GB2305157A - Packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus 10 applies paperboard members such as carton blanks 11 to groups of articles 12 fed by belt transport means (15) and 18 which are "product pitched", i.e. the transport means (15) and 18 does not impose a spacing on the articles 12. Optionally the transport means (15) and 18 comprise one or more endless belts with potential locations below and/or to the sides of the articles 12 transporting one or more rows of articles 12. An application means (19) applies blanks 11 to successive groups of articles 12. The blanks 11 may be transported onto the articles 12 by means (20) and 25 engaging opposite sides of the blanks 11 (e.g. brush rollers 25 and endless moving belts (20)) in a path angled towards the articles 12 in the direction of their transport. The apparatus 10 may also include stages for folding and gluing the paperboard member which may itself contain a pre-glued clip.

Description

PACKAGING APPARATUS This invention relates to packaging apparatus.

In the specification the term "product pitched" means that the apparatus is unpitched although the articles may be touching or individually spaced at regular intervals.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for applying paperboard packaging members to articles, said apparatus comprising belt transport means for conveying the articles along a product path, said belt transport means being product pitched, application means for applying successive paperboard members to successive pluralities of said articles.

The term belt transport means may comprise any endless drive means which does not incorporate pitching lugs projecting into the product path.

Preferably each plurality of articles retains its associated paperboard member. Conveniently the apparatus comprises stages for folding and gluing the paperboard member. Alternatively each paperboard members could comprise a pre-glued clip for retaining said plurality of articles, such as bottles, in the form of a multipack.

In one embodiment said belt transport means comprises one or more endless belts which engage said articles. In one arrangement one belt is provided below the articles which may be in one or two or more rows. In another arrangement two belts may be provided on opposite sides of the product path for engaging opposite sides of a single row of articles.

With preferred arrangements the application means moves each paperboard member in a path which approaches the articles to which the paperboard member is to be engaged and which is in the same plane as the product path. Preferably said path is substantially vertical.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view on line A-A of figure 1, Figure 3 is a view on line B-B of figure 1, and Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to figure 2 of an alternative embodiment.

In figures 1 to 3 there is shown apparatus 10 for applying a paperboard blank 11 to a plurality of bottles 12. In this case, each blank 11 is applied to a group of two or more bottles 12 and the blank is subsequently folded and glued into the form of a bottle retaining device by which the bottle group can be lifted together. These subsequent procedures will not be described as they do not have a bearing on the present invention.

The bottles 12 are advanced along a product path 13 by a belt transport arrangement 14 comprising a pair of spaced, parallel endless belts 15 driven by motor means 16 via drive cylinders 17. Between the belts 15 under the product is a third belt 18 which moves at the same speed as the side belts 15.

The belts 15 do not have any lugs or other protrusions projecting into the product path. The apparatus can therefore be "product pitched" such that the bottles 12 advance through the apparatus in touching relationship to each other. The term "product pitched" also encompasses equal spaces between successive bottles 12 in the belt transport arrangement.

The apparatus 10 also provides a paperboard member application means 19 which carries a succession of blanks 11 and applies them to the necks of successive groups of successive groups of two or more bottles 12 passing below. The form of the application means will depend on the form of the paperboard member being applied. In the arrangement shown, a series of rotatable, circular brushes 25 are provided on each side of the apparatus 10. The brushes 25 contact from below the edges of the blank 11 and push them against respective endless belts 20 driven at the same speed as the bottles 12 in section 21 about rollers 22. The two belts 20 are laterally spaced on each side of the side belts 15. The path of the blank 11 is such that the blank is brought over the bottles so that the necks 23 of the bottles 12 are inserted through holes 24 in the blank 11.Guide means could then operate to ensure correct positioning of the blank 11 relative to the bottles, before subsequent folding and gluing.

Clearly, if a product of different diameter is to use the apparatus 10 then there is no need to adjust the pitch of the drive mechanism and application means 19 before starting because these sections of the apparatus 10 are product pitched.

In figure 4 there is shown a similar arrangement except that there are two rows of bottles 12.

It will be appreciated that not only is the form of the blank 11 variable depending on its end use and the type of article to which it is being attached, but also it may be applied to the articles in an assembled or part assembled form. The articles, such as bottles, may incorporate means for retaining the blank, either unassembled or part- or wholly assembled. In the arrangements shown the bottles 12 have annular shoulders 30 on their necks, parts of the blank engaging below said shoulders to effect said retention.

Other types of drive and application means will also be apparent whilst retaining the product pitched nature of the apparatus.

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus for applying paperboard packaging members to articles, said apparatus comprising belt transport means for conveying the articles along a product path, said belt transport means being product pitched, application means for applying successive paperboard members to successive pluralities of said articles.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each plurality of articles retains its associated paperboard member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the apparatus comprises stages for folding and gluing the paperboard member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each paperboard member comprises a pre-glued clip for retaining said plurality of articles in the form of a multipack.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said belt transport means comprises one or more endless belts which engage said articles.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein one belt is provided below the articles which may be in one or two or more rows.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein two belts may be provided on opposite sides of the product path for engaging opposite sides of a single row of articles.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the application means moves each paperboard member in a path which approaches the articles to which the paperboard member is to be engaged and which is in the same plane as the product path.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the paperboard members are transported to the articles along said path by drive means engaging opposite side edges of the paperboard members.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the oppositely disposed drive means are angled towards the articles in the direction of transport

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said drive means comprises brush rollers which urge the paperboard members into engagement with an endless moving belt.

12. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings