MXPA98004799A - Unit to transfer and tilt sealed containers containing food products that can be seen - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a unit for transferring and tilting sealed packages containing pourable food products and each having a respective axis, the unit feeds a succession of packages along a first path from a supply station to an outlet station, and simultaneously tilts the containers from the supply position in which the axis is oriented in a first direction to an exit position in which the axis is oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; the unit is characterized in that it comprises several thrust arms which cooperate and feed the respective containers along the first path; driving means for moving the arms along a second endless path comprising at least a portion in common with the first path; guide means that extend substantially along the first path and that they cooperate with the containers to gradually move the containers from the supply position to the exit position, and control means to control the position of the arms cooperating with each arm to move the arm along the position of the second trajectory. in common with the first path, between a first operating position that interacts with, and that pushes a respective container, and a second operating position that releases the container

Description

UNIT TO TRANSFER AND TILT OIL SEALED CONTAINERS CONTAIN FOOD PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE POURED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a unit for transferring and tilting aseptic sealed packages or packages containing pourable food products. More specifically, the unit according to the present invention provides the transfer and tilting of septic sealed packages substantially in the form of a parallelepiped. Many food products that can be poured, such as beverages, fruit juices, pasteurized milk or UHT (treated at ultra high temperature), wine, tomato sauce, etc., are put into containers made of sterilized packaging material. A typical example of such a container is the parallelepiped-shaped packaging container for liquid or pourable food products known under the name of Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is formed by folding and sealing a packaging material rolled into strips.

REF: 27479 The rolled packaging material comprises layers of fibrous material, for example paper, covered on both sides with thermoplastic material, for example polyethylene; and the side of the packaging material that finally makes contact with the food product in the package also comprises a layer of the barrier material, for example an aluminum sheet, which in turn is covered with a layer of thermoplastic material. As is known, packages of the above type are produced in fully automatic packaging machines, in which a continuous tube is formed from the packaging material supplied in the form of a strip. The strip of packaged material is sterilized in the packaging machine, for example by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, - after sterilization, the sterilizing agent is removed, for example, it is vaporized by heat , of the surfaces of the packaging material; and the packaged material strip sterilized in this manner is maintained in a closed sterile environment, and is folded and longitudinally sealed to form a tube. The tube is filled with the sterilized food product or processed by sterilization, and sealed in evenly spaced cross sections, which are then cut into bags of pillow-like packages, which are then mechanically folded into parallelepiped-shaped packages. It is an object of the present invention to provide a unit for transferring and tilting sealed packages containing pourable food products, and which provides for the transfer of the packages reliably at a high throughput speed from a supply station to a exit station, and to simultaneously tilt the containers from a supply position, in which the containers are placed with an axis oriented in a first direction, to an exit position, in which the containers are placed with the axis oriented in a second direction transverse to the first. "An additional object of the present invention is to provide a unit, which can be used to take advantage of packaging machines to continuously form sealed packages containing pourable food products and which, even at high throughput speeds, provides transfer of the containers from the packaging machine to an exit conveyor without damaging or impairing the aseptic quality of the containers, and without damaging the degree of sterility of the food products that can be poured into them.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a unit for transferring and tilting treated packages containing pourable food products and each having a respective axis; the unit feeds a succession of packages along a first path from a supply station to an output station, and simultaneously tilts the packages from a supply position in which the axes are oriented in a first direction, to a position of output in which the axes are oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; characterized in that it comprises several pushing arms which cooperate to feed the respective containers along the first path; drive means for moving the arms along a second endless path comprising at least a portion in common with the first path; guide means extending substantially along the first path and cooperating with the containers to gradually move the packages from the supply position to the exit position; and control means for controlling the position of the arms and cooperating with each arm to move the arm, along the portion of the second path in common with the first path, between a first operating position that interacts and pushes a respective container, and a second operating position that releases the container. A preferred non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a unit for transferring and tilting sealed containers containing pourable food products, according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the unit of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an enlarged axial section of the unit of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view of a detail of the unit of Figure 1. Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a unit for transferring and tilting sealed parallelepiped-shaped containers 2 containing food products, such as beverages, juice fruit, semi-liquid products, and food products that can be poured in general. More specifically, each package 2 comprises known external opening means (not shown) and an axis A perpendicular to a top face 3.

