IT202100008741A1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING PRODUCTS IN BOXES - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

" Apparatus and Method of Packaging Products in Boxes "

The present invention ? relating to an apparatus and method for packaging products, in which the products to be packaged are arranged inside a box according to a predefined ordered configuration.

The present invention finds a favourite, even if? non-exclusive, application in the sector of preparation and packaging of food and non-food products, an example of which is ? represented by the capsules for infusion drinks, for example coffee?, a product to which it will be possible to later refer without losing generality?. In particular, in this technical sector, packaging apparatuses are known in which a plurality of of empty capsules are individually filled with the product to be packaged, for example coffee powder, and then, after being closed by a special membrane, they are sent to the final stages of canning and packaging. In particular, the boxing phase often requires the capsules to be arranged inside the boxes according to a predefined orderly configuration, in order to optimize the dimensions of the capsules inside the boxes, as well as to give the final package a well-finished and ordered generally appreciated by customers.

In the present description as well as in the claims annexed thereto, some terms and expressions are deemed to assume, unless otherwise explicitly indicated, the meaning expressed in the following definitions.

With the term ?product? means any object which, within an industrial production line, can be picked up, moved and deposited in a box. The products are preferably the same, but they can also differ in some characteristics such as conformation, composition or colour.

The products can be, for example, food or sweets already? packaged in individual containers or wrappings, such as coffee capsules? or other drinks for infusion, bottles and briks of drinks, yogurt pots, single chocolates (wrapped or naked), candies, small boxes, envelopes (pouches) containing solid, liquid or semi-solid food products; in addition, products from the ceramic industry, absorbent products for hygienic use, products from the tobacco industry, products from the cosmetics industry, products from the pharmaceutical industry, products from the "personal & home care" industry.

With the term ?box? means any container suitable for containing the products, in particular any container suitable for packaging in view of the subsequent placing on the market of the products. Preferably the box? intended to contain a plurality? of products in an ordered configuration. Box ? preferably made of cardboard and ? equipped with a resealable lid, however other configurations and other construction materials can be envisaged.

With ?configuration? of a plurality? products means the arrangement of products in space, with particular reference to their reciprocal positioning and their orientation in space.

A configuration? called ?ordered? when the products, in a certain position of the packaging apparatus, maintain a predefined spatial arrangement, preferably constant over time.

In a plurality? of products moved within the packaging apparatus along an advancement direction, can one or more be identified? ?columns? of products and/or one or more? ?file? of products, where a ?column? of products? defined as a plurality? of products aligned to each other substantially parallel to the direction of advancement, while a ?row? of products? defined as a plurality? of products aligned to each other substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement.

The direction of advance can? be substantially straight or curved. In a column or row, the products can be spaced apart or in contact with each other.

A guide? ? a mechanical member arranged to allow the sliding of the products inside it between an inlet section and an outlet section along a substantially linear path, which, in turn, can be straight or curved and develop on a plane or in space.

Preferably, the guide ? extended along a mainly longitudinal direction, which allows to define a longitudinal axis of the guide and defines the linear path of the articles between the starting section and the arrival section.

Preferably, the guide ? static mechanical organ.

Preferably, the guide ? shaped to accommodate and guide a single row of products inside it and to keep the products in a fixed spatial orientation with respect to the guide, during their sliding along the linear path.

Preferably, the products slide along the rail under the force of gravity, however it is? otherwise? expected that this sliding is induced or favored by other external forces such as jets of air or drive belts.

A guide (or a part of it) pu? be rotated around its longitudinal axis in a substantially progressive manner. In other words, in the guide or in its stretch, the orientation of the cross section of the guide varies as the position varies along its longitudinal axis, so? that each cross section is angularly offset from the immediately preceding or following sections. The rotation of the guide around its longitudinal axis can? be constant along the development of its longitudinal axis, that is? the angular offset between cross sections remains constant at parit? away along the longitudinal axis, or pu? be variable. In particular, the rotation of the guide pu? also change direction or, for small portions of the guide, even be nothing.

The overall rotation of the guide about its longitudinal axis between the inlet section and the outlet section ? quantified by means of a ?angle of rotation?, which ? preferably expressed in minimal terms between 0? and 360?. In other words, the angle of rotation is expressed without taking into account any complete rotations of 360?, which in fact have no effect on the orientation of the products, so, for example, a rotation angle of 60? also corresponds to a generic rotation angle of 60? n*360? (with n integer).

