GB2447780A - Wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine - Google Patents

Wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2447780A
GB2447780A GB0805214A GB0805214A GB2447780A GB 2447780 A GB2447780 A GB 2447780A GB 0805214 A GB0805214 A GB 0805214A GB 0805214 A GB0805214 A GB 0805214A GB 2447780 A GB2447780 A GB 2447780A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
wheel
pocket
pockets
product
group
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0805214A
Other versions
GB0805214D0 (en
GB2447780A8 (en
Inventor
Giordano Gamberini
Fabrizio Ronzani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GD SpA
Original Assignee
GD SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from ITBO20070212 external-priority patent/ITBO20070212A1/en
Application filed by GD SpA filed Critical GD SpA
Priority to GB0805214A priority Critical patent/GB2447780A/en
Publication of GB0805214D0 publication Critical patent/GB0805214D0/en
Publication of GB2447780A publication Critical patent/GB2447780A/en
Publication of GB2447780A8 publication Critical patent/GB2447780A8/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
    • B65B19/223—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in a curved path; in a combination of straight and curved paths, e.g. on rotary tables or other endless conveyors
    • B65B19/226—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in a curved path; in a combination of straight and curved paths, e.g. on rotary tables or other endless conveyors using endless conveyors having pockets, each pocket being provided with separate members, e.g. folders
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
    • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
    • B65B11/28—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
    • B65B19/223—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in a curved path; in a combination of straight and curved paths, e.g. on rotary tables or other endless conveyors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B65B35/26—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by rotary conveyors

Abstract

A wheel 9 with pockets 11 for feeding products 2, 3 on a packing machine; the wheel 9 rotates about a central axis 10 of rotation, has a number of pockets 11, each for housing at least one respective product 2, 3, and has an outer surface 17 through which the pockets 11 are formed; each product 2, 3 is inserted into a respective pocket 11 at an input station 12, 10 and each product 2, 3 is expelled from a respective pocket 11 at an output station 13; and, between each two adjacent pockets 11, the outer surface 17 of the wheel 9 has a dimension which increases in a rotation direction 18 of the wheel 9.

