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
  • B65B39/02—Expansible or contractible nozzles, funnels, or guides
• • 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
  • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
  • B65B1/30—Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled
• • 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
  • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
  • B65B3/26—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
• • 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
  • B65B39/001—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves
• • 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
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention refers to a vertical packaging machine, with quick format change and its operating method.
• the invention refers to a vertical machine of the defined type as cartoning machines or case packers, wherein a die - cut product is formed into a box and wherein the vertical box is sustained by gripping means and filled on a carousel; the format (size) change of boxes packaged on the machine can be carried out rapidly, by adapting the packaging means to sizes of the box to be filled,
• Packaging machines, cartoning machines or case packers are known, presenting means for the adaptation to sizes of the box to be used for packaging.
• a folded carton is erected to form the box body that is retained by appropriate means movable along a path, usually a carousel, along which the box is closed on the bottom side, filled with the product and then closed on the upper side and sent to a line for further processing.
• the product is delivered by a specific machine, for example a dosing machine or a counting machine, usually placed over the packaging machine, through fixed hoppers, arranged along the box path.
• Box sizes could be various and, for this reason, known machines have means for changing the box format and treating different boxes.
• Object of the present invention is to solve afore discussed problems and to provide an automatic packaging machine allowing a rapid format change, that is a quick adaptation to boxes of different sizes, at the same time guaranteeing the quickness of packaging operations. Further object is to provide a vertical packaging machine for cartons or bags that allows also an easy control of number of pieces fed to the box or bag in addition to the format change.
• Such a machine has a supporting structure for means for carrying boxes or similar packages, one or more hoppers or others similar means for feeding product to the machine and at least one plurality of containers disposed between the hoppers and boxes (or other packages) to hold temporarily the product before its feeding to the boxes; these containers being realized with several portions in order to be able to change the dimensions of the output opening to adapt the latter to the input openings of the boxes, at least in one dimension, usually the width.
• the machine comprises two series of containers: a plurality of first containers to receive the product from dosing means and holding it temporarily and a plurality of second containers to transfer the product from the first containers to the boxes or other packages, also the second containers being composed of several portions and the position of said portions being changeable by said machine to change the width and depth of said containers as a function of the box width and depth.
• Machine containers comprise kinematic mechanisms to modif the reciprocal position of the portions of containers and then the dimensions thereof, or at least of their output opening; kinematic mechanisms are operated by the machine itself when a format change is necessary. More in particular the first containers, receiving the product from hoppers by means of dosing devices, are assembled on chains sliding along fixed guides, and at least two chains are movable in opposite directions to operate the kinematic mechanisms to change the container dimensions.
• a similar system for adjusting the distance between two elements is known for the distance adjustment between gripping fingers of boxes only,
• second containers they have kinematic mechanisms having, at their free end, rollers or similar engaging means, which are housed in corresponding guides present on the machine; such guides are movable in height and/ or depth, for example by warms or other actuators, so that to convey also the end of the kinematic mechanism by its motion and to operate consequently said kinematic mechanism, which in turn, moves the portions that form the container and changes the container dimensions.
• a guide and a corresponding kinematic mechanism are present to adjust the width of second containers and a further guide and kinematic mechanism to adjust the depth of second containers,
• the second containers are slidingly assembled on a base, usually a plate, so that to change the height of the container with respect to the supporting means of the box and the box they support; in particular, the second container is then vertically movable between a position in which it is adjacent to the first container to receive the dosed (and controlled) product therefrom and a position in which the output opening of the second container is adjacent and immediately over the input opening of the box to unload the product previously received from the first container therein.
• Second containers further comprise a protruding element that engages a fixed guide, said guide having a portion in which its height from the ground changes in order to carry out the container movement with respect to the base plate sustaining the container, as afore discussed, and to draw up the second container to the box below in the unloading step of product into the box.
• said gripping means of packages are assembled on said base plate, preferably slidingly, in order to treat different boxes.