The Applicant has preliminarily observed that the products often have to be deposited inside a box in an ordered configuration different from the one in which they leave a production line.

In particular, the Applicant has also ascertained how the maximum compaction requirements, at which ? often inspired by the definition of the orderly configuration of the products inside a box, are sometimes difficult to reconcile with the needs related to the production phases.

In particular, the Applicant has observed that while in the production phase ? Is an orderly configuration of the products favored in which the latter are suitably spaced and oriented in a uniform manner during the canning phase? an ordered configuration is preferred in which the products are placed close to each other and, sometimes, also oriented in different ways, so as to minimize their overall dimensions and, consequently, also the dimensions of the box in which they are packaged.

The Applicant has also observed that this eventuality? occurs particularly frequently in the event that the products have a conformation with strong asymmetries, where the re-orientation of adjacent products can allow for significant space savings.

For example, the Applicant has noticed how the coffee capsules present a conformation tapered from the head to the base (typically truncated cone) which can? be easily compacted inside a box by tilting the capsules relative to each other. On the other hand, in the production phase, ? Should the capsules all be oriented in the same way: for example in a particularly widespread production plant? envisaged that the capsules are moved between the various workstations on multi-track conveyors where the capsules are arranged in parallel rows, spaced from each other, and are all oriented with the head facing upwards so as to facilitate filling with the coffee powder and the subsequent step of positioning and sealing the capsule closure membrane.

The Applicant has therefore found that modifying the configuration of the products can be particularly delicate and onerous in terms of equipment. In fact, to arrange the products leaving the production line in the predefined orderly configuration envisaged for their boxing, ? it is often necessary to pick up and manipulate the caps one by one, by means of robotic gripping members capable of performing complex and precise movements.

There? inevitably involves high production, management and maintenance costs.

The Applicant therefore felt the need to simplify the operation of preparing the products for canning so as to significantly reduce the resources and costs associated with this operation.

In order to satisfy this requirement, the Applicant has understood that the configuration of a plurality of products could be changed by scrolling through the individual products of this plurality? along respective guides suitably shaped.

In particular, the Applicant understood that a guide designed to accommodate a product with the option to scroll can? accurately determine not only the exit position of this product but also its orientation in space.

Finally, the Applicant has found that by sliding a plurality? of products between a feed station and an unloading station inside respective guides, each shaped to lead these products along its own longitudinal axis and to rotate them at the same time around its own longitudinal axis by a suitable angle of rotation, ? Is it possible to obtain a very wide spectrum of configurations of products coming out of the guides without any need? to resort to complex and expensive manipulation devices.

Therefore, in a first aspect thereof, the present invention is directed to a product packaging apparatus comprising a feed station on which said products are disposed and an unloading station placed downstream of said feed station and arranged to receive said products coming from said feed station.

Preferably, said product packaging apparatus ? designed to pack these products inside boxes.

Preferably, said packaging apparatus comprises at least one first guide extending along one of its longitudinal axis between said feed station and said unloading station.

Preferably, dictate at least a first guide ? shaped to carry along said longitudinal axis a single column of said products from said feeding station to said unloading station.

Preferably, dictate at least a first guide ? shaped to simultaneously rotate said products around said longitudinal axis by a first rotation angle different from 0?.

Preferably, said packaging apparatus comprises at least one second guide extending along one of its longitudinal axis between said feed station and said unloading station.

Preferably, dictate at least a second guide ? shaped to lead along said longitudinal axis a further single column of said products from said feed station to said unloading station.

Preferably, dictate at least a second guide ? shaped to simultaneously rotate said products around said longitudinal axis by a first rotation angle different from 0? and different from said first rotation angle.

In its second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of packaging products in boxes.

Preferably, said method comprises the step of arranging in a feed station a plurality of of said products in a first configuration.

Preferably, said method comprises the step of sliding said products from said feed station to a discharge station along at least one first and second guide.

Preferably, dictate at least a first guide ? shaped to guide a single column of said products along a longitudinal axis thereof and to rotate said products about said longitudinal axis by a first rotation angle different from 0?. Preferably, dictate at least a second guide ? shaped to lead a further single column of said products along a longitudinal axis thereof and to rotate said products around said longitudinal axis by a second rotation angle other than 0? and different from said first rotation angle.