Description

WHEEL WITH POCKETS FOR FEEDING PRODUCTS ON A PACKING
MACHINE
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine.
The present invention may be used to advantage in a packing machine for producing book-cover packets of cigarettes, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
BACKGROUND ART
A book-cover packet of cigarettes comprises at least two packages containing respective groups of cigarettes and hinged to each other to rotate between a IS closed configuration, in which the two packages are superimposed, and an open configuration, in which the two packages are separated for access to the respective groups of cigarettes. A book-cover packet of cigarettes is described, for example, in Patent US 4294353.
To produce a book-cover packet of cigarettes, a group of at least two superimposed packages must be formed on a packing machine and then fed to a packing unit, on which an outer blank is glued and folded about the two packages, or any sort of connecting member is fitted to the two packages.
In a known packing machine, a succession of groups is formed, and the groups are fed successively to the pockets of a wheel having a number of peripheral pockets and rotating in steps (i.e. intermittently) about a central axis of rotation; and each group is pushed into the respective pocket by the following groups.
For the packing machine to operate at high speed, the length of time the wheel remains stationary to feed a group into a respective pocket must be reduced, which obvious'y means increasing the mean travelling speed of the succession of groups, i.e. the mean travelling speed at which each group is inserted into the pocket.
Increasing the mean travelling speed of the succession of groups, however, increases the acceleration, i.e. mechanical stress, to which each group in transit is subjected, and therefore the likelihood of external damage to the packages in the group. Consequently, to IS adequately safeguard the packages in each group, there is a limit to the extent to which the mean travelling speed of the succession of groups can be increased.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine, and which eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks, while at the same time being cheap and easy to implement.
According to the present invention, there is provided a wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will he described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a wheel with pockets for feeding products, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic view in perspective of an alternative embodiment of a wheel with pockets for feeding products, in accordance with the present invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a group-forming unit for forming a group 2 of two superimposed packages 3 (one package 3a and one package 3b), each containing a respective group of cigarettes (not shown) IS Group-forming unit 1 forms part of a combining packing machine (not shown) for producing book-cover packets of cigarettes (not shown), each comprising a group 2 of packages 3 hinged to each other to rotate between a closed configuration, in which the two packages 3 are superimposed, and an open configuration, in which the two packages 3 are separated for access to the respective groups of cigarettes.
Group-forming unit 1 comprises a group-forming station 4 where two packages 3a and 3b are superimposed to form group 2; a conveyor 5a for feeding packages 3a along a straight path 6a terminating at group-forming station 4; and a conveyor 5b for feeding packages 3b along a straight path 6b terminating at group-forming station 4. Conveyors 5a and 5b are preferably operated at constant speed, i.e. continuously, as opposed to intermittently or in steps.
Conveyor 5b is located over conveyor 5a, so that paths 6a and 6b are vertically coplanar, and path 6a converges with path 6b (i.e. conveyor 5a converges with conveyor 5b) so that a package 3b coming off conveyor 5b is deposited on top of a respective package 3a coming off conveyor 5a.
Group-forming station 4 comprises a supporting surface 7, onto which group 2 is eased, and along which group 2 is slid by the following groups 2 pushed along by conveyors 5a and 5b.
Group-forming unit 1 also comprises a conveyor 8 defined by a vertical transfer wheel 9 located downstream from group-forming station 4, and which rotates in steps about a horizontal central axis of rotation 10, and comprises a number of peripheral pockets 11, each for housing a respective group 2. More specifically, each pocket 11 of transfer wheel 9 receives a group 2 at an input station 12 immediately downstream from group-forming station 4, and releases group 2 at an output station 13 diametrically opposite input station 12.
In a preferred embodiment, transfer wheel 9 comprises a counter-pusher 14, which is movable radially to accompany insertion of group 2 inside pocket 11 at group-forming station 4; and a pusher 15, which is movable radially to accompany release of group 2 from pocket 11 at output station 13. Counter-pusher 14 and pusher 15 have opposite movements, and are both operated by the same actuating device 16 located centrally and connected mechanically to counter-pusher 14 and pusher by a gear-rack coupling.
Transfer wheel 9 has an outer surface 17 (more specifically, a cylindrical lateral surface) through which pockets 11 are formed. In a preferred embodiment, Jo between each two adjacent pockets 11, outer surface 17 of transfer wheel 9 has a variable dimension which increases in the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9. In other words, each pocket 11 is bounded by two walls 19, 20 perpendicular to the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9; and wall 19, located upstream in the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9, is radially longer than wall 20 located downstream in the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9. Between each two adjacent pockets 11, outer surface 17 of transfer wheel 9 has a dimension which increases evenly from wall of one pocket 11 to wall 19 of the adjacent downstream pocket 11.
By virtue of the above design of outer surface 17 of transfer wheel 9, a group 2 can continue moving towards the centre of transfer wheel 9 even as transfer wheel 9 rotates about axis of rotation 10. That is, as transfer wheel 9 rotates one step, i.e. the distance between one pocket 11 and the next, the group 2 to be inserted inside the next pocket 11 can move towards the centre of transfer wheel 9 by a distance equal to the difference in the radial lengths of an upstream wall 19 and a downstream wall 20 in the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9. So, when transfer wheel 9 stops with pocket 11 facing group 2, group 2 need only advance a further distance, smaller than the maximum radial length of pocket 11, for insertion inside pocket 11.
This feature provides for reducing the maximum acceleration speed, and therefore mechanical stress, of each group 2 as it is inserted inside a respective pocket 11. Or, conversely, maintaining the same maximum acceleration speed of each group 2 as it is inserted inside a respective pocket 11, it is possible to increase the hourly output (i.e. the number of groups 2 transferred per unit of time) of transfer wheel 9.
By way of example, for each pocket 11 of transfer wheel 9, the downstream wall 20 in the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9 may have a radial length of 40 mm, and the upstream wall 19 in the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9 may have a radial length of 55 mm, so each group 2 advances 15 mm as transfer wheel 9 rotates one step, i.e. the distance between one pocket 11 and the next, and 40 mm for insertion inside pocket 11.
In a preferred embodiment, each pocket 11 comprises an end wall 21 parallel to the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9, and which is stepped, so that the package 3a of upstream group 2 in the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9 is offset slightly inwards of transfer wheel 9 with respect to the package 3b of downstream group 2 in the rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9. Preferably, counter-pusher 14 is also stepped to match the shape of end walls 21 of pockets 11.
The above stepped design of end walls 21 of pockets 11 prevents interference between a group 2 housed inside a pocket 11, and the next group 2 positioned facing pocket 11. That is, the offset arrangement of packages 3 prevents the package 3a of the group 2 housed inside pocket 11 from interfering with the package 3b of the next group 2 positioned facing pocket 11. Interference of this sort can be extremely harmful, in that, in the event of interference between the group 2 housed inside pocket 11, and the next group 2 positioned facing pocket 11, the relative movement between the two groups 2 as transfer wheel 9 rotates could result in damage to or destruction of both groups 2.
In one possible embodiment, a backup device 22 may be provided at input station 12 to back up from transfer wheel 9 the next group 2 upstream from transfer wheel 9, and so separate the next group 2, upstream from transfer wheel 9, slightly from the group 2 inside transfer wheel 9. That is, just before transfer wheel 9 rotates, the next group 2 upstream from transfer wheel 9 is separated by backup device 22 from the group 2 inside transfer wheel 9 to prevent the facing walls of the two groups 2 from rubbing against each other.
In other words, in actual use, transfer wheel 9 is rotated one step about axis of rotation 10 (i.e. conveyor 8 is operated) to arrest a pocket 11 at input station 12. At this point, conveyor 5 (i.e. conveyor 5a together with conveyor 5b) feeds the succession of groups 2 in a feed direction 23 along path 6 terminating at input station 12, and the first group 2 in the succession is pushed into the stationary pocket 11 by the second group 2 in the succession. At this point, before transfer wheel 9 is rotated another step to move the pocket 11 containing the first group 2 in the succession out of input station 12, backup device 22 backs up the second group 2 in the succession from transfer wheel 9 (i.e. from conveyor 8) in a backup direction 24 opposite feed direction 23. And only after the second group 2 in the succession has been backed up from transfer wheel 9 (i.e. from conveyor 8) is transfer wheel 9 rotated another step to move the pocket 11 containing the first group 2 in the succession out of input station 12.
In the Figure 2 embodiment, conveyor 8 comprises a horizontal transfer wheel 9 rotating in steps about a vertical central axis of rotation 10, and having a number of peripheral pockets 11, each for housing a package 3. More specifically, each pocket 11 of transfer wheel 9 receives a package 3 at an input station 12, and releases package 3 at an Output station 13 diametrically opposite input station 12. Packages 3 are fed to pockets 11 of transfer wheel 9 by a conveyor 5, which feeds a succession of packages 3 along a vertical path 6 parallel to axis of rotation 10 of transfer wheel 9.
In this case, the outer surface 17, through which pockets 11 are formed, is a flat annular surface, and, between each two adjacent pockets 11, curves upwards in a rotation direction 18 of transfer wheel 9.
Transfer wheel 9 described herein has various advantages. In particular, it is quick and easy to produce, and, above all, provides for increasing the output of the packing machine, as compared with a standard transfer wheel, for a given mean travelling speed of the succession of groups 2.
Given its numerous advantages, the transfer wheel described herein may also be used to advantage to feed packages other than packages of cigarettes (e.g. packages of confectionary or other foodstuffs)

