batch, then at rest on the conveyor, upstream stopped. As soon as the spacing of the batch in relation to the next waiting article has reached the required value, the downstream conveyor is stopped and, simultaneously, the rollers return to their initial return position by plating the adhesive strips on the first article. This plating favors the sectioning of the bands, and then makes it possible to link these bands with the first article, thereby preparing the

  next cycle. The invention also relates to the installation making it possible to ensure this batch meeting.

  In this installation, the deflection rollers and the knives are arranged substantially in the transition zone between the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor, while, on the one hand, the supply of the motor means of the upstream conveyor is dependent, through the control and command assembly, of a sensor cutting off this supply when the first article of a batch in formation is passed over the downstream conveyor, and that,

  on the other hand, each of the rollers is carried by means movable transversely and in both directions, from a return position, in which this roller5 returns the adhesive strip on a path parallel to that of the articles in movement.

  When the two upstream and downstream conveyors stop, that is to say after the space between the batch being formed and the first next item has been formed, and before the adhesive strips are cut, the rollers ensuring the return adhesive tapes are moved in the direction of the first item in the next batch in order to place the adhesive tapes on it and pinch these tapes so that

  to favor the cutting by the knives.

  Other features and benefits

  will emerge from the description which follows, with reference to

  schematic appended drawing representing by way of example,

  an embodiment of the installation according to the invention.

  Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a batch of two cylindrical articles joined by the installation

according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is a plan view from above

the whole installation.

  Figure 3 is a partial plan view from above showing, on an enlarged scale, the area of the installation ensuring the separation of lots, when this

installation is at the end of the cycle.

  Figures 4, 5 and 6 are partial plan views from above showing three of the phases of a cycle of

batch formation.

  Figures 7 and 8 are partial plan views from above corresponding to the phases of Figures 4 and 5, but in the case where the same installation ensures the implementation

lot of rectangular items.

  As shown in Figure 1, the invention aims to ensure the batching of several cylindrical elements 2, such as two cylindrical boxes 2a, 2b, by means of two sections 3a of adhesive strips 3, the ends, respectively, before 4 and rear 5, are folded over the extreme elements composing the batch A. The installation ensuring this batching comprises, as shown in FIG. 2, an upstream conveyor B, a downstream conveyor C and, in the transition zone between these two conveyors and on either side of the path of movement of the cylindrical articles 2,

  two sub-assemblies D, delivering adhesive tapes 3.

  In the embodiment shown, the upstream feed conveyor B is composed of a longitudinal and horizontal conveyor 6, carrying horizontal and transverse rollers 7, mounted to rotate freely, and two belt conveyors B1, B2. Each of these belt conveyors is composed of a drive roller 8, a deflection roller 9 and one or more endless belts 10, circulating around these rollers. The strands facing the conveyor belts are parallel and spaced by the value of the diameter of the cylindrical articles

  to be driven, in the direction of arrow 11.

  Each of the motors 8a of the motor rollers 8 is supplied by an electric circuit 12, under the control of a

  command and control unit 13.

  The downstream conveyor C, which can be of the same type as the conveyor B, is shown here as being a belt conveyor 14 whose upper strand is horizontal

  and is an extension of the conveyor 6 to rollers 7.

  This strip describes an endless path around a drive roller 15 and a deflection roller, not shown. The drive roller 15 is driven by a motor 16 whose power is supplied by a circuit 17

going to the control unit 13.

  Each of the sub-assemblies D comprises a reel 20, motorized or not, for a reel 22 of adhesive tape

  3, a deflection and plating roller 23 and a knife 24.