Preferably, said products exiting from said at least one first and second guide are arranged in said unloading station in a second configuration, different from said first configuration.

Thanks to the characteristics of the apparatus and of the method of the invention ? therefore it is possible to modify the initial configuration of a plurality? of products, in particular coming out of a production line, in a final configuration particularly suitable for allowing their effective boxing, without resorting to complex robotic handling devices and instead exploiting the capabilities? of the mechanical guides to modify, essentially at will, the orientation of the products as they slide inside them.

Will you appreciate it? moreover that the guides are static mechanical members, absolutely inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

Furthermore, their flexibility? sizing allows the possible configurations of products exiting the guides to be diversified in a very broad way, so much so that with an appropriate design of the guides, it is possible to essentially believe that you can obtain any configuration of products suitable for canning.

A further advantage of this invention derives from the fact that, thanks to the very low production cost, it is possible to think of having different sets of guides, interchangeable with each other, cos? to be able to quickly replace the guides in case of changes to any boxing configurations or to adapt to any product variations.

Last but not least, the guides can also be used effectively simply by exploiting the force of gravity, without any need to to bring energy from the outside for the movement and re-orientation of the products.

In its third aspect, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for packaging products in boxes, comprising a feed station and an unloading station located downstream of said feed station.

Preferably, in said feed station said products are moved along an advancement direction and are arranged one with respect to the other according to a first configuration.

Preferably, said packaging apparatus comprises a plurality of of guides interposed between said feed station and said discharge station.

Preferably, each of said guides ? extended along a respective longitudinal axis and ? shaped to lead a single column of products coming from said feeding station along said longitudinal axis.

Preferably, each of said guides ? shaped to possibly rotate the products of said single column around said longitudinal axis in such a way that, in said unloading station, said products exiting from said guides are arranged with respect to each other in a second configuration, different from the first configuration. Preferably, said packaging apparatus comprises a gripping device arranged in said unloading station to pick up said products and place them in one of said boxes while keeping them in said second configuration.

In its fourth aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of packaging products in boxes comprising a step of defining a final configuration of said products in said box, in which identified at least one row of products having a desired reciprocal positioning.

Preferably, said method comprises the step of arranging in a feed station a plurality of of said products in a first configuration, different from said final configuration.

Preferably, said method comprises the step of preparing a plurality of of guides equal to the number of products of said at least one row.

Preferably, each guide ? shaped to lead a single column of said products from said feed station to an unloading station along a longitudinal axis of said guide.

Preferably, each guide ? shaped to rotate said products around said longitudinal axis.

Preferably, said products exiting from said guides are arranged with respect to each other in a second configuration corresponding to said at least one row of products having said desired reciprocal positioning.

Preferably, said method comprises the step of withdrawing said at least one row of products from said unloading station.

Preferably, said method comprises the step of depositing said at least one row of products in said box while maintaining said second configuration.

In at least one of the aforementioned aspects, the present invention can furthermore exhibit at least one of the preferred characteristics set forth below.

In some embodiments, at said unloading station, the distance between the respective longitudinal axes of said first guide and said second guide ? smaller than the distance between said respective longitudinal axes at said feed station.

Thanks to this characteristic, the products, in addition to being oriented in an appropriate way, are also brought closer together, so as to fully exploit the greater compactness obtainable by modifying their orientation.

In this way, moreover, the products are already? ready to be deposited inside a box.

Preferably, said at least one first guide and said at least one second guide have their respective entrances side by side.

In this way, the products can be handled on a single support surface of the infeed station, which simplifies its construction and management. In alternative forms, the power station can? comprising support surfaces offset from each other, so as to convey products coming from different points of the packaging apparatus towards a single unloading station.

Preferably, said at least one first guide and said at least one second guide have their respective outlets side by side.

In this way, the products coming out of the guides already form? a row of products, ready to be deposited inside a box.

In some embodiments, said at least one first and said at least one second guide are placed side by side along their entire longitudinal development.

In this way, ? optimized the overall dimensions of the guides.

In one embodiment, said at least one first guide and said at least one second guide comprise a respective portion rotated about their own longitudinal axis.

Preferably, said portion of said first guide and, respectively, of said second guide, ? progressively rotated around said longitudinal axis until reaching an overall angle of rotation equal to said first angle of rotation and, respectively, of said second angle of rotation.

