WO1987004413A1

WO1987004413A1 - Process and device for automatic packing of elongated products especially liver sausages into packing boxes

Info

Publication number: WO1987004413A1
Application number: PCT/FI1987/000016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jukka Holopainen; Esa Liimatainen; Tuomo Pekkala
Original assignee: Insinööritoimisto Norvasto Oy
Priority date: 1986-01-28
Filing date: 1987-01-28
Publication date: 1987-07-30
Also published as: FI860402A0; FI860402A

Abstract

Method for the automatic packing of elongated products, specifically liverwursts, into packaging boxes. The products to be packaged are fed onto a feeding table (1), and the products, in disorder on the feeding table, are arranged into a line on the first conveyor (10). From the first conveyor the products are directed onto a second, adjacent conveyor (11), there being between the conveyors a speed difference which produces a gap between the products. Thereafter the products on the second conveyor (11) are divided into two product flows (21, 22) and these two product flows (21, 22) are directed further onto a dividing conveyor (2), on which the products are directed into grooves (41-54) in order to form several product flows. The product flows leaving the dividing conveyor (2) are directed and stopped so that there is formed a stationary product batch which contains the number of products required for one product layer to be packaged. This stationary product batch is lifted, transferred and dropped into the packaging box or boxes, and simultaneously a new stationary product batch is formed, which is lifted, transferred and dropped into the packaging box or boxes, and this step is repeated until the desired number of product layers has been formed in the packaging box or boxes. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Description

Process and device for automatic packing of elongated products especially liver sausages into packing boxes.

The present invention relates to the automation of a packaging line for elongated food products and, more specifically, to a method and apparatus for the automatic packing of elongated products, specifically liverwursts, into packaging boxes.

Previously the liverwursts coming from the liverwurst production line have been packed manually into cardboard boxes. Manual packaging ties up a large number of personnel, especially in modern production lines in which the production rates are very high. In addition, the monotony of the work, the temperature of the work environment, humidity and noise reduce work motivation.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages mentioned above and to produce a method and apparatus of simple operation and high capacity, and above all requiring little labor, for automatic packaging of elongated products, specifically liverwursts, into packaging boxes.

According to the present invention these objects have been accomplished in a highly satisfactory manner.

The main characteristics of the invention are indicated in the accompanying examples.

By elongated products is meant in. this context primarily substantially cylindrical foodstuffs, enclosed in a skin, such as liverwursts and pea-soup. The ends of these products are usually closed with metal closers. The typical weight of a liverwurst is 150 g (diameter 37 mm, length 140 mm) and 300 g (diameter 44 mm, length 200 mm), and the typical weight of a pea-soup portion enclosed in plastic skin is 450 g (diameter 66 mm, length 150 mm) .

The typical capacity requirement as regards liverwurst may be, for example, about 200 liverwursts/min and for pea-soup, for example, about 50 portions/min.

The various functions of the apparatus according to the invention are controlled in accordance with a certain program automatically by a central control unit. When a shift is made on the packaging line from one product to another, minor adjustments must be made in the apparatus.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) the products to be packaged are fed onto the feeding table; b) the products, in disorder on the feeding table, are arranged into a line on a first conveyor; c) the products are directed from the first conveyor onto a second, adjacent conveyor, there being between these conveyors a speed difference which produces a gap between the products; d) a predetermined number of products is directed in sequences from the second conveyor to the first conveyor so that two equal product flows are formed; e) these two product flows are directed further onto a dividing conveyor, on which the products are directed into grooves in order to form several product flows; f) the products leaving the dividing conveyor along the said grooves are directed onto a roller conveyor, on which part of the kinetic energy of the products is dissipated by means of freely rotating rollers and the products are stopped by means of stationary rollers, whereafter the products, probably after the aligning of their ends, are transferred, one batch at a time, to the pick-up point, the stationary batch of products at the pick-up point containing the number of products required for one product layer to be packaged; g) the stationary batch of products is lifted, transferred, and dropped into a packaging box or into packaging boxes; and simultaneously h) a new stationary product batch is formed which is lifted, transferred and dropped into the packaging box or boxes, and this step is repeated until the desired number of product layers has been formed in the packaging box or boxes.