Claims (8)

-10 - CLAIMS
1) A wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine; the wheel rotates about a central axis of rotation, has a number of pockets, each for housing at least one respective product, and has an outer surface through which the pockets are formed; each product is inserted into a respective pocket at an input station, and each product is expelled from a respective pocket at an output station; the wheel being characterized in that, between each two adjacent pockets, the outer surface of the wheel has a variable dimension which increases in a rotation direction of the wheel.
2) A wheel as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each pocket is bounded by two walls perpendicular to the rotation direction of the wheel; and a first wall, located upstream in the rotation direction of the wheel, is deeper than a second wall located downstream in the rotation direction of the wheel.
3) A wheel as claimed in Claim 2, wherein, between each two adjacent pockets, the outer surface of the wheel has a dimension which increases evenly from the second wall of one pocket to the first wall of the adjacent downstream pocket.
4) A wheel as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the wheel is vertical, the axis of rotation is horizontal, and the outer surface is a cylindrical -11 -lateral surface.
5) A wheel as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the wheel is horizontal, the axis of rotation is vertical, and the outer surface is a flat annular surface.
6) A wheel as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein a conveyor feeds a succession of products along a path terminating at the input station; and the first product in the succession is pushed into the respective pocket of the wheel by the second product in the succession.
7) A wheel as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the conveyor is operated at constant speed.
8) A wheel as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein, prior to operating the wheel to move the pocket containing the first product in the succession out of the input station, a backup device withdraws the second product in the succession from the wheel by backing up the second product in the succession in a backup direction opposite a feed direction.
GB0805214A 2007-03-23 2008-03-20 Wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine Withdrawn GB2447780A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0805214A GB2447780A (en) 2007-03-23 2008-03-20 Wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO20070212 ITBO20070212A1 (en) 2007-03-23 2007-03-23 WHEEL PROVIDED WITH POCKETS FOR ADVANCING PRODUCTS IN A PACKAGING MACHINE.
GB0805214A GB2447780A (en) 2007-03-23 2008-03-20 Wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0805214D0 GB0805214D0 (en) 2008-04-30
GB2447780A true GB2447780A (en) 2008-09-24
GB2447780A8 GB2447780A8 (en) 2009-02-11

Family

ID=39386534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0805214A Withdrawn GB2447780A (en) 2007-03-23 2008-03-20 Wheel with pockets for feeding products on a packing machine

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2447780A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104944342A (en) * 2015-06-22 2015-09-30 陈卡丹 Elastic beverage bottle feeding device

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB182395A (en) * 1921-11-03 1922-07-06 Naamlooze Vennootschap Anton J Improvements in devices for wrapping articles and substances
GB881160A (en) * 1958-05-02 1961-11-01 Jagenberg Werke Ag Machine for applying a strip of wrapping material to a rectangular object
FR1320879A (en) * 1962-02-01 1963-03-15 Tabak & Ind Masch Arrangement of apparatus and method in cigarette packaging machines

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB182395A (en) * 1921-11-03 1922-07-06 Naamlooze Vennootschap Anton J Improvements in devices for wrapping articles and substances
GB881160A (en) * 1958-05-02 1961-11-01 Jagenberg Werke Ag Machine for applying a strip of wrapping material to a rectangular object
FR1320879A (en) * 1962-02-01 1963-03-15 Tabak & Ind Masch Arrangement of apparatus and method in cigarette packaging machines

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104944342A (en) * 2015-06-22 2015-09-30 陈卡丹 Elastic beverage bottle feeding device
CN104944342B (en) * 2015-06-22 2016-09-28 陈卡丹 Elastic carafe pay-off

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0805214D0 (en) 2008-04-30
GB2447780A8 (en) 2009-02-11

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Legal Events

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)