GB1601931A

GB1601931A - Packaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1601931A
Application number: GB3738/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hulbritt Developments Ltd
Current assignee: Hulbritt Developments Ltd
Priority date: 1977-01-29
Filing date: 1977-01-29
Publication date: 1981-11-04
Also published as: FR2378677A1; IT1092016B; DE2803410A1; NL7800542A; ES466450A1; IT7819527A0; JPS5395788A

Description

(54) PACKAGING APPARATUS (71) We, HULBRITT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED, a British Company of Britannia House, Fleming Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, formerly of Nutts Lane, Hinkley, Leicestershire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for filling a packaging case with articles.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of packaging articles comprising the steps of: (a) collating a layer of articles on a supporting surface; (b) transferring the layer of collated articles from said supporting surface onto a pair of closure members lying in mutual abutting relation, the closure members forming a gate disposed directly above a platform; (c) laterally displacing the closure member members to allow the layer of collated articles to pass therebetween and drop as a layer onto the platform through an open top end of a packing case, the packaging case being erected around the platform such that the platform is supported through an open bottom end of the packaging case; (d) lowering the platform within the packaging case by a predetermined amount; and (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) for subsequent layers of articles.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided packing apparatus when used to perform the method defined in the last preceding paragraph, comprising a supporting surface, means for collating articles to be packaged on the supporting surface, a packaging section including a platform around which a packing case can be erected so that the platform is supported through an open bottom end of the packaging case, and transfer means operable to transfer collated articles from the supporting surface onto a gate disposed directly above the platform, the gate including a pair of closure members which lie in mutual abutting relationship but which can be displaced laterally to allow the collated articles on the gate to pass between the closure members and drop as a layer onto the platform through an open top end of the packaging case, the platform being lowerable within the packaging case by a predetermined amount subsequent to the transfer of a layer of articles into the packaging case.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of packaging apparatus according to the present invention including a collating section and a packaging section; Figure 2 is a side view of the packaging apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative form of collating section; and Figure 4 is a side view of an alternative form of packaging section.

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the articles to be packaged into a case are hermetically sealed sachets or packets, but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted by the nature of the articles to be packaged.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, sachets 10 to be packaged are fed initially to a collating section 12 of the apparatus. The manner in which sachets are fed to the collating section does not form part of the present invention but may consist, for example, of an endless pocketed conveyor (not shown in Figures 1 and 2). An elevator may be associated with the conveyor and caused to move in synchronism therewith, the elevator raising sachets disposed in the conveyor pockets and a pusher arrangement transferring raised sachets to a receiving end of the collating section 12. For ease of illustration in Figures 1 and 2, however, sachets are shown as fed to the collating section on an endless conveyor 14, an end driving wheel of which is designated 16.

The collating section 12 has two counters 24 at the receiving end thereof. A bar 20 (see Figure 2) is normally disposed in a raised position at the receiving end of the collating section to enable the sachets 10 to be received on a supporting surface in pairs, as may be seen in Figure 1. The counters 24, one for each row of sachets, are arranged above the receiving end of the collating section and count the number of sachets received. When the counters count that four pairs of sachets have been received, the pusher bar 20 is lowered to push the sachets forward onto a pair of laterally-displaceable closure members 26 which form a gate. The pusher bar 20 pushes the sachets against a fixed stop 22 as may best be seen from Figure 2. In this position the sachets are not only overlapped but also slightly compressed.

The packaging section of the apparatus is shown generally as 28 and is arranged transversely of the collating section at the output thereof. The packaging section has three stations 30, 32 and 34 and two adjustably-mounted platforms 36 which are displaceable laterally between the three stations, one between stations 30, 32 and the other between stations 32, 34. Mounting an empty packaging case around a platform occurs at stations 30 or 34 as does unloading of a filled packaging case. Filling occurs at the central station 32. Each platform 36 is pivoted at 38 to a support member 40 which is fixed to a piston rod 42 of a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly, the cylinder of which is designated 44.

