US20050098937A1 - Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line - Google Patents

Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050098937A1
US20050098937A1 US10/945,996 US94599604A US2005098937A1 US 20050098937 A1 US20050098937 A1 US 20050098937A1 US 94599604 A US94599604 A US 94599604A US 2005098937 A1 US2005098937 A1 US 2005098937A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
stack
feed unit
roller
hopper
sheets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/945,996
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Andrea Biondi
Nadio Di Nunzio
Giovanni Madera
Flavio Trebbi
Fiorenzo Draghetti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GD SpA
Original Assignee
GD SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GD SpA filed Critical GD SpA
Assigned to G.D. SOCIETA'PER AZIONI reassignment G.D. SOCIETA'PER AZIONI ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BIONDI, ANDREA, DI NUNZIO, NADIO NAZARIO, DRAGHETTI, FIORENZO, MADERA, GIOVANNI, TREBBI, FLAVIO
Publication of US20050098937A1 publication Critical patent/US20050098937A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/34—Article-retaining devices controlling the release of the articles to the separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/14—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B65B43/16—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers
    • B65B43/18—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers by suction-operated grippers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
    • B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
    • B65H3/085—Suction grippers separating from the bottom of pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
    • B65H2513/10—Speed
    • B65H2513/11—Speed angular
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2515/00—Physical entities not provided for in groups B65H2511/00 or B65H2513/00
    • B65H2515/10—Mass, e.g. mass flow rate; Weight; Inertia
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2555/00—Actuating means
    • B65H2555/20—Actuating means angular
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/17—Nature of material
    • B65H2701/176—Cardboard
    • B65H2701/1764—Cut-out, single-layer, e.g. flat blanks for boxes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line.
  • An automatic product packing machine comprises at least one feed unit for supplying a packing line on the machine with a succession of sheets used in the packing process.
  • the feed units may supply the succession of sheets either by cutting the sheets off a continuous web unwound off a reel, or by withdrawing individual sheets from the bottom of a stack housed inside a hopper.
  • Patent EP-A1-0970885 Another example of a feed unit for withdrawing individual sheets from the bottom of a stack housed inside a hopper is described in Patent EP-A1-0970885, in which a wheel, rotating about its axis, feeds a gripping head continuously along an endless path through a loading station, where the gripping head, oscillating with respect to the wheel about an axis parallel to the wheel axis, engages a withdrawal opening in the hopper to withdraw a sheet, and through a follow-up unloading station, where the gripping head, rotating together with the wheel, feeds the sheet to a feed roller.
  • Feed units with hoppers as described above function correctly at relatively slow operating speeds. At fast operating speeds typical of modern packing machines, however, the sheets close to the bottom of the hopper tend to be shifted out of correct alignment by the mechanical stress exerted on the stack by the pickup device when withdrawing individual sheets. As a result, each sheet is engaged by the pickup device, and so fed to the follow-up packing line, in the wrong position, thus impairing the overall quality of the finished packages and possibly also jamming the packing line.
  • a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line;
  • the feed unit comprising a hopper housing a stack of sheets and having a withdrawal opening; and a pickup device which engages the withdrawal opening in the hopper to withdraw a single sheet from the stack and feed the sheet to the packing line;
  • the feed unit being characterized by comprising, at the withdrawal opening in the hopper, at least one roller having a lateral surface on which a portion of the stack rests; and actuating means for rotating the roller about a respective longitudinal axis of symmetry in such a direction as to push the sheets in the stack away from the withdrawal opening.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in perspective of a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a front view of the FIG. 1 feed unit
  • FIG. 3 shows a side view, with parts removed for clarity, of the FIG. 1 feed unit.
  • Feed unit 1 indicates as a whole a feed unit for feeding sheets 2 to a packing line (not shown).
  • Feed unit 1 comprises a vertical hopper 3 housing a stack 4 of sheet 2 , and having a bottom withdrawal opening 5 ; and a pickup device 6 which engages withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 to withdraw individual sheets 2 successively from stack 4 and feed sheets 2 to the packing line.
  • hopper 3 comprises four fixed, L-shaped sections 7 located at the four corners of stack 4 to retain stack 4 laterally.
