WO2004069660A1

WO2004069660A1 - Method and machine for packaging items, in particular optical discs

Info

Publication number: WO2004069660A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/000255
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo Zaniboni
Original assignee: Gima S.P.A.
Priority date: 2003-02-07
Filing date: 2004-02-03
Publication date: 2004-08-19
Also published as: ITBO20030060A1

Abstract

This invention relates to the packaging of items, especially discs and preferably optical discs (12) . The package comprises a case (14) having one or more compartments (24) each holding a respective article. The apparatus according to this invention comprises means (30) for supporting and feeding the package (14), means (38) for identifying the position of the package (14) or of a part of the latter and means (60) for placing an article on a respective compartment (24) for holding the article. The means (60) for placing the article (12) in a respective compartment (24) comprise means (62) for picking up and transferring the article from a pickup position (B) to a position (C) for delivering it to the package or package compartment, the delivery position (C) being determined as a function of the position of the compartment (24) itself.

Description

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ITEMS, IN PARTICULAR OPTICAL DISCS

Technical field

The present invention relates principally to a method and a machine for packaging items, especially discs and, preferably, optical discs and the like.

Background Art

Packages containing two or more optical discs, especially in the case of DVDs, commonly consist of a case, made of cardboard or similar material, which opens like a book, and have a plurality of pieces supporting respective plastic trays, each of which holds an optical disc.

In packages of this kind, the arrangement of the trays that hold the optical discs varies greatly from one type of commercial product to another. Prior art packages therefore come in an extremely wide range of configurations, and may have only a limited number of parts actually used by a tray for the optical disc or the arrangement of the trays for the optical discs may be totally arbitrary. As a result, the packaging of optical discs in multiple packages is done by hand. This not only involves high labour costs but is also a highly repetitive task which creates a sense of aggravation and frustration in the workers required to do it.

Another disadvantage of the current method of packaging optical discs is due to damage to the package, especially the teeth that centre the optical disc in the tray, or to the disc itself, due to incorrect placement of the disc on the tray. One of the causes of incorrect placement is the inexact positioning of the plastic tray that holds the disc relative to the cardboard case or cover sheet. Indeed, on account of machining tolerances, the trays that hold the optical discs may be slightly offset from one case to another, making it difficult to place the disc in exactly the right position on the tray, this operation requiring an extremely high degree of precision to prevent damage to the case and, more important, to the disc, as stated above.

Also known are machines for automatically packaging optical discs, in particular CDs, in plastic cases, each containing a single tray for holding a single disc. These machines include means for feeding the case in the open condition, means for centring the case and means for placing the CD in the recess designed to hold the CD in the tray. The placing means are located in a fixed position in the same area or station where the centring means also work. This type of machine configuration, however, is not entirely satisfactory because it creates an excessively encumbered working area where the discs are placed in the cases, making it difficult for personnel to supervise machine operation and carry out maintenance.

Summary of the invention

To overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, this invention provides a method for packaging items, especially discs, preferably optical discs; the package including one or more compartments for holding at least one respective article, the method comprising the steps of feeding the empty package, detecting the position of the compartment in which the article is to be placed, and placing the article in the compartment that is to house it; the method being characterised in that the step of placing the article in the compartment to house it comprises a further step of transferring the article to a position for delivering it to the compartment to house it, this position being determined as a function of the position of the compartment itself.

In this way, it is possible to automatically package articles, especially optical discs, in packages of any configuration.

The secondary claims relate to other advantageous aspects of the packaging method according to the present invention.

This invention also relates to a machine for packaging items, especially discs and preferably optical discs. The invention further relates to a device for placing a manufactured article, especially a disc and preferably an optical, disc, in a package compartment, and to a device for detecting the position of the package or of a portion of it .

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics and advantageous aspects of the invention are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the steps in a preferred method for packaging DVDs as performed by a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic cross section of a preferred device for detecting the position of a package compartment in the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of the device for detecting the position of the package in the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a top view showing only the mounting block of the means for engaging and centring the device for detecting the position of the package;

Figure 5 is a schematic cross section of a preferred device for delivering the discs to the package compartments in the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of the means for delivering the discs to the package compartments in the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the disc delivery means in the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention. Description of the preferred embodiments of the invention

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the machine for packaging items, especially discs and preferably optical discs such as DVDs and the like, which are labelled 12 in the drawings .