Pi? preferably, said portion of said first guide and, respectively, of said second guide, ? rotated progressively around said longitudinal axis with an angular variation per unit? of substantially constant linear measure.

In this way, friction between the products and the guide is minimized as well as the risks of possible stoppages of the products while they are sliding inside the respective guides. In some embodiments, said first rotation angle ? between 0? and 90?, preferably ? between 40? and 80?, more? preferably ? between 60? and 70?.

In some embodiments, said second rotation angle ? between 90? and 180?, preferably ? between 100? and 140?, more? preferably ? between 110? and 120?.

In some embodiments, said first rotation angle and said second rotation angle are substantially supplementary to each other.

In one embodiment, said first guide and, respectively, said second guide comprise retaining walls substantially parallel to said respective longitudinal axis, capable of retaining said products inside said guide. In this way, the products are kept inside the guide during sliding, even in sections where the guide is open. rotated about its longitudinal axis.

Preferably, said retaining walls have a clearance with said products of the order of a few millimetres, for example between 0.5 and 5 mm.

In one embodiment, said retaining walls are arranged on opposite sides of said products.

In a preferred embodiment, on each of said retaining walls ? a respective groove is formed which is capable of slidingly engaging a portion of said products.

In this way, the products slide inside the guides minimizing friction with the guide which can therefore be implemented without the provision of a fund.

In a preferred embodiment, between said feed station and said unloading station ? extended a plurality? of guides comprising at least said first guide and said second guide.

Preferably, in said plurality? of guides? identified at least one subgroup of guides repeated at least twice within said plurality? of guides, more preferably said sub-assembly comprises at least said first and said second guide.

In one embodiment, called plurality? of guides? formed by repeating in succession in said subgroup of guides.

In one embodiment, said subset of guides ? formed by said first and said second guide.

In some embodiments, said first guide and said second guide are downwardly inclined such that said products flow from said feed station to said gravity discharge station.

In this way, the handling and orientation of the products takes place in a simple and economical way, without any external energy input.

In an alternative embodiment, movement devices arranged to push the products along the guides can be provided on said first guide and/or said second guide.

For example, said movement devices can comprise a plurality of nozzles connected to a pneumatic circuit and arranged along said first and/or second guide to deliver a jet of air towards said products.

In some embodiments, in said feed station, said products are arranged relative to each other according to a first configuration.

In some embodiments, in said unloading station, said products leaving said plurality? of guides are arranged with respect to each other in a second configuration, different from said first configuration.

Preferably, said first configuration ? an orderly configuration.

Preferably, said second configuration ? an orderly configuration.

In some embodiments, said unloading station comprises a gripping device designed to pick up said products coming out of said plurality of products. of guides and placing them in one of said boxes keeping them in said second configuration.

In this way the products are transferred inside the box in the configuration obtained from the specific conformation of the guides, without further manipulation of the individual products. Furthermore, in this way the conformation of the individual guides can be designed with precision directly by tracing the specific arrangement that the products must assume inside the box, without the need to to develop intermediate configurations.

In some embodiments, in said feeding station said products are all oriented in the same way and, preferably, coplanar.

Preferably, said feed station comprises a plurality of of channels within which said products are moved in single columns towards said guides.

Preferably, in said first configuration said products form successive input rows in said guides, more? preferably each entrance row ? formed by equally spaced and equally oriented products.

In some embodiments, in said second configuration, said products form a row in which each product is inclined relative to the products adjacent to it.

Preferably, in said second configuration said products form a row in which each product ? in contact with adjacent products.

In some embodiments, at least one of the guides of said plurality, and preferably each guide of said plurality, ? shaped to rotate the products guided inside it around said longitudinal axis by a rotation angle other than zero.

In one embodiment, each guide of said plurality? ? shaped to rotate the products guided inside it around said longitudinal axis by a rotation angle different from the rotation angle of a guide adjacent to it.

In an alternative embodiment, said guides are shaped to rotate the products guided inside them around said longitudinal axis by the same rotation angle other than zero.