According to another preferred embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a feeding table for receiving the products to be packaged, the feeding table comprising a first and a second feeding conveyor, return conveyors working in different directions, and a turntable which arranges the products successively onto the first— - feeding conveyor; means for directing onto the said second feeding conveyor the products which have been arranged into a line on the first feeding conveyor; means for dividing the products on the second conveyor into two flows of products; a dividing conveyor for dividing these two product flows further into the grooves on the dividing conveyor; means for directing and stopping the product flows leaving the dividing conveyor along the grooves, in order to form a stationary product batch; and turning devices for lifting the stationary product batch and for transferring and dropping it into a packaging box or packaging boxes.

According to one preferred embodiment, the turning device comprises two suction heads which are secured to a turning boom. When the product batch is at the pick-up point, the turning boom is lowered and one of the suction heads carries out the gripping. Next, the turning boom rises and turns 180°, While this suction head is lowering the products into a box, the second suction head grips a new product batch by suction. whereafter the boom rises and turns 180° in the opposite direction.

The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 depicts diagrammatically a plan view of the beginning section of one preferred embodiment of the packaging system according to the invention.

Figure 2 depicts in cross section, at A-A, of the packaging system section according to Figure 1, on an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 depicts the end section of the packaging system shown iir Figure 1, and

Figure 4 depicts a side view of the end of one preferred packaging system according to the invention.

In Figure 1 the first part of the packaging system, i.e. the feeding table, is indicated by reference numeral 1. When the products, which are hereinafter called liverwursts, reach the end of the production line, they fall in disorder onto the feeding table 1. The feeding table has borders 8 which keep the products on the feeding table. On the feeding table the liverwursts are arranged into a line by using a rubber-coated turntable 9 which, by the joint action of centrifugal forces and friction factors, arranges the liverwursts in succession onto the feeding conveyor 10. This slat conveyor 10 is preferably elevated about 25 mm from the actual level of the conveyor (see Figure 2) . The elevation improves the returning σf any liverwursts which are in a wrong position to the feeding table 1.

The speeds of the turntable 9, the feeding conveyors 10 and 11, and the return conveyors 12-16 must also be in correct ratios. Some of the return conveyors, i.e. 15 and 16, rotate in a direction opposite to that of feeding conveyors 10 and 11 and the other return conveyors 12-14. The difference between the speeds of the turntable 9 and the feeding conveyor 10 eliminates any detrimental rolling of the liverwursts as the liverwursts arrive on the feeding conveyor 10. The speed differences among the return conveyors 12-16 turn the liverwursts into a longitudinal direction in relation to the travel direction. This improves the feeding in of the liverwursts and prevents the feeding table from becoming congested.

Another function of the feeding table 1 is to divide the flow of products into two equal parts. This has been accomplished by directing, by means of a baffle 17, the product flow from the feeding conveyor 10 onto the feeding conveyor 11. The difference between the speeds of the conveyors produces a gap between the liverwursts. By taking advantage of this gap, it is possible to convey the liverwursts onto the dividing conveyor 2 along either conveyor 10 or conveyor 11.

The transfer of the liverwursts into either groove 21 or groove 22 is accomplished with the aid of control means 19, which, with the aid of a baffle 18, deflects into groove 21 the liverwursts which have been directed almost to the center of gravity.

Figure 2 shows the structure of the control means 19 in greater detail. The control means comprise a pneumatic control device 35 and a movable baffle 36. With the aid of this baffle 36 it is possible to adjust the width of the feeding lane. If the pneumatic control device is not used, the liverwursts travel along the feeding conveyor 11 directly into groove 22. Owing to control of the center of 'gravity, liverwursts of different lengths and weights behave in the same manner during the dividing. The shifting of the center of gravity is improved by a tilt of the feeding conveyors 10 and 11.