The unit 1 is preferably designed for use in an automatic packaging machine (not shown) to produce packages 2 from food products and from a packaging material wound into strips, and in particular defines a work station of the packaging machine. packaging With reference to Figures 1 and 2, unit 1 provides continuous feeding in succession of containers 2 along a substantially arc-shaped path P, from a supply station 4 to an output station 5, and to tilt simultaneously and continuously to the containers 2 from a supply position, in which the axis A is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction B, to an exit position, in which the axis A is oriented in a substantially vertical direction C, perpendicular to address A, and face 3 up. In station 4, unit 1 continuously and successively receives containers 2 from chain conveyor 6 which does not form part of the present invention and is therefore not described in detail. In conveyor 6 it comprises several flat rectangular blades 7 (only one is shown) that supports respective containers 2 with axis A parallel to blades 7 and which, in station 4 nearby, travel along a curved path that joins with a direction parallel to the direction C and perpendicular to the blades 7. The arrangement and operation of the blades 7 is described in greater detail in the European patent application entitled "High speed bending unit for machines for packaging food products which is they can pour "(" High-speed folding unit for machines for packaging purable food products "), presented by the present applicant concurrently with the present application. In station 5, unit 1 feeds containers 2 successively onto an outlet conveyor belt 8, known (not described in detail) along a path R comprising a substantially straight input portion tangent to an end portion of the trajectory P. More specifically, the station 5 is defined by an intermediate portion of the front upper branch 9 of the conveyor belt 8, to which the containers 2 are fed successively at the end of the path P. With reference to the figures 1, 2 and 3, the unit 1 comprises a fixed base 10 substantially perpendicular to the direction C; and a drive shaft 11 positioned through a base 10, which continuously rotates about a respective vertical axis E parallel to the direction C, and driven by an electric motor (not shown) of the packaging machine via a known transmission ( not shown). The unit 1 also comprises a substantially cylindrical rotating member 14 positioned on the shaft 11 and the axis E; and several push arms 15 hingedly connected to a radially outer portion of the rotatable member 14, equally spaced around the axis E, fed by a rotary member 14 along a circular path S having a portion Sx in common with a trajectory P, and cooperating with respective containers 2 to push the containers 2 along the path P. For the unit 1 to operate correctly, each arm 15 is located at the station 4, parallel to the axis A of the respective container 2 , and is supported on a plane through the axis E of the rotating member 14 (figure 2). More specifically, the base 10 projects outwardly with respect to the rotary member 14 and defines, along the path P, a support for the containers 2 fed by the member 14 rotatable towards the conveyor 8. On the conveyor 6, the base 10 comprises a rectangular through-opening 16, which is engaged, in use, by a blade 7 that supports a respective container 2 and which, with the blade 7, defines a station 4. More specifically, the blade 7 is coupled to the opening 16 at a given point in the operation cycle and placed substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the direction C, and is substantially coplanar with the surrounding portion of the base 10. The unit 1 also comprises a curved guide 17 extending substantially along the path P outwardly of the rotating member 14 and cooperating with the containers 2 to move them gradually from the supply position to the exit position; and a cam 18 integrally connected to the base 10, interposed between the base 10 and the rotating member 14, and cooperating with each arm 15 to move it along the portion S-. of the trajectory S common to the trajectory P, from a first operating position that interacts and that pushes the respective container 2, to a second operating position that releases the container 2, and along the remaining portion S2 of the trajectory S , from the second operating position back to the first operating position. More specifically, in the first operating position, each arm 15 projects outwardly from the rotary member 14 and is parallel to the direction B; and, in the second operating position, the arm 15 is parallel to the direction C and is detached from the respective container 2.