  FIGS. 2 and 3 show that the rollers and the knife 24 are arranged downstream of the upstream conveyor B and in the transition zone between this conveyor B and the downstream conveyor C. Each return roller 23 is supported by means capable of move transversely and in both directions between, a return position, shown in FIG. 2, in which it allows the strip 3 to tangent the articles 2 in movement, and a plating position, shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, and in which this roller partially intersects the trajectory of the containers and comes to bear on the article 2c projecting from the upstream conveyors B. More precisely and as shown in FIG. 3, each of the rollers 23 is mounted to rotate freely in a yoke 25 provided at the free end of the rod 26 of a pneumatic cylinder 27. This cylinder is fixed to an element 28 of the frame of the installation and is supplied by a pneumatic circuit through a solenoid valve 29 controlled by the control unit 13. A support 30, carrying the knife 24, is also wedged at the end of

  the rod 32 of a pneumatic cylinder 33, fixed to the element 28 of the frame.

  This pneumatic cylinder 33 is supplied by a pneumatic circuit by means of a solenoid valve 34 which, independent of that 29, is connected by a circuit

  electric to the control unit 13.

  The support 30 laterally carries two brushes 35

  the usefulness of which will be specified later.

  Finally, this installation comprises two sensors, respectively upstream 37 and downstream 38, each connected by a circuit suitable for the control unit 13. These sensors are fixed in an adjustable manner on a support, not shown, and are intended to detect the passage of the first element 2a of a batch being formed to trigger functions which will now be described. When the installation is at the start of the cycle, as shown in Figure 3, the upstream B and downstream C conveyors are in motion at the same speed. The return rollers 23 are in the return position and the knives 24

are in the back position.

  The belt conveyors B1 and B2 move the articles 2 in a continuous file in the direction of the arrow 11 and therefore tend to drive the first article 2a onto the downstream conveyor C. This article 2a being bonded by adhesion to the ends 4 of the adhesive tapes 3 , folded over him during the production of the previous batch, its movement in the direction of arrow 11, FIG. 2, carries with it the adhesive strips 3. The rollers 23 press these strips onto the various elements making up the batch and,

  for example, on articles 2a and 2b.

  When, as shown in FIG. 2, article 2a is detected by the upstream sensor 37, the control unit 13 interrupts the supply of the motors 8a of the belt conveyors B1 and B2. The downstream conveyor C continuing to drive the articles 2a 2b forming a batch A, there is formed, between this batch and the article 2c of the following batch, an interval E favoring the subsequent cutting of the two

ribbons 3.

  The length of this interval is adjustable and determined by the longitudinal position of the downstream sensor 38, since the latter cuts off the supply to the motor 16 for driving the downstream conveyor C, when the first article 2a of lot A passes in front of it, as shown to the

figure 4.

  The sensor 38 also triggers, by the solenoid valve 29, the supply of the jacks 27 in the direction of their extension to transversely move the return rollers 23 from their return position to their

plating position.

  Thus the rollers 23 come, as shown in FIG. 5, to press and pinch the adhesive strips 3 on the front part of the article 2c projecting from the conveyors B1 and B2. Immediately thereafter, the housing 13 controls the solenoid valves 34, so that they supply the jacks 33 in the direction of the transverse movement of the knives 24 towards one another. In a first phase, each knife cuts the strip 3 in its part 3b which is perfectly positioned by adhesion to the articles 2b and 2c. In a second step, and therefore after obtaining the sections 3a of adhesive strip, the brushes 35, carried by the support 30 of each knife, fold back and flatten the cut ends 4 of the strips 3 backwards, against the front face of the 'item 2c, and, towards the front, the rear ends 5 of the strip sections 3a, connecting the elements of the lot, against the rear part of the rear item 2b of this lot (Figure 6). At the end of this operation, the control and command assembly 13 controls the return of the rollers 23 and the knives 24 to their initial positions, respectively, of return and

  wait, and a new cycle begins again.

  It will be noted that, unlike the current methods and installations separating the elements of a batch before joining them by adhesive tapes, the method and the installation according to the invention ensure this separation only after the elements of the batch are already joined together by the adhesive strips, which provide

many advantages.

