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
  • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
  • B65B39/006—Grids for introducing bottles into cases
• • 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
  • B65B21/02—Packaging or unpacking of bottles in or from preformed containers, e.g. crates
  • B65B21/08—Introducing or removing single bottles, or groups of bottles, e.g. for progressive filling or emptying of containers
  • B65B21/12—Introducing or removing single bottles, or groups of bottles, e.g. for progressive filling or emptying of containers using grippers engaging bottles, e.g. bottle necks
• • 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
  • B65B21/02—Packaging or unpacking of bottles in or from preformed containers, e.g. crates
  • B65B21/14—Introducing or removing groups of bottles, for filling or emptying containers in one operation
  • B65B21/18—Introducing or removing groups of bottles, for filling or emptying containers in one operation using grippers engaging bottles, e.g. bottle necks

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an installation for the filling of cross boxes and, in particular, crates for receiving products whose shape and presentation require special care.
• the crisscross boxes are mainly used to package products that need to be protected during transport, in particular to limit the risk of degradation of their appearance and decoration.
• Mechanized casing is commonly used to put products, and in particular bottles, into crates, including crates. Mechanization makes it possible to crate a batch of bottles with a number of bottles which corresponds to the number of cells of said box to be filled.
• the batch of bottles is handled by a gripping head that goes back and forth between the handling station and the packing station.
• the bottles can move and it happens that at the time of their descent to the cells, they are not positioned on the axis of their respective cell.
• the hopper has an opening whose section corresponds to that of the cells and for these peripheral bottles, the section of the opening of the hopper is more generous but it is limited by the adjacent openings of the hoppers. central hoppers.
• the hopper itself forms a spider above the alveoli; it thus only partially reduces the incidents of introduction and it brings other incidents such as, for example, a deterioration of the decoration located on the surface of the bottles and in particular a deterioration of the labels that have just been glued.
• the handling of this tool is an operation.
• the present invention proposes a mechanization solution that allows the packaging of these "precious" products, whose handling requires special attention. It proposes an installation which allows to reduce to its simplest expression the number of manipulations of the products between their preparation (filling and labeling) and the palletization of the crates filled with these products.
• the casing installation according to the invention makes it possible to eliminate many causes of deterioration of the products by limiting the destructive contacts and friction; it proposes a soft mechanization, relatively "soft”, well adapted to this kind of delicate products, with high added value.
• the invention makes it possible to secure the introduction of a line of products into their respective cells by accepting that these products exhibit a strong deviation when they are brought, by the handling head, above the rank of said cells of the body. fill.
• This deviance can also be caused by the products themselves and in particular, in the case of bottles, by an accumulation of defects in form taking into account the important tolerances in their manufacture.
• the invention makes it possible to accept a poor positioning of the products and in particular an important misalignment in one direction: the direction which is perpendicular to the line of said products; this tolerance is relatively large compared to the dimension of the cell in this direction.
• the invention also makes it possible to have tools that are easier to change; their implementation makes them more accessible and their weight, modest, allows easier handling, without the need to resort to lifting gear. The operator can store the tools himself in a shop that is parked near the installation. For some products, small for example, and for some packaging, large capacity, it is even possible to increase the packing rates while maintaining the advantages mentioned above.
• the invention also proposes a layout of the hoppers themselves, which arrangement makes it possible to simplify the mounting of the guides as well as their possible replacement, in particular the most stressed guides, those which delimit the large opening of said hoppers.
• the installation according to the invention therefore relates to the packing of delicate products in the cells of one or more cross boxes; it comprises, gathered on the same frame:
• At least one conveyor for bringing the products online to the picking station, and at least one conveyor for bringing the boxes to be filled to the packing station and for evacuating them,
• a handling head arranged to take at least one batch of products at said picking station and to transfer it to said packing station in at least one row of cells of the box or crates
• a structure for guiding the products at the entrance of the cells which structure comprises at least one grid which extends longitudinally above the conveyor of the boxes, which grid is provided with several hoppers arranged in line and whose number corresponds to the number of cells of each row of the box or boxes to be filled and is movable, on the one hand, vertically above the crates to be filled between a retracted position which allows the passage of said boxes and a position in which the hoppers are in the active position to channel each product in its cell respective and transversely relative to the direction of movement of said boxes to fill each row of cells, one after the other, which hoppers have an opening whose input section is of the order of twice the section of said cells.
