KR20010032076A - 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 invention

The present invention relates to packaging cartoons, and more particularly, to start the supply of the cartoon folded state in the hopper and to sequentially complete the assembly action of the cartoon.

U.S. Patent No. 4 881 934 describes a rotational transmission device having a drive shaft and rotatable carrier means on a support member. The support shaft includes a suction cup provided rotatably on the conveyer means and receiving the cartoon 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 cartoon in position on the conveyor and to place the cartoon 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 cartoon is placed on the conveyor. In addition, the use of a fixed guide is undesirable because a force needs to be applied to the cartoon to guide the cartoon to the desired position on the conveyor.

U. S. Patent 5 102 385 describes an alternative approach for the cartoon to support the cartoon during assembly. This patent shows a feeder device for assembling a cartoon comprising a rotary suction cup which is movable inward and outward on a slidable rod. The suction cup device includes a leaf spring clip for engaging and holding the cartoon to place the cartoon 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 cartoon 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 cartoon 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 cartoon 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 cartoon. By this, placing the cartoon on the conveyor by known means makes it difficult to align the cartoon 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 cartoon attaching means which engages sequentially with one of the face contact panels to withdraw a folded cartoon comprising a rotatable shaft, a face contact panel from a hopper, on another end of the shaft and the cartoon attaching means. Treating the foldable sleeved loading cartoon with a rotatably extended support rod having a fixed end and having an opposed face contact panel disposed therein for assembling the cartoon in an open state to be sequentially pulled out of the hopper; In the arrangement for the cartoon attachment means is arranged such that the cartoons assembled on the conveyor are arranged and the vibrable guide means is adapted for the cartoon attachment means for engaging and holding the cartoons during or after the placement of the cartoons on the conveyor. Remove devices placed outside the path of orbital movement The.

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

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

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

According to a feature of the invention, the oscillating arm comprises a second guide surface adjacent to a first guide surface, wherein the first guide surface supplies force to the cartoon to guide the cartoon into the position, such that The second guide surface then supplies a second force to accurately align the cartoon 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 cartoon suitable for use in 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 is a side view and a perspective view of the packaging machine transfer end illustrating the uprights of the cartoon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

The device according to the invention is capable of supplying and storing various cartoon types, for example wraparound or fully sealed cartoons. Cartoon forms in this specification include different sizes of certain cartoon styles.

Referring to the drawings, one example of a cartoon 10 used in combination with the device of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 in an assembled state to accommodate food products such as pizza. The cartoon 10 comprises opposing side wall panels 12 and 14 made of a single blank of cardboard or other foldable sheet material and opposing end wall panels 16 and 18 hingeably coupled to each other. . The cartoon 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 cartoon on one side and the end panels 16, 18 are then secured together to provide a fully closed cartoon.

The cartoon 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 cartoons, such as a sleeved cartoon used in the bottling industry. It should be adjustable at.

Referring to FIG. 2, an apparatus 30 for processing a cartoon 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 cartoons 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 cartoon downstream in a loaded state (not shown). Conveyor 34 includes lugs 36, 38, 36A, 38A of the leading and trailing edges to engage the cartoon moving downstream as is known in the art.

The feeder device 32 includes a main shaft 40 rotatable about a fixed axis. 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 folded cartoon from the first hopper, the cartoon attachment means 42 is provided including three suction cups 44 respectively supported on the cup holder 46 and the frame 48. 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 cartoon 10, thereby removing one cartoon from the hopper and removing the paper feed chain ( Rotate the cartoon in the same path as in 34).

In this embodiment a vacuum breaker is provided in the feeder device 32 that is used in combination with the vacuum feeder to establish vacuum coupling and shut-off so that the length of time and / or cartoon is applied to the feeder device 32. Determine the interval to be accommodated. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, five sets of cartoon attachment means 42 are provided in cooperation with the rotatable spindle 40. Since the five sets of attachment means are identical in structure and operate in the same form, only one set device is described in detail as indicated by " 42 ".

As described in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, vibrable guide means 52 are positioned outside of the orbital motion path of the suction cup 44. The vibrable 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 has a portion 60 positioned adjacent to the conveyor and is substantially ″ L ″ shaped. 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 cartoon 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 cartoon to be fed onto the conveyor. For example, the vibrating arm can be placed in the stowed state if it is desired to apply force downward or upward of the cartoon during loading to improve the stability of the cartoon. Indeed, the present invention can be used in any position of the packaging machine and it is necessary to guide the cartoon in a position where force is applied in the downward or upward direction to stabilize or realign the cartoon.

