GB2122966A - Machine for banding arrays of containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging machine comprises a conveyor (20) for continuously feeding arrays of cans (11) beneath a continuously driven endless conveyor (18) carrying jaw stations at which are relatively movable jaws (54) designed to gradually stretch bands supplied from a reel (22) and telescopically associate each stretched band with a can array by rising elevation of a portion (64) of the conveyor (20) and falling elevation of a portion (50) of the conveyor (18), to create a package (74). The bands are supplied in connected form from the reel (22) and are separated by snatch rollers (26, 27). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Machines for multi-packaging containers Prior art machines for continuous application of multi-packaging devices to containers are well known, for example in U.S.

Patents 3 383 828: 3 775 935 and 4079 571.

Machines shown in these patents are typically involved with the high speed application of a multi-packaging device which engages the upper section of cans to integrate a plurality of cans into a package. Likewise there have been attempts to create a package by placing a resilient band about the periphery of an array of containers, examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Patents 3 404 505 and 3 714756. A package which combines the features of the can top securing carrier devices and array confining band devices has been developed which creates a superior multi-package for a larger array of containers. For example, the machine shown in the above-noted U.S. Patent 4079 571 creates an array of 12 cans in a four rank by three row configuration.It has been found advantageous to further stabilize and integrate such a package by a critically designed resilient band which includes a handle. An example of such a package is shown in U.S. Patent 4 269 308. The present application concerns machines designed to create such a stable package in an efficient manner.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for placing a package-creating band about an array of containers while the arrays are continuously fed through the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for creating a multi-package which incorporates a band about the periphery of the array in an efficient manner without overly stressing the band, while the length of the stretching path in the machine is kept short.

According to the present invention a machine, for positioning a band about an array of containers to create a package, defines an entry and exit extremity and includes a support frame, means for separating serially fed bands from a continuous roll into discrete packaging bands each in a closed, undeformed configuration, an endless stretching conveyor means which includes a series of jaws capable of gradually deforming the discrete bands from the closed, undeformed configuration to an open, stretched, array-receiving configuration, while the bands are continuously moved through the machine, and a container conveyor for continuously transporting separated arrays of containers at an elevation below the stretching conveyor means, for continuous telescopic association with opened discrete bands to create a succession of packages.

Preferably the endless series of jaws is arranged to first accept a band at one elevation of the machine, to secondly gradually deform the band by stretching, utilizing a plurality of jaws which are cam driven to a stretched configuration which is slightly larger than the array, and thirdly, ensuring that the stretched band is registered above the array so that the array and device may be telescoped together through a combination of changes in elevation of the jaws and of the container conveyor.

The accompanying drawings show one example of a machine embodying the invention. In these drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine as taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of a package making band to be applied to an array of containers by the machine; Figure 5 is an enlarged end elevatiònal view of the machine as seen from the line 5-5 in Figure 2; Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of a stripper station as seen from the line 6-6 in Figure 2; Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the stripper station as seen from the line 7-7 in Figure 6;; Figure 8 is an enlarged end elevational view of the front end of the stripper station as seen from the line 8-8 in Figure 7; and Figure 9 is an enlarged end elevational view of the rear of the stripper station seen from the line 9-9 in Figure 7.

To facilitate the understanding of the machine 1 0, a brief synopsis of the basic sections of the machine, followed by a more detailed analysis of each of the general sections of the machine, appears to be appropriate.

Turning to Figures 1 and 2, the machine includes a frame 12 which supports a band feeding system 14, a first band guiding conveyor system 16, a second band conveying and stretching system 18, and a third conveyor system 20 which continuously moves the array of containers through the machine from an entry end 13 to an exit end 15.

A continuous flow of cans 11 is fed to the entry end 13 of the machine by an in-feed conveyor 66.

These cans 11 have been already configured in 12-can arrays of 4 ranks and 3 rows by a primary packaging carrisr 75 (Figures 7 to 9), which may be either a single carrier or a pair of carriers as described in the above-noted U.S. Patent 4 269 308. As will be discussed further herein a band 70 (Figure 4) is to be applied around the periphery of each array to create stable unitized packages 74 at the exit end 1 5 of the machine.

These bands 70 are also referred to below as carrier devices.

The carrier devices 70, which are to be applied by machine 10, are interconnected in end-to-end fashion and carried on a reel 22 which is fed to the first conveyor system 1 6 through the carrier feed system 14. This carrier feed system includes a series of guiding, tensioning, and stabilizing rollers 24, and a series of nip rollers which will separate a continuous strip of carrier devices 70 into discrete carriers. This is done in this embodiment through differential speed rollers which are shown as roller sets 26 and 27. Roller set 27 is designed to rotate at a speed greater than set 26, which causes tension between the two roller sets thus separating the carriers serially from one another, facilitated by scored regions in the strip. After each carrier 70 has been so separated, they are fed through stabilizing roller set 28 into a first conveyor system 16.

