GB2512311A - Apparatus for Stacking Formed Products - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and corresponding method of stacking, feature a product being received in a receiver 2, transferring the product into a receiving configuration (fig.4) and moving a stacking arrangement 20 from a withdrawn to a receiving configuration, to receive the product in the stacking arrangement 20. The product may be a light cake paper casing which may be held in the receiver 2 by vacuum, a further vacuum device 24 used to transfer the product from the receiver 2 to the stacking device 20. The receiver 2 may have an arch shaped support frame 3, which pivots between positions, the arch 3 leaving clearance for transfer of the product to the stacking device 20, when the receiver 2 is returned to its start position.

Description

Apparatus for Staekin2 Formed Products The present invention relates to an apparatus for stacking products, and in particular products which are fonned from a lighttight material such as paper, examples of which may be cake cases or muffin cases.

Cake cases or muffin cases are typically formed through a former which pushes cut paper into a mould. The mould then opens and the case drops under gravity to a conveyor belt.

The conveyer belt transfers the cases into a container which is agitated once sufficient cases are present in order that the cases are somewhat stacked. A final stacking step is canicd out by an operator and the cases are then subsequently packed for transfer. There are disadvantages associated with an arrangement. A first disadvantage is that the cases must fall from the former under gravity. This can be aided with a burst of air, however.

there is a significant time delay. SecondLy, the stacking of the cases by agitation, although relatively effective is still time consuming and still requires operator input.

The present invention overcomes at least the above-mentioned problems.

According to the present invention, there is an apparatus for stacking products comprising: a receiver having a receiving zone arranged to receive a formed product therein, the receiver comprising a first retaining means to retain the product in the receiving zone, the receiver being arranged to transfer the product from a receiving configuration to a release configuration, the apparatus further comprising a stacking arrangement moveable between a withdrawn configuration to a product receipt configuration in which the stacking arrangement is oriented to receive a product from the receiver release configuration, wherein the stacking arrangement comprises a second retaining means to retain the product, the stacking arrangement further arranged to be moveable from the product receipt configuration to a product stacking configuration.

The present invention provides an apparatus that provides significant benefit over the prior art. There is a significant increase in speed of the formed product (wrapper) production process from formation via the former to subsequent packaging ready for transportation.

The present invention further enables carefully controlled packing of an extremely lightweight and delicate product.

S The products are preferably formed paper products such as muffin wrappers or eases for cupcakes for example.

The receiving zone is preferably at least partially defined by an upstanding wall. The upstanding wall is beneficially arranged to ensure alignment of the formed product into the receiving zone. There is beneficially an opening in the upstanding wall which is arranged to enable transfer of the product therethrough from the receiver to the stacking arrangement.

The first retaining means beneficially comprises a suction arrangement configured to provide suction to the receiving zone, The suction arrangement beneficially provides a suction to draw the formed product into the receiving zone. The upstanding wall aids in the alignment. Once the fonned product is in the receiving zone then the receiver can be tilted or moved without the formed product falling from the receiving zone.

The receiver is beneficially moveable with respect to a support between a receiving configuration and the release configuration, and is preferably rotatable with respect to the support. The receiver beneficially transfers through substantially 90° from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal configuration. The receiver is beneficially pivotally mounted to the support. It is beneficial that the receiver receives the formed product in a substantially upright or vertical orientation which improves ease of forming of the product and subsequent transfer.

In the release configuration, the receiver is beneficially arranged to form a bridge over a product transfer path defined by the transfer of the product between the product receipt configuration of the stacking arrangement and the product stacking configuration. The product transfer path is beneficially substantially perpendicular to the receiver when the receiver is in the receiving configuration. The receiver beneficially substantially aligns a formed product with the product transfer path when the receiver is in the release configuration. Accordingly, the first step of stacking the formed product is that the receiver receives the formed product and re-orientates the formed product through substantially 90°. Tn this position, the formed product is in a configuration whereby it can be received by the stacking arrangement.

The formed product is preferably received in the receiving zone of the receiver in a generally upright configuration such that the underside of the formed product seats into the receiving zone. In the release configuration of the receiver, the stacking arrangement generally aligns with the internal base of the fonned product. This means that the products can be stacked by the stacking arrangement and the stacking arrangement can subsequently easily and effectively withdraw leaving the product stacked.

The apparatus beneficially further comprises a control system arranged such that as the receiver transfers the product to the release configuration, the stacking arrangement moves between the withdrawn configuration and the product receipt configuration to enable transfer of the product between the receiver and the stacking arrangement.

The stacking arrangement beneficially comprises a product receiving head. This head is arranged to seat inside the formed product. The second retaining means beneficially comprises a suction arrangement for retaining a product in communication with the head.

lhe stacking arrangement can, therefbre, hold the formed product in a fixed position relative to the stacking arrangement and in particular the head.

The stacking arrangement beneficially includes a first element and second element, the first element being moveable relative to the second element, and the second element being moveable relative to a support, and wherein the first element carries the head, such that the first element moved relative to the second element between the withdrawn configuration and the product receipt configuration. This arrangement is beneficial as the first element carries the head and this can initially move to the product receipt configuration requiring limited and beneficially no movement of the second element. This means that there is no interference with the product and the first element effectively extending relative to the second element, Once the product is received then the receiver can return from the release configuration to the receiving configuration and therefore, effectively define a bridge to allow transfer of the formed product thereunder. In this configuration the second element can move towards the formed bridge and a stacking zone.

