MXPA98004801A - Device for rejection for high speed packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rejection device for a high-speed baler, characterized in that it comprises: a substantially vertical supply path, an inlet opening oriented to receive a succession of packages containing pourable food products and traveling at along the vertical supply path, a first guide conduit surface for guiding the packages from the substantially vertical supply path along a transfer path to an exit station, a second guide conduit surface for guiding to the packages from an ejection path intersecting the substantially vertical supply path and the transfer path, a selection element located at the intersection of the supply path, the transfer path and the ejection path, and rotating around of a fixed hinge shaft in fo crosswise to the substantially vertical supply path, between a first operating position connecting the entry opening and the first guide duct surface, and a second operative position connecting the entry opening and the second guide duct surface; and actuating means for rotating the selection element between the first and second operative positions, wherein the selection element comprises a first and a second wall that give and connect integrally to each other, wherein the first wall, in the first The operating position of the selection member is substantially aligned with the first guide conduit surface to direct the packages that fall by gravity from the substantially vertical supply path along the transfer path, and where the second wall, at the second operational position of the selection element, is substantially aligned with the nda guide duct surface to direct the packages along the ejection path

Description

REJECTION DEVICE FOR HIGH SPEED PACKAGING MACHINE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rejecting device for a high-speed packaging machine for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages containing pourable food products, from a tube of packaging material. Many food products that can be poured, such as fruit juices, pasteurized milk or UHT (treated at ultra high temperature), wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in containers made of sterilized packaging material. A typical example of such a container is the parallelepiped-shaped packaging container for liquid or for pourable food products known under the name of Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is formed by folding and sealing a material of packaging rolled into strips. 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 packaged material and finally makes contact REF: 27477 with the food product in the package also comprises a layer of barrier material, for example, an aluminum foil, 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 packaging material is sterilized by the packaging machine, for example, by applying a chemical sterilizing agent such as a hydrogen peroxide solution; followed by sterilization, the sterilizing agent, for example heat-vaporized, is removed from the surfaces of the packaged material; and the packaged material strip sterilized in this way is maintained in a closed sterile environment, and is folded and longitudinally sealed to form a tube. The tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile processed food product, and sealed in equally spaced cross sections in which packets are then cut into a pillow form, which are then mechanically folded into parallelepiped-shaped packages .

Known packaging machines typically comprise a rejection device to reject any container that is not guaranteed to be perfectly aseptic. Such devices substantially comprise a supply station supplied successively with the containers; a first guide means for guiding the packages along a transfer path to an exit station; a second guide means for guiding the packages along an ejection path intersecting the transfer path; and a selection member comprising a movable division located at the intersection of the two paths, and rotating about a fixed articulated axis between a first operating position connecting the supply station and the first guide means, and a second operating position connecting the supply station and the second guide means. A major drawback of the rejection devices of the above type is that, as the speed of performance of the packaging machine increases, the mobile division tends to interact abnormally with the containers fed through the high speed, and is subjected to jamming. , which results in stopping the production cycle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reliable and direct rejection device for a high speed packaging machine designed to solve the aforementioned drawback typically associated with known devices. In accordance with the present invention, a rejection device for a high-speed packaging machine is provided, the device comprises an inlet opening for a succession of packages containing pourable food products traveling along a length of supply trajectory; a first guide surface for guiding the packages along a transfer path to an exit station; a second guide surface for guiding the packages along an ejection path intersecting the supply and transfer paths; a selection member placed at the intersection of the supply, transfer and ejection paths, and rotating, about a fixed articulated axis transverse to the supply path, between a first operating precision connecting the entry opening and the first guide surface, and a second operating position connecting the inlet opening and the second guide surface; and an actuating means for rotating the selection member between the first and second operating positions; characterized in that the selection member comprises first and second walls oriented and integrally connected to each other; the first wall in the first operating position of the selection member is substantially aligned with the first guide surface for directing the packages along the transfer path; and the second wall, in the second operating position of the selection member, is substantially aligned with the second guide surface for directing the packages along the ejection path. 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 partial schematic side view of a high-speed packaging machine showing a rejection device of according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a larger scale perspective view of the rejection device of Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 show longitudinal sections on a larger scale of a detail of the rejection device of Figure 2, in two different operating positions.