• the guiding structure of the products comprises a U-shaped cradle whose two parallel arms carry the hopper grid or grids, which cradle is guided vertically on a frame and it is maneuvered by appropriate means to position said hoppers in an active or inactive position relative to the cells to be filled, which parallel arms each comprise a carriage which accommodates one end of said grid, which carriages are guided horizontally and they are movable above the crate or crates, by the action of appropriate means for placing said hoppers in correspondence with each row of cells to be filled.
• the installation may comprise trolleys arranged to accommodate at least two grids of hoppers, which grids are arranged side by side to allow, in cooperation with a head and a supply of appropriate products, the simultaneous casing at least two rows of cells, non-adjacent, of the body.
• each carriage comprises means for accommodating the grid or grids and these means consist of vertical pins on which the ends of said grids are threaded; said grids being locked on these pins by appropriate complementary means.
• the hopper grid consists of a pair of longitudinal members and several sleepers, some of which serve to assemble said longitudinal members, which cross members and longitudinal members determine the shape and the section of the passage openings.
• the longitudinal members of the grid each consist of a profile made of folded sheet metal with: - a horizontal upper surface, - an external stiffening edge arranged at right angles to said upper surface and - an internal surface which constitutes the wall of the upper part of each hopper, which wall comprises, at the level of each hopper, at least one lug which, when folded towards the inside of the profile, forms a kind of clip to allow the attachment of the various flexible blades, which flexible blades comprise, for their part, a fitting in the form of an oblong orifice along their length and they lock, at their upper end or heel, by locking in the fold to the square of the spar, between its upper surface and its outer edge.
• the cross members of the longitudinal members have a U-shaped cross-section and they accommodate the upper part of the flexible blades which are in the form of a tuning fork, which blades are assembled by wedging in said U at means of a wedge which is held by bolts interposed between the two.
• FIG. 2 shows a crisscross box
• - Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the installation, without the product handling head;
• - Figure 4 is a partial view of the installation, showing the transverse shift of the hopper grid for the introduction of a second batch of bottles in the second row of cells of the body;
• FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention for the packing of two simultaneous rows of products using several grids of hoppers and this for the case of boxes with a multitude of rows of cells;
• FIG. 6 is a section of the grid and in particular a cross section of Figure 3, according to 6-6;
• - Figure 7 is a section of the grid also and in particular a section of Figure 3, according to 7-7, at a spacer which serves to assemble two longitudinal members;
• - Figure 8 is a partial longitudinal section of the grid and in particular a section of Figure 7, according to 8-8;
• FIGS. 1 and 3 show the attachment of a flexible blade on a beam, by stapling and locking.
• the installation shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 3 makes it possible to package products (1) of the bottle type in crates (2) of the crossbar type (3), such as the box which is shown in FIG. the machine.
• the braces (3) delimit cells (4) in which the products (1) slide, which products are thus protected during the entire time of their transport.
• the box shown in FIG. 2 is a box of the "American box” type with flaps (5).
• This installation shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises a frame (6) on which are arranged: - the conveyor (7) which brings the finished products (1) to the position (11) of support, which products arrive in line; a second conveyor (7 '), whose role will be specified later, is shown in fine mixed lines next to the conveyor (7);
• the conveyor (8) which brings the one or more hollow boxes (2) to be filled to the packing station (12); - the handling head (13) which takes the products (1) to said management station (11) and transfers them to said station (12) casing;
• the guiding structure (14) which comprises hoppers (15), which hoppers interpose between said head (13) and the crates (2) to position the products (1) accurately in the appropriate row of cavities ( 4) said crates; means, in the form of an automaton, not shown, for controlling and coordinating all the movements of the constituent elements of said installation.
• the products (1) arrive, for example, directly from the filling and preparation unit, not shown; they are arranged in line on the sole (16) of the conveyor (7), guided between rails (17), and they advance in the position (11) of support until a stop (18) whose position is adjusted to center the batch of products to cash with respect to the packing station (12).
• the head (13) for handling the products (1) comprises a series of gripping members (19) of the gripper type or, as shown in the figures, of the cupping type, also called tulips.
• These gripping members (19) are arranged on a line and can, by means of appropriate tools (20), move away from one another to adjust the distance between two adjacent products (1), and adapt this distance to the schema of distribution, before introducing them into the cells (4) of the different boxes (2) at the level of the box (12).
• the head (13) is vertically movable, on the one hand, to release the products (1) of the position (11) of care and, secondly, to introduce them into the boxes (2) at the station (12). ) of packing. It moves transversely relative to the conveyor (7) and the conveyor (8) to transfer the products (1) between the two positions (11) and (12).
• a batch of products (1) is taken at the point of care (11); this batch is in the form of a row of products (1) and, in the example of Figure 3, this batch comprises three groups of products (1); each group comprises a number of products that corresponds to the number of cells (4) of each box (2) and the number of groups corresponds to the number of boxes to be filled, that is to say three boxes as shown in Figure 3.
• the number of operations to fill the boxes (2) corresponds to the number of rows of cells (4).
• the boxes (2) shown in the figures comprise three rows of cells (4) and are filled by the handling and transfer of three batches of products (1).
• the set of hoppers (15) forms, as can be seen in FIG. 3, a kind of grid (22) which extends in length on the conveyor (8).
• This grid (22) and the hoppers (15) will be detailed later in connection with FIGS. 6 to 9.
• hoppers (15) make it possible to channel products (1) and in particular they make it possible to effectively correct a relatively large difference between the actual position of said products (1) and their theoretical position which must be centered on the axis of the cell (4) home.
• the hoppers (15) being arranged on a single line, their input section is arranged to be the largest possible.
• This inlet section of the hoppers (15) is almost twice as large as the section of the cells (4) of each box (2), as shown further in Figure 6, in particular.
• the section of the inlet of the hoppers (15) is of rectangular shape. This shape is related to the shape of the host cell; it can be oval, or almost oval, for example.
• This inlet in the longitudinal direction of the grid (22), corresponds to that of the cells (4), but its dimension in the transverse direction is of the order of twice that of said cells.
• the inlet section of said hoppers located at the ends of said groups is even larger, of the order of three times the section of the cell (4).
• the gate (22) is part of the guiding structure (14) previously discussed.
• This structure (14) comprises a kind of cradle (23) which carries the grid (22); this cradle (23) is U-shaped with two arms (24) which extend above the conveyor (8).
• the cradle (23) is vertically movable, guided by slides (25) integral with the frame (6) and arranged laterally.
• a motor member (26), visible in FIG. 3, controls the vertical movement of the cradle (23) by means of endless chains (27) arranged laterally and of a drive shaft which is located in the upper part of the frame (6). ).
• the cradle (23) also has the particularity of being completely retracted to release access to the station (12) including packing.
• the cradle (23) On one side, visible in Figure 3, the cradle (23) is supported and articulated on a vertical axis (28) which is integral with the frame (6); on the other side, it is carried by a plate (29) integral with said frame (6), and on which it can be locked, which plate (29) is integral with the movable portion of the other slide (25).
• the vertical stroke of the cradle (23) is at least equal to a value which corresponds to the sum of the height of the flaps (5) of the body (2) if they exist, and the distance of depression of the hoppers (15). ) in the cells (4).
• the grid (22) is driven by the cradle (23) and it also moves transversely relative to the direction of movement of the boxes (2) to serve each row of cells (4) of said boxes (2).
• the arms (24) of the cradle (23) each comprise a carriage (30) for receiving the ends of the grid (22).
• These carriages (30), visible in FIG. 3, are guided to means of slides (31) and they are maneuvered by means of a member (32) motor through chains (33) endless.
• These endless chains (33) are each guided on a set of gears whose one wheel (34 ') is located at the end of each arm (24) and the other wheel (34) is at the level of from the bottom of the U; the two wheels (34) are driving, integral with the same shaft (35) which is connected to the member (32) motor, which shaft (35) extends between the arms (24), guided by them.
• the hoppers (15) are in the retracted position after having contributed to the positioning of the products (1) in the first row of cells (4) of the boxes (2); in Figure 4, these hoppers (15) are in active guiding position to channel each product (1) brought by the head (13) to its respective cell (4) of the second row.
• the filling can be performed more quickly by using several grids (22) which channel the products in rows of cells ( 4) non-adjacent.
• the installation comprises two grids (22) which are spaced apart and which each perform, successively, the filling of three rows of cells (4).