In one embodiment, said products are capsules for infusion beverages.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of example and not in limitation with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

? figure 1 ? a schematic side perspective view of an apparatus for packaging products in boxes made in accordance with the present invention;

? figures 2 to 4 are schematic and partial side perspective views of the apparatus of figure 1 in successive operating configurations,

? figure 5 ? an enlarged view of a detail of the packaging apparatus of figure 1;

? figure 6 ? a top view of the products in a first example of the desired configuration for their canning,

? figure 7 ? a schematic side perspective representation of the products during their sliding inside the guides provided in the packaging apparatus of figure 1, in order to obtain the configuration of figure 6,

? the figure 8 ? a bottom perspective view of the schematic representation of figure 7,

? figure 9 ? a top view of the products in a second example of the desired configuration for their canning, e

? figures 10 and 11 are figures similar to figures 7 and 8 which show the products during their sliding inside guides provided in the packaging apparatus of figure 1, in order to obtain the configuration of figure 9.

With reference to the accompanying figures, with 1 ? indicated as a whole an apparatus for packaging products 2 in boxes 3, made in accordance with the present invention.

In the embodiment described here, the packaging apparatus 1 is placed immediately downstream of a production line 4 of capsules for infusion beverages, in particular coffee, which therefore constitute the products 2 to be packaged.

With reference to figure 5, the capsules 2 are substantially identical to each other and comprise a semi-rigid container, for example made of plastic material, suitable for containing coffee powder. In this embodiment, the container has a truncated cone shape with a support base 2a from which ? erected a side wall 2b flared towards an upper opening, which, in turn, is perimeter bounded by a protruding edge 2c and ? closed by a membrane coupled on this edge. The membrane and the protruding edge 2c define a head 2d of the capsule 2, axially opposite and substantially parallel to the support base 2a.

Of course, the caps 2 can be made with different materials and shapes, according to their specific use.

The production line 4 comprises a conveyor 5 arranged to move the capsules 2 between different work stations (not shown in detail and conventional in themselves) in which the containers of the capsules 2 are first filled with coffee powder and and subsequently closed with a coupled membrane, for example by welding, at the respective protruding edge.

In particular, the conveyor 5 ? of the multi-track type and includes a plurality? of seats 6 arranged in successive rows substantially perpendicular to the advancement direction F of the conveyor in which each container ? placed individually.

At the end of the conveyor 5, the capsules 2 are ready to be boxed in the packaging apparatus 1.

The latter, in its main components, includes a? unit? of orientation 10, a?unit? for forming and filling the boxes 20 and a conveyor 30 which transports the filled and packaged boxes to any subsequent stations intended for their final packaging before shipment.

The unit orientation device 10, in turn, comprises a pick-up device 7, arranged to pick up the capsules 2 from the conveyor 5 and deposit them in a feeding station 11, a plurality of guides 12, placed downstream of the feeding station 11, as well as? an unloading station 13, arranged to receive the capsules 2 coming out of the guides 12.

In particular, the pick-up device 7 comprises a pick-up head 8 on which mounted a plurality? of gripping elements 8a, for example of the suction cup type, arranged to engage and retain in coupling the individual caps 2 transported by the conveyor 5 in correspondence with the respective heads 2d.

The gripping head 8 ? mounted at? the extremity? of an arm 9 with faculty? vertical and horizontal displacement as well as rotation around its longitudinal axis. The feeding station 11 comprises a plate 14, on which? a support surface is defined for the capsules 2 deposited by the gripping head 8, and movement means for moving the capsules present on the plate 14 along an advancement direction X, substantially straight and parallel to the support surface.

The movement means, not shown in the enclosed figures, can be of any type suitable for moving the caps 2 along the direction of advance X, such as for example belt or air jet conveyors.

Channels 15 are also formed on the plate 14, substantially parallel to the direction of advancement X and equidistant from each other, within which the caps 2 are received and guided as they move towards the guides 12.

The movement of the capsules 2 inside the channels 15 of the plate 14 defines a plurality of of columns of capsules 2, substantially rectilinear and parallel to the direction of advancement X, and indicated schematically with B in figure 1, as well as? a plurality? of rows of capsules 2, substantially rectilinear and perpendicular to the direction of advance X, and indicated schematically with A in figure 1.

In this arrangement, the rows and columns of capsules 2 form a first ordered configuration of the capsules 2, of the matrix type, with all the capsules oriented with the head 2d facing the same side (upwards with respect to the plate 14). The guides 12, which in figures 1 to 4 are hidden to better highlight the re-orientation action on the caps 2 and in figure 7 are just indicated in broken lines in their initial part, extend between the feed station 11 and the station outlet 13 and are arranged side by side to receive the columns B of capsules 2 moved in the respective channels 15 along the direction of advance X. In particular, each guide 12 has its own entrance at the end? terminal of a channel 15, so as to receive inside it a single column of caps 2 and to guide it in sliding along its own longitudinal axis.