In Figure 1 the conventional reference characters L and T denote the longitudinal and transversal directions, respectively. As explained in more detail below, the longitudinal direction coincides with the direction in which the packages are fed. The package 14 is of very well known type and comprises a case 14' that can be opened and closed in book-like or similar manner by rotating parts of it along longitudinal rotation lines or crease lines, labelled 16 by way of example in Figure 1. The case has an essentially flattened body, preferably made of cardboard or similar material and, when open, extends in a principal direction which coincides, during packaging, with the transversal direction T. It should be observed that these rotation or crease lines 16 on the cardboard case, however well they are made, retain a certain amount of elasticity which tends to make them close, when they are in the open or spread out condition, may hinder packaging operations .

As illustrated in Figure 1, the case body 14' consists preferably of a sheet which, when spread out, has an outside profile 18 of quadrangular shape and which can be folded along the longitudinal crease lines 16 to form a closed package, labelled 14" of said package.

As may be inferred with reference also to Figure 2 , the cardboard case body 14' presents a flat surface 20 which, in the spread out condition, constitutes the underside of the package and, in the closed condition, at least part of the outside surface of the package, and a surface 22 which, in the spread out condition, constitutes the upper surface of the package.

The package further comprises one or more compartments for holding at least one respective article. More specifically, each compartment consists of a tray 24 for accommodating the article. Figure 1 shows a package 14 with a plurality (four) of these compartments. The packages might, however, have a different number of compartments arranged in any suitable manner.

As is known, each optical disc has a body with a circular profile 12e, with an upper surface 12u, a lower surface (not illustrated in Figure 1) , and a central hole delimited by an inner circular edge 12i.

The tray 24, made of moulded plastic, has an upper part that defines a seat 26 consisting of a recess for holding the optical disc. The recess or seat 26 has an upper surface 26u with a circular peripheral profile 26e and, in central position, means 28 for retaining the article and consisting of a plurality of teeth protruding vertically upwards from the surface 26u and being elastically compliant radially. The teeth 28 are designed to engage and elastically retain in a well-known manner the inner circular edge 12i that defines the central hole in the disc 12. Each tray 24 is affixed to the case body 14 ' , and more specifically, to the upper face of the sheet of cardboard or the like, at a respective quadrangular area or portion of the body, said quadrangular area or portion being delimited by corresponding rotation or crease lines 16 which enable said portion to be folded relative to the adjacent portion.

In the embodiment of the package illustrated, the case body has five such quadrangular portions, denoted in Figure 1 by the reference numerals 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e.

Each tray 24 for holding a disc can be affixed to the case body at a respective area 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d through appropriate fixing means, consisting preferably of at least one glue point applied between the underside of the tray 24 and the upper surface of the respective area 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the case body.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises means 30 for supporting and feeding the package 14 between the machine stations where the packaging steps are carried out.

Feed motion is stepped, the package being alternately moved forward, then stopped at one of the stations or working units where a packaging operation is carried out, as described in more detail below.

As shown in Figure 1, the package in the preferred embodiment being described involves sixteen operating steps denoted by the reference characters SO to S15. Step SO is the step of introducing the packages to be filled into the machine starting from an empty package reservoir (schematically illustrated and labelled MC) . Steps SI to S8 define the operations whereby four different discs are inserted into four compartments 24 (some of these steps or stations might be inactive if the package is to hold less than four discs) . Steps S9 to S12 relate to the next operation of inserting a booklet 70, or similar item, into a pocket in the portion 14e inside the package. Lastly, steps S13 to S15 relate to the operations whereby the package is folded or closed, according to the method illustrated in Figure 1.

As illustrated in Figure 1, for most of the packaging path or line, the packages 14 are fed in the open or spread out condition, extending principally in the direction transversal to the longitudinal feed direction L.

As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3 , the supporting and feed means comprise at least one conveyor 30, having a top surface 32 on which the underside 20 of the package rests.

The conveyor means or conveyor belt 30 is wide enough to support the largest possible package in the spread out condition. In this way, packages with a smaller width can also be transported on the conveyor without problems.

The conveyor 30 has means 34, which may be selectively activated and deactivated, for retaining the package in a defined conveying position so that the compartment 24 can be easily and advantageously placed in a suitable predetermined position, corresponding to the position in which the article 12 is transferred to the compartment 24.

As will become clearer in the description which follows, the step of moving the package to the position in which it receives the article 12 comprises a step of moving it in the longitudinal direction (L) , in the transversal direction (T) or in both these directions .