  The first results from the certainty of obtaining, in each batch, cylindrical elements in contact, and this thanks to the upstream conveyor B pushing, against each other and continuously, the elements making up the line of articles, since those -these are gradually pushed into the kind of loop formed by the two adhesive strips. This absence of space between articles improves the rigidity of the batches obtained, guarantees the longitudinal positioning of the strips and, consequently, the repetitiveness of the bulk and the aesthetic appearance of the batches. As for cutting the strips by means of a knife acting on a section held by these two ends, it makes it possible to obtain frank, clean and

perfectly positioned.

  The same installation can also ensure the batching of rectangular articles 102a, 102b, 102c, ..., with a few adaptations of its control assembly

  13 and sub-phases of its basic process.

  In this application and as shown in FIG. 7, the batching of the articles 102a, 102b is also carried out by stopping the only upstream conveyor B, and displacement of the articles under the control of the sensors 37 and 38, but the rollers 23 are moved differently . In fact, the upstream sensor 37, at the same time as it controls the stopping of the upstream conveyor B, through the control and command assembly 13, also controls the actuation of the solenoid valves 29, in the direction of retraction. cylinders 27, in order to bring the return rollers 23 from their normal return position to a withdrawal position. In it, and as shown in FIG. 7, the adhesive strips 3 which are pulled by the articles of lot A ′, and possibly aided by the motorized reels 20, describe an inclined trajectory 3d which is approaching the normal trajectory, therefore from the sides of the articles, going from the roll 23 to the side of the last article 102 b of lot A '. As a result, the strips are transversely spaced from the sides of the next article 102c and do not risk sticking to these sides during the spacing of the articles forming the batch A '. As soon as article 102a is detected by the downstream sensor 38, the latter controls, in addition to stopping the downstream conveyor C and, if necessary, reels 20, firstly, the solenoid valves 29, then the solenoid valves 34, in the direction of the extension of cylinders 27 and 33. Therefore, the

  rollers 23 return to their initial return position and press the adhesive strips 3 on the sides of the waiting article 102c (Fig. 8), before the cutting operation by the knives 24 and the folding operation by the brushes 25.

  The method and the installation which have just been described can also be applied to batching by means of adhesive tapes respectively, upper and lower, by means of a modification of the angular position of the sub-assemblies D delivering the adhesive tapes.

Claims (6)