Each guide 12 ? advantageously inclined downwards so that the capsules 2 can slide inside it thanks to the force of gravity alone.

In particular, each guide 12 comprises a pair of retention walls 18, arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide 12 on the opposite sides of the capsules 2. Furthermore, on each retention wall 18? advantageously a groove 19 is obtained, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide, and able to engage the caps 2 in correspondence with the respective protruding edge 2c. In this way, the capsules 2 are effectively kept inside the respective guide 12 regardless of their orientation in space, in particular even when turned upside down.

The guides 12 are shaped in such a way as to reorient and reposition the capsules 2 as they slide inside them so as to make them pass from the first ordered configuration to a second ordered configuration particularly suitable for boxing them.

In the example described here, the second ordered configuration, represented in figure 6, foresees that the capsules 2 form a row of adjacent capsules in contact with each other, in which each capsule ? inclined with respect to the capsules adjacent to it. In particular, in the second ordered configuration, each row of caps 2 coming out of the guides 12 can be divided into subgroups G of capsules (indicated in broken lines in figure 6), repeated in succession. In the present example, each row of capsules ? formed by 5 subgroups of 2 capsules each, for a total of 10 capsules per row.

In each subgroup G, a capsule 2 ? inclined, with respect to a reference plane indicated by P in Figure 6, by a first angle R between 60? and 70?, while the other capsule 2? inclined by one second angle S between 110? and 120?. To obtain this configuration, the guides 12 are suitably divided into respective first and second guides 12a and 12b, arranged alternately with each other, each of which ? rotated progressively around its own longitudinal axis of an angle of rotation overall, measured between the? extremity? input and the? extremity? of the guide, equal to the angles of inclination indicated above. Therefore, each first guide 12a ? rotated about its longitudinal axis by a first rotation angle R between 60? and 70?, and each second guide 12b ? rotated about its longitudinal axis by a second rotation angle S between 110? and 120?.

In particular, each guide 12 ? rotated around its own longitudinal axis in a progressive and substantially constant manner for an extension involving a prevalent longitudinal portion of the guide.

The guides 12 have their respective inlets side by side, so as to simultaneously receive a row A of capsules 2 coming from the feed station 11 and, moreover, they also have their respective outlets side by side, so as to deliver to the unloading station a row A? of aligned capsules.

Advantageously, the plurality of guides 12 therefore has, as a whole, a convergent trend towards a median plane M, so as to keep the capsules 2 at the outlet in a condition of close proximity, substantially in contact.

At the exit of guides 12 ? a stop mechanism is provided (not shown in the figures) which can be selectively operated to keep the capsules 2 inside the respective guide 12, preventing them from coming out, or to release the capsules so that they can reach the unloading station 13.

In particular, the locking mechanism ? configured to let a single capsule 2 exit simultaneously from each guide 12, so that, in each opening cycle of the stop mechanism, a row A? of capsules arranged in the second ordered configuration.

The unloading station 13 comprises a plurality of gripping devices 16, placed radially on a carousel 17 rotating around a horizontal axis of rotation. Each gripping device 16 ? arranged to receive the row of capsules 2 coming out of the guides 12 and to deposit them, keeping them in the second ordered configuration defined by the guides, in a box 3.

For this purpose, each gripping device 16 can comprise a pair of pincers designed to laterally engage the row of caps 2 coming out of the guides 12, at the protruding edges 2c. Each gripping device 16 ? moreover advantageously equipped with radial movement, which favors both the correct reception of the capsules 2 coming out of the guides 12 and their deposit inside the box 3.

The unit for forming and filling the boxes 20, comprises a carousel 21, with a horizontal axis of rotation, equipped with a plurality of of crews 22, extended radially from the carousel 21 and arranged to form, in cooperation with one or more? organs external to the carousel 21, a box 3 starting from a sheet of cardboard 3a, suitably shaped and creased (called blank) supplied individually to a unit 22 from a feeder 23.

This operation of forming the box 3, which provides for example a series of successive foldings of the blank and the gluing of respective panels in predefined points, is in itself note in the field of packaging machines and will not come? therefore explained in further detail.

