WO2004074107A1

WO2004074107A1 - Pick and place assembly for continuously packaging articles

Info

Publication number: WO2004074107A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/005173
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Martini
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Llc
Priority date: 2003-02-19
Filing date: 2004-02-19
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Also published as: GB0303813D0

Abstract

A pick and place assembly (12) comprises a pair of sets of pick and place heads (22a, 22b) which are both axially and rotatably moveable in a pick and place mechanism (10). The mechanism is vertically guided in a frame and the pick and place heads are rotated by transverse arms (20a, 20b) guided by cam tracks (19) in a cam plate (14). During movement of the transverse arms by which the pick and place heads exchange positions, the heads move axially downwardly to effect filling from a supply conveyor (C2) and loading at the same time as conveyor (C 1). During a full cycle of 360 degree rotation, the pick and place heads are raised axially and then again axially downwardly during their rotational movement, the whole cyclic movement being synchronized with that of the conveyors C1, C2.

Description

PICK AND PLACE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTINUOUSLY PACKAGING ARTICLES

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a pick and place assembly for continuously taking articles from a supply and loading them into packaging receptacles.

In a preferred assembly according to the invention the articles are continuously taken from product receptacles on a supply conveyor and transferred for loading into product receptacles, such as packaging inserts on a delivery conveyor.

There is a need within the carton packaging art for an assembly, which can transfer receptacles moving in one direction and placing the same in carton being conveyed in a second direction in an efficient, practical and convenient manner. Moreover there is a need for a stand-alone such assembly which need not be an integral part of a product feed conveyor. Such needs can be met by the present invention.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the invention provides a pick and place assembly for continuously transferring product from a supply and loading said product into packaging receptacles, which assembly comprises a pick and place mechanism comprising at least two sets of pick and place heads which are carried by the mechanism for movement about a reference axis simultaneously in both the axial direction and rotationally about the axis, means to drive the mechanism so that the product is picked from the supply and loaded by respective ones of the pick and place sets at substantially the same time at or adjacent one of said axial movement and transferred by rotational movement about said axis during axial movement of the pick and place sets towards an opposite extremity of said axial movement and towards said one axial extremity, control means being provided to synchronize movement of the pick and place sets such that successive product is taken from the supply and loaded into successive packaging receptacles. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of continuously transferring product from a supply and loading said product into packaging receptacles, which method comprises actuating a pick and place mechanism, having two sets of pick and place heads, to pick product with the other set at one extremity of axial movement of the head sets with respect to a reference axis, transferring the filled head set and the empty head set together during axial movement in an opposite direction and simultaneously causing rotational movement of the head sets with respect to the reference axis, and further executing the first axial movement towards said one extremity so that the pick and place sets exchange positions, synchronizing movement of the place sets such that successive product is taken from the supply and loaded into successive packaging receptacles and thereafter repeating that cycle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention taken from below and to one side;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1, disposed between a pair of product conveyors; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the product pick and place mechanism of the assembly.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings and in particular Figure 1 and Figure 2, there is shown a product pick and place assembly 12 adapted to operate between a pair of product conveyors CI, C2, which, in this embodiment, are driven in spaced parallel paths at the same speed. Conveyor C2 carries a series of spaced receptacles in each of which a product, for example a bottle B, is held. Conveyor CI carries a series of spaced receptacles C, such as paperboard packaging inserts, each of which is sized to receive product transferred from conveyor C2.

In order to effect the transfer of product B from receptacles of conveyor C2 into the packaging inserts of conveyor CI, a pick and place mechanism 10 is disposed for operation between the conveyors CI, C2.

The mechanism 10 comprises a frame housing a product transfer mechanism indicated generally at 13 which includes an ovate cam plate 14 to guide movement of an overhead arm 16, which is guided for rotational movement Υ* about a vertical axis by cam followers 18 mounted within cam tracks 19 of the cam plate 14. The overhead arm carries a pair of transverse arms 20a, 20b on its underside, which is adjustably located in the overhead arm for adjustment towards and away from the axis of rotation of the overhead arm 16. Each of the transverse arms has suspended there from a set (in this particular arrangement, a set of four) of product pick and place heads 22a, 22b respectively. The product pick and place heads can be of any suitable construction in order to take product from the receptacles of conveyor C2 and release them into the insert of conveyor CI .

