GB2232653A - Sleeving machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A sleeving machine for erecting sleeve forming blanks into sleeves filling each erected sleeve with a tray comprises an input station 21 for receiving trays one by one, a magazine 24 for holding a stack of sleeve forming blanks, a sleeve erection station 25 arranged below the magazine, means for drawing blanks in turn downwardly from the magazine and to the sleeve erection station, means for feeding each tray from the input station and into an erected sleeve at the sleeve erection station, an output station 29 for receiving erected sleeves filled with trays, and means 51-54 (Fig 5) for advancing the filled sleeves in turn from the receiving station to the output station. The input station, the sleeve erection station, and the output station are arranged substantially in line when viewed from above. Plungers 34, 36 (Fig 4) are provided for pressing tray-retention tucks in the ends of the sleeve. <IMAGE>

Description

SLEEVING MACHINE This invention relates to a sleeving machine which is operable to erect sleeve-forming blanks into sleeves, and to fill each erected sleeve with a container or carton.

Cardboard "sleeves" have been widely used for a number of years in the packaging industry, and are formed from rectangular blanks folded to form flattened enclosures having pre-formed fold lines so that the blanks can be erected into sleeve form, open at each end, and of generally rectangular cross section. The sleeves therefore have longitudinally extending fold lines at each corner of the rectangular cross section.

More recently, sleeves have been developed which can receive trays of chilled or frozen food, and these sleeves are generally trapezoidal in cross section, having a base portion, a top portion, and opposed side wall portions which extend upwardly and outwardly from the base portion to the top portion in the erected form. One example of these sleeves is shown in Figures 3a to 3c of the accompanying drawings.

Since the sleeves are open at each end, pre-formed "tucks" are provided in each end of one of the side wall portions, and which can be pressed inwardly after the sleeve has been loaded with its tray so as to form abutments which prevent the tray from being displaced through either open end of the sleeve. This enables the loaded sleeve to be handled, and transported, without serious risk of the trays being dislodged, and can then be displayed in shops and supermarkets. However, once the customer requires access to the tray, it is a simple operation to forceably extract the tray from the sleeve.

A further feature of these sleeves is that the other side wall portion i.e. the side which is opposite to said one side wall portion provided with the pre-formed tucks, is provided with an additional fold line arranged intermediate the top and bottom fold lines by which the wall portion is connected respectively to the top portion and base portion respectively of the sleeve. As can be seen from Figure 3a, which shows the substantially flattened form of the blank from which the sleeve can be erected, V-shaped formations are formed with the apex of each V located outwardly, and during erection of the blank, the base and top portions are separated, thereby unfolding the side wall portions so as to take up the position shown in Figure 3b.The intermediate fold line in said opposite side wall portion of the sleeve is required for certain purposes, but can create problems in ensuring satisfactory erection of the blank when used with existing machinery.

The present invention has therefore been developed primarily, though not exclusively, in connection with a sleeving machine which is capable of operating in improved manner with the general type of sleeve design which is shown in Figures 3a to 3c.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a sleeving machine which is operable to erect sleeve-forming blanks into sleeves, and to fill each erected sleeve with a tray, said machine comprising: a first station forming an input station for receiving trays one by one; a magazine for holding a stack of sleeve-forming blanks; a second station forming a sleeve-erection station which is arranged below the magazine; means for drawing blanks in turn downwardly from the magazine and to the second station so as to undergo erection into sleeve form; means for feeding each tray from the first station and into an erected sleeve at the second station;; a third station forming an output station for receiving erected sleeves filled with trays, and means for advancing the filled sleeves in turn from the second station to the third station, in which the first, second and third stations are arranged substantially in line, when the machine is viewed from above.

Thus, an "in line" system is provided. whereby each tray can be loaded at one end of the machine and moved generally linearly through the machine to the output station, and meets with an erected sleeve at the second station at an appropriate time so as to fill the latter.

The erected sleeve will have one open end facing the direction of infeed of the tray, and this promotes smooth transfer of the tray through the machine.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a sleeving machine which is operable to erect sleeve-forming blanks into sleeves, and to fill each erected sleeve with a tray, said machine comprises: a first station forming an input station for receiving trays one by one; a magazine for holding a stack of sleeve-forming blanks; a second station forming a sleeve-erection station which is arranged below the magazine; means for drawing blanks in turn downwardly from the magazine and to the second station so as to undergo erection into sleeve form; means for feeding each tray from the first station and into an erected sleeve at the second station;; a third station forming an output station for receiving erected sleeves filled with trays, and means for advancing each filled sleeve in turn from the second station to the third station, in which the second station is provided with a sleevereceiving pocket, and a pair of opposed guide walls arranged below the magazine and above said pocket, said guide walls being engageable with the side walls of each blank, as the latter is drawn downwardly into the pocket, so as to cause erection of the blank into sleeve form.