More specifically, the means for retaining the packages on the conveyor consist of suction means which keep the package well spread out on the supporting surface 32 of the conveyor belt, this being particularly important to be able to correctly fill the package. Indeed, if the package is positioned inaccurately (even just a few tenths of a millimetre out of place) , the operations of placing the optical discs on the trays may lead to breakage of the disc or of the teeth for retaining the disc on the package. More specifically, the retaining means on the conveyor belt

30 consist of holes 34 communicating with means for generating negative pressure or suction to hold the packages securely to the supporting surface 32 of the conveyor belt 30. While the above is a preferred embodiment of the retaining means, which can be activated and deactivated, it is evident that other solutions for these retaining means are imaginable.

The holes 34 are distributed transversally and longitudinally along the supporting surface 32 of the package conveyor. Evenly distributed retaining means can be applied to packages of different shapes and sizes, making the machine adaptable to different types of packages.

The machine according to this invention also comprises means 38 for identifying the position of the package 14 or, more specifically, the position of the compartment 24 for holding the article 12, that is to say, the circular seat 26 for accommodating the article 12.

These position identification means 38 are located at a station or zone separate from, and upstream of, the area where the article 12 is fed in, as described in more detail below. The means 38 for identifying the position the compartment 24 first detect the position of the compartment 24 of the first of a series of packages to be positioned and then move or centre all the packages in the series .

In practice, in the method according to the invention, when optical discs relating to a particular lot consisting of a certain number of packages have to be packaged, the packages in that lot are fed in the spread out condition and arranged on the conveyor in successive areas or positions of the conveyor belt that substantially correspond but they may be displaced by an amount which, however small, may give rise to problems in the subsequent step of placing the disc in the compartment. For correct packaging, as already stated, the packages must be positioned extremely accurately. In practice, the packages placed one after the other on the conveyor belt are longitudinally spaced from each other by an amount that is substantially equal to the length of a conveyor feed step and are transversally positioned so they are substantially aligned with each other but they are displaced by a certain amount relative to the optimum longitudinal and transversal position and this may adversely affect the subsequent step of placing the discs on the respective trays.

According to one advantageous aspect of it, the invention contemplates the provision of means for detecting, in the manner described in more detail below, the position of the package, or of the respective compartment 24, that is the first in the series to reach the area near the detection means 38. This makes it possible to identify an optimum position for placing the disc and which must be maintained for the subsequent packages. For the latter, therefore, the detection means 38 constitute positioning means which move the incoming packages to the optimum position for placing the discs, as detected for the first package in the series . The means 38 that position the package or, more specifically, that position the compartment 24 which holds the article, consist of means 40 for pushing the circumferential wall or edge 26' of the seat 26 in order to centre the seat 26 so that it can properly accommodate the article . The positioning means 40 comprise means for engaging and (if necessary) moving the package and consisting of a plurality of elements 40a for engaging the package, these elements being distributed circumferentially and being mobile between a radially retracted initial position and a radially extended final position. The centring or positioning elements 40a engage a corresponding circumferential surface of the package in such a way as to push against the package, and if necessary, move it, or at least the part of it that is to accommodate the article, to the position where it can correctly receive the article. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, means are also provided for supporting the engagement means 40 and consisting of a supporting member 41 which is in turn mounted on a suitable frame 43 (described in more detail below) above the package conveyor belt 30.

Provision is also made of means for actuating the engagement and centring means 40a, the actuating means comprising a lower block 42 that supports the engagement and centring means 40a. The engagement and centring means 40a consist of essentially L-shaped arms 40 each which is pivoted at 44 to the mounting block 42 and has an end 40a for engaging a respective package and an opposite end 40b for transmitting the centring movement. The means for actuating the engagement elements comprise a vertically mobile rod 46, one end 48 of which is specially shaped to form a housing 50 for bidirectionally retaining in a vertical direction the ends 40b that transmit motion to the centring arms. The vertical movement of the rod imparts a short and rapid horizontal movement to the engagement and centring end 40a. As can be seen in the drawings, the end housing 50 which accommodates the transmission ends 40b of the arms 40, is defined by a pair of flanges 50a, 50b protruding radially from the rod 46.

Means are also provided for moving the means that mount the engagement means (not illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings) in the manner indicated by the two-way arrow V in Figure 2 between a raised position in which the package can move forward freely to a lowered position (shown in Figure 3) in which the package is engaged and positioned. During the centring operation, the package is released by the feed means and can therefore be moved freely on the conveyor 30.