The conveyor 1 6 is designed to uniformly guide the discrete devices to stretching jaws which will be described later herein. The conveyor 1 6 is basically an endless chain 30 which carries a plurality of pairs of posts 32 and 33. This conveyor 16 is designed to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as shown by arrow A. The posts of each pair are spaced from one another lonnitudinallv of the machine so that the front post 32 will engage the front end of the aperture of one of the devices 70, pulling the device towards the entry end of the machine, and the back post 33 will be inserted adjacent to the rear extremity of the aperture in the device.As shown in Figure 2, the back post 33 also serves as a stop for the next device to be handled as it is fed into the conveyor 1 6 by feed system 14. The posts 32, 33 merely serve to move the device longitudinally of the machine and do not stress or change the configuration of the device generally shown in Figure 4. These posts are used in conjunction with a tray 34 which engages the side marginal surface areas of the devices 70 and maintains the devices at a predetermined elevation in the machine, while the posts 30, 32 are permitted to continue to travel in their longitudinal path by virtue of a slot 36 formed in the tray.

While the device 70 is lightly or loosely carried from the feed system towards the entering end of the machine, the second conveyor system 1 8 is operating to continuously feed jaw stations 52 into telescopic association with the devices. These jaw stations are in detail in Figure 5 and are mounted on pairs of chain conveyors 40 situated on either side of the centre line of the machine. The chain conveyors 40 rotate in a clockwise direction as shown by arrow B and are also configured to change elevations as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The elevation changes are determined by guide frame 42, which includes an in-feed section 44 which brings the jaws up from a first elevation into telescopic association with the unstretched devices 70, and a stretching and stabilizing section 46 which, as shown in Figure 2, includes a top elevation section 47, a curvature section 48, which changes the direction of movement of the carrier from a direction towards the entry end to a direction towards the exit end of the machine, and a lower stretching section 49.

The carrier off-feed section 50 will be described later herein in conjunction with the container conveying system 20.

Each jaw station includes four arcuate-shaped upstanding jaws 54 and their associated jaw carrying bases 55. The bases are attached to the chain conveyors 40, and the four bases of each station are inclined as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

Each jaw is moved in a linear direction relative to its base by a slide and cam follower means 56.

The cam followers, as will be seen by the drawings, are controlled by a pair of cam tracks 57 to selectively move the jaws closer to the centre line, which constitutes the closed position, or, away from centre line, which constitutes an open position. The open position present in section 49 of the conveyor 1 8 is maintained through section 50. As shown in Figures 1,5 and 6, the jaws are configured to essentially define the corners of a rectangle. The open position of the jaw stations defines a rectangle slightly larger in parameter than the paramter of the array of containers to be packaged.

As indicated from the above-noted U.S. Patent 4 269 308 and Figure 4, an integral handle 72 is provided on the device 70. It is important that this handle be disposed in consistent manner relative to the tops of the cans, i.e. either directed upwards or downwards, and thus a handle orienting or guide bar 63 (Figures 2 and 5) is positioned at the mouth of the entry end 13 of the machine and adjacent to the curved section 48 and lower stretching section 49. As shown in Figure 5 this bar 63 uniformly orients the direction in which the bands will move to change from a planar condition to a condition where the band is flat against the periphery of the array and against the arcuate jaw surfaces.

In order to ensure that the stretched bands 70 are associated with the array of cans in the shortest possible longitudinal distance, and yet not create an abrupt stretching action, the jaws carrying the band, as well as the array to be assembled, move towards one another while both of these elements are continuously moving towards the exit end of the machine. Thus section 50 of the jaw conveyor system 1 8 changes its elevation downwards towards the conveyor 20 at the same time as conveyor 20 changes its elevation upwards towards the jaw conveyor system 1 8. The arrays of cans 11 are continuously fed by the conveyor 2d after they have been metered into the entry end 1 3 by starwheel means 65. The arrays however change their elevation from the entry end by virtue of ramp section 64.

A further conveyor means in the form of a set of chain devices 58 is positioned adjacent to the path of travel of the cans, and on either side of the longitudinal path of the machine. These chains (Figures 6 to 9) carry a plurality of lugs 59 which are designed to space the arrays to be packaged a distance sufficient to register with the spacing between the jaw stations 52. In order to ensure that the arrays are clearly aligned with the jaw stations, the lug chain system 58 is designed to rotate at approximately the same speed as the speed of the jaw conveyor system 1 8. However, the conveyor 20 carrying the arrays to be packaged is moving at a slightly greater speed than the linear speed of the jaw stations immediately above this conveyor.As a result of the combination effect of difference in speed of the conveyor 20 and chains 58, the arrays will abut against the lugs 59 to ensure proper registration of each array with the stretched carrier continuously carried above each array.