The whole transfer mechanism 13 is vertically moveable along axis 'X' so that the pick and place heads are lowered towards the conveyors to collect product from and deposit product on the receptacles on the relevant conveyors.

Thus, the cam plate 14 is fixed for vertical movement relative to the frame and the transverse arms of the transfer mechanism 13 are rotatably carried on a vertical shaft 24. Accordingly, the cam plate 14 together with overhead arm 16 and transverse arms 20a, 20 b are vertically moveable along axis 'X' and transverse arms are simultaneously rotatable about axis 'Y'.

The vertical shaft 24 raises and lowers the cam plate and transverse arms by means of a ball screw mechanism 26 (Figure 3), which is rotatably driven by a motor 30 via, drive belt 31. Rotational movement of the shaft 24 and the transverse arms 20a, 20b is imparted by a drive motor 36 via drive belt 37. Both motors are carried on a base plate 40 of the frame. The frame further comprises spaced vertical guide rods 32 which extend from a foot block 34 and connected together at the upper ends by a cross-head 28. The cam plate 14 and its rotatable components are guided for vertical movement in the frame by guide arms 42 and 44, the ends of which are received in guide slots 46 formed in the upper ends of the vertical guide rods 32.

In operation, the cam plate 14 and its rotatable components are lowered towards conveyors CI, C2 until the pick and place heads 22c (as shown in Figure 2) are able to pick up a set of bottles from conveyor C2 and the pick and place heads 22b are able to place bottles previously taken from conveyor C2 into the individual inserts on conveyor CI. Filled heads 22a and empty heads 22b are raised and simultaneously rotated by transverse arms until they exchange position so that the pick and place cycle can be repeated continuously.

During movement of the transverse arms 16 by which the pick and place sets exchange positions, they move axially downwards to effect filling from conveyor C2 and loading at conveyor CI. During a full 360-degree rotation, which comprises one cycle, the sets 20a, 20b are raised axially and then again axially downwardly, the whole cyclic movement being synchronized with that of the conveyors CI, C2.

In order to ensure the synchronous movement between the pick and place heads and the moving conveyors CI, C2 the speed of rotation of the transverse arms around the cam plate is constantly monitored and adjusted as necessary by a controller to ensure that successive receptacles on conveyor C2 are emptied while successive inserts on conveyor CI are filled.

It is envisaged that the apparatus described above can be fitted to a packaging machine on a modular basis or as an integral part of the machine. It is further envisaged that the apparatus can be supplied to existing machinery and fitted on a retro-fit basis.

Claims

1. A pick and place assembly for continuously transferring product from a supply and loading said product into packaging receptacles, which assembly comprises a pick and place mechanism comprising at least two sets of pick and place heads which are carried by the mechanism for movement about a reference axis simultaneously in both the axial direction and rotationally about the axis, means to drive the mechanism so that the product is picked from the supply and loaded by respective ones of the pick and place sets at substantially the same time at or adjacent one of said axial movement and transferred by rotational movement about said axis during axial movement of the pick and place sets towards an opposite extremity of said axial movement and towards said one axial extremity, a controller being provided to synchronize movement of the pick and place sets such that successive product is taken from the supply and loaded into successive packaging recep'tacles.

2. A pick and place assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the products are supplied by a first conveyor moving in a first direction and the packaging receptacles are conveyed by a second conveyor in a substantially opposite direction.

3. A pick and place assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller controls the the first and second conveyors.

4. A method of continuously transferring product from a supply and loading said product into packaging receptacles, which method comprises actuating a pick and place mechanism, having two sets of pick and place heads, to pick product with the other set at one extremity of axial movement of the head sets with respect to a reference axis, transferring the filled head set and the empty head set together during axial movement in an opposite direction and simultaneously causing rotational movement of the head sets with respect to the reference axis, and further executing the first axial movement towards said one extremity so that the pick and place sets exchange positions, synchronizing movement of the place sets such that successive product is taken from the supply and loaded into successive packaging receptacles and thereafter repeating that cycle.