As mentioned above, according to another aspect of the invention, the means 38 constitute means for detecting the package or, more specifically, of the seat 26 that holds the article 12. The means 38 detect, in particular, the transversal position of the seat 26 in which the article is to be placed, and advantageously comprise the aforementioned means 40 for engaging the package or seat, these means being mobile relative to the package and being slidably supported by a mounting rail 43a forming part of the frame 43, the rail 43a extending, as illustrated, in a direction transversal to the package feed direction L. In practice, the support of the engagement means 40 has suitable means for sliding on the rail 43a (these means not being illustrated since they are well within the knowledge of an expert in the trade) . Means 45 ' are also provided for locking the support of the engagement means 40 in a defined transversal position for detecting the position of the compartment to be filled.

According to the preferred embodiment being described, the locking means 45 ' are operated manually to allow the sliding block 41 to move along the rail 43a to a limited extent. Then, once the correct transversal position, corresponding to the position of the tray to be filled, has been determined, the locking lever 45 ' is operated again to stop the support 41 on the rail 43a. Obviously, the locking means may be embodied in other ways, not necessarily operated manually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The transversal movement along the rail 43a to determine the correct transversal position of the detection means is carried out before stopping the movement along the rail 43a, by manually pushing the engagement means 40 downwards until they come into contact with the seat in the tray 24 to be filled. The engagement of the means 44a against the surface 26e of the tray is performed when the package is in the retained or stopped condition on the conveyor 30 and the detecting element 40 can move freely along the rail 43a and is therefore forced to move transversally along the rail to allow the engagement portions 44a to come into contact with the surface 26e of the package while the latter is being held securely on the conveyor. In this way, the engagement means are accurately positioned at the position of the first tray to be filled.

According to the present preferred embodiment, therefore, the same operating means are used not only to detect the position of the package, or a part of it, but also to centre or position another package coming after it . Provision is also made of means for detecting or reading the position of the engagement means or of the sliding block 41 that supports them, these detection means being embodied as transducer means 45 which detect the position of the sliding block 41 and send a corresponding signal to suitable electronic control means (CPU) of the machine. The electronic control means use this measurement to control the subsequent means for placing the disc in the compartment, whose position has thus been determined.

These transducer means consist of a linear transducer comprising a rod 45a which extends outside the measuring cylinder 45b and whose free end is connected to the engagement means 40a or, more specifically, to the block 41 that supports them. For transmitting a signal corresponding to the transversal position of the compartment 24 detected, the transducer is connected to dedicated control means in the form of a CPU which methodes the signal and accordingly produces an output signal for transversally moving the disc placing means, described in more detail below.

During this step of detecting the transversal position, with the package supporting means in the stopped condition, the package can be moved longitudinally by a certain amount, partly stopped by the retaining means acting on the package itself which enables the latter to be placed in the correct longitudinal position for the subsequent placing step.

When changing over to packages of a different type or configuration, the above described step of detecting the precise (transversal) position for filling the compartment is preceded by a step of identifying the compartment to be filled or of prepositioning the position detection means 40 at a respective package compartment to be filled.

For this purpose, the means 40 are moved (in particular manually) along the rail 43a enough to position it at a compartment 24 of the new type of package to be filled. Once this has been done, the process continues, as described above, with the detection of the precise position for filling this compartment 24.

It should be noted that, although the above is an especially preferred embodiment, different means for detecting the position of the package or part of it may be used, such as, for example, optical detection means such as a camera which sends to the electronic means an image of the position of one or, if necessary, more packages along the conveyor. The position thus determined is used to drive the means for placing the discs in the package compartments . In the event of optical definition of the position of the package or parts of it, the self-teaching of the package position is preferably repeated for each package to be filled.

As may be seen in Figures 5 to 7 , the invention also contemplates the provision of means 60 for placing an article in a respective compartment 24 at a station or area downstream of the zone where the package position is defined along the package conveyor line.

The means for placing the articles comprise article pickup means in the form of customary suction cups 62 consisting of a plurality of vertical retaining rods 62 ' which are circumferentially spaced in order to hold the disc 12 uniformly. Provision is also made of means 64 for supporting the pickup means 62 and of means for driving said pickup means 62, which drive the supporting means 64, which are moved between a predetermined pickup position, labelled B in Figure 6, and a predetermined position of delivery to the package or seat, labelled C in Figure 6.

These drive means comprise transversal drive means which comprise means 65 for guiding the support means 64, the guide means consisting of at least one rod 65 extending transversally to the direction of package feed above the surface of the package conveyor.

The guide 65 is carried by an element that is driven vertically relative to a box-shaped supporting member 67 by suitable means (described in more detail below) between a lowered position for picking up or delivering the articles, and a raised position for transferring or moving the pickup means and the articles held by them along the guide.