With reference to Figure 1, at the level of the liverwursts there is fitted a light cell 20, which counts the number of liverwursts traveling on the feeding conveyor 11 and transmits this information to the control unit. When the programmed number of liverwursts, for example 6, have passed the light cell 20, the control means 19 receives a signal to change the position of the control device 35 (Figure 2).

The actual dividing takes place on the dividing conveyor 2, where the liverwursts which have been divided into two lines 21 and 22 by the pneumatic control means 19 on the feeding table 1 are divided further into a desired number of grooves 41-54. The number of grooves 41-54 is determined by the bottom layout of the package and on how many boxes are being filled simultaneously.

The dividing is accomplished by dividing the liverwursts on the feeding table 1 with the aid of the pneumatic control means 19 into lines of six liverwursts, as described above. The division into the desired grooves 41-54 is accomplished with the aid of pneumatically controlled gates 23-34. In order that the product flow remain continuous, the flaps 23-34 must be controlled in such a way that, when liverwursts are traveling along the left groove of the feeding table, i.e. groove 21, the flaps of the right-side groove are set ready and vice versa.

With reference to Figure 3, after leaving the dividing conveyor the liverwursts travel on a roller conveyor 3, which is made up of a buffer zone 37, a braking zone 38, and a ready-product zone 39.

In the buffer zone, part of the kinetic energy of the products is dissipated by means of freely rotating rollers. If the energy were not dissipated, the products arriving in lines of six liverwursts would collide with one another and the lines would get mixed up with each other. The excess kinetic energy is due to the difference between the speeds of the dividing conveyor and the roller conveyor. The typical speed of the products on the dividing conveyor is 2.5 m/s and on the roller conveyor 0.5 m/s.

The stationary rollers in the braking zone serve as brakes, reducing the line pressures and aiding in the dividing of the product batches.

The number of products for one layer in the box is transferred onto the pick-up conveyor 4 as follows: the arresting gate 40 is opened, the rollers of the ready-product zone feed the product batch forward, and at the same time the stationary rollers of the braking zone 38 prevent new products from coming into the ready-product zone 39. When the product batch has passed the arresting gate 40, the gate closes and the braking zone 3^'8 lets new products into the ready-product zone, etc.

In order to accomplish a uniform bed of products, an aligning gate 55 is used for aligning the ends of the products. After the aligning, the uniform bed of products is transferred by the pick-up conveyor 4 to the pick-up point 56, where the actual packaging into boxes takes place.

In Figure 4 the packaging device is indicated by reference numeral 5. The packaging into boxes is carried out with the help of two suction heads 58 and 59, and they are secured to a turning boom 57. When the empty boxes have been put in their positions and lifted to the correct level by means of the lifting table 60, and the batch of products is at the pick-up point, the turning boom 57 is lowered, and the suction head 58 carries out the gripping. Thereafter the turning boom 57 rises and turns 180°. While suction head 58 is lowering the products into the box, suction head 59 grips a new batch of products by suction. The new batch of products is transferred to the pick-up point during the raising-turning- lowering sequence of the boom. A high speed is achieved by this method (approximately 3.3 s/work sequence).

In order that the products do not become detached during the turning movement, the turning has to be carried out by means of a lever mechanism 62. The turning boom 57 is accelerated evenly while turning through 0°-90°. Thereafter an even slowing down through 90°-180° begins, the boom being fully stopped at 180°. When the suction and detaching movement has been completed, the return movement of the boom is similar but the direction is the opposite, i.e. acceleration phase through 180°-90°, and deceleration phase through 90°-0°, the boom being fully stopped at 0°.

In order that the products settle as well as possible in the box, the empty boxes 61 are raised to a certain level (depending on the products) by means of the raising table 60. After the first product layer has been dropped into the box, the raising table lowers the box one product layer height downwards, etc.

When there is the correct number of layers in the box 61, the full boxes are conveyed forwards by the removing conveyor 6 (see Figure 3). Thereafter the box conveyor 7 positions empty boxes at the filling point, the raising table 60 raises them to the correct level, and the filling can begin.