In operation, sachets 10 are delivered to the receiving end of the collating section with the pusher bar 20 raised above the dotted position shown in Figure 2. The counters 24 count the number of sachets which pass under the pusher bar and when four pairs of sachets have passed, the pusher bar 20 is lowered and pushes sachets in the direction of arrow 'A' towards the output end of the collating section until all eight sachets lie in compressed relationship on the closure members 26.

Whilst this has been occuring, one of platforms 36 has been moved manually by an operative to the station 30, for example.

The operative places an open-ended packaging case 46 around the platform with the lower flaps 48 projecting downwardly. To secure the case around the platform the lower flaps 48 are gripped by a releasable clamp (not shown). The upper flaps 50 are folded outwardly to enable the operative to slide the platform, including the packaging case, to the station 32. In this condition, the open-ended packaging case lies in register with an immediately below the closure members 26.

The platform 36 is then raised within the packaging case by the pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly until it lies at a position immediately beneath the members 26. The members 26 are then displaced to open the gate and enable the eight sachets to fall under the influence of gravity as a layer onto the platform 36. Thereafter the platform is lowered by a depth approximately equal to the overall height of a sachet 10 and the members 26 returned to their original position. thus closing the gate.

Simutlaneously with the lowering of the platform, the pusher bar 20 has returned to its original position to enable a further four pairs of sachets to enter the collating section.

The procedure described previously is then repeated, successive layers of sachets being received into the case through the gate. A counter (not shown) counts the number of layers of sachets passing into the case, the counter giving an alarm when the case has been filled. When the alarm (which may be a buzzer or a light) has operated, the operative moves the platform together with the filled case back to the station 30. At the same time the further platform 36 including a further empty case is moved from station 34 to station 32 for filling. For convenience the two platforms may be coupled together so that movement of one platform moves the other platform automatically.

At station 30 the operative closes the upper case flaps and then pivots the platform including the filled case about the pivot 38 to the position shown dotted at 54 in Figure 2.

At this time the side of the case is received upon an inclined worktable 56 to enable the operative to rotate the case so that it then rests upon closed flaps 50. The other flaps 48, then uppermost, are then closed by the operative and the filled and closed case then removed for storage. This accomplished, the operative then places a further open case around the then empty platform for subsequent filling in the manner described above.

It is to be understood that in the above paragraph the references to an operative closing the case flaps may mean that the flaps are simply folded over, or alternatively, that the flaps are both folded over and sealed down either with adhesive or adhesive tape.

Where the flaps are merely folded over, the case may be passed on to an automatic case sealer for final flap closing.

The use of two adjustably mounted platforms which are horizontally slidable between the three positions shown in the drawings may be likened to a shuttle system, the system enabling the rapid packaging of the sachets or packets.

As an alternative to a platform 36 being located immediately below the closure members 26 prior to the first layer of sachets being loaded into an open-ended case, the platform may be raised to a level approximately one sachet height below the level of the members 26 so that the first layer of sachets fall one sachet height onto the platform.

It is to be understood that whereas the platforms are slidable manually between the stations 30, 32, 34 they could be moved automatically upon receipt of a signal from the counter, which counts the number of layers of sachets. As an alternative to a counter, a microswitch for example may be used to detect the number of layers of sachets present in the case.

An alternative form of collating section is shown in Figure 3, and comprises an overhead collating conveyor 58 which is stepwise driven in the direction of arrow 'B'. The collating conveyor 58 is composed of two spaced endless chains 60 having a plurality of evenly-spaced pusher bars 62a, 62b, 62c etc. extending therebetween. The chains 60 are supported at each end by sprocket wheels 64 each pair being mounted on a spindle 66 supported in bearings 68 (only one shown) at each end thereof. The bearings are mounted above and in spaced relationship to the supporting surface of the collating section by posts 70 (only one shown) which are secured to a main frame of the collating section. One of the spindles 66 is provided with a further sprocket wheel 72 driven by a chain 74, the chain being itself driven by a sprocket wheel 76 mounted on the drive shaft of an electric stepper motor 78.