In use, the feeder 32 continuously and sequentially feeds the cartoon 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 upper wall of the cartoon 10. The vacuum is then applied by the vacuum in the set of suction cups 44. By this, the cartoon 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 cartoon 10. When the cartoon is placed in the paper supply chain 34, the vacuum breaker shuts off the vacuum supply to release the cartoon from the suction cup 44. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suction cup 44 holds the cartoon towards the leading edge 66 to prevent unwanted movement when the leading edge 66 contacts the leading edge lugs 36 or 36A. do.

With reference to Figures 3 to 8 describes the cartoon upright. In FIG. 4, the leading edge 66 of the cartoon 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 cartoon simultaneously in the ″ X ″ direction, allowing the cartoon 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 cartoon moves continuously in front of the conveyor 34 and the leading edge lug 36A and the cartoon is assembled by means of upper and lower walls separated by means known in the art and the leading edge lug 36A described in FIG. Is started. For example, the adjacency of the leading edge lug 36A and the leading edge 66 is moved to separate the upper and lower walls 20, 22 because the cartoon 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 cartoon is continuously moved forward by the feeder, the first guide surface 62 moves the cartoon downward ″ C ″. Arms 54 and 56 move continuously in the ″ Y ″ direction, the first guide surface 62 moves out of contact with the cartoon 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 cartoon when the arms 54, 56 are moved in the ″ Y ″ direction to stabilize and guide the cartoon. The trailing edge lug 38A is then contacted with the rear side wall 14 of the cartoon to complete the assembly of the cartoon. At the same time, the vibration guide means moves continuously in the ″ Y ″ direction and aligns the rear part of the cartoon on the conveyor as shown in FIG. 8.

When the cartoon 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 a second cartoon is received on the conveyor. This repeats the process of the cartoon being placed and assembled on the conveyor, which is usually a continuous process in the packaging machine.

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

According to the present invention, as well as the speed of the operation of the device, the durability and the efficiency of the speed are improved when the cartoon 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 into a cartoon, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this cartoon. The invention can be used in cans, cardboard ″ bricks ″ and other containers which are packed in cartoons. Moreover, while the preferred embodiment described herein is shown as part of an apparatus for loading a container in a horizontally loaded sleeved cartoon, the invention is not limited to this type of cartoon.

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 rotatable shaft, a cartoon attachment means sequentially engaged with one of the face contact panels for withdrawing a folded cartoon comprising a face contact panel from the hopper, and an end fixed on the shaft and another end of the cartoon attachment means An apparatus for processing a folded sleeved loading cartoon with a face contact panel disposed to assemble the cartoon in an open state, to sequentially pull out of the hopper. The cartoon attachment means is arranged such that the cartoon assembled on the conveyor is arranged and the vibrable guide means is a path of orbital movement of the cartoon attachment means for engaging and holding the cartoon during or after the cartoon is placed on the conveyor. Apparatus for processing the cartoon to be drawn out of the hopper characterized in that it is disposed from the outside. The method of claim 1, And the vibrable guide means is vibrated by drive means interconnected by the vibrable means by a drive link. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The vibrating guide means comprises an arm movable and vibrable in a plane substantially parallel to the conveyor, the vibrating arm guides for guiding the cartoon into position between the leading and trailing edge lugs attached to the conveyor. Device comprising a surface. The method of claim 3, wherein And the guide surface is movable in a path that obstructs the path of orbital movement of the cartoon attachment means. The method according to claim 3 or 4, The oscillating arm includes a second guide surface adjacent to the first guide surface, the first guide surface energizing the cartoon to guide the cartoon into the position, and then the second guide surface And supply a second force to align the cartoon in this 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 vibrable arm disposed over a conveyor, the first guide surface for aligning the cartoon to a position between the leading and trailing edge lugs on the conveyor and for guiding the cartoon 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 oscillating arm includes a second guide surface adjacent to the first guide surface, the first guide surface energizing the cartoon to guide the cartoon into the position, and then the second guide surface Is adapted to supply a second force to align the cartoon to the position. The method of claim 8, And the second force is greater than the force supplied by the first guide surface. A packaging machine which can be combined with any of the devices of claims 1 to 6 or with the devices of claims 7 to 9.