• the handling head (13) is equipped accordingly with a tool (20 ') which comprises several rows of tulips (19), as shown in FIG. 5, which tulips have a spacing which is transversely adjustable, in addition, to adapt their arrangement to the product distribution scheme (1) in the box or crates (2).
• the grid (22) consists of two longitudinal members (36) and several crosspieces (37, 38) which correspond, for example, to the delimitation of the groups of cells (4) of the different boxes (2). These sleepers (37, 38) are also used for assembling the two longitudinal members (36).
• the grid (22) is fixed to the carriages (30) by means of simple vertical pins (39) which are integral with said carriages and they are locked on said carriages (30) by appropriate means of the genus pins.
• This arrangement makes it possible to easily change the hopper model (15) in the case of flexible installations, capable of processing products (1) of different formats.
• the change of the grid (22) is greatly facilitated by the fact that its weight is reasonable and the possibility of retraction of the cradle (23) which allows to place said grids (22) ergonomically within range the operator or operators who even have handles to handle them.
• Figure 6 shows a cross section of the grid (22) at a hopper (15).
• the dimension of the opening of the inlet E of this hopper (15), in the transverse direction, is of the order of twice the dimension D of the cell (4) formed by the spider (3).
• the inlet of the hopper (15) is delimited by the two longitudinal members (36).
• These beams (36) are shaped in the form of U-section profiles from a folded sheet. Each profile comprises: - vertical outer edges (40) which give a certain inertia, - an upper horizontal surface (41) and an inclined internal wall (42), which forms the funnel and in particular one side of the upper part. of the hopper (15).
• the spacers (38) which form the upper wall of the hopper (15) are in the form of a vertically arranged plate; this plate is inserted into slots (44) in the walls (42) of the longitudinal members (36) and may extend to the edges (40) and serve for assembling said longitudinal members (36) by means of bolts, not shown, of the prison nut type.
• the lower part of the hopper (15) comprises guides in the form of flexible blades made of thermoplastic material. These guides consist of blades (45) which extend the walls (42) and blades (46) which extend the transverse walls formed of the spacers (37, 38). The blades (45) are in the form of flexible strips made of thermoplastic material and they are locked, as shown in Figure 9, on the longitudinal members (36).
• the lower edge of the wall (42) of the spar (36) comprises lugs (47) which, when folded on the inner surface of said wall (42), act as staples for the different blades ( 45).
• Each blade (45) has an orifice (48), of oblong shape, which makes it possible to re-thread on the corresponding pin (47) and the wedging of said blade (45) is achieved by placing its upper end in the formed internal angle by the border (40) and the upper surface (41) of the spar (35).
• an orifice (49) is provided in the upper surface (41) of the spar (35) to allow the passage of a tool to disengage the end of said blade (45). ) of the angle in which it is locked and to be able to extract it from the pin (47).
• the blades (46) extend the spacers (38) and they are fixed on the walls (42) of the longitudinal members or complementary guides, not shown, in the form of flares, installed in the corners of each hopper (15).
• the blades (46) are shaped, as shown in Figure 8, in the form of a tuning fork and they are immobilized by wedging.
• the cross member (37) has a U-shaped section returned; it accommodates the upper part of the fork-shaped blade (46), which blade is immobilized by a wedge (50) of trapezoidal section which is put in place and held by the bolts (51) which are arranged between the latter and said crossbar (37), FIG.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
• Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=38982635

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (21)

• 2007
  • 2007-06-15 FR FR0704246A patent/FR2917380B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2008
  • 2008-06-13 PT PT08826322T patent/PT2164757E/pt unknown
  • 2008-06-13 ES ES08826322T patent/ES2390525T3/es active Active
  • 2008-06-13 EP EP08826322A patent/EP2164757B1/fr not_active Not-in-force
  • 2008-06-13 JP JP2010511686A patent/JP2010529934A/ja active Pending
  • 2008-06-13 BR BRPI0813907A patent/BRPI0813907A8/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-06-13 WO PCT/FR2008/000816 patent/WO2009007546A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2008-06-13 CN CN2008801039162A patent/CN101801793B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-06-13 US US12/664,779 patent/US20100180544A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-06-13 MX MX2009013784A patent/MX2009013784A/es active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events