The collating conveyor 58 replaces the single pusher bar 20 and the counters 24 described with respect to Figure 2. Thus, as one pusher bar 62a assembles four pairs of sachets in overlapped and compressed relationship upon the closure members 26 of the gate, the next downstream pusher bar 62b is moving another four pairs of sachets along the collating section towards the gate. It will be noted that receiving end of the collating section is, in the position illustrated in Figure 3, open to receive two sachets 10 from an endless pocketed conveyor 80 behind the pusher bar 62b, three pairs of sachets already having been received thereon.

The pocketed conveyor is driven in stepwise manner from right to left, as viewed as Figure 3, by means of a sprocket wheel 84, and has an idler wheel designated 86. Individual pockets 82 of the conveyor are each bounded fore and aft by upright partitions 88, and a base portion thereof is formed of longitudinal slats 90 with spaces 92 therebetween. An elevator 93 is provided with a platform 94 which acts through one of the pockets 82 and has a number of slats arranged to pass through the spaces 92 of a pocket 82 when the conveyor is stationary.

The platform 94 is raised by two pairs of arms 96, one pair being mounted on pivots 98 at each side of the conveyor.

In operation, sachets from each pocket are raised by the elevator to the height of the collating section and are pushed into the receiving end of the collating section by a cross pusher 100 slidable on a supporting arm 102.

Figure 4 shows an alternative form of a packaging section which may replace the similar part shown in Figure 2. In Figure 4 a pair of platforms 36 are pivotally and independently mounted on a pair of support members 40. Each support member is mounted on a piston of a piston and cylinder assembly, each cylinder being mounted on a carriage 103 movable transversely of the collating section. The platforms are spaced.

apart by a distance such that when one of them is positioned at one of the stations 30 or 34 the other is positioned at the station 32.

Each platform is pivotable about a pivot 38 by means of a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 104, the cylinder 104a of which is pivotally mounted on the carriage and an extremity 106 of the piston of which is hinged to a platform 36.

The carriage 103 is movable along rails 108 by means of a motor 110 through the agency of a known chain drive 112. Alternatively the carriage 103 may be moved by means of a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly.

A control panel 114 is arranged at an end of the apparatus remote from the pocketed conveyor and two levers 116 are provided, one to control each of the pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies 104 and thus the pivoting of one of the platforms 36.

A presser assembly 119 is mounted above the gate and comprises a plate 120 mounted between two pairs of arms 122 which are mounted on pivots 124 fixed in relation to the collating section main frame. The presser is movable synchronously with the overhead collating conveyor to press a layer of sachets through the gate when the latter is open and compact and settle the sachets against the platform.

It is to be understood that, whereas in the embodiments described above layers of four pairs of sachets are packaged, layers of any number of sachets may be packaged in any number of rows, e.g. one row. In addition, although three stations (i.e. 30, 32, 34) have been described, it is to be understood that only two stations (e.g. 30 and 32 or 32 and 34) may be provided. Moreover, although the several piston and cylinder assemblies shown have been described as pneumatically-operated, they may instead be hydraulicallyoperated for example. Finally, although the packaging case is in the form of a flattened tube prior to erection around the platform 36, it will be understood that the packaging case may instead be in flat form and then folded about the platform by an operative, thereafter a then vertical seam of the case being closed, as for example by adhesive or mechanical fasteners.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of packaging articles com

