GB2257962A

GB2257962A - Assembling packaging components.

Info

Publication number: GB2257962A
Application number: GB9112463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maurice Alfred Mcgladdery; Christopher Michael Nimmo
Original assignee: NIMMO PACKAGING SYSTEMS LIMITE
Current assignee: NIMMO PACKAGING SYSTEMS LIMITE
Priority date: 1991-06-11
Filing date: 1991-06-11
Publication date: 1993-01-27
Also published as: GB9112463D0

Abstract

An apparatus for presenting a product component 12 in a configuration suitable for assembly on to an incomplete product item 14 and guiding the component 12 into engagement with the product item 14 comprises two jaw elements 16, 18 each having a product-item gripping-wall portion 20 and a component guiding funnelling-wall portion 22. The jaws 16, 18 are capable of reciprocal movement between a gripping disposition and a releasing disposition, and are preferably mounted on the lower ends 24 of support brackets (26, Figure 3) which are pivotally or slide mounted at their upper ends to a structure of the apparatus. The components 12 may be advanced to a delivery channel 28 by a pusher (42, Fig 3) or a cross slide nest (32, Figure 4). <IMAGE>

Description

ASSEMBLY MECHANISM This invention relates to a means for delivering product component items to an assembly station for presentation of said components for assembly on to incomplete product items.

Within the packaging industry shorter production runs with frequent changes of product item are becoming increasingly common. In order to accommodate the different sizes of component required for each different product item the component engaging parts of the assembly machine must be changed. The greater the number and the more inaccessible the engaging part, the longer the time taken for change over.

It has been previously proposed to use a star-wheel to receive components in intermittent motion and continuous motion assembly machines. The star-wheel receives the component and transfers it to a position where it may be introduced by for example, a plunger, a gripper or a vacuum head on to the product.

For consumer items there is a current trend to reduce the weight and bulk of packaging and as a result, many components are easily deformed. In order to attach these components smoothly to the assembling product item, they should first be guided into the desired shape, that is to say, "rounded up". To assist in such rounding up of components, it has been previously proposed to use either a star-wheel with a spring-loaded support guide or a secondary star-wheel to cooperate with the primary star-wheel, to mesh with the component like a pair of gears. Such mechanisms achieve the aim, but as there are a large number of assembly stations, a multitude of star-wheels is required, all of which are specific for a given size of component and which must therefore be changed with each change of product.This increases the time required to effect changeover, increases the losses of production time and thus reduces the profitability of each production run. It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for presenting a product component in a configuration suitable for assembly on to an incomplete product item and for guiding said component into engagement with said product item characterised in that the apparatus comprises at least two jaw elements each having a product-item gripping-wall portion and a funnelling-wall portion for guiding each product component into a disposition suitable for assembly on to the product item, said jaws being capable of reciprocal movement between a gripping disposition and a releasing disposition.

Preferably each jaw element is mounted on a lower distal end of at least one support bracket which is pivotally mounted or slide mounted at its upper proximal end to the structure of the assembly station. A jaw element actuator operates on the proximal end of the support bracket to effect pivotal movement or slide movement of the bracket for radially inward and outward movement of the jaw element to grip and release product item.

In a first preferred embodiment a product component is advanced into the apparatus by a transfer pusher.

In a second preferred embodiment the product component is advanced into the apparatus by a cross slide nest.

In a third preferred embodiment a product component is advanced into the apparatus through a "C" bracket.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which : Figure 1 is an end view, partly in section, of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus in a gripping disposition; Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 but with the apparatus in a releasing disposition; Figure 3 is a top plan view of a first preferred means for advancing successive components into the apparatus; and Figure 4 is a top plan view of a second preferred means for advancing components into the apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown apparatus 10 for presenting a product component in a configuration suitable for assembly on to an incomplete product item 14 and for guiding the component 12 into engagement with the product item 14. The apparatus 10 comprises a first jaw element 16 and a second jaw element 18 each having a product item gripping wall portion 20 and a funnelling wall portion 22 for guiding each product component into a disposition suitable for assembly on to the product item. The jaws 16 and 18 are capable of reciprocal movement between a gripping disposition as shown in Figure 1 and a releasing disposition as shown in Figure 2.