  • Pickup device 6 comprises a wheel 8 rotating about a respective central axis 9 ; and a suction gripping head 10 supported by wheel 8 to move cyclically along an endless path through a loading station, where gripping head 10 engages withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 to withdraw a sheet 2 , and through a follow-up unloading station, where gripping head 10 feeds the sheet to the packing line in known manner.
  • wheel 8 supports a number of gripping heads 10 ; and each gripping head 10 may be fitted to wheel 8 to oscillate, under the control of a cam actuating system, about a respective axis parallel to central axis 9 of wheel 8 .
  • pickup device 6 may be formed differently, e.g. as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,908.
  • the feed unit comprises two parallel rollers 11 located on opposite sides of stack 4 , and each having a lateral surface 12 on which a bottom portion of stack 4 rests. More specifically, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3 , two major transverse edges of stack 4 rest on respective lateral surfaces 12 of rollers 11 .
  • a known actuating device 13 (shown schematically in FIG. 2 ) is connected mechanically to rollers 11 , and rotates each roller 11 about a respective longitudinal axis 14 of symmetry in such a direction as to push sheets 2 in stack 4 upwards (i.e. away from withdrawal opening 5 , as shown in FIG. 3 ).
  • An alternative embodiment comprises only one roller 11 on one side of stack 4 , and respective bottom end portions of fixed sections 7 are located on the opposite side of stack 4 and on a level with roller 11 .
  • Actuating device 13 preferably rotates rollers 11 at the same adjustable given constant speed.
  • the rotation speed of rollers 11 is adjusted as a function of the withdrawal rate of sheets 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 and/or as a function of the number of sheets 2 in stack 4 (and therefore of the weight of stack 4 ).
  • the portion of lateral surface 12 of each roller 11 contacting stack 4 has a high friction coefficient achieved by knurling comprising a series of grooves parallel to longitudinal axis 14 of symmetry.
  • the portion of the lateral surface of each roller 11 contacting stack 4 may have a covering of elastic material (e.g. rubber).
  • each roller 11 is so formed that its lateral surface only contacts part of stack 4 .
  • two knurled portions 15 of each roller 11 only contact part of the extension of stack 4 , and are separated by a groove 16 .
  • a window for the passage of each sheet 2 is defined between the two rollers 11 , and through which each sheet 2 is drawn by pickup device 6 when withdrawing sheet 2 .
  • the window defined between the two rollers 11 is smaller than each sheet 2 . More specifically, the minimum distance between lateral surfaces 12 of the two rollers 11 , measured in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal axes 14 of symmetry of the two rollers 11 , is less than the corresponding dimension of each sheet 2 measured in the same direction.
  • Hopper 3 may also comprise at least one fixed horizontal supporting member (not shown) located at withdrawal opening 5 and defining a bottom support of stack 4 to retain stack 4 inside hopper 3 .
  • feed unit 1 must comprise a push device for gradually feeding stack 4 towards withdrawal opening 5 (in the hopper 3 shown, this is achieved by force of gravity drawing sheets 2 in stack 4 downwards).
  • suction gripping head 10 engages and exerts force on a sheet 2 to extract sheet 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in the hopper and through the window defined between the two rollers 11 ; and, since the window defined between the two rollers 11 is smaller than sheet 2 , sheet 2 is inevitably deformed elastically to be extracted from hopper 3 . Moreover, if bottom supporting members of stack 4 are provided, sheet 2 must be detached from the supporting members by the action of gripping head 10 .
  • rollers 11 provide for realigning sheets 2 in stack 4 close to withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 . That is, if sheets 2 close to withdrawal opening 5 are shifted out of correct alignment by the mechanical stress exerted on stack 4 by pickup device 6 when withdrawing individual sheets 2 , the action of rollers 11 provides for realigning sheets 2 .
  • the action of rollers 11 has also been found to have a separating effect on sheets 2 in stack 4 close to withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 , thus assisting detachment of sheets 2 from stack 4 . That is, sheets 2 in stack 4 tend to adhere to one another, thus making it difficult to extract each sheet 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 .
  • the action of rollers 11 tends to separate sheets 2 close to the withdrawal opening, thus counteracting any adhesion phenomena of sheets 2 .
  • Feed unit 1 as described above may be used for supplying sheets 2 of any type, e.g. blanks for producing rigid packages, sheets of wrapping material for producing soft packages, or labels or stamps applied to the inside or outside of packages.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
US10/945,996 2003-09-22 2004-09-22 Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line Abandoned US20050098937A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000549A ITBO20030549A1 (it) 2003-09-22 2003-09-22 Unita' di alimentazione di fogli ad una linea di incarto
ITBO2003A000549 2003-09-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050098937A1 true US20050098937A1 (en) 2005-05-12

