Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
  • B65B43/32—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by external pressure diagonally applied
  • B65B43/325—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by external pressure diagonally applied to boxes, cartons or carton blanks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B21/00—Packaging or unpacking of bottles
  • B65B21/24—Enclosing bottles in wrappers
  • B65B21/242—Enclosing bottles in wrappers in collapsed carton sleeves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
  • B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/001—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/003—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/005—Adjustable conveying means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/04—Machines constructed with readily-detachable units or assemblies, e.g. to facilitate maintenance

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an improved conveyor means for use in such applications as a conveyor belt-based system for assembly of a series of objects. More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a conveyor such as that used in the construction, assembly and filling of packaging items such as cartons.
• metering bars 51 are not easily removable or adaptable, nor able to aid the biasing of an adjacent article into a desired configuration.
• a conveyor for beverage packages which conveyor incorporates an endless series of spacer elements by which successive packages are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance each spacer element of the series comprising a pair of carton engaging lugs in which a leading lug and a trailing lug can be adjusted from a setting in which both the leading and trailing lugs of each pair are in abutment with one another to maximise the spacing between successive spacer elements to a setting in which relative movement between the leading lug of one pair and the trailing lug of the next succeeding pair decreases the spacing between those successive spacer elements.
• the lugs of each spacer element are so constructed and arranged as to be capable of fitting together in a spatially complementary manner. More preferably, one or more of the lugs are carried on a movement track. It is preferred that one or more of the lugs are adapted to be removable from the movement track.
• each movement track is provided with one or more pin components, and one or more of the lugs are supported upon one or more of the pin components.
• each lug is provided with securement means complementary to a securement portion of the pin component, so as to secure the or each lug to a pin component.
• each secured lug can be disengaged by hand from its respective pin component or pin components without the need for any tools or machinery.
• a still further optional feature of this aspect of the present invention provides that at least one edge of each lug is so constructed as to bias an edge of an adjacent article to be assembled on the conveyor toward the adoption of a desired configuration.
• one or more of the lugs is further provided with pivot means and actuator means adapted to mechanically urge each such lug toward an adjacent article so as to bias that article towards a desired configuration.
• one or more of the pin components may preferably be provided with a plurality of securement portions at different heights, such that a lug may be mounted on such a pin component at any one of a plurality of different heights.
• a pin component adapted to engage a lug of a conveyor as according to the present invention.
• the securement means takes the form of a slit or aperture within the form of the pin component.
• the pin component is further adapted to engage a movement track of the conveyor.
• a third aspect of the present invention provides a lug for use in conjunction with the conveyor of the present invention.
• an outer edge of the lug is so constructed and arranged as to bias an adjacent article into a desired configuration.
• the lug is further provided with pivot means and actuator means to aid the direction of the lug towards an adjacent article.
• FIGURE 1 is a side view of part of a conveyor as according to the present invention in use;
• FIGURES 2A and 2B show lugs according to the present invention, the lugs corresponding (interchangeably as according to use) to a first and second lug of a spacer element as according to the present invention;
• FIGURES 2C and 2D show how, according to a preferred feature of the present invention, a first, leading lug may be brought into registry with a second, trailing lug, in a spatially complementary fashion;
• FIGURE 2E shows an alternative embodiment of the lugs as according to the present invention brought together into abutment with one another, in which numerals corresponding to those in Figs 2C and 2D are employed, but with the suffix 'a';
• FIGURE 3 shows movement tracks according to the present invention, provided with pin components according to a preferred optional feature of the present invention
• FIGURE 4 shows a plan view of lugs carried on a movement track
• FIGURES 5 to 7 illustrate schematically how a variation in pitch may be achieved within the scope of the present invention by adjusting the relative positions of respective leading and trailing lugs of successive spacer elements so as to accommodate different sizes and configurations of articles to be assembled on the conveyor.
• FIG. 1 there is shown in use a part of an exemplary packaging machine 410 for the assembly of cartons A 1 which machine incorporates the conveyor 420 of the present invention.
• a conveyor 420 for conveying the cartons A to be assembled, and it is provided with one or more lugs 412, 414 according to the present invention on either side of the conveyor 420.
• a plurality of cartons A being assembled on the conveyor 420 of the present invention.
• the conveyor 420 comprises a number of lugs 412, 414 grouped as one or more spacer elements, each comprising a pair of lugs 412, 414. Each such pair is separable, one lug 412, 414 from the other 414, 412, and the two lugs 412, 414 of such a pair are each moveable independently of the other, along a movement track
• At least one, leading, lug 412 can be rapidly displaced relative to the position of another, trailing lug 414 so as to vary the spacing between adjacent lugs 412, 414.
• the resultant change in pitch on the conveyor 420 allows for easy accommodation of different sizes or configurations of article - or in this non-limiting example, carton A - with a rapid change-over leading to minimal downtime before the conveyor 420 continues in operation.
• Figure 5 schematically illustrates this process of adapting the pitch by movement of the lugs 412, 414.
• FIG. 2E An alternative interlocking arrangement for the lugs 412a, 414a is illustrated in Figure 2E of the present invention, and may be employed so as to confer additional lateral stability to the pair of lugs 412a, 414a in use.
• this interlocking arrangement of lugs 412a, 414a be employed along one side of a conveyor 420 in use, and that the arrangement of lugs 412, 414, substantially as shown in Figures 2A to 2D, is employed along the opposite side of the conveyor 420.
• the interlocked set of lugs 412a, 414a is employed on the side of the conveyor 420 from which the cartons A are loaded before assembly, for instance with bottles.