A cam 18 forms a continuous restriction for the arms 15 and defines, between the first and second operating positions, a continuous succession of the intermediate positions where each arm 15 interacts and pushes the respective container 2, and in which the arm 15 it is oriented gradually from the direction B to the direction C. With reference in particular to figure 3, the rotary member 14 has substantially a drum shape and defines a cam-housing chamber 18 and a shaft 11, and which externally communicates via a substantially circular bottom opening 20 to the opposing base 10. The rotating member 14 also comprises a substantially circular upper wall 21 opposite the opening 20 and having a through hole 22 engaged by the shaft 11 via the interposition of a key 23; and a substantially cylindrical lateral wall 24 having several substantially elongated rectangular through-slots 27 with respective axes parallel to the axis E and housing respective arms 15 hinged to respective bolts 29 tangent to the rotary member 14. More specifically, each arm 15 is substantially L-shaped and comprises a portion 26 for interacting with the respective container 2 and projecting substantially radially from the rotary member 14; and an eccentric portion 27 extending between the wall 24 of the rotating member 14 and the cam 18, and cooperating slidably with the cam 18; and a joint portion 28 interposed between the portions 26 and 27 and which is connected with the respective pin 29 to the lower ends of the side edges of the respective slot 25. More specifically, each portion 26 is of maximum radial extent with respect to the axis E in the first operating position of the respective arm 15, and is completely withdrawn into the respective slot 25 in the second operating position of the arm 15. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cam 18 comprises a substantially cylindrical tubular body 30 of the axis E, placed in the base 10, housed partially and loosely within the chamber 19, and positioned through a radially loose manner with the shaft 11, which in turn is placed in a rotational manner axially fixed to body 30 by means of interposition of a disk 31 of axis E and a bearing 32. The radially outer periphery of cam 18 comprises an annular groove 33 shaped, slidably adapted by the portions 27 of the arms 15. More specifically, the slot 33 comprises a first curved portion 33a extending from station 4 to station 5 and towards low, towards the base 10 so as to move the arms 15 from the supply position to the exit position; and a second curved portion 33b extending from the station 5 to the station 4 and upwards, towards the wall 21 of the rotary member 14 so as to reset the arms 15 to the supply position. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the guide 17 defines, for the containers 2, a sliding and supporting surface T which extends substantially along the path P, and is inclined with respect to the base 10 at an angle that varies gradually between a substantially horizontal flat entry portion T - parallel to the direction B, and adjacent to the station 4, and a flat, substantially vertical exit portion T2, parallel to the direction C and adjacent to the the station 5. More specifically, the guide 17 comprises a pair of curved cylindrical sections 35, 36 side by side defining the surface T and on which the respective side faces 37 of the containers 2 parallel to the axis A of the containers slide. 2. One of the sections (35) is substantially arcuate in shape of the E axis between stations 4 and 5, and is placed in the contact base 10, and extends beyond the station 5 substantially along the path R; and the other section 36 extends upwards from station 4 to station 5from a substantially arc-shaped portion 38 of the axis E to receive the containers 2 and place the contact base 10 in a substantially arc-shaped portion 39 of the axis E for unloading the containers 2 on the conveyor 8 and which is detached from the base 10. More specifically, the portion 38 of the section 36 is located radially outward with respect to the section 35 in station 4, and the portion 39 is located on, and aligned with the section 35 in the station 5. Along the trajectory P, each package 2, therefore, is placed with the face 37 resting on the sections 35 and 36 and is thus oriented by the sections 35, 36 to bring the respective face 40 , parallel to the opposite face 3, gradually in contact with the base 10. Finally, as indicated by station 5, the section 36 extends substantially along the path R and parallel to the section 35, and defines, with the section 35, a lateral flange 41 for retaining r containers 2 along conveyor 8. In station 5, containers 2 are retained on the opposite side by an additional lateral flange 42 extending parallel to flange 41 and also defined by a pair of parallel curved cylindrical sections 43 each other and placed in the base 10. The operation of unit 1 will be described with reference to a package 2, and as a condition of beginning of cycle in which the knife 7 of the conveyor 6 supports the package 2 which is coupled in the opening 16 for maintaining the container 2 in the delivery position, and one of the arms 15 is placed in the first operating position next to, and upstream from the container 2 along the path P. The member 14 The rotary and the conveyor 6 are synchronized one in relation to the other so that the arm 15 moves the container 2 out of the blade 7 before the conveyor 6 releases the blade 7 from the opening 16 and before the opening 16 engages. by the next blade 7. Since the rotary member 14 rotates about the axis E, the container 2 is fed by the respective arm 15 along the portion T of the surface T, defined by sections 35, 36. According to the rotating member 14 rotates about the axis E, the container 2, by virtue of the design of the sections 35, 36, moves gradually to the exit position, that is, it gradually inclines so that the respective face 40 comes into contact with, and resting on the base 10, and as the station 5 advances, on the conveyor 8. As the rotating member 14 rotates, the portion 27 of the arm 15 slides along the portion 33a of the slot 33, the which is shaped so as to gradually raise the arm 15 to the second operating position. Therefore, by virtue of the cam 18, the position of the arm 15 with respect to the rotary member 14 is gradually adjusted along the path P to adapt to the angle of the container 2 with respect to the base 10, and from this so as to obtain a maximum thrust in the container 2 by the arm 15. In station 5, the portion 33a of the slot 33 is shaped so as to move the arm 15 within the second operating position within the respective slot 25 and away from it. of the container 2, which is fed on and by the conveyor 8 along the path R. As the rotary member 14 continues to rotate, as the portion 27 of the arm 15 slides along the portion 33b of the slot 33 , the arm 15 is gradually restored from the second to the first operating position. The advantages of unit 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the description that follows. In particular, unit 1 provides the transfer of containers 2 continuously and at a high throughput speed (from about 8000-24000 containers per hour) from station 4 to station 5, while at the same time tilting containers 2 from the position from supply to output, without damaging or impairing the aseptic quality of the containers 2, and without damaging the degree of sterility of the food products that can be poured into them. In addition, unit 1 is highly direct, compact and reliable. Clearly, changes can be made to unit 1 as described and illustrated herein, however, without departing from the scope of the claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (13)