Number 1 in Figures 1 and 2 indicates a rejecting device for a high-speed packaging machine 2 (shown only partially and schematically) to continuously produce aseptic sealed packages 3, for example, in substantially parallelepiped form and containing a pourable food product, such as pasteurized milk or UHT, fruit juice, wine, etc., from a packaging material wound into strips having, on the side directed outward of the containers 3, numerous designs previously separated printouts equally (not shown). As is known, after being fed through a known sterilizing station (not shown) where it is treated with a sterilizing agent, for example hydrogen peroxide, the packaging material is folded and sealed along a longitudinal line to form a continuous vertical tube 4 (figure 1) which is subsequently filled with the food product; and to prevent absorption by the packaging material along the longitudinal sealing line, a protective strip, also rolled in strips, is applied to this. As shown in Figure 1, the device 1 defines a transfer unit of the machine 2, and provides selective feeding of containers 3 - traveling along a vertical supply path A from a forming unit 5 (which does not form part of the present invention and therefore only shown schematically) located upstream from the device 1 - along the transfer path B to a tracking bending unit 6 (not forming part of the present invention and therefore only partially shown), or to a collection area 7 of rejected packages along an ejection path C, the upstream end of which intersects trajectories A and B. More specifically, path B comprises a portion Bx downstream, which preferably but not necessarily extends in a substantially horizontal direction and adjacent to the folding unit 6, and a portion B2 upstream that connects path A to portion Bx; and a path C is in an oblique straight portion extending between the path B and the area 7. The containers 3 are fed to the device 1 in an entry position, in which a respective axis D (figures 1, 3 and 4). ) is placed vertically and aligned with path A, and transferred to bending unit 6 at an exit position, in which axis D is placed horizontally and aligned with path B.