The transversal drive means comprise means for moving the supporting means 64 along the transversal guide means 65 and consist of a belt 66 for driving the supporting means 64 and moving to and fro, forwards to the article delivery position denoted by the reference character C in Figure 6 and backwards to the article pickup position, denoted by the reference character B in Figure 6 .

The drive belt 66 is trained around end pulleys 70 and 72 which are rotatably mounted on the supporting block 67, the pulley

70 being driven by a motor 68, which is also mounted on the fixed supporting block 67.

Means 163 are also provided for positioning a respective article in the position B where the article is picked up by the means 64 that place it on the package.

These positioning means 163 comprise second means for picking up the articles and consisting of respective suction cups

162 like the suction cups 62, and respective means (a block) 164 for supporting the second pickup means 162.

The positioning means 163 also comprise means for driving the second pickup means 162 between a predetermined position, labelled A in Figure 6, where the disc is picked up from a reservoir, and the predetermined pickup position B where the means

62 deliver the disc to the package.

The means for driving the second pickup means 162 also consist of transversal drive means comprising the aforementioned guide means 65 which therefore also guide the transversal movements of the means 164 that support the second pickup means

162.

Moreover, since the guide 65 is carried by the mobile block or element vertically between a lowered position for picking up the disc from the reservoir and delivering it to the position B described above, and a raised position for transferring the second pickup means along the guide means, the second disc suction pickup cups 162 are also moved vertically in the same way as the second pickup means 62. Means are also provided for transversally driving the supporting means 164 along the transversal guide means to and fro, forwards to the position for delivering the article in the pickup position B of the first pickup means 62, and backwards to the position A where the article is picked up from the reservoir. The means for transversally driving the suction cups 162 comprise a tie rod 168 (illustrated schematically in Figure 6) which moves to and fro transversally by a defined length, including a forward movement during which the means 162, holding a disc, are moved from the pickup position A to the release position B, and a return movement where the suction cups 162, after releasing the disc 12, move from position B back to position A. As illustrated, the vertical movement of the optical disc transfer means 64 and 164 is imparted by a plurality of levers 71 which vertically move a supporting rail 73 that mounts the transversal guide 65 to which the arms 69 and 169 are attached, the arms in turn mounting the support means 64 and 164. As shown clearly in Figures 6 and 7, for driving the "L"- shaped arm 69 that mounts the block 64 for the first means for picking up and transferring the optical discs, the arm 69 is linked to the belt 68 through means that allow the arm to move freely up and down relative to the lower section of the belt . The linking means preferably comprise two fork-like elements

77, 77 which extend vertically on opposite sides, namely front and back, of the belt 66, which slide vertically into a pin 79 that is transversal to the belt .

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 1, the package conveyor line has positioned along it a plurality of means 38 for detecting the position of the package 14, or part of it, and corresponding means 60 for placing an article in a respective compartment 24 in the package . As shown, each station for detecting the position of the compartment and for placing the disc in it operates on a specific portion of the package to be made .

Therefore, when making packages containing less than the maximum number of discs, some of the disc placing devices remain inactive.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the positioning of one package (for example, package 14p in Figure 1) and the placing of a disc on the package following it (for example, package 14s in Figure 1) are carried out substantially simultaneously. Moreover, the means 60 for placing a disc in a respective compartment 24 are advantageously positioned on opposite sides of the package conveyor line 30, which makes it easier for personnel to access and carry out maintenance on the different parts of the machine.

The machine control means may consist of any electronic processor, computer or PLC running a machine program comprising at least one routine for controlling the transversal movement of the pickup means 62 according to a stroke or section S such as to carry the disc to a predetermined delivery position C.

The transfer stroke S is determined as a function of the position of the corresponding seat 26 that is to hold the article 12, the position of the seat 26b being advantageously detected by the means 40 for detecting the position of the package.

The transfer stroke S varies according to the configuration of the package to be made .

Downstream of the last filling station S8, the machine according to the invention further comprises means S9, S10, Sll, S12 for placing a different article, namely, a booklet 70 or the like, in an appropriate pocket 70' in the package and, downstream of these, means S13, S14, S15 for closing the package in several steps and, more specifically, in three successive steps of folding respective flaps of the package, starting from the outermost or side flaps of the package .

Below is a brief description of the operating cycle of the machine according to the invention. The conveyor belt feeds the packages to be filled in steps of predetermined length. The packages are held down on the conveyor belt 30 by suction.

In a first step, performed on the first in the series of packages to be made, the transversal position of each of the trays to be filled with a respective optical disc is detected at the stations SI, S3, S5, S7 by the centring means 40 which are moved manually into contact with the trays to be filled. During this step, suction is kept on so as to enable movement of the mechanical detection means 40 and detection of the position reached by these.