The second element beneficially moves relative to the support between the product receipt configuration and the product stacking configuration.

The head beneficially moves linearly between the withdrawn and the stacking configuration.

The apparatus beneficially further comprises a product stacking zone defined by a means to align products for stacking. The means to align the products may comprise a channel for example. It is beneficial that the product stacking zone may include packaging material for receipt of the stacked products, and for retaining the formed products in the stacked configuration. The product stacking zone may also comprise means to measure the weight of the stacked products to ensure the correct number of products is received before the ackaged) stacked products are removed.

A motor is beneficially provided arranged to enable movement of the receiver and stacking arrangement.

A forming element is beneficially further provided for forming a product, wherein the forming element transfers the formed product to the receiver.

The present invention provides a compact apparatus providing a reliable and effective stacking of the formed products.

Also according to the present invention there is process for stacking products comprising the steps of: -receiving a product into a receiving zone of a receiver and retaining the product in combination with the receiving zone; -transferring the product from a receiving configuration to a product release configuration; -moving a stacking arrangement between a withdrawn configuration to a product receipt configuration and orienting the stacking arrangement to receive the product from the receiver release configuration and retaining the product in the product receipt configuration; and -moving the stacking arrangement to transfer the product from the product receipt configuration to the stacking configuration.

The present invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings being which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2-5 are schematic perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in various stages of the stacking cycle.

Referring to Figure 1 there is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 there is a receiver 2 which comprises a generally inverted U-shaped swing aim and includes a receiving zone 4. The received zone is at least partially surrounded by an upstanding wall 6. An opening 8 is provided in the upstanding wall.

This opening is provided to enable transfer of the formed product therethrough. Also provided in the receiving zone 4 is an opening 11 which is connected to a pipe to enable suction to the receiving zone 4 to retain a formed product in the receiving zone 4. The swing aim 3 is secured to a support 14 via opposing pivots 10. The receiver 2 is beneficially rotatable through 900 between a generally upright, upstanding configuration to a generally horizontal configuration. The receiver moves in a longitudinal axis. In a horizontal configuration the receiver 2 is arranged to generally align a formed product with a channel 16. A motor is provided in housing 18. In the configuration as shown in Figure 1, the receiver is in the receiving configuration and is ready to receive a formed product in to the receiving zone 4 from a forming clcmcnt shaped to form thc dcsircd shape of product, The product may take various forms, however, reference will be made to and the apparatus described with respect to a muffin wrapper having generally IFustoconical form.

The appantus shown in Figure 1 plus close up view of receiver 2 further shows a stacking arrangement generally indicated by reference numeral 20. The longitudinal length of the stacking arrangement 2Ois beneficially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the channel 16. The stacking arrangement 20 is beneficially moveable in the longitudinal axis and is arranged to wove in this axis to transfer a formed product to a stacking zone generally provide in the channel 16. The stacking arrangement comprises a product receiving head 22 arranged to provide suction to a formed product via suction pipe 24. Utilising suction in this manner which is controlled means that the formed product can be manipulated without causing damage to the formed product. The head 22 seats inside the formed product to enable transfer of the formed product to take place from the receiver to the stacking arrangement. [he head 22 is secured to a first element 26 including a rod 23 which is moveable and beneficially slidably engaged with respect to a second element 28.

In the configuration of Figure 1 the stacking arrangement is provided in the withdrawn configuration. To move to the product receipt configuration, the first element 26 moves in the longitudinal axis with respect to the second clement 28 and the head 22 seats inside the formed product. The second element 28 is moveable with respect to the support 30 again in the longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel 16 and slides along rods 32 provided by the support 30. The second element 28 moves towards the support 14 which supports the receiver 2 and movement of this second element 28 is restricted by the provision of the support 14. In this configuration the stacking arrangement is in the product stacking configuration.

In the configuration as represented in Figure 1 the stacking arrangement has just received a formed product, in this case a muffin ease. The muffin case has been received in the receiving zone 4. Suction is activated and is transferred to the underside of the nwffin case therefore retaining the muffin ease within the receiving zone 4. Referring now to Figure 2, the muffin case remains retained in the receiving zone 4 and the swing arm 3 is rotated through 90° about pivot 10. Suction is maintained to retain the muffin case in the horizontal configuration. At this time the stacking arrangement is retained in the retracted configuration. Referring now to Figure 3, the stacking arrangement comprises a first element 26 secured to a rod 23 which further carries the head 22. The first element 26 including the head 22 moves longitudinally into the muffin wrapper and the head 22 switches to cause suction via the suction pipe 24. At this point suction is switched off from the pipe connected to the receiving zone 4 such that at this time it is the stacking arrangement that retains the muffin wrapper. Referring now to Figure 4, thc swing arm 3 is rotated hack to its original configuration and defines a bridge over the channel 16. There is now therefore an opening through which the muffin wrapper can be transferred to a stacked configuration. Referring now to Figure 5, the second clement 28 moves in die longitudinal axis towards the receiver 2 and transfers the muffin wrapper to the stacking configuration. The muffin wrapper is then therefore received into the already stacked products and can push the pre-stacked products along the channel 16. The suction applied by a suction pipe 24 is then switched ofl the second element 28 is retracted and the first element is also retracted. The apparatus is then back to the original configuration ready to receive a further muffin wrapper.

The present invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims. For example, reference has been made to stacking muffin wrappers however the apparatus is suitable for stacking other formed products.