• Said gripping means are integral with C-shaped elements that engage a flange - like guide assembled on the machine, said flange - like guide being movable and adjustable in height to adjust the distance between said gripping means of packages from the second container.
• the said second containers comprise at least two end elements of the kinematic mechanisms which are accommodated in two corresponding movable guides.
• four movable guides are present, three guides being adjustable vertically, in height with respect to the ground, and a guide being adjustable horizontally.
• Said horizontally adjustable guide houses the end of a horizontally translating element that bears a pusher so that to generate a surface with vertical dimension mechanically based on the box format height, this surface is intended to act as a resting wall for the box and a machine box ejector.
• the first containers follow a path different from the path of said second containers and the path of said second containers coincide with the path of said carrying and gripping means of packages.
• the containers provide a movable wall for closing the container, a lever assembled on the container to operate said wall and means assembled on the machine to operate said lever.
• Said means are flanges fixed or vertically movable, assembled on the machine.
• a further object of the invention is further a feeding container produced for a packaging machine, according to claim 10.
• the product dosed by known dosing means is fed to a plurality of first container; the dosed product in transferred by the first containers to a plurality of second containers having an output opening with dimensions and shape substantially corresponding to dimensions and shape of the input opening of packages; the product is transferred by said second containers to Said packages, the product being held temporarily in containers before being transferred from the first container to the second container and from the second container to the package (box).
• dimensions and shape of the second containers are adjusted acting on width and depth of said containers.
• the invention provides that the product amount accuracy in the first containers is checked before transferring said product into said second containers. In case of incorrect amount, the dosed product is unloaded in recycling means of the latter to dosing means.
• the invention presents a number of advantages relative to the known art
• the machine allows to check the correct product dosing before the product is fed to the box, said check being carried out in the first container. In this way the rejecting of packaged boxes is avoided and costs and process times are decreased.
• a further advantage is given by the possibility of packaging boxes having different dimensions in depth, or thickness; this becoming a manufacturing economy, that can change from a box to another almost without stopping the packaging process.
• Figure 1 is a plant view of a packaging machine according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a front section view of the machine of figure 1 ,
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first feeding container according to the present invention.
• Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the container of figure 3
• Figure 5 - 6 are exploded views of the container of figure 3
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of the path of the container of figure 3
• - Figure S is a perspective view of a second feeding container according to the present invention
• Figure 9 - 13 are exploded views of the container of figure 8,
• Figure 14 is a perspective view of the path of the container of figure 8
• Figure 15 is a side view of the path of figure 15, where some elements have been omitted
• Figure 16 is a detail of the path of figure 14, where ejecting means of packages from the relative path have been emphasized
• Figure 17 is a detail of the path of figure 14.
• the vertical packaging machine 31 for packages 16 such as boxes, bags and similar - hereinafter named as “boxes”, comprises a closed path 32 along which gripping means 33 are moving to grasp and carry said packages, means for feeding the product to the machine and means for directing a predetermined amount of product to the boxes 16.
• the packaging machine 31 further comprises a plurality of first feeding containers 1 of the product, closed at the bottom and disposed over the gripping means 33; the containers 1 are movable along one or more guides 34 to follow at least part of the path 32 of said gripping means 33 and boxes 16 present on said gripping means.
• the first feeding containers 1 are composed of several portions 5A, SB, 6A, 6B, 6C and the position of said portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 6C can be changed by the machine 31 in order to modify at least the width of said containers 1.
• the packaging machine 31 is provided with a second plurality of feeding containers 21 to transfer the product from said first plurality of containers 1 to the boxes 16, where the second feeding containers 21 are composed of several portions 17A, 17B, ISA, 1SB and the position of said portions 17A, 17B, ISA, 18B can be modified by the packaging machine 31 to change the width and the thickness, that is the depth, of said containers 21.