The signal issued by the detecting transducer is then used to impart a corresponding movement to the optical disc delivery means 64 which, at the stations S2, S4, S6 e S8, can safely place the disc 12 in the compartment 24 whose position has been detected beforehand.

In practice, the transversal position of the centring means is detected by the sensors and communicated to the machine ' s control means which send a corresponding control signal to the motor 68 that drives the pickup means in such a way as to allow the disc to be placed correctly on the required tray.

For the following packages in the series of packages to be made, the stroke of the means 64 for delivering the optical disc is no longer changed and, according to the invention, therefore, the suction that holds the package to the conveyor belt 30 is now switched off and the means 40 act as means for centring or positioning the tray at the stations SI, S3, S5, S7 (Figure 1) to allow the package to be moved on the conveyor belt just enough to position it precisely. The step of centring the package is followed by respective steps, denoted by the reference characters S2, S4, S6, S8 mentioned above, during which the delivery means 64 move forward and place respective discs in place in the packages.

When changing over to packages of a different type or configuration, for example, with a different number of trays and/or with trays arranged transversally in a different position compared to those in the previous packages, the element 40 is moved manually in a transversal direction to the new required position so that the position of the tray to be filled can be identified, after which the precise position of the tray is detected in the same way as that described above.

Although the preferred embodiment described above of the method, machine and related devices according to the present invention is designed especially for DVDs or other discs for the storage of digital data and information to be read by electronic devices of the optical type, the method, machine and related devices according to the invention might also be used to package other articles, in particular disc-shaped articles having geometrical dimensions similar to those of DVDs or CDs well known to the skilled man in the field. The invention can be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concep . Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. A method for packaging items, especially discs and preferably optical discs (12) ; the package including one or more compartments (24) for holding at least one respective article, the method comprising the steps of feeding the empty package, identifying the position of the compartment in which the article (12) is to be placed, and placing the article (12) in the compartment (24) that is to house it; the method being characterised in that the step of placing the article (12) in the compartment (24) to house it comprises a further step of transferring the article to a position (C) for delivering it to the compartment (24) , this delivery position (C) being determined as a function of the position of the compartment (24) itself.

2. The method according to claim 1 or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the step of placing an article (12) on a respective housing compartment (24) comprises a step of transferring the article (12) from a pickup position (B) to a position (C) of delivery to the housing compartment (24) where the amount of movement required to transfer the article (12) from the pickup position (B) to the delivery position (C) varies as a function of the position of the respective housing compartment (24) .

3. The method according to either of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that identification of the position of the package compartment (24) involves detecting the position of the package compartment (24) .

4. The method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that identification of the position of the package compartment (24) is performed by means (38) for engaging the package or the compartment (24) , said engagement means (38) , in order to identify the position of the compartment (24) being moved relative to the package in at least one predetermined direction as a result of engagement against a respective surface of the package or of the compartment (24) .

5. The method according to claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the step of detecting the position of the package compartment (24) comprises a step of prepositioning the position identification means (38) at a respective package compartment (24) to be filled.

6. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the step of identifying the position of the package compartment (24) comprises a step of moving the package relative to the package feed means (30) so as to place the compartment (24) in a suitable predetermined position corresponding to the position where the article (12) is received by the compartment (24) .

7. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the step of identifying the position of the package compartment (24) , and in particular, the step of placing the compartment (24) in a suitable predetermined position corresponding to the position where the article (12) is received by the compartment (24) , is performed before the step of placing the article (12) on the housing compartment (24) itself.

8. The method according to claims 6 or 7 , characterised in that the movement for placing the package in the position for receiving the article (12) comprises a step of moving it in the longitudinal direction (L) , in the transversal direction (T) or in both these directions .

9. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a step of feeding the package using means (30) for supporting and conveying the package which comprise package retaining means (34) which may be selectively switched on and off to permit positioning of the package.

10. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a step of feeding the package using means (30) for supporting and conveying the package which comprise package retaining means (34) consisting of suction means for holding the package down on the conveyor means (30) .

11. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a step of feeding the package using means (30) for supporting and conveying the package which comprise package retaining means (34) that exert a retaining action distributed at least transversally on the surface (32) on which the packages rest .

12. The method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the packages are moved forward with stepped feed motion.

13. The method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the stepped feed motion consists in alternately moving the packages forward and stopping them.

14. The method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the supporting and conveying means (30) feed the package in the open or spread out condition, extending principally in the direction transversal to the longitudinal feed direction (L) .

15. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) , the retaining means on the package supporting and conveying means (30) are kept in the switched off condition.

16. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) , the retaining means on the package supporting and conveying means (30) are kept in the switched on condition.

17. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) , the retaining means on the package supporting and conveying means (30) are kept in the switched on condition while the package is made to slide on the conveyor means (30) .

18. The method according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the step of positioning one package (14p) and the step of placing at least one disc (14s) on the package following it are carried out simultaneously.

19. The method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the position of the package compartment (24) is detected using the same means (38) that cause the movement of the compartment (24) in a suitable predetermined position where the article (12) is received by the compartment (24) .

20. The method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the step of detecting the position of the package compartment (24) is performed on the first of a series of packages to be made and the step of centring or positioning is performed on all the other packages in that series.

21. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 19, characterised in that the step of detecting the position of the package or of a part of it (24) is performed on all the packages to be made.

22. A machine for packaging items, especially discs and preferably optical discs (12) ; the package including one or more compartments (24) for holding at least one respective article (12) , the machine comprising means for feeding the empty package (14) , means for identifying the position of the compartment in which the article (12) is to be placed, and means for placing the article (12) in the compartment (24) that is to house it; the machine being characterised in that the means for placing the article (12) in the compartment (24) transfer the article to a position (C) for delivering it to the compartment (24) to house it, this delivery position (C) being determined as a function of the position of the compartment (24) itself.

23. The machine according to claim 22 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the means for placing an article (12) on a respective housing compartment (24) transfer the article (12) from a pickup position (B) to a position (C) of delivery to the housing compartment (24) where the amount of movement required to transfer the article (12) from the pickup position (B) to the delivery position (C) varies as a function of the position of the respective housing compartment (24) .

24. The machine according to claims 22 or 23 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the means for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) are means that detect the position of the package compartment (24) .

25. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 24, characterised in that the means for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) consist of means (38) for engaging the package or the compartment (24) , said engagement means (38) , in order to identify the position of the compartment (24) , being moved relative to the package in at least one predetermined direction as a result of engagement against a respective surface of the package or of the compartment (24) .

26. The machine according to claims 24 or 25, characterised in that the means for detecting the position of the package compartment (24) perform a step of prepositioning the position identification means (38) at a respective package compartment (24) to be filled.

27. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 26 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the means for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) move the package relative to the package feed means (30) so as to place the compartment (24) in a suitable predetermined position corresponding to the position where the article (12) is received by the compartment (24) .

28. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 27 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the means for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) , consisting in particular of means for placing the compartment (24) in a suitable predetermined position corresponding to the position where the article (12) is received by the compartment (24) , are located upstream of the means for placing the article (12) on the package compartment (24).

29. The machine according to claims 27 or 28, characterised in that the movement for placing the package in the position for receiving the article (12) comprises a step of moving it in the longitudinal direction (L) , in the transversal direction (T) or in both these directions.

30. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 29 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the means (30) for supporting and feeding the package (14) comprise means (34) for retaining the package and which may be selectively switched on and off to permit positioning of the package .

31. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 30 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the means (30) for supporting and feeding the package (14) comprise means (34) for retaining the package and consisting of .suction means for holding the package down on the conveyor means (30) .

32. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 31 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the means (30) for supporting and conveying the package (14) comprise means (34) for retaining the package that exert a retaining action distributed at least transversally on the surface (32) on which the packages rest.

33. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 32, characterised in that the means (30) for supporting and feeding the package (14) consist of means for moving the package (14) forward with stepped feed motion.

34. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 33, characterised in that the stepped feed motion consists in alternately moving the packages forward and stopping them.

35. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 34, characterised in that the supporting and conveying means

(30) feed the package in the open or spread out condition, extending principally in the direction transversal to the longitudinal feed direction (L) .

36. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 35 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) , the retaining means on the package supporting and conveying means (30) are kept in the switched off condition.

37. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 36 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) , the retaining means on the package supporting and conveying means (30) are kept in the switched on condition.

38. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 37 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) , the retaining means on the package supporting and conveying means (30) are kept in the switched on condition while the package is made to slide on the conveyor means (30) .

39. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 38 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that it simultaneously performs the step of positioning one package (14p) and the step of placing at least one disc (14s) on the package following it.

40. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 39, characterised in that the means (38) that determine the movement of the compartment (24) into a suitable predetermined position where the article (12) is received by the compartment (24) constitute means for detecting the position of the package compartment (24) .

41. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 40, characterised in that detection of the position of the package compartment (24) is performed on the first of a series of packages to be made and centring or positioning of the package is performed on all the other packages in that series.

42. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 41 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that, along the line for supporting and conveying the packages, it comprises a plurality of means (38) for identifying the position of the package (14) or part of it and corresponding means (60) for placing an article (12) on a respective compartment (24) for housing an article in the package.

43. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 42 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that, along the line (30) for supporting and conveying the packages, it comprises a plurality of means (60) for placing an article on a respective compartment (24) for housing an article.

44. The machine according to claim from 42 or 43 , characterised in that the means (60) for placing an article (12) on a respective compartment (24) for housing an article (12) in the package are located on opposite sides of the line (30) for supporting and conveying the packages .

45. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 44, characterised in that the means (38) for identifying the position of the package compartment (24) consist of positioning means comprising a plurality of elements (40a) for engaging the package and being radially arranged and radially mobile between a radially retracted initial position and a radially extended final position in such a way as to engage a corresponding surface (26e) of the package and thus centring it.

46. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 45, characterised in that it comprises means (41) for supporting the engagement means (40) and consisting of a supporting member (41) which is in turn mounted on a suitable frame (43) above the package conveyor belt (30) .

47. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 46, characterised in that it comprises means for moving the means that mount the package engagement and centring means (40) between a raised position in which the package can move forward freely to a lowered position in which the package is engaged and centred.

48. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 47, characterised in that the position detection means (40) are mobile relative to the package on at least one rail (43a) extending transversally to the direction of package feed; means (45') being provided for locking the supporting means on the guide rail (43a) .

49. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 48, characterised in that it comprises means (45) for detecting or reading the position of the engagement means (40a) or of the block that supports them.

50. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 49 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the means (60) for placing an article (12) on a respective compartment (24) for housing an article (12) comprises pickup and transfer means (62) and means for driving said pickup means (62) between a pickup position (B) to a position (C) for delivering it to the package or package compartment and comprising transversal drive means (65, 66, 68, 70, 72) and vertical drive means.

51. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 50 or according to the preamble to claim 22, characterised in that the pickup and transfer means (62) and the means for driving said pickup means (62) between a pickup position (B) to a position (C) for delivering it to the package or package compartment comprise transversal drive means (65, 66, 68, 70, 72) driven by motor means (66) .

52. The machine according to claim 50 or 51, characterised in that the transversal drive means (65, 66, 68, 70, 72) comprise means (65) for guiding the means (64) that support the pickup means extending transversally to the direction of package feed, above the package conveyor, and means (66, 68, 70, 72) for driving the means that support the pickup means along the transversal guide means (65) and consisting of drive means (68) moving to and fro, forwards to the position for delivering the article (12) and backwards to the position where the article (12) is picked up, under the action of respective motor means (66) .

53. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 52, characterised in that it comprises means (163) for placing an article (12) in the position (B) from where it is picked up by the means (64) that place the article (12) in the package.

54. The machine according to claim 53, characterised in that the means (163) for placing an article (12) in the position (B) from where it is picked up by the means (64) that place the article (12) in the package comprise second means (164) for picking up the article and comprising transversal drive means and vertical drive means .

55. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 52 to 54, characterised in that the transversal guide means (65) are carried by a mobile block or element vertically between a lowered pickup and delivery position and a raised position for transversally transferring the pickup means.

56. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 52 to 55, characterised in that the means (69) for supporting the means that place the article on the compartment (24) are connected in a vertically slidable manner to the transversal transmission belt (68) .

57. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 52 to 56, characterised in that the means (163) for placing an article (12) in the position (B) from where it is picked up by the means (64) that place the article (12) in the package are carried on the mobile block or element that carries the guide means (65) .

58. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 57, characterised in that it comprises electronic control means (CPU) .

59. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 58, characterised in that it comprises means (S9, S10, Sll,

S12) for placing another article (70) in the package.

60. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 59, characterised in that it comprises means (S13, S14, S15) for closing the package.

61. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 60, characterised in that it performs the step of detecting the position of the package or of a part of it (24) on all the packages to be made.

62. A device (60) for placing a manufactured article, especially a disc and preferably an optical disc (12) , in a compartment (24) of a package comprising a case (14') and one or more compartments (24) for holding at least one respective article, the device (60) being characterised in that it is made according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 61.

63. A device (38) for identifying the position of the package (14) or of a part of it, said package comprising a case (14') and one or more compartments (24) for holding at least one respective article, the device (38) being characterised in that it is made according to any of the foregoing claims from 22 to 61.