Each jaw is mounted on a lower distal end 24 of at least one support bracket 26 which is pivotally mounted at its upper proximal end to the structure of the assembly station (not shown). The support brackets describe a delivery channel 28 down which the successive product components advance towards successive respective product items.

Figure 3 shows a feed means for advancing product components into the apparatus. The feed means comprises a dead plate 30, a first rail 32, a second rail 34, a third rail 36 with a contiguous end-stop 38, a fourth rail 40 and a transfer pusher 42.

The first rail 32 and second rail 34 are disposed over the dead plate 30 in a parallel spaced part arrangement capable of receiving product components. The third rail 36 and fourth rail 40 are similarly arranged but perpendicularly to the rails 32 and 34 such that an 'L' shaped channel 33 is defined within. The rails 36 and 40 extend beyond the edge of the dead plate into the area within the support brackets 26. The transfer pusher 42 is arranged in parallel, midway between the rails 36 and 40. It is mounted at its proximal end to an actuating mechanism (not shown) and is movable between an extended disposition and a retracted disposition. The pusher 42 initially occupies its retracted disposition as successive components advance intermittently along the channel 33.When the lead component comes into abutment with the rail 40 the transfer pusher moves to its extended disposition urging the lead component along the perpendicular portion of the channel described by rails 36 and 40. The component is pushed off the dead plate 30 and into the delivery channel 28. Once unsupported by the dead plate, the component is retained within the rails by frictional forces. Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the feed means wherein the lead component is received within a nest in a cross slide. The cross slide then moves to its extended disposition delivering the lead component into the delivery channel 28.

In use of the apparatus a succession of incomplete product items 14 advances by intermittent motion on a conveyor means (not shown) along an assembly path from upstream of the assembly station. The jaws of the apparatus intially occupy the releasing disposition and are capable of receiving between them successive incomplete product items. As each product item enters the assembly station and its advancing movement briefly stops, the open jaws of the apparatus move into their gripping disposition to grip the item between them.

Simultaneously, a succession of product components 12 advances by intermittent motion along the feed means.

As each component item enters the assembly station and its advancing movement briefly stops the transfer pusher is actuated to advance the product component into the delivery channel. This is depicted in Figure 1, although the feed means is not shown. The product component is then urged towards and into the funnelling portion of the closed jaw elements. As the product component is urged down the funnelling walls it is forced to "round up" to the configuration described by the inner walls of the jaw elements and then to engage the incomplete product item. The urging force can be supplied by previously proposed means for example plunger means, gripper means, or vacuum head means.

Once the component has been attached, the jaws move to the releasing disposition and the product item plus assembled component can advance to the next assembly station.

Claims

1. An apparatus for presenting a product component in a configuration suitable for assembly on to an incomplete product item and for guiding said component into engagement with said product item, characterised in that the apparatus comprises at least two jaw elements each having a product-item grippng-wall portion and a funnelling-wall portion for guiding each product component into a disposition suitable for assembly on to the product item, said jaws being capable of reciprocal movement between a gripping disposition and a releasing disposition.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each jaw element is mounted on a lower distal end of at least one support bracket which is pivotally mounted or slide mounted at its upper proximal end to a structure of the assembly apparatus.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a jaw element actuator operates on the proximal end of the at least one support bracket to effect slide movement of the bracket for radially inward and outward movement of the jaw element to grip and release the product component.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, where' jaw element actuator operates on the proximal end o' at least one support bracket to effect pivotal mo of the bracket for radially inward and outward ir of the jaw element to grip and release the component.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product component is advanced into the apparatus by a transfer pusher.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the product component is advanced into the apparatus by a cross slide nest.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the product component is advanced into the apparatus through a ttC is bracket.

8. An apparatus for presenting a product component substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.