• FIG. 1 the paths of different movable elements composing the machine are emphasized, and in particular the closed path 32 of the gripping means 33 and the closed path 34 of the first feeding containers 1, Among the first feeding containers 1 and the boxes 16 " a second plurality of feeding containers 21 is disposed, as can be seen in figure 2, that follows an identical path (not shown in figures) upper than the path 32 of the gripping means 33, that is the containers 21 are always aligned over the gripping means 33.
• the first feeding containers 1 are carried along the closed path 34.
• the first feeding containers 1 receive the product from one or more counters 36.
• the counters dose the product inside the first containers 1 that are closed at the bottom and then holding the product itself.
• each counters 36 send the product through the feeding lines 37 to hoppers 38, visible in figure 2, that deliver by gravity the product inside the first feeding container 1 being underneath the hopper 38 at that moment.
• the first feeding containers 1 are provided with means for changing at least one dimension of their own section, as better explained below, in order to better adapt to the product amount to be contained, depending on the size of the boxes 16.
• the containers 1 have a shutter 9 that is usually closed and being opened as the product from the first containers has to be unloaded.
• the machine is provided with means known in themselves in the art, to adjust the speed of the closed path 32 before the curve 42 of the same path, so that to slow down the first feeding container 1 under the hopper 38 for the time necessary for the product delivery.
• the hopper 38 can be fixed or, preferably, is provided with a travel to follow the first feeding containers 1 for a short length, for example of about 300 - 400 mm, necessary to deliver the product inside said feeding container 1.
• the path 34 of the machine comprises the curve 40 at which the first feeding containers 1 pass over an unload station 39.
• the packaging machine 31 is provided with means for checking the correct product delivery operations, such as for example controlling the product dosing, by means of a control carried out by the same counters 36 or other appropriate sensors.
• the packaging machine 31 detects some errors, it is able to operate on means for opening the first feeding means, in the first embodiment having the shape of a shutter 9, to operate the bottom opening of the first feeding container 1 ⁇ according to procedures better explained hereinbelow, in order to evacuate the product into a unload station 39. In this way an incorrect delivery of the product to the corresponding package 16 is avoided.
• the unload station 3 is adapted to receive and contain the product and it is preferably composed of a hopper coupled to a container placed underneath the path of the first feeding containers 1 ,
• the unload station 39 is connected by a return line 43 to a counter (counting machine) 36, in order to return into circulation immediately the product unloaded by the first containers.
• the packaging machine 31 operates on the shutter 9, or equivalent opening means, and it delivers the product from first to second feeding containers 21.
• the second feeding containers 21 are aligned with gripping means 33 of boxes and they follow the same path.
• FIG. 2 reciprocal position of containers 1 and 21 is schematically shown on the left side, when the dosed product has to be transferred from the first to the second container; in the figure, shutter 9 of the container 1 is still closed, but the container 21 has already moved adjacent thereto with its own product input opening.
• the second feeding containers 21 too are closed at the bottom by means whose opening can be operated by the packaging machine 1.
• the means are shaped like a shutter 29, similar in shape and operation to shutter 9 of the first containers 1.
• the machine further comprises a box feeder to gripping means 33.
• the feeder provides transferring means 35 which take flat carton boxes from a store, erect them to form an open box and arrange them on gripping means 33.
• transferring means 35 and gripping means 33 are known in the art.
• the transferring means 35 are composed of a continuous vacuum manipulator, able to take up flat carton - like packages 16 from a store, not shown in figures, and to arrange them correctly in the gripping means 33.
• the gripping means 33 are composed by two clamp elements adapted to receive the open box.
• the clamps have a variable relative distance so that to adapt to different formats of boxes 16 the packaging machine is able to operate therewith.
• Other shapes of gripping 33 and transferring 35 means are possible, depending on type of treated packages 16, whether they are boxes, bags or similar.
• the boxes 16 are held by gripping means 33, and then they follow part of the path 32 of the same gripping means and the upper path of the second containers 21.
• gripping means 33 In the straight length of gripping means 33 comprised between the transferring means 35 and the curve 42, there are means (known in themselves) to implement the bottom closing of the boxes 16 by means of instruments known to one skilled of the art, such for example movable and/ or opposing arms with fixed parts and gluing stations.