Conveniently, means for drawing downwardly each blank from the magazine comprises a set of sucker heads which can be raised to engage the underside of the lower most blank of a stack of blanks in the machine, and which heads remain in suction-contact with the blank as it is drawn downwardly into the receiving pocket, during which time it undergoes progressive deformation into erected sleeve form as the opposed guide walls engage and deform the side walls of the sleeve.

Preferred types of sleeve to be used with the machine have pre-formed tucks at or near the leading and trailing ends of at least one of the side walls of the sleeve, and preferably the receiving pocket has a plunger which is operable to press-in the tuck at the leading end of the sleeve. Then, upon feeding of the tray into the sleeve, the leading tuck can prevent the tray moving right through the sleeve.

A further plunger may be arranged downstream of the receiving pocket, and which is operable (after the filled sleeve has been advanced from the receiving pocket and towards the output station), so as to press-in the tuck at the trailing end of the sleeve. The sleeve then holds the tray captive therein against displacement through either open end of the sleeve.

To ensure that an acceptable erected sleeve form is, as far as possible, always achieved, a moveable guide may be arranged to sweep over the upper surface of each erected sleeve when in the receiving pocket, and this can flatten any upward bulging of the top portion of the sleeve.

Advantageously. this movable guide is formed by one of the opposed guide walls being moveable towards the other guide wall after the blank has been drawn downwardly below the guide walls and into the receiving pocket.

To ensure proper reception of each tray into its sleeve, the receiving station for each tray may have a presser device which can gently apply inward squeezing action on the opposite side walls of the tray, in a direction perpendicular to the path of travel of the tray through the machine.

The tray receiving station may be arranged below the level of each erected sleeve, and is able to receive trays singly, which are fed thereto intermittently from an input conveyor. The tray can then be raised by a lifting mechanism to the general level of the erected sleeve, and is then advanced by a pusher device to fill the sleeve.

Means for advancing each filled sleeve from the receiving pocket at the second station may comprise a "walking" trolley type arrangement.

Sensors may be arranged throughout the machine to monitor the progress of the trays, blanks and sleeves, and ensures that a required sequence of operations can take place automatically, or stop operation of the machine if an interruption occurs in supply at any stage.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a sleeving machine according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1; Figures 3a to Sc show one preferred form of sleeve which can be used with the machine of the invention, Figure 3a showing an end view of a substantially flattened form of a sleeve-forming blank, Figure 3b showing an end view of the erected sleeve, and Figure Sc showing a side view of the erected sleeve: Figure 4 is a perspective. schematic illustration of some of the operating components of the machine show schematically in Figures 1 and 2; and, Figure 5 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of an advancing mechanism for advancing each erected sleeve filled with a tray from an intermediate station of the machine to an output station.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 3a to Sc show one preferred form of sleeve which can be employed with a sleeving machine according to the invention. The sleeve is designated generally by reference 10 and is shown in Figure 3a in flattened blank form. The sleeve 10 comprises a rectangular base portion 11, a top portion 12, and first and second opposed side wall portions 13 and 14.

First side wall portion 13 extends uninterruptedly from a longitudinal bottom fold line 15 by which it is connected to the base portion 11, and up to an upper longitudinal fold line 16 by which it is connected to the top portion 12. Second side wall 14 has a longitudinal bottom fold line 17 by which it is connected to base portion 11, and an upper longitudinal fold line 18 by which it is connected to top portion 12. However, in addition side wall 14 is provided with an intermediate longitudinal fold line 19, and this enables the blank to take up the flattened form shown in Figure 3a, but to be erected into the sleeve formation shown in Figures 3b and 3c.