The forming unit 5 (only the main elements of which are briefly described for a clearer understanding of the present invention) substantially comprises two chain conveyors 8 located on both sides of the tube 4 and having respectively cooperating jaws 9 and counter-jaws 10. each other to seal the tube 4 in equally spaced cross sections; and a cutting assembly 11 for cutting the tube 4 in the sealed sections to form the containers 3, which are subsequently fed by gravity along the path A to the device 1. As the distance between the containers 3 increases, according to fall freely from the unit 5, due to the gravitational acceleration, the device 1 is advantageously placed along the free fall path A so that the containers 3 are separated by a sufficient distance between them to interact, one to the time with the device 1. The bending unit 6 substantially comprises a chain conveyor 12 having several flat rectangular blades 13 (only one is shown) which support the respective containers 3 with the respective D axes parallel to the blades 13, and travel, close to the device 1, along a curved path approaching a vertical direction parallel to the path A and perpendicular to the blades 13. With reference to figures 2 to 4, the device 1 comprises a base 15 located below the cut-off assembly and defined by two elongated and separate side walls 16 extending in the direction of the BL portion of the path B, and by a wedge-shaped portion 17 interposed between the respective end portions 16a of the side walls 16 and to receive packages 3 from the cutting assembly 11 by the force of gravity, and direct them along the trajectory B or C. More specifically the portion 17 is defined as the upper part towards the cutting assembly 11 by two guide surfaces 18, 19 similar to ducts extending from a common edge 20 of the portion 17 and defining respectively the portion B2 of the trajectory B and the trajectory C. The surfaces 18 , 19 are oblique and are inclined in opposite directions with respect to the path A. More specifically, the surface 18 is a concave, outward, curved surface, while the surface 19 is a flat surface. Since the time required for the transfer of the containers 3 from the forming unit 5 to the bending unit 6 can vary according to the variable degree of friction generated between each container 3 and the surface 18, the blades 13 are designed. to allow the continuous operation of the folding unit 6 even in the case of minor irregularities in the supply of the containers 3. The device 1 also comprises a belt conveyor 21 placed between the side walls 16 of the base 15 and to feed the packages 3 from surface 18 to bending unit 6; and a selection member 22 located immediately upstream from the portion 17, having an inlet opening 23 for packages 3 from the cutting assembly 11, and placed on the base 15 so as to rotate, about an axis E perpendicular to path A and portion B of path B, between a first operating position (figure 3) connecting the opening 23 to the surface 18, to feed the containers 3 along the path B, and a second operating position (Figure 4) connecting the opening 23 to the surface 19 for feeding the containers 3 along the path C. More specifically the conveyor 21 is synchronized with the cutting assembly 11 and comprises a drive pulley and a driven pulley (not shown) and a band 24 which forms a circuit around the pulleys and which has a horizontal conveyor branch 25, which is located in an extension of the surface 18, extending towards the unit 6 from the lower end, the opposite edge 20 of the surface 18 and defining the portion B of the trajectory B. As shown in figures 1, 3 and 4, the side walls 16 of the base 15 project towards above with respect to the branch 25 of the band 24 and the surface 18 of the portion 17, so as to define respective lateral retaining walls 26 for retaining the containers 3 along the path B. The base 15 also comprises two bridge elements 27 transverse to the branch 25 of the strip 24 and fixed at opposite ends to the top of the respective intermediate portions of the side walls 16; and two substantially straight guide sections 28 integrally connected to one or more elements 27 and extending parallel to each other and to the strip 24. Together with the strip 24 and the retaining walls 26, the sections 28 define, for the packages 3 from the portion 17, a compulsory conduit by which to place the containers 3 to the exit position. The band 24 also comprises several equally spaced blades 29, which cooperate with the sections 28 and the retaining walls 26 to feed the containers 3 equally apart along the Bx portion of the path B. More specifically, each element 27 defines a brake cooperating with the containers 3 to ensure that they are placed in respective contact with the blades 29 of the conveyor 21. The side walls 16 also comprise respective end portions 16b opposite the portions 16a and projecting longitudinally with with respect to the conveyor 21 to define a through-seat 30, which is engaged, in use, by a blade 13 to receive a respective package 3 from the conveyor 21. More specifically, the blade 13 engages the seat 30 at a given point in time. the production cycle and placed horizontally and substantially coplanar with the branch 25 of the band 24, and defines, with the seat 30, an exit station in which the containers 3 are fed out of the device 1. The base 15 also comprises a pair of plates 31 riveted externally to the portions 16a of the respective side walls 16, and which project upwards with respect to the walls 16 and between them, there is a support selection member 22 rotatably about the axis E. In accordance with the present invention, the selection member 22 comprises a pair of walls 32, 33 oriented and integrally connected to each other. , and of which a first (32) in the first operating position of the selection member 22 (FIG. 3) is aligned with the surface 18 to direct the packages 3 along the path B, while the other (33) ), in the second operating position of the selection member 22 (FIG. 4) is aligned with the surface 19 to direct the packages 3 along the path C. More specifically, the walls 32, 33 prefer The edges 32, 33 are integrally connected to each other by a pair of cross-sectional elements 34 in the form of a framework, the edges of which are not necessarily inclined slightly relative to each other, and converge towards the portion 17 of the base 15. upper ones of which, together with the respective upper edges of the walls 32, 33 define the opening 23. The elements 34 are oriented and are connected to the upper part of the respective upper portions of the plates 31 by respective articulated pins of the shaft E. With reference to figures 2 to 4, the device 1 also comprises a drive assembly 36 for activating the selection member 22, which in turn comprises a pneumatic cylinder 37 positioned on one of the plates 31 and having a rod 38 that can be moved along an axis Respective vertical F, parallel to the path A, and a lever 39 having one end hinged to the free upper end of the rod 38, and an opposite end substantially in the form of a jaw coupled and integrally fixed to the respective pin 35. The rod 38 can be moved between an extraction position housed almost completely within a respective jacket 42 of the cylinder 37 and which holds the selection member 22 in the first operating position, and a forward position projecting almost completely from the jacket 42 and the selection member 22 is held in the second operating position. Finally, a cylinder 37 is controlled, via the interposition of a solenoid valve 43, by an electronic control unit 44, which controls the machine 2 and its input connected to several known monitoring sensors (not shown) in predetermined positions within the machine 2. In actual use, the selection member 22 is normally placed in the first operating position to direct the containers 3 - which fall by gravity from the cutting assembly 11 through the opening 23 - along the the surface 18; and the concave profile of the surface 18 is provided to slide the packages 3 regularly over the branch 25 of the band 24, whereby they are fed to the folding unit 6. As they are transferred from the surface 18 on the band 24, the containers 3 are guided on the upper part by sections 28 and laterally by the retaining walls 26; and the blades 29 projecting from the band 24 ensure that the containers 3 are fed separately equally along the portion B of the path B. The selection member 22 is switched from the first to the second operating position. by the control unit 44 provided that the aseptic nature of the packages 3 coming from the training unit 5 fail to be sure, and more specifically, when the monitoring sensors determine any irregularities in the operation cycle of the machine 2, or during the unavoidable transient operating states of the machine 2. As an example, the following only part of the unavoidable transient operating states that require the rejection of a certain amount of containers 3. At the start of the production cycle of the machine 2, the sterilizing station contains a portion of the strip of packaging material, which has been left in the station for a prolonged period of time from the end of the previous cycle, and the fibrous layer from which the sterilizing people have absorbed, so that any of the prefabricated containers of the strip portion are rejected to safeguard the quality of the containers or the product contained in the packaging and subsequently supplied to the consumer. In addition, provided that the reel of packaging material supply is terminated and replaced by a new reel, a transverse splice must be made by heat sealing the packaging material on the two reels. Although the aseptic nature of the containers can still be ensured, any container 3 with a transverse splice will be rejected to safeguard the quality of the containers. The same obviously also applies when the supply reels of the protective strip applied along the sealing line of the tube 4 is terminated and replaced, in which case any container 3 with spliced protective strips is rejected to safeguard the quality of the containers. Finally, the selection member 22 is adjusted to the second operating position provided that the sensors of the monitoring machine 2 detect an error of placing the designs in the packages 3 above or below a predetermined and repeated threshold value for a predetermined quantity of containers 3; situation which evidently indicates a malfunction of the machine 2. In all the above cases, for reasons of safety, the number of packages 3 rejected is always considerably greater than the amount actually affected by the problems in question.