Family

ID=34179310

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/945,996 Abandoned US20050098937A1 (en) 2003-09-22 2004-09-22 Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20050098937A1 (it)
EP (1) EP1516819B1 (it)
JP (1) JP4597621B2 (it)
CN (1) CN100503372C (it)
DE (1) DE602004004336T2 (it)
IT (1) ITBO20030549A1 (it)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITBO20060721A1 (it) * 2006-10-18 2008-04-19 Gd Spa Unita' e metodo di alimentazione di etichette in una macchina confezionatrice di pacchetti per articoli da fumo.
CN102180364B (zh) * 2010-07-22 2016-04-13 中钞信用卡产业发展有限公司 卡片送料装置及送料方法
DE102010050043B4 (de) * 2010-10-29 2015-09-24 Mühlbauer Gmbh & Co. Kg Vorrichtung zur Vereinzelung von in einem Stapel bereitgestellten Karten
DE102012207320B4 (de) * 2012-05-03 2013-11-21 Maschinenbau Oppenweiler Binder Gmbh & Co. Kg Saugtransportvorrichtung und Verfahren zur Abnahme eines Bogens von einem Bogenstapel
CN104828302B (zh) * 2015-04-21 2017-04-12 江苏比微曼智能科技有限公司 一种环形流水线
CN104828303B (zh) * 2015-04-21 2017-04-12 江苏比微曼智能科技有限公司 一种带标签纸装袋装置的环形流水线
CN106395004A (zh) * 2016-11-28 2017-02-15 张家港爱铝铝箔科技有限公司 用于纸盒的输送装置及装盒机
CN110342292B (zh) * 2019-06-19 2021-02-05 柳州市铂华智能科技有限公司 一种纸张定位打散装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4443006A (en) * 1980-07-21 1984-04-17 Billcon Corporation Of America Document and currency counter
US4767390A (en) * 1987-01-27 1988-08-30 Federal Paper Board Company, Inc. Apparatus for and method of applying handle to carton closure flap
US5407187A (en) * 1992-06-13 1995-04-18 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Apparatus for separating stacked sheets using rotatable, recessed shafts and vacuum members
US20020056257A1 (en) * 2000-11-14 2002-05-16 Reinhard Deutsch Method of and apparatus for making and manipulating coupons in cigarette packing machines

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2326282A1 (de) * 1973-05-23 1974-12-12 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Entnahmevorrichtung
JPS61163259U (it) * 1985-03-29 1986-10-09
JPH0218235A (ja) * 1988-07-05 1990-01-22 Fujitsu Ltd 紙葉供給装置
EP0485343A1 (de) * 1990-11-06 1992-05-13 Willi Maschinenbau Ag Abstapel- und Auffächervorrichtung für biegsame blattförmige Gegenstände
JPH06100186A (ja) * 1992-09-22 1994-04-12 Hitachi Electron Eng Co Ltd 磁気カードのピック機構
JPH08175765A (ja) * 1994-12-27 1996-07-09 Glory Ltd 紙葉類収納繰出し装置
DE29620389U1 (de) * 1996-11-25 1997-01-23 Wollmershaeuser Manfred Blistervereinzelung
JP2000190916A (ja) * 1998-12-28 2000-07-11 Sapporo Breweries Ltd シ―ト状段ボ―ル保持装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4443006A (en) * 1980-07-21 1984-04-17 Billcon Corporation Of America Document and currency counter
US4767390A (en) * 1987-01-27 1988-08-30 Federal Paper Board Company, Inc. Apparatus for and method of applying handle to carton closure flap
US5407187A (en) * 1992-06-13 1995-04-18 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Apparatus for separating stacked sheets using rotatable, recessed shafts and vacuum members
US20020056257A1 (en) * 2000-11-14 2002-05-16 Reinhard Deutsch Method of and apparatus for making and manipulating coupons in cigarette packing machines

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1516819B1 (en) 2007-01-17
JP4597621B2 (ja) 2010-12-15
CN100503372C (zh) 2009-06-24
CN1600643A (zh) 2005-03-30
DE602004004336T2 (de) 2007-07-05
ITBO20030549A1 (it) 2005-03-23
EP1516819A1 (en) 2005-03-23
JP2005126236A (ja) 2005-05-19
DE602004004336D1 (de) 2007-03-08

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: G.D. SOCIETA'PER AZIONI, ITALY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BIONDI, ANDREA;DI NUNZIO, NADIO NAZARIO;MADERA, GIOVANNI;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:016151/0315

Effective date: 20041201

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION