KR100536306B1 - Guide mechanism for a packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (30) for manipulating out of a hopper sequential collapsed sleeve type end loading cartons (10) having oppositely disposed face contacting panels (20, 22) and for initiating set up thereof into open ended condition, the apparatus (30) comprising a rotatable shaft (40), carton pick up means (42) for sequentially engaging one of said face contacting panels (20) and for withdrawing from the hopper the collapsed carton which includes said one of said face contacting panels (20), a rotatable elongate support rod (50) having one end thereof secured to said shaft (40) and on the other end of which said carton pick up means (42) is disposed, wherein said carton pick means (42) is arranged to deposit a set up carton (10) on a conveyor (34). Oscillatable guide means (52) is disposed outside the path of orbital movement of the carton pick up means (42) to engage and hold said carton (10) down following deposit thereof on the conveyor (34).

Description

Guide device for packing machine {GUIDE MECHANISM FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE}

Background of the present invention

The present invention relates to packaging cartons, and more particularly to initiating the supply of cartons folded in the hopper and sequentially completing the assembly of the cartons.

U.S. Patent No. 4 881 934 describes a rotational transmission having a drive shaft and rotational conveying means on a support member. The support shaft includes a suction cup that is provided rotatably on the conveying means and receives the carton to be moved along the path and placed on the conveyor. A fixed guide rail is provided in close proximity to the conveyor, which is curved to keep the carton in position on the conveyor and to place the carton on the lug conveyor.

The use of a fixed guide has the problem that the fixed guide must be positioned to avoid the path of the feeder device when the carton is placed on the conveyor. The use of a fixed guide is also undesirable because a force needs to be applied to the carton to guide the carton to the desired position on the conveyor.

U.S. Patent 5 102 385 describes an alternative approach for the carton to support the carton during assembly. In this patent there is shown a feeder device for assembling the carton and including a rotating suction cup which moves inward and outward on the slide rod. The suction cup device includes a leaf spring clip for engaging and holding the carton to place the carton on the conveyor. With this, the feeder device needs to have a leaf spring clip attached to each suction cup, which is undesirable because of the complexity of the device.

In order to increase the packaging speed of the device, it is desirable to place the carton on the conveyor as soon as possible so that the conveyed speed is improved. Another problem with known feeder devices is that the shape of the assembled carton has an undesirable impact on packaging speed. For example, pizza boxes generally include large top and bottom panels and relatively narrow side panels. If this shape of the carton is fed onto the conveyor by using suction cups known in the art, it becomes difficult to control a box of relatively large surface area in the carton. By this, placing the carton on the conveyor by known means makes it difficult to align the carton between the lugs, resulting in a reduced packaging speed.

Summary of the invention

 It is an object of the present invention to be able to at least mitigate or overcome the above mentioned problems in combination with the prior art. The present invention can be used in various types of packaging machines. Alternatively, the upright device of the present invention may be supplied as a separate module to be present in the device being installed or reinstalled in a new device.

One aspect of the invention is a carton attachment means which sequentially engages one of the face contact panels to withdraw a folded carton comprising a rotating shaft, a face contact panel from a hopper, and secures on another end of the shaft and the carton attachment means. 10. An apparatus for treating a folded sleeved loading carton having an opposingly disposed face contact panel for assembling the carton in an open state, in order to sequentially pull out of the hopper. The carton attaching means is arranged such that a carton assembled on the conveyor is arranged and the vibration guide means is outside the path of the trajectory movement of the carton attaching means for engaging and holding the carton during or after the carton is placed on the conveyor. It provides a device arranged in the side.

According to another feature of the invention, the vibration guide means is vibrated by drive means interconnected with the vibration means by a drive link.

According to another feature of the invention, the vibration guide means comprises a vibration arm movable in a plane substantially parallel to the conveyor, wherein the vibration arm guides the carton into a position between the leading and trailing edge lugs attached on the conveyor. And a guide surface for Preferably, the guide surface is movable in a path that obstructs the path of orbital movement of the carton attachment means.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a baler device comprising a vibrating arm disposed over the conveyor, including a first guide surface for aligning the carton into position between the leading and trailing edge lugs on the conveyor and guiding the carton into the position. The first guide surface is characterized in that it is movable in a plane substantially parallel to the conveyor.

According to a feature of the invention, the vibrating arm comprises a second guide surface adjacent to the first guide surface, wherein the first guide surface applies a force to the carton to guide the carton into the position, and then The second guide surface supplies a second force to accurately align the carton to the position. Preferably, the second force may be greater than the force supplied by the first guide surface.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for the embodiments.