The advantages of the device 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the preceding description. In particular, the selection member 22 is quickly re-adjusted by the control unit 44 and, by the feature of the two walls 32, 33, each to direct the containers 3 along the respective path B, C, it provides an optimal guidance of the containers 3 in both operating positions, and can therefore be used to obtain advantages in continuous packaging machines operating at a high throughput speed (eg 8000-24000 packages per hour). Clearly, changes can be made to the device 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 (8)

1. A rejection device for a high-speed packaging machine, the device comprises an inlet opening for an association of containers containing pourable food products traveling along a supply path; a first surface guide for guiding the packages along a transfer path to an exit station; a second surface guide for guiding the packages along an ejection path intersecting the supply and transfer paths; a section member located at the intersection of the supply, transfer and ejection paths, and rotating about a fixed articulated axis transverse to the supply path between a first operating position connecting the inlet opening and the first surface of guide, and a second operating position connecting the inlet opening and the second guide surface; and driving means for rotating the selection member between the first and second operating positions; the rejection device is characterized in that the selection member comprises first and second walls oriented and integrally connected to each other; the first wall in the first operating position of the selection member is substantially aligned with the first guide surface for directing the packages along the transfer path; and the second wall in the second operating position of the selection member is substantially aligned with the second guide surface for directing the packages along the ejection path.

The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second walls of the selection member are integrally connected to each other by a pair of transverse elements and, together with the transverse elements, define the entry opening.

The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a wedge-shaped deflection means that intersects the packages along the supply path and has first and second guide surfaces for respectively directing the containers along the transfer and ejection paths.

The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the delivery path is a vertical path, and the containers are fed by gravity to the inlet opening; the device comprises a base; deflection means comprising a wedge-shaped portion of the base, defined externally by a first and second guide surfaces; and the first and second guide surfaces are substantially in the form of a conduit and diverge with respect to one another from a common edge of the wedge-shaped portion.

The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first and second guide surfaces are oblique surfaces with respect to the supply path; the first guide surface is an outwardly concave surface; and the second guide surface is a substantially planar surface.

The device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a belt conveyor means placed in the base and having a conveyor branch for transporting the containers, and which extends between a first guide surface and the station. of exit, and is located on an extension of the first guide surface; the transfer path comprises a straight downstream portion defined by the conveyor belt of the conveyor means, and a curved upstream portion connecting the portion downstream to the supply path and defined by the first guide surface.

7. The device according to any of the preceding claims, from 4 to 6, characterized in that the base comprises two plates located on opposite sides of the edge-shaped portion and projecting upwards with respect to the portion in the form of cradle; and wherein the selection member is interposed between the plates and connected to the plates so as to rotate about a hinge axis. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the driving means comprises a pneumatic cylinder positioned on one of the plates and having a rod that can be moved along a respective axis substantially parallel to the supply path; and a lever having an end hinged to a free end of the rod, and an opposite end connected to the selection member. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A reject device (1) for a high-speed packaging machine (2) is provided, the device has an inlet opening (23) for a succession of containers (3) containing pourable and traveling food products. along a supply path (A); a first guide surface (18) for guiding the containers (3) along a transfer path (B) to an output station (13, 30); a second guide surface (19) for guiding the containers (3) along an ejection path (C) intersecting the supply and transfer paths (A, B); and a selection member (22) located at the intersection of the supply, transfer and ejection paths (A, B, C) and which has first and second walls (32, 33) facing and integrally connected to each other, and rotating, about a fixed articulated axis (E) transverse to the supply path (A), between a first operating position, wherein the first wall (32) is substantially aligned with the first guide surface (18) for direct the containers (3) along the transfer path (B), and a second operating position where the second wall (33) is substantially aligned with the second guide surface (19) to direct the containers (3) ) along the path (C) of ejection. (Figure 2).