Claims

1. A method for packing elongated products, specifically liverwursts, automatically into packaging boxes, characterized in that a) the products to be packaged are fed onto the feeding table (1) ; b) the products, which are in disorder on the feeding table (1), are arranged into a line onto the first conveyor (10); c) the products are directed from the first conveyor (10) to the second, adjacent conveyor (11), there being between these conveyors a speed difference which produces a gap between the products; d) the products on the second conveyor (11) are divided into two product flows (21, 22); e) these two product flows (21, 22) are directed further onto a dividing conveyor (2) , on which the products are directed into grooves (41-54) in order to produce several product flows; f) the product flows leaving the dividing conveyor (2) are directed and stopped so that a stationary batch of products is formed which contains the number of products required for one product layer to be packaged; g) the stationary product batch is lifted, transferred and dropped into the packaging box or boxes; and simultaneously h) a new stationary product batch is formed which is lifted, transferred and dropped into the packaging box or boxes, and this step is repeated until the desired number of product layers has been formed in the packaging box or boxes.

2. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in that in step d) a predetermined number of products are directed sequentially from the first conveyor (10 ) onto the second conveyor (11) so that two equal product flows (21, 22) are formed.

3. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that in step f) the product flows leaving the dividing conveyor (2) along the grooves (41-54) are directed onto a roller conveyor (3) , on which part of the kinetic energy of the products is dissipated by means of freely rotating rollers (37) and the products are stopped by means of stationary rollers (38), whereafter the products, possibly after the aligning of their ends, are transferred one batch at a time- to the pick-up point (56), the batch at the pick-up point constituting the said stationary product batch.

4. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that in step g) the stationary product batch is lifted, transferred and dropped into the packaging box or boxes by means of a turning device (5) equipped with a suction head or heads (58,^' 59).

5. An apparatus for the automatic packing of^"elongated products, specifically liverwursts, into packaging boxes, characterized in that it comprises a feeding table (1) for receiving the products to be packaged and for arranging them into a line; means (10, 11, 17, 19) for dividing into two flows of products (21, 22) the products which have been arranged into a line; a dividing conveyor (2) for dividing these product flows (21, 22) further into grooves (41-54) on the dividing conveyor; means (3, 40, 4, 55) for directing the product flows leaving the dividing conveyor along the grooves (41-54) and for stopping them to form a stationary batch of products; a turning device (5) for lifting and transferring a stationary product batch and for dropping it ^■ into the packaging box or boxes.

6. An apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the feeding table (1) has raised borders (8) and that the feeding table comprises a first and a second feeding conveyor (10, 11), return conveyors (12-16) working in different directions, and a turntable (9) which arranges the products in succession onto the first feeding conveyor (10).

7. An apparatus according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that on the feeding lane of the first conveyor (10) there is a baffle (17) which directs the products onto the second feeding conveyor (11).

8. An apparatus according to any of Claims 6-8, characterized, in that it additionally comprises a control device (35) which is transferrable to the feeding lane of the second conveyor (11) and directs the products onto the first conveyor (10).

9. An apparatus according to any of Claims 6-9, characterized in that the dividing conveyor (2) has means (23-34) for directing the product flows (21, 22) to the groove (41-54) desired at each given time.

10. An apparatus according to any of Claims 6-10, characterized in that the devices (3, 40, 4, 55) for directing and stopping the product flows leaving the dividing conveyor along the grooves (41-54) comprise a roller conveyor (3), which comprises a buffer zone (37) having freely rotating rollers, a braking zone (38) having stationary rollers, and a ready-product zone (39) having rotating rollers; an arresting gate (40); and a pick-up conveyor (4) which possibly has an aligning gate (55) and conveys the products to the pick-up point (56).

11. An apparatus according to any of Claims 6-11, characterized in that the turning device comprises a turning boom (57) which can be turned 180° and to which there have been secured two suction heads (58, 59).

12. An apparatus according to any of Claims 6-12, characterized in that it additionally comprises a conveyor (7) for conveying empty boxes to the filling point and a conveyor (6) for transporting away the boxes which have been filled.

13. An apparatus according to any of Claims 6-13, characterized in that it additionally comprises a raising table (60) for raising to the desired level the boxes (61) to be filled.