1 is a perspective view of a carton suitable for use with a packaging machine according to the present invention;

2 is a perspective view of a packing machine conveying part which vibrates the guide means of the present invention and explains the feeding device; And

3 to 8 are a side view and a perspective view of a packaging machine conveying end illustrating the upright of the carton according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

The device according to the invention can supply and store various carton types, for example wraparound or fully enclosed cartons. The carton form of this specification includes different sizes of any particular carton style.

Referring to the drawings, one example of a carton 10 used in combination with the device of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 in an assembled state to accommodate foodstuffs such as pizza. The carton 10 is made of a single blank of cardboard or other foldable sheet material and includes opposing side wall panels 12 and 14 and opposing end wall panels 16 and 18 hingeably coupled to each other. . The carton also includes a top panel 20 and a bottom panel 22 that are hingeably coupled to opposite edges of the side walls 12, 14. Food products such as pizza can be inserted into the carton on one side and the end panels 16 and 18 are then held together to provide a completely closed carton.

The carton can be changed depending on the quantity and / or shape of the article to be packaged, so that the device according to the invention can handle a wide variety of different types of cartons, such as the sleeved cartons used in the bottling industry. It should be adjustable at.

With reference to FIG. 2, an apparatus 30 for treating a carton of the above mentioned type is shown. The upstream end of the baler includes a hopper (not shown) or other suitable means for storing a number of cartons 10 that are in a folded state for processing. Preferably, a rotary vacuum feeder 32 is located near the hopper. In this embodiment a paper feed chain 34 (or conveyor) is provided to convey the carton downstream in a loaded state (not shown). Conveyor 34 includes lugs 36, 38, 36A, 38A of the leading and trailing edges for engaging the carton being moved downstream as is known in the art.

The feeder device 32 includes a main shaft 40 rotatable about a fixed shaft. Generally, shaft 40 is conventionally attached to the side frame but supported at the end of the feeder device by a suitably supported structure. Suitable drives such as servomotors are provided for rotating the shaft 40.

In order to remove the folded carton at the bottom of the first hopper, a carton attachment means 42 is provided comprising three suction cups 44 supported on the cup holder 46 and the frame 48, respectively. The cup holder frame 48 is fixedly attached to each of the extended support rods 50. In one embodiment, the rods 50 are slidably attached to the collar structure (not shown), respectively, and the collar structure is fixed at the main axis of rotation 40. The frame 48 is attached on a cam rod (not shown) that extends in a side frame that receives a cam track (not shown). The purpose of the cam track is to make it easier for the cam rod to extend away from the spindle 40 so that the suction cup 44 contacts the carton 10, thereby removing one carton from the hopper and removing the paper feed chain ( Rotate the carton in the same path as in 34).

In this embodiment a vacuum breaker is provided in the feeder device 32 that is used in conjunction with the vacuum feeder to establish vacuum coupling and shutoff, whereby a length of time and / or carton is provided to the feeder device 32. Determine the interval to be accommodated. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, five sets of carton attachment means 42 are provided in cooperation with the rotating spindle 40. Only one set device is described in detail as indicated by " 42 " because the five sets of attachment means are identical in structure and operate in the same configuration.

As described in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the vibration guide means 52 is located outside the orbital motion path of the suction cup 44. The vibration guide means 52 comprises a first arm 54 and preferably comprises a second arm 56 which is connected by means of a drive link 58 to a drive means such as an eccentric drive means or a servo motor. In this embodiment, the first arm 54 is substantially "L" shaped with the portion 60 positioned adjacent to the conveyor. The portion 60 is provided with first and second guide surfaces 62, 64 that are positioned at each other at an angle. The second arm 56 is not described in more detail because it is positioned apart from the first arm 54 and is operated in the same configuration and in the same form. As shown in FIG. 2, each arm 54, 56 is movable in space between adjacent suction cups 44.

It is preferred to use a rotary vacuum feeder to feed the carton to the conveyor, but in the present invention another type of feeder can be used or adapted to be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to guiding the carton to be fed onto the conveyor. For example, the vibrating arm can be placed in the loading state if one wishes to apply a force downward or upward of the carton during loading to improve the stability of the carton. Indeed, the present invention can be used in any position of the packaging machine and it is necessary to guide the carton in a position where force is applied in the downward or upward direction to stabilize or realign the carton.

In use, the feeder 32 continuously and sequentially feeds the carton from the hopper to the paper feed chain 34 by a spindle 40 which rotates the attachment means 42 in the direction indicated by arrow A, as shown in FIG. To supply. When the attachment means 42 rotates, the suction cup 40 is moved to contact the top wall of the carton 10. The vacuum is then applied by the vacuum in the set of suction cups 44. By this, the carton 10 is taken out of the hopper and then transferred to the paper supply chain 34. Vacuum is maintained during the moving phase such that the suction cup 44 attaches to the top wall 20 of the carton 10. Once the carton is placed in the paper supply chain 34, the vacuum breaker shuts off the vacuum supply to release the carton from the suction cup 44. 3 and 4, the suction cup 44 holds the carton toward the leading edge 66 to prevent unwanted movement when the leading edge 66 contacts the leading edge lugs 36 or 36A. do.