• second feeding means 21 can be adjusted in height too, so that to come as closest as possible to the top edge of the boxes 16 when the product delivery to the latter has to happen.
• the product delivery from the second container 21 to the box below 16 starts in the area just in front of the curve 42 of the path of the gripping means 33.
• the position taken by the containers 1 and 21, when the product is unloaded from first to second containers is shown in the right side.
• the height of the second containers 21 from the ground changes between the path before the curve 42, shown on the right in figure, and where the delivery starts and the path after the first curve, shown on the left.
• Means for arranging the product in the boxes are provided at the curve 42, such as for example a vibrating plane schematized with a double line and indicated with the reference numeral 42A.
• Means for closing upper limbs of the box are disposed on the straight portion, including a gluing assembly.
• An operative station 41 is disposed along the path 32, where boxes are separated from gripping means 33 and sent to subsequent stations by means of carrying elements, in the shown embodiment composed of a conveyor belt 45.
• the packaging machine 31 is provided with sensors able to control the operations on packages 16 too. In case of processing error or absence of package 16, the corresponding second feeding container 21 does not cany out the product delivery, the product being held and reused in a successive cycle. Additional sensors are disposed upstream the reject station 44 where defective packages or packages that did not receive the product are collected, before they arrive at the station 41 and the conveyor belt 45.
• the first feeding container 1 has a generically parallelepiped shape, with a top opening 3 and a bottom opening 4.
• the top opening 3, preferably always open, is shaped like a hopper to aid the product input into the container and the bottom opening is closed by a shutter 9, More in detail, the first feeding container 1 comprises a duct - shaped structure, formed by several portions, five portions or elements 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 6C in the shown embodiment; where the elements 5A and 6A are U-shaped and the remaining three elements 5B, 6B, 6C have a flat shape.
• the flat element 5B is constrained to the U-shaped element 5A by known methods (riveting, welding, etc.) so that the assembly of the two element 5A and 5B forms a portion dedicated to the product passage through the first feeding container.
• said portion for the product passage is composed of faces 5.2A, 5.3A of the U-shaped element 5A and the fiat element 5B.
• the face 5.1 A is used to adjust the width of the first feeding container 1, as will be described hereinafter.
• Remaining U-shaped 6A and flat 6B and 6C elements form a second element specular to that one described above.
• the flat element 6C and the L-shaped element 6A are coupled so that to form an element specular to the element 5A and the flat element 6B acts as the flat element 5B.
• the element 6C is preferably made in transparent material in order to allow the product view in me container and it is constrained to the element 6A.
• the assembly of the elements 5 A and 6B is then slidingly coupled to the assembly of the elements 6 A, 6B, 6C so that to form a closed element adjustable in width.
• the flat element 6B can slide along the flat element 5B and the flat element 6C can slide along the face 5.3 A of the U-shaped element 5 A in the same manner, whereby the first feeding container has a generically rectangular section with an adjustable dimension, along the direction indicated by the arrow 10 in figure 3.
• the elements 5B and 6B are called flat, also if presenting flanges perpendicular to the main body to couple with corresponding U-shaped elements 5A and o ⁇ A s as can be seen in the exploded view in figure 5.
• the container 1 comprises a "duct” portion formed by the portions or elements 5 and 6 and a cage 7 (fig. 6) in which the "duct" 5-6 is slidingly assembled.
• the adjusting cage 7 is further provided with closing and opening means of the feeding container 1.
• closing and opening means of the feeding container 1 comprises a shutter 9 hinged to the adjusting cage 7 in order to rotate when it is necessary to open the container for the product unload.
• the shutter 9 is hooked to springs 11 that keep it in an usually closed position; the springs 1 1 are free to extend along the guides 12 obtained in the adjusting cage 7, during the opening of the shutter.
• the shutter 9 is integral with a leverage controlling the opening and closing thereof.