1. A unit for transferring and tilting sealed packages containing food products that can be poured and each having a respective axis; the unit feeds a succession of packages along a first path from a supply station to an exit station, and simultaneously tilts the packages from the supply position in which the axis is oriented in a first direction, to a position output in which the axis is oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; the unit is characterized in that it comprises several pushing arms which cooperate and feed the respective containers along the first path; drive means for moving the arms along a second endless path comprising at least a portion in common with the first path; guide means extending substantially along the first path and cooperating with the containers to gradually move the packages from the supply position to the exit position; and control means for controlling the position of the arms cooperating with each arm to move the arm along the position of the second path in common with the first path, between a first operating position that interacts with, and that pushes a respective container, and a second operating position that releases the container. The unit according to claim 1, characterized in that in the first operating position, each arm is substantially parallel to the first direction and, in the second operating position, each arm is substantially parallel to the second direction. The unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the control means comprises continuous restriction means for continuously restricting the arms and defining a continuous succession of intermediate positions where each arm interacts and pushes the respective container, and in the that the arm is oriented gradually from the first direction to the second direction. The unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises fixed support means and in that the driving means comprises a rotating member that rotates, with respect to the support means, around a respective fixed axis, substantially parallel to the second address; the arms are connected in an articulated manner to the outer periphery of the rotating member; the second path is a circular path; and the first path has substantially arc shape. The unit according to claim 4, characterized in that in the supply station, each push arm is placed parallel to the axis of the respective container and is placed in a plane through the axis of rotation of the rotating member. The unit according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the rotating member is substantially drum-shaped and comprises a substantially cylindrical side wall having several elongated through grooves which in turn have respective axes substantially parallel to the axis of the rotating member and housing respective arms articulated to the respective bolts tangent to the rotating member. The unit according to claim 6, characterized in that each arm projects outwardly from the rotary member in the first operating position and the intermediate positions and is completely withdrawn within the respective slot in the second operating position. The unit according to any of the preceding claims, from 4 to 7, characterized in that the continuous restriction means comprises a cam integrally connected to the support means and which cooperates with the arms to move the arms from the first operating position to the second operating position along the portion of the second path in common with the first path, and from the second operating position to the first operating position along a remaining portion of the second path. The unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the cam comprises a substantially cylindrical body coaxial with the rotating member and housed at least partially loosely within the chamber defined by the rotating member and forming a coupling member which extends annularly along the outer periphery of the cylindrical body; each arm comprises an interacting portion that interacts with the respective container and projects outwardly from the rotating member, an eccentric portion extending within the rotating member and cooperating slidably with the coupling means, and an articulated portion. to articulate the arm to the rotating member and interposed between the interaction and eccentric portions. The unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the coupling means comprises an annular groove formed along the radially outer periphery of the cylindrical body. The unit according to any of the preceding claims, from 4 to 10, characterized in that the guide means extends outside the rotating member and define, for the containers, a support surface and slidable inclined with respect to the medium of support at an angle that varies gradually from an inlet portion parallel to the first direction and adjacent to the supply station, to an outlet portion parallel to the second direction and adjacent to the exit station. The unit according to claim 11, characterized in that the guide means comprises a pair of side-by-side curved sections that extend substantially along the first path and shaped so as to define the sliding support surface for the containers The unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second directions are perpendicular to each other. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A unit (1) is provided for feeding a succession of sealed packages (2) containing food products that can be poured along a first path (P) from a supply station (4) to a station (5), of exit and to simultaneously tilt the containers (2) from a supply position in which the containers (2) are placed with a respective axis (A) oriented in a first direction (B), to an exit position in which the respective axes (A) are oriented in a second direction (C) perpendicular to the first direction (B); the unit (1) has several push arms (15) to feed the respective containers (2) along the first path (P), a drive member (14) for moving the arms (15) along the a second endless path (S) having a portion (Sx) in common with the first path (P), a guide (17) extending substantially along the first path (P) and cooperating with the containers (2) to move the containers (2) gradually from the supply position to the exit position, and a cam (18) cooperating with each arm (15) to move the arm (15) along the first path (P), between at least a first operating position that interacts with, and that pushes the respective package (2), and a second operating position that releases the package (2). (Figure 1) .