Since the band 70 is stretched significantly, there will be a great deal of friction between jaw members 54 and the stretched devices. Even though these jaws could be highly polished, a positive stripping means must be used to disassociate the bands from the jaws when they have been properly positioned about the array.

Each lug carrying chain 58 also carries a plurality of stripping arms 60 double in number to the number of lugs. These stripping arms 60 are shown to be designed to contact the upper edge of the band 70 and gradually pivot to push the band downwards relatively to the top of the cans.

The pivoting is positively obtained by contact between a roller at the outer extremity of each arm 60 with a cam surface 62 fixed on the frame on both sides of the longitudinal path. This action is shown clearly in Figures 6 to 9, and represents a positive manner of disassociating the resilient elastic band 70 from a jaw station into a similarly resilient stretched condition about the array in a positive manner.

The drawings have shown the particular use of a machine with arrays of 12 cans unitized in a 4 x 3 array. It should be apparent that two 6 x 2 arrays can be similarly associated by such machine.

It should also be appreciated that while the topmost conveyor system 1 6 provides an efficient control for associating the devices 70 with the stretching jaws, this first conveyor may possibly be eliminated by careful feeding of the strip directly onto the jaw stations.

Claims (14)

1. A machine for positioning a band about an array of containers to create a package, the machine defining an entry and exit extremity and including a support frame, means for separating serially fed bands from a continuous roll into discrete packaging bands. Each in a closed, undeformed configuration, an endless stretching conveyor means which includes a series of jaws capable of gradually deforming the discrete bands from the closed, undeformed configuration to an open, stretched, array-receiving configuration, while the bands are continuously moved through the machine, and a container conveyor for continuously transporting separated arrays of containers at an elevation below the stretching conveyor means, for continuous telescopic association with opened discrete bands to create a succession of packages.

2. A machine according to claim 1, including a feed conveyor means for moving the discrete bands from the means for separating serially fed bands to the stretching conveyor means.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the feed conveyor means and the stretching conveyor means are endless chain devices positioned so that the feed conveyor means is juxtaposed over the stretching conveyor means, the feed conveyor means and the stretching conveyor means being arranged to rotate in opposing directions, thus permitting a lowermost portion of the feed conveyor means to move in the same direction as an uppermost portion of the stretching conveyor means.

4. A machine according to any of claim 1 to 3, wherein the stretching conveyor means includes a plurality of jaw stations equally spaced thereabout, each jaw station including opposing pairs of jaws arranged to open away from a longitudinal centre line of the stretching conveyor means.

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein each jaw is carried by a respective cam follower slidingly carried in a base so as to slide linearly towards and away from the longitudinal centre line of the machine, the movement of the jaws being controlled by cam tracks on either side of the longitudinal centre line of the machine.

6. A machine according to claim 4 or claim 5, including bar-like and orienting means located generally along the longitudinal centre line at the entering extermity of the lowermost portion of the stretching conveyor means and serving to positively orient the bands on the jaw stations prior to stretching and association with the arrays.

7. A machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the container conveyor and a lowermost portion of the stretching conveyor means converge towards the exit extremity of the machine to reduce the elevation distance between the stretched band and the array of containers to be packaged, thereby effecting the telescopic association.

8. A machine according to any of claim 1 to 7, wherein the container conveyor and a juxtaposed portion of the stretching conveyor means move in the same direction from the entry end towards the exit end of the machine.

9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the container conveyor moves at a slightly greater speed than said juxtaposed portion of the stretching conveyor means.

10. A machine according to claim 9, including means carring an endless series of pairs of opposing lugs on both sides of the longitudinal centre line of the container conveyor at a rate of movement which is less than the rate of movement of the container conveyor and substantially equal to the rate of movement of the stretching conveyor means.

11. A machine according to any of claim 1 to 10, wherein the means for separating the bands from a continuous roll includes differential speed gripping roller means.

12. A machine according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the feed conveyor means includes a series of pairs of posts, each pair spaced longitudinally of the machine and capable of being inserted adjacent the extremities of the aperture of a discrete band in its closed configuration, in conjunction with a tray having a longitudinal slot through which the posts may continuously travel while supporting and guiding the side marginal surface areas of the bands.

1 3. A machine according to any of claim 1 to 12, including finger means, which are cam operated at a fixed longitudinal position on both sides of the container conveyor near the exit extremity of the machine, for abutting the upper edges of the stretched band on each array and effecting a downward, positive disassociation of the band from the jaws.

14. A machine according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.