A sleeving machine according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. The machine is designated generally by reference 20 and is operable to erect blanks 10 into sleeve form, and to fill each erected sleeve with a tray. The machine 20 has a first station 21 which forms an input station for receiving trays 22 one by one from an input conveyor 23. A magazine 24 is arranged downstream of input station 21, and serves to hold a stack of sleeve-forming blanks 10, and a second station 25 is arranged below the magazine 24, and functions as a sleeve-erection station.Means is provided, not shown in Figures 1 and 2. to draw blanks 10 downwardly in turn from the magazine 24 into a receiving pocket at station 25, and as each blank is drawn downwardly into the pocket, it undergoes deformation by opposed guide walls 26 and 27 (see Figure 2) which are arranged below the magazine 24 and above the receiving pocket.

Means is provided for feeding each tray 22 from the first station 21 and into an erected blank in the receiving pocket, and as shown schematically in Figure 1, the path of movement of each tray is first upward from a generally lower level than that of the receiving pocket, and then a forward advancing movement to the left to be received through the adjacent opening 28 of the erected sleeve.

A third station 29 forms an output station for receiving erected sleeves filled with trays, and means is provided for advancing the filled sleeves from the receiving pocket at the second station 25 to the output station 29.

As can be seen clearly from the schematic illustration of Figure 2, a substantially "in line" system is provided, with the first, second and third stations 21, 25 and 29 being arranged substantially in line, as viewed from above.

This enables each tray to be loaded at one end of the machine and to move generally linearly through the machine to the output station, and meeting with an erected sleeve at the second station 25 at an appropriate time so as to fill the latter. The open end 28 of the erected sleeve faces the direction of feeding of the tray, and this promotes smooth transfer of the tray through the machine.

Figures 1 and 2 show the machine schematically, and more detailed illustration is given of some of the component parts of the machine in Figures 4 and 5. In particular. Figure 4 shows in more detail the construction of the components of the sleeve-erection station 25.

Figure 2 shows schematically opposed guide walls 26 and 27, and which are arranged below the magazine 24 and above the receiving pocket, and these guide walls engage with the side walls 13 and 14 of each blank, as the latter is drawn downwardly into the pocket, so as to cause erection of the blank. Guide wall 26 is shown in more detail in Figure 4, and comprises an upright portion 30 and an outwardly inclined portion 31. First side wall 13 of the sleeve 10 will engage the guide wall portion 31 as the blank is drawn downwardly, and which starts the erection process. The guide wall 27 is not shown in Figure 4, but is a fixed guide wall, having an outwardly extending portion shaped somewhat similar to portion 31 of wall 26.The shaping of guide wall 27 is such as to be capable of engaging progressively with the side wall 14 of the blank, and initially this will be engagement with a lower portion 14a (see Figure 3a) of the side wall.

The means for drawing each blank downwardly from the magazine 24 is not shown, but may comprise a set of sucker heads which can be raised to engage the underside of the lowermost blank, and which remains in suction-contact with the blank as it is drawn downwardly into the receiving pocket. and the blank then undergoes progressive deformation into erected sleeve form as the opposed guide walls 26 and 27 engage and deform the side walls 13 and 14 of the sleeve.

Returning now to Figures 3a to Sd, sleeve 10 is provided with pre-formed tucks 32 and 33 at the leading and trailing ends respectively of the side wall 13, in known manner, and the receiving pocket at station 25 has a plunger 34 which is operated to press-in the tuck 32 at the leading end of the sleeve during or after completion of the erected form of the sleeve. Then, upon feeding of the tray into the sleeve by pusher device 35, the leading end 32 can prevent the tray moving right through the sleeve.

A further plunger 36 is arranged downstream of the receiving pocket, and is operated after the filled sleeve has been advanced from the receiving pocket and towards output station 29, so as to press-in the tuck 33 at the trailing end of the sleeve. The sleeve then holds the tray captive therein against displacement through either open end of the sleeve.

To ensure that, as far as possible, an acceptable erected sleeve form is formed in the receiving pocket, a movable guide is arranged below the magazine 24 to sweep over the upper surface of each erected sleeve when in the receiving pocket, and this can flatten any upward bulging of the top portion of the sleeve. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, this movable guide is formed by virtue of the guide wall 26 being movable under the action of a cylinder and guides towards the guide wall 27 after the blank has been drawn downwardly below the guide wall 26 and 27 and into the receiving pocket.

The tray receiving station 21 is arranged below the level of each erected sleeve, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 4, and each tray can be raised by a lifting mechansim in the form of an elevator to the general level of the erected sleeve, prior to being advanced by pusher mechanism 35 into the erected sleeve.