Carousel 21? associated in a synchronized manner with the carousel 17 of the unloading station 13, so that each row of capsules 2 picked up by a gripping device 16 is deposited in a box 3, formed but not yet closed, brought to the gripping device 16 by a respective crew 22 of the ride 21.

The unit for forming and filling the boxes 20, also comprises a box closing station (not shown) which closes the box 3 after the capsules 2 have been inserted.

The packaging apparatus 1 operates in the modalities? following.

The withdrawal device 7 withdraws a plurality? of capsules 2 from the conveyor 5 after these have been suitably filled with coffee powder? and closed with a membrane (fig. 1).

The gripping head 8 is then raised by the arm 9 until it reaches the height of the feeding station 11 (fig. 2), rotated by 90? so as to align the gripping elements 8a with the channels 15 (fig. 3), moved above the plate 14 and finally lowered to deposit the capsule 2 inside the channels 15 of the plate 14 (fig. 4).

The caps 2 are then moved along the feed direction X in respective columns B up to the entrance of the guides 12 where they are engaged at the protruding edges 2c in the grooves 19 of the side retaining walls 18.

The capsules 2 therefore slide by falling along the respective guides 12 and, during this sliding motion, are also rotated with respect to the longitudinal axis of the guide in which they are housed by the first or second angle of rotation.

The effect of the sliding of the capsules 2 inside the guides 12 is well represented in figures 7 and 8 where the repositioning and re-orientation movement to which ? subject each single column of capsules 2 within the respective guide 12.

The caps exiting the guides 12 therefore assume the second configuration previously described, equal to the desired configuration for their boxing shown in figure 6.

Each row of capsules exiting the guides 12 ? then picked up by one of the gripping devices 16 and carried by the carousel 17 in correspondence with a box 3, formed and opened, held by a crew 22 of the carousel 21, inside which it is deposited.

The box 3, containing the capsules arranged in the desired configuration, is then closed again in the next box closing station and deposited on the conveyor 30 which takes it to the next stations.

The packaging apparatus 1 therefore makes it possible to arrange the products leaving a production line according to a multiplicity of of configurations in a simple and economic way.

Will you notice? in fact, that the configuration of the capsules coming out of the guides can? be easily varied by modifying the shape of the individual guides, according to the specific arrangement required for boxing the capsules 2.

For example, if capsules 2 are required to assume a configuration with a constant slope between adjacent capsules, ? it is sufficient to shape the guides so as to rotate around their own longitudinal axis by the same angle of rotation.

In figures 9 to 11 ? represented this second example of realization. In figure 9 ? represented the desired configuration of the capsules 2 for canning, in which the capsules are all inclined by an angle T equal to 90? with respect to the reference plane P, while in figures 10 and 11 ? represented the movement of repositioning and re-orientation to which ? each individual column of capsules 2 is subjected inside the respective guide 12. In this way, each row A of capsules leaving the feeding station is subjected. reconfigured in row A?? corresponding to the desired configuration for canning shown in figure 9.

Claims (20)

