WO1992008645A1

WO1992008645A1 - Pharmaceutical small cartoner system

Info

Publication number: WO1992008645A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/008505
Authority: WO
Inventors: Greg Fulkerson; Peter N. Y. Pan
Original assignee: Thiele Engineering Company
Priority date: 1990-11-13
Filing date: 1991-11-12
Publication date: 1992-05-29

Abstract

A pharmaceutical small cartoner system (10) for packaging of small containers into small carton (32). The system is flexible, providing for rapid change-over adjustment features. The system is line-shaft driven and drive components are shaft or timing-belt driven. The system (10) allows positive transfer of literature (34) into an erected carton (32) and wrap around of literature about the product.

Description

PHARMACEUTICAL SMALL CARTONER SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS None. * BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention - The present invention is for a cartoner, and more particularly, pertains to a pharmaceutical small cartoner system which has a small foot print.

2. Description of the Prior Art - Prior art cartoners have been large, bulky, space consuming electromechanical systems which have large foot prints taking up considerable amounts of floor space. Also, the prior art cartoners did not provide for rapid change¬ over, and usually required a skilled mechanic utilizing numerous tools to effect the change-over to a different sized carton or different sized bottle.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a pharmaceutical small cartoner system, including a small physical foot print and providing for rapid change-over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention is a pharmaceutical small cartoner system providing for

*, cartoning of small products into small cartons, including J literature insertion into the cartons. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the pharmaceutical small cartoner system, the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the pharmaceutical small cartoner system; and,

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the pharmaceutical small cartoner system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a pharmaceutical small cartoner system 10 for the loading of a bottle and literature into a carton, which is erected in the pharmaceutical small cartoner system 10. Major components are located on a central framework including a bottle in-feed 12, a carton hopper 14, a literature hopper 16, a carton erector 18, a control panel 20, a load station 22, a discharge conveyor 24, a control cabinet 26, a reject belt 28, and a high voltage cabinet 30. Bottles are loaded into the bottle in-feed 12, cartons 32 are loaded into the carton hopper 14, and literature 34 is loaded into the literature hopper 16. The cartons 32 are erected by the carton erector 18. A bottle is transported from the bottle in-feed 12 to the load station 22, where the bottle and literature are loaded into the erected carton 32. The carton 32, containing the bottle and literature, is then transported to the discharge conveyor 24.

The subject matter of Appendixes A-l to A-23 are incorporated herein by reference. The Appendixes are now described in detail below.

A-l: Drawing 6730009R - in-feed assembly illustrates a top view of the bottle in-feed as viewed from behind the pharmaceutical small cartoner system, and also illustrates a top section view of the lower drive unit as viewed from behind the pharmaceutical small cartoner system.

A-2: Drawing 6730004R - hopper assembly illustrates a top view of the carton hopper assembly, a side view of the carton hopper assembly, and a section of the carton hopper assembly.

A-3: Drawing 6730009R - in-feed assembly illustrates a side view of the in-feed assembly.

A-4: Drawing 6730003R - CSV 120 degrees illustrates a section view of the erector assembly, a section view of the 120 degree erector wheel and another section view of the 120 degree erector wheel.

A-5: Drawing 6730011R - literature placer assembly includes a side view of the literature placer and a cross-section of the literature placer.

A-6: Drawing 6730008R - cross section load assembly illustrates a top view of the load assembly and a side view of the reject conveyor.

A-7: Drawing 6730008R - cross section load assembly illustrates a cross section of the load assembly.

A-7.1: Drawing 6730002R - top frame assembly illustrates a top view of the flight system and the plows and guides.

A-8: Drawing 6730001R - top view main drive illustrates a top view of the main drive viewed from the front side.

A-9: Drawing 6730001R - side view main drive illustrates a side view of the main drive as viewed from the back side.

A-10: Drawing 673002OR - guard assembly illustrates the guard panel assembly.

A-ll: Drawing 6730006D - plows and guides illustrates a top view of the plows and guides.

A-12: Drawing 6730006D - plows and guides illustrates a top view of the plows and guides. A-13: Drawing 6730006D - plows and guides illustrates a perspective view of the plows and guides.

A-14: Drawing 6730012C - coder assembly illustrates views of the coder assembly.

A-15: Drawing 6730075D - pneumatics illustrates the pneumatic system.

A-16: Drawing 6730070D - main power illustrates the main power distribution.

A-17: Drawing 670070D - control power illustrates the control power circuitry.

A-18: Drawing 670070D - inputs illustrates the input circuitry.

A-19: Drawing 6730070D - output illustrates the output circuitry.

A-20: Drawing 6730070D - push button PNL illustrates the push button and switch panels.

A-21: Drawing 6730070D - control panel illustrates control panel terminals.

A-22: Drawing 6730070D - power panel illustrates power panel component placement.

A-23: Drawing 6730070D - location drawing illustrates component locations.

The subject matter of Appendixes B-l to B-62 are component lists corresponding to the part numbers of the drawings of Appendices A-l to A-23. FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the pharmaceutical small cartoner system where all numerals correspond to those elements previously described.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the pharmaceutical small cartoner system where all numerals correspond to those elements previously described.

MODE OF OPERATION

The pharmaceutical small cartoner system 10 is suitable for small cartoning applications. The bottles 36, cartons 32 and literature 34 are loaded onto the appropriate conveyors and hoppers. When the carton is set up and then loaded with the bottle, as well as the literature.

The carton magazine is a powered horizontal carton magazine, and the carton set up is a four head gear driven rotary with a 240 degree feed by way of example and for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as limiting of the present invention.

Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof.

WE CLAIM:

Claims

1. A pharmaceutical small cartoner system comprising: a. a bottle input means; b. a carton hopper means; c. a literature hopper means; d. a carton erector means; e. means for engaging a bottle and/or literature into a carton erector; and, f. means for closing said carton, whereby said means are configured with respect to the other means, thereby providing a small foot print for the pharmaceutical small cartoner system.