To ensure proper reception of each tray within its sleeve. the receiving station 21 may also have a lateral presser which can engage gently to apply inward squeezing action on the opposed side walls of each tray in a direction perpendicular to the path of travel of the tray towards the station 25.

A walking arrangement, shown in Figure 5, is provided below the receiving pocket at station 25. The walking arrangement comprises a trolley 51 onto which a filled sleeve is supported A filled sleeve is raised under the action of a cylinder 52, and then advanced forwardly towards an output conveyor provided at station 29 by means of cylinder 53. The trolley has roller bearings 54 which can roll along nylon tracks 54 when the trolley is moving forwardly and reawardly. It then moves downwardly and then rearwardly to a position below the receiving pocket so that a fresh blank can be drawn downwardly to receiving a further tray in a renewed cycle of operation.

Sensors (not shown) are arranged throughout the machine to monitor the progress of the trays, blanks and sleeves, and to ensure that a required sequence of operations can take place, and to stop operation of the machine if an interruption occurs in supply at any stage.

Claims (14)

1. A sleeving machine (20) which is operable to erect sleeve forming blanks into sleeves (10), and to fill each erected sleeve with a tray (22), said machine comprising: a first station (21) forming an input station for receiving trays one by one; a magazine (24) for holding a stack of sleeve-forming blanks; a second station (25) forming a sleeve-erection station which is arranged below the magazine; means for drawing blanks in turn downwardly from the magazine and to the second station (25) so as to undergo erection into sleeve form; means (35) for feeding each tray from the first station (21) and into an erected sleeve at the second station (25);; a third station (29) forming an output station for receiving erected sleeves filled with trays, and means for advancing the filled sleeves in turn from the second station to the third station, in which the first (21), second (25) and third (29) stations are arrange substantially in line, when the machine is viewed from above.

2. A sleeving machine (20) which is operable to erect sleeve-forming blanks into sleeves (10), and to fill each erected sleeve with a tray (22), said machine comprising: a first station (21) forming an input station for receiving trays one by one; a magazine (24) for holding a stack of sleeve-forming blanks; a second station (25) forming a sleeve-erection station which is arranged below the magazine; means for drawing blanks in turn downwardly from the magazine and to the second station so as to undergo erection into sleeve form; means (35) for feeding each tray from the first station and into an erected sleeve at the second station; a third station (29) forming an output station for receiving erected sleeves filled with trays, and means for advancing each filled sleeve in turn from the second station to the third station;; in which the second station (25) is provided with a sleeve receiving pocket, and a pair of opposed guide walls (26,27) arranged below the magazine and above said pocket, said guide walls being engageable with the side walls (13, 14) of each blank (10), as the latter is drawn downwardly into the pocket, so as to cause erection of the blank into sleeve form.

3. A sleeving machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means for drawing downwardly each blank from the magazine comprises a set of sucker heads which can be raised to engage the underside of the lower most blank of a stack of blanks in the machine.

4. A sleeving machine according to claim 3 wherein the sucker heads remain in suction-contact with the blank as it is drawn downwardly into the receiving pocket, during which time it undergoes progressive deformation into erected sleeve form as the opposed guide walls engage and deform the side walls of the sleeve.

5. A sleeving machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the receiving pocket has a plunger (34) which is operable to press in a tuck (32) at a leading end of the sleeve.

6. A sleeving machine according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a further plunger (36) operable, after the filled sleeve has been advanced from the receiving pocket and towards the output station. so as to press-in the tuck (33) at the trailing end of the sleeve.

7. A sleeve machine according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a moveable guide arranged to sweep over the upper surface of each erected sleeve when in the receiving pocket.

8. A sleeve machine according to claim 7 wherein the moveable guide is formed by one of the opposed guide walls (26) being moveable towards the other guide wall (27) after the blank has been drawn downwardly below the guide walls (26,27) and into the receiving pocket.

9. A sleeve machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first station (21) has a presser device which can gently apply inward squeezing action on the opposite side walls of the tray, in a direction perpendicular to the path of travel of the tray through the machine.

10. A sleeving machine according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first station is arranged below the level of each erected sleeve.

11. A sleeving machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each tray is advanced to fill a sleeve by means of a pusher device.

12. A sleeving machine according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising means for advancing each filled sleeve from the receiving pocket at the second station.

13. A sleeving machine according to claim 12 wherein the means for advancing each filled sleeve comprises a walking trolley type arrangement.

14. A sleeving machine substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.