1. Packaging apparatus (1) of products (2) in boxes (3), comprising: ? a feed station (11) on which said products (2) are disposed, ? an unloading station (13) placed downstream of said feeding station (11) and arranged to receive said products coming from said feeding station (11), ? at least one first guide (12a) extending along one of its longitudinal axis between said feed station (11) and said unloading station (13), said at least one first guide (12a) being shaped to guide a single column (12a) along said longitudinal axis B) of said products (2) from said feeding station (11) to said unloading station (13) while rotating said products around said longitudinal axis by a first rotation angle (R) different from 0?, ? at least one second guide (12b) extending along its longitudinal axis between said feed station (11) and said unloading station (13), said at least one second guide (12b) being shaped to guide a further single column along said longitudinal axis (B) of said products from said feeding station (11) to said unloading station (13) while rotating said products around said longitudinal axis by a second rotation angle (S) different from 0? and from said first rotation angle (R). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in correspondence with said unloading station (13), the distance between the respective longitudinal axes of said first guide (12a) and said second guide (12b) ? smaller than the distance between said respective longitudinal axes at said feed station (11). 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first rotation angle (R) is between 0? and 90?, preferably ? between 40? and 80?, more? preferably ? between 60? and 70?. 4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second rotation angle (S) is ? between 90? and 180?, preferably ? between 100? and 140?, more? preferably ? between 110? and 120?. 5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first rotation angle (R) and said second rotation angle (S) are substantially supplementary to each other. 6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein between said supply station (11) and said unloading station (13) ? extended a plurality? of guides (12) comprising at least said first guide (12a) and said second guide (12b). 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in said plurality? of guides (12) ? identified at least one subgroup of guides (G) repeated at least twice within said plurality? of guides, said subgroup (G) comprising at least said first and said second guide (12a, 12b). 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said plurality? of guides (12) ? formed by the repetition in succession in said subgroup (G) of guides. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said subgroup (G) of guides ? formed by said first and second guide (12a, 12b). 10. Packaging apparatus according to any one of claims from 6 to 9, wherein in said feeding station (11) said products are arranged with respect to each other according to a first configuration and, in said unloading station (13), said products outgoing from said plurality? of guides 12) are arranged one with respect to the other in a second configuration, different from said first configuration. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein in said first configuration said products form successive entry rows (A) in said guides, wherein each entry row (A) ? formed by products (2) equally spaced and equally oriented. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein in said second configuration said products (2) form a row (A?) in which each product (2) ? inclined relative to the products adjacent to it. 13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said unloading station (13) comprises a gripping device (16) arranged to pick up said products (2) coming out of said plurality of of guides (12) and place them in one of said boxes (3) keeping them in said second configuration. 14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said feeding station (11) comprises a plurality of of channels (15) within which said products are moved in single columns (B) towards said guides (12a, 12b). 15. Method of packaging products (2) in boxes (3) including: ? arrange in a feeding station (11) a plurality? of said products (2) in a first configuration, ? sliding said products (2) from said feed station (11) to a discharge station (13) along at least one first guide (12a) and a second guide (12b), ? in which he dictates at least one first guide (12a) ? shaped to guide a single column (B) of said products (2) along its longitudinal axis and to rotate said products around said longitudinal axis by a first rotation angle (R) different from 0? And ? in which he dictates at least a second guide (12b) ? shaped to lead a further single column (B) of said products (2) along a longitudinal axis thereof and to rotate said products around said longitudinal axis by a second rotation angle (S) different from 0? and different from said first rotation angle (R), so that said products (2) coming out of said at least one first and second guides (12a, 12b) are arranged in said unloading station (13) in a second configuration, different from said first configuration. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein ? the step is provided of picking up said products (2) in said second configuration from said unloading station (13) and depositing them in said box (3) maintaining said second configuration. 17. Packaging apparatus (1) of products (2) in boxes (3), comprising: ? a feed station (11) in which said products (2) are moved along an advance direction (X) and are arranged with respect to each other according to a first configuration, ? an unloading station (13) placed downstream of said feeding station (11), ? a plurality? of guides (12) interposed between said feed station (11) and said unloading station (13), wherein each of said guides ? extended along a respective longitudinal axis and ? shaped to lead a single column (B) of products (2) coming from said feed station (11) along said longitudinal axis and possibly rotate the products of said single column around said longitudinal axis in such a way that, in said station discharge (13), said products (2) coming out of said guides (12) are arranged with respect to each other in a second configuration, different from the first configuration, ? a gripping device (16) set up in said unloading station (13) to pick up said products (2) and place them in one of said boxes (3) keeping them in said second configuration. 18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each guide (12) of said plurality? ? shaped to rotate the products (2) guided inside it around said longitudinal axis by a rotation angle (R; S) other than zero and different from the rotation angle (S; R) of a guide adjacent to it. 19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each guide (12) of said plurality? ? shaped to rotate the products (2) guided inside it around said longitudinal axis by the same rotation angle (T) other than zero. 20. Method of packaging products (2) in boxes (3) including: ? define a final configuration of said products (2) in said box (3), in which ? identified at least one row (A?; A??) of products having a desired reciprocal positioning, ? arrange in a feeding station (11) a plurality? of said products (11) in a first configuration, different from said final configuration, ? prepare a plurality? of guides (12) equal to the number of products of said at least one row, in which each guide ? shaped to lead a single column (B) of said products from said feed station (11) to an unloading station (13) along a longitudinal axis of said guide and to rotate said products (2) around said longitudinal axis, in in such a way that said products exiting from said guides (12) are arranged with respect to each other in a second configuration corresponding to said at least one row (A?; A??) of products having said desired reciprocal positioning, ? withdrawing said at least one row (A?; A??) of products from said unloading station (13) and depositing it in said box (3) maintaining said second configuration.