• the set of lugs 412a, 414a nearest the loading side of the cartons A is adapted to be of slightly wider form than the lugs 412, 414 on the opposite side of the conveyor 420.
• the interlocking set of lugs 412a, 414a has sufficient stability and strength that the interlocking set of lugs 412a, 414a may optionally be used alone to convey articles A along the conveyor 420.
• the lugs 412, 414 are preferably arranged in pairs, adapted to be spatially complementary to one another, in order that they may fit together to form effectively single lugs, each maximally separated from the next.
• This fitting together of complementary sets of lugs 412, 414 is illustrated in Figures 2C, 2D and 2E.
• the lugs are capable of fitting together such that a pair of lugs can mate with one another such that each lug assists the stability of the other lug in either longitudinal direction, along the path of the conveyor. Additionally the interlocking arrangement of the lugs provides lateral, transverse to the conveyor path, stability to the lugs.
• the overlapping and/or interlocking configuration prevents lugs on different chains from passing one another.
• a selected lug on one movement track 440 such as a chain is confined between two adjacent lugs on the other chain.
• the lugs 412, 414 are so adapted along an edge which engages the articles A to be assembled as to bias the articles A into a desired configuration.
• each pair of lugs 412, 414 has been brought together so that the two lugs 412, 414 are in abutment, and so as to maximise the pitch between successive pairs of lugs 412, 414.
• the outer edges of the combined pair of lugs 412, 414 are adapted in the example shown in Figure 1 to be wider in their top portions 422, 424 than at their middles, so that the top portion of each carton A held between these lugs 412, 414 is biased inwardly of that carton A structure, so as to achieve the desired tapered "gable- ended" carton A.
• a simple, substantially oblong-shaped lug 412, 414 could be substituted.
• Such a lug may comprise parallel sides, the lugs may still be arranged to provide longitudinal support to another lug, such that both lugs form a pair which can be considered as effectively a single lug.
• the configuration of the present invention brings clear advantages. Particularly, when adjacent lugs 412, 414 are brought into close registry by movement of at least one lug 412, 414 along its movement track 440 and relative to another, the resulting effective double-lug has a substantially Y- shaped configuration. However, the two lugs 412, 414 retain their ability to bias their respective adjacent cartons A into the "gable-ended" configuration, even when they are spaced apart by a further movement of one relative to the other along its movement track 440, so as to accommodate a smaller size of carton A.
• each lug is capable of engaging with a carton A on both its leading and trailing ends such that the lugs can be adapted to act on a carton A on both ends thereby providing a conveyor means having a plurality of configurations in which there is no 'dead space' in other words all the space on the conveyor is being used for transportation of articles as illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
• One optional aspect of the present invention provides that one or more of the lugs 412, 414 be disposable about an articulated pivot means (not shown), and may preferably be pivoted about said pivot means by actuator means so as to cause the lug 412, 414 to be pushed toward an adjacent article A, to aid the article A being biased into a desired configuration.
• lugs 412, 414 are not at all limited in shape within the scope of the present invention, and could adopt any configuration so as to be complementary to the desired configuration of the articles A to be assembled on the conveyor 420.
• one or more of the lugs 412, 414 may easily be changed for those of a different configuration, so as to accommodate a different set of articles A on the conveyor 420.
• one or more of the movement tracks 440 such as a chain, is provided with a series of pin components 430, exemplified by those as shown in Figure 5. These pin components 430 are preferably so constructed and arranged as to securably engage the lugs 412, 414.
• the pin components 430 are more preferably so arranged as to be capable of being moved by a movement track 440 in the backward and forward directions Y,Z with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor 420.
• the pin components 430 are capable of moving past one another when the lugs 412, 414 have been removed.
• the securement is brought about by the provision of a securement means 416, 418 within a lug 412, 414; typically, though not of necessity, this securement means 416, 418 takes the form of a short bar or pin.
• the securement means 416, 418 is so constructed and arranged as to co-operate with a complementary securement portion 432 of the pin component 430.
• This complementary securement portion 432 preferably comprises a slit or aperture within the outer form of the pin component 430.
• a lug 412, 414 may be mounted on the pin component 430 at any one of a plurality of heights, thereby providing for the accommodation of a plurality of different heights of article A on the conveyor 420.
• the securement means 416, 418 of the lug 412, 414 is spring- loaded such that it may easily be disposed out of co-operation with the securement portion 432 of the pin component 430 by hand.
• This further facilitates the rapid change-over between different shapes and sizes of lug 412, 414 to allow for adaptation of the arrangement, to accommodate a different configuration or size of article A on the conveyor 420 with a minimal conveyor downtime.
• the features of the particular preferred embodiment described hereinbefore could be altered without departure from the scope of the present invention.
• the spacer element may equally employ more than two lugs in co-operation with one another, and still fall within the scope of the present invention.
• the device may form a sub assembly of a larger packaging machine that offers further functionality in respect of packaging articles such as cans or bottles, within the erected cartons.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
• Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
• Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
• Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
• Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
• Dental Preparations (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=35221320

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2005
  • 2005-09-12 GB GBGB0518555.8A patent/GB0518555D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2006
  • 2006-09-12 RU RU2008114345/11A patent/RU2008114345A/ru unknown
  • 2006-09-12 EP EP06814472A patent/EP1924503B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2006-09-12 ES ES06814472T patent/ES2336706T3/es active Active
  • 2006-09-12 AU AU2006291072A patent/AU2006291072A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-09-12 WO PCT/US2006/035380 patent/WO2007033113A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-09-12 US US12/066,539 patent/US20080283361A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-09-12 AT AT06814472T patent/ATE448147T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-09-12 DE DE602006010407T patent/DE602006010407D1/de active Active

Patent Citations (4)

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