The upright of the carton is described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8. In FIG. 4, the leading edge 66 of the carton is moved towards the leading edge lug 36A attached on the conveyor 34 and moved forward in the direction “A”. Arms 54 and 56 move away from the carton simultaneously in the " X " direction and allow the carton to continue on an unobstructed path towards conveyor 34.

  5 shows the next step, where the leading edge 66 is in contact with the leading edge lug 36A and the arms 54, 56 in the fully retracted position. The carton moves continuously in front of the conveyor 34 and the leading edge lug 36A and the carton is assembled by means of top and bottom walls separated by means known in the art and the leading edge lug 36A described in FIG. Is started. For example, the vicinity of the leading edge lug 36A and the leading edge edge 66 is moved such that the top and bottom walls 20, 22 are separated because the carton is continuously advanced relative to the leading edge lug 36A. In this step, the arms 54, 56 are moved in the opposite direction "Y" and the top panel 20 is in contact with the first guide surface 62.

If the carton is continuously moved forward by the feeder, the first guide surface 62 moves the carton downwards "C". Arms 54 and 56 move continuously in the "Y" direction, the first guide surface 62 moves out of contact with the carton and the second guide surface 64 is actuated as shown in FIG. . The second guide surface presses down the rear end portion 68 of the carton as the arms 54 and 56 are moved in the "Y" direction to stabilize and guide the carton. The trailing edge lug 38A is then contacted with the rear side wall 14 of the carton to complete the assembly of the carton. At the same time, the vibration guide means moves continuously in the "Y" direction and aligns the rear portion of the carton on the conveyor as shown in FIG.

When the carton moves downstream on the conveyor, it is properly held by the pair of fixed guides 70 and the leading and trailing edge lugs 36, 38, 36A, 38A shown in FIG. The vibrating arms 54, 56 are reversed in direction and move to the retracted position shown in FIG. 4, so that the second carton is received on the conveyor. This repeats the process of the carton being placed and assembled on the conveyor, which is usually a continuous process in the packaging machine.

It can be seen that the arms 54 and 56 include one guide surface for guiding and / or aligning the carton to be assembled without departing from the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, as well as the speed of the device operation, the durability and the efficiency of the speed are improved when the carton moves from the folded position to the fully assembled state.

While the preferred embodiment described herein is used with a packaging machine for loading pizza in a carton, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this carton. The invention can be used in cans, cardboard “bricks” and other containers that are packed in cartons. Moreover, while the preferred embodiment described herein is shown as part of an apparatus for loading a container in a horizontally loaded sleeved carton, the invention is not limited to this type of carton.

While the feeder and / or guide device of the present invention has been described through specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A rotating shaft, carton attaching means sequentially engaged with one of the face contact panels to withdraw the folded carton comprising the face contact panel from the hopper, and an end fixed on the shaft and another end of the carton attaching means An apparatus for processing a folded sleeved loading carton having an elongated support rod and having an opposed face contact panel for assembling the carton in an open state, to sequentially pull out of the hopper, The carton attaching means is arranged such that a carton assembled on the conveyor is arranged and the vibration guide means is outside the path of the trajectory movement of the carton attaching means for engaging and holding the carton during or after the carton is placed on the conveyor. Apparatus for processing the carton to be taken out of the hopper, characterized in that arranged on the side. The method of claim 1, The vibration guide means being vibrated by drive means interconnected with the vibration means by a drive link. The method of claim 1, The vibration guide means comprises a vibration arm movable in a plane substantially parallel to the conveyor, the vibration arm including a guide surface for guiding the carton into position between the leading and trailing edge lugs attached on the conveyor. Device characterized in that. The method of claim 3, wherein And the guide surface is movable in a path that obstructs the path of orbital movement of the carton attachment means. The method of claim 3, wherein The vibrating arm includes a second guide surface adjacent to the first guide surface, the first guide surface energizing the carton to guide the carton into the position, and then the second guide surface is And supply a second force to align the carton at the position. The method of claim 5, The second force is greater than the force supplied by the first guide surface. A baler device comprising a vibrating arm disposed over a conveyor, including a first guide surface to align the carton to a position between the leading and trailing edge lugs on the conveyor and to guide the carton into the position, And wherein the first guide surface is movable in a plane substantially parallel to the conveyor. The method of claim 7, wherein The vibrating arm includes a second guide surface adjacent to the first guide surface, the first guide surface energizing the carton to guide the carton into the position, and then the second guide surface is And supply a second force to align the carton to the position. The method of claim 8, And the second force is greater than the force supplied by the first guide surface. delete