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. stations 30, 32, 34 they could be moved automatically upon receipt of a signal from the counter, which counts the number of layers of sachets. As an alternative to a counter, a microswitch for example may be used to detect the number of layers of sachets present in the case. An alternative form of collating section is shown in Figure 3, and comprises an overhead collating conveyor 58 which is stepwise driven in the direction of arrow 'B'. The collating conveyor 58 is composed of two spaced endless chains 60 having a plurality of evenly-spaced pusher bars 62a, 62b, 62c etc. extending therebetween. The chains 60 are supported at each end by sprocket wheels 64 each pair being mounted on a spindle 66 supported in bearings 68 (only one shown) at each end thereof. The bearings are mounted above and in spaced relationship to the supporting surface of the collating section by posts 70 (only one shown) which are secured to a main frame of the collating section. One of the spindles 66 is provided with a further sprocket wheel 72 driven by a chain 74, the chain being itself driven by a sprocket wheel 76 mounted on the drive shaft of an electric stepper motor 78. The collating conveyor 58 replaces the single pusher bar 20 and the counters 24 described with respect to Figure 2. Thus, as one pusher bar 62a assembles four pairs of sachets in overlapped and compressed relationship upon the closure members 26 of the gate, the next downstream pusher bar 62b is moving another four pairs of sachets along the collating section towards the gate. It will be noted that receiving end of the collating section is, in the position illustrated in Figure 3, open to receive two sachets 10 from an endless pocketed conveyor 80 behind the pusher bar 62b, three pairs of sachets already having been received thereon. The pocketed conveyor is driven in stepwise manner from right to left, as viewed as Figure 3, by means of a sprocket wheel 84, and has an idler wheel designated 86. Individual pockets 82 of the conveyor are each bounded fore and aft by upright partitions 88, and a base portion thereof is formed of longitudinal slats 90 with spaces 92 therebetween. An elevator 93 is provided with a platform 94 which acts through one of the pockets 82 and has a number of slats arranged to pass through the spaces 92 of a pocket 82 when the conveyor is stationary. The platform 94 is raised by two pairs of arms 96, one pair being mounted on pivots 98 at each side of the conveyor. In operation, sachets from each pocket are raised by the elevator to the height of the collating section and are pushed into the receiving end of the collating section by a cross pusher 100 slidable on a supporting arm 102. Figure 4 shows an alternative form of a packaging section which may replace the similar part shown in Figure 2. In Figure 4 a pair of platforms 36 are pivotally and independently mounted on a pair of support members 40. Each support member is mounted on a piston of a piston and cylinder assembly, each cylinder being mounted on a carriage 103 movable transversely of the collating section. The platforms are spaced. apart by a distance such that when one of them is positioned at one of the stations 30 or 34 the other is positioned at the station 32. Each platform is pivotable about a pivot 38 by means of a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 104, the cylinder 104a of which is pivotally mounted on the carriage and an extremity 106 of the piston of which is hinged to a platform 36. The carriage 103 is movable along rails 108 by means of a motor 110 through the agency of a known chain drive 112. Alternatively the carriage 103 may be moved by means of a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly. A control panel 114 is arranged at an end of the apparatus remote from the pocketed conveyor and two levers 116 are provided, one to control each of the pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies 104 and thus the pivoting of one of the platforms 36. A presser assembly 119 is mounted above the gate and comprises a plate 120 mounted between two pairs of arms 122 which are mounted on pivots 124 fixed in relation to the collating section main frame. The presser is movable synchronously with the overhead collating conveyor to press a layer of sachets through the gate when the latter is open and compact and settle the sachets against the platform. It is to be understood that, whereas in the embodiments described above layers of four pairs of sachets are packaged, layers of any number of sachets may be packaged in any number of rows, e.g. one row. In addition, although three stations (i.e. 30, 32, 34) have been described, it is to be understood that only two stations (e.g. 30 and 32 or 32 and 34) may be provided. Moreover, although the several piston and cylinder assemblies shown have been described as pneumatically-operated, they may instead be hydraulicallyoperated for example. Finally, although the packaging case is in the form of a flattened tube prior to erection around the platform 36, it will be understood that the packaging case may instead be in flat form and then folded about the platform by an operative, thereafter a then vertical seam of the case being closed, as for example by adhesive or mechanical fasteners. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of packaging articles com