  1 / Method for bringing together aligned articles in a continuous line, by means of sections of adhesive strips with flaps comprising: - a batching phase, - a phase of depositing two adhesive strips on two opposite longitudinal sides of the articles of a batch, - a sectioning phase, in each strip, of the section connecting the articles of a batch, - a phase of folding down on the articles of the sectioned ends of the sections and strips, characterized in that it consists : - to deposit the adhesive strips (3) on two opposite sides of the articles (2a, 2b) in scrolling making up a lot A, but while they are still in continuous file, - to space the articles (2a, 2b), composing a batch (A), of the first article (2c) of the following batch, before this first article (2c) is in contact with the adhesive strips (3), temporarily stopping the upstream conveyor (B), moving the line d 'articles, - to temporarily stop the downstream conveyor (C ) moving the batches (A) and applying the adhesive strips (3) to the front end of the first article (2c) of the next batch, - and, in known manner, to be carried out in the interval (E) between the lot (A) and the line of articles (2a, 2b), the cutting of the adhesive strips (3) and the folding of their ends (4 and 5) on the articles, before putting the two conveyors back into operation (A and C).   2 / A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists, after the batching phase of cylindrical articles, in moving each of the rollers (23) for returning the adhesive tapes (3), from a return position , in which it returns this strip on a path tangent to the articles, in a plating position, in which this roller (23) intersects the normal trajectory of the adhesive strip (3) and pinches it on the front part of the first article (2c) of the next batch, waiting in the upstream conveyor, then, after cutting the strip 3, bringing the roll   (23) to its original return position.   3 / A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists, during the batching phase of rectangular articles and simultaneously with the stopping of the upstream conveyor (B), to move each of the return rollers (23) adhesive strips (3) between a return position, in which this roller (23) returns the adhesive strip (3) on a path parallel to that of the articles, and a recessed position, in which the adhesive strip (3) describes a trajectory (3d) which, inclined with respect to that of displacement of the batch (A '), approaches it from the deflection roller (23) to the last article (102b) of the batch (A' ) during formation, then, after stopping the batch and before actuating the knives (24), bringing each roller (23) to its initial position for returning and placing the adhesive tape on the first article (102c) of the batch following. 4 / Installation for the implementation of the method according to claim 1 comprising: - an upstream feed conveyor (B) moving the articles in a continuous line, - a downstream conveyor (C) for evacuating batches, arranged in the extension of the upstream conveyor (B), - means which, disposed on either side of the trajectory of movement of the articles, each deliver an adhesive strip (3) unwinding from a reel (22), and each comprise , on the one hand, a roller (23) for returning and plating the corresponding strip (3) against one of the longitudinal faces of the lots (A), and, on the other hand, a cutting knife (24) of the strip (3) in the interval (E) between two batches, this knife being provided with means (35) for folding the ends (4,5) of the strips on the batches, 5 - a control assembly (13) and for controlling these various means, - and at least one downstream sensor (38) detecting the passage of the articles (2a, 2b) and reacting on the assembly of c control and control (13) to interrupt the movement of the downstream conveyor (C) and trigger the movement of the strip cutting knives (24), characterized in that the deflection rollers (23) and the knives (24) are arranged substantially in the transition zone between the upstream conveyor (B) and the downstream conveyor (C), while, on the one hand, the supply of the motor means of the upstream conveyor (B) is dependent, through the 'assembly (13) of control and command, of an upstream sensor (37) cutting this supply to the passage of the first article (2a) of a batch 20 (A) in formation on the downstream conveyor (C), and that, on the other hand, each of the rollers (23) is carried by means (25, 26) movable transversely and in both directions from a return position, in which this roller returns the adhesive strip (3) on a trajectory parallel to that of the moving articles (2a, 2b). / Installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the upstream conveyor (B) comprises, on the one hand, a horizontal conveyor (6) carrying rollers (7) free in rotation and extending to the downstream conveyor (C ) and, on the other hand, two lateral elements (B1, B2) which, arranged on either side and above this horizontal conveyor (6), are each composed of endless motorized belts (10) whose strands opposite are parallel and spaced dE substantially   the thickness of the articles (2a, 2b) of a batch (A).   6 / installation according to claim 4, characterized in that each deflection roller (23) is mounted free in rotation in a yoke (25) integral with the free end of the rod (26) of a pneumatic cylinder5 (27) , while each knife (24) is wedged at the free end of the rod (32) of another pneumatic cylinder (33), the supply of which is separate from that of the jack (27).   7 / Installation according to all   claims 4 and 6, characterized in that   supplying the pneumatic cylinder (27) of each roller (23) in the direction of its extension, to bring the roller (23) into its position for pressing and pinching the adhesive strip, on the upstream part of the first cylindrical article of the next batch, is controlled by the downstream sensor (38), triggering, also, but after, the actuation of the knives (24), while the supply of this jack (27), in the direction of its retraction, for return the roller (23) to its return position, is triggered by the control and control (13).   8 / Installation according to all   claims 4 and 6, characterized in that   the supply of the pneumatic cylinder (27) of each roller (23) in the direction of its extension, to bring the roller (23) into a withdrawal position, in which the adhesive strip is removed from the rectangular articles of the next batch, is controlled by the upstream sensor (37), simultaneously with the stopping of the upstream conveyor (B), while feeding it in the direction of its extension, to return the roller (23) to its normal return position, is triggered by the downstream sensor (38), simultaneously with the stop of the downstream conveyor (C,) but before actuation of the knives (24).