prising the steps of: (a) collating a layer of articles on a supporting surface; (b) transferring the layer of collated articles from said supporting surface onto a pair of closure members lying in mutual abutting relation, the closure members forming a gate disposed directly above a platform; (c) laterally displacing the closure members to allow the layer of collated articles to pass therebetween and drop as a layer onto the platform through an open top end of a packaging case, the packaging case being erected around the platform such that the platform is supported through an open bottom end of the packing case; (d) lowering the platform within the packaging case by a predetermined amount; and (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) for subsequent layers of articles.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the articles are conveyed along the supporting surface in a stepwise manner by means of a pusher bar.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each layer of collated articles is pressed through the gate and onto the platform or onto a preceding layer of collated articles on the platform by means of a presser assembly operating in synchronism with displacement of said closure members.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the packaging case is erected around the platform at an erection and unloading station, and the platform is transferred to a filling station adjacent the supporting surface for filling of the packaging case and is returned to the erection and unloading station for unloading the filled packaging case therefrom.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein two platforms and two erection and unloading stations are provided, and including the step of transferring one platform between one erection and unloading station and the filling station and the other platform between the filling station and the other erection and unloading station.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two platforms are coupled together so that they are transferred between said stations in unison.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the platform is pivoted to a support member, and the filled packaging case is unloaded from the platform by firstly closing upper flaps of the packaging case, secondly pivoting the platform with respect to the support member to orientate the packaging case for lower flap closure, and thirdly closing the lower flaps.

8. A method of packaging articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figure 3 and/or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. Packaging apparatus when used to perform the method claimed in claim 1, comprising a supporting surface means for collating articles to be packaged on the supporting surface, a packaging section including a platform around which a packaging case can be erected so that the platform is supported through an open bottom end of the packaging case, and transfer means operable to transfer collated articles from the supporting surface onto a gate disposed directly above the platform, the gate including a pair of closure members which lie in mutual abutting relationship but which can be displaced laterally to allow the collated articles on the gate to pass between the closure members and drop as a layer onto the platform through an open top end of the packaging case, the platform being lowerable within the packaging case by a predetermined amount subsequent to the transfer of a layer of articles into the packaging case.

10. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the articles are conveyed along the supporting surface by means of a pusher bar.

11. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein a plurality of pusher bars are provided in spaced relationship upon a collating conveyor.

12. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein a fixed stop is provided at the gate and against which collated articles, as a layer, may be caused to move by the pusher bar on one of the pusher bars to position the articles in slightly compressed relationship upon the gate,

13. Packaging apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein a presser assembly is provided for pressing a layer of collated articles through the gate and onto the platform or onto a preceding layer of collated articles on the platform, the presser assembly being operated in synchronism with displacement of the closure members of the gate.

14. Packaging apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the platform is movable between a filling station adjacent the supporting surface and at which the packaging case can be filled with said articles, and an erection and unloading station at which the packaging case can be erected around the platform and the packaging case can be removed therefrom subsequent to filling at the filling station.

15. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein two platforms and two erection and unloading stations are provided, one platform being movable between one erection and unloading station and the filling station, the other platform being movable betwen the filling station and the other erection and unloading station.

16. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the two platforms are coupled together and the spacing between the stations is such that when said one platform is at said one erection and unloading station said other platform is at the filling station, and when said one platform is at the filling station said other platform is at said other erection and unloading station.

17. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein a releasable clamp is provided at the or each erection and unloading station and is operative to secure the packaging case around the platform.

18. Packaging apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the platform is pivoted to a support member for pivotal movement thereabout to enable a filled case of the platform to be orientated for flap closure.

19. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the support member can be raised and lowered by means of a fluidoperated piston and cylinder assembly.

20. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein a fluid-operated piston and cylinder assembly is provided for pivoting the platform about the support member.

21. Packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figure 3 and/or Figure 4 of the accompanying draw ings.