• the leverage comprises an adjusting roller 13 for example assembled by means of a bolt on a protrusion 20 integral with the control levers of the shutter 9 that extends in front of the face of the first feeding container 1 opposite to the chains 2.
• the machine is provided with means, described later, to ad ust the relative height of the roller 13 with respect to the adjusting cage 7.
• the shutter 9 closes the bottom opening 4 of the container 1; when the roller 13 is raised, the shutter 9 rotates and opens the bottom opening 4 of the container 1.
• the container 1 is assembled on chains 2 disposed at least on one level, with at least two chains per level and preferably at least three chains per level, in order to be conveyed along the path 34.
• the container 1 is assembled on two groups of three chain rows (fig. 3), each group comprising a conveying chain 2A, placed on top, and two adjusting chains 2B and 2C placed centrally and on bottom, respectively.
• FIG 3 the assembly of chains 2, 2' is shown, on which only a first feeding container 1 is assembled for facilitating the comprehension.
• the container is fixed to the chain 2A with constraining means 15 for coupling the chains with a first feeding container, not shown, side by side of the first feeding container 1 represented in figures.
• the conveying chain 2A is provided with plates that, through the respective opening 8a of the adjusting cage 7, couple rigidly with a horizontal element, not shown in figures, integral with the first feeding container 1.
• the adjusting chains 2B are provided with pins 16B adapted to be inserted into the opening 8B of the adjusting cage and to interlockingly couple with the face 5.1 A of the element 5A of the container 1.
• the width adjustment of the container 1 happens by changing the reciprocal position of the portions 5 and 6 inside the cage 7, that form the "duct" part of the container; this happens by sliding the chains 2B and 2C in opposite directions, each of them being fixed to different portions (5 or 6) of the container.
• FIG 7 the view of part of the machine controlling the handling of the container 1 along the path 34 is shown.
• an element 47 having guide hollows in which the chains are slidingly housed, in particular the chains 2A, 2B and 2C are represented.
• a motor known in the art and not object of the present invention, provides for the handing of the adjusting chains.
• This motor is coupled with the head 51 containing the device of relative displacement of the adjusting chains 2B and 2C with respect to the conveying chains 2A by means of a shaft composed of a prismatic couple 46 with a cardan joint on each end; in this way the swinging movement of such a shaft along the direction 50 is allowed, made by the reciprocating translation motion of the whole assembly that guides, conveys and adjusts the containers 1.
• This reciprocating translation motion allows the decoupling of the moving speeds of the chains 2A, 2B and 2C between the portion of path 34 preceding the curve 40 and the portion of path 34 following the curve 40, while guaranteeing the optimal tension of said chains 2A, 2B and 2C in every moment.
• the feed speed of the chains 2A, 2B and 2C is subjected to fluctuations, and in particular it is slowed down during the unloading steps of product from the hoppers 38 to the first feeding containers 1.
• the feed speed of chains 2A, 2B and 2C is constant, so that to maintain the speed of the first feeding containers 1 equal to the speed of the second feeding containers 21.
• the second container 21 in the shown embodiment comprises a "duct" structure formed by portions that slide one with respect to the other, assembled in a cage 27, in its turn assembled on conveying chains along the path. 32.
• the "duct” comprises two U-shaped portions 17A, 18A and two L-shaped portions 17B and 18B.
• the two elements 17A and 17B are slidingly constrained one to another so that to form a semi-portion of the second feeding container 21 shaped like a C with adjustable depth (or thickness).
• the portion 17B is provided with pins 19 that engage along the openings 22 obtained on sides of the portion 17A.
• the pins 19 are adapted to insert into guides 23 obtained on the cage 27. In this way the two portions 17A and 17B can slide one with respect to the other and at the same time they can slide with respect to the cage 27. Similar matter goes for the portions ISA and 18B, specular to just discussed portions 17A and 17B.
• the two C-shaped semi-portions whose the first is formed by the portions 17A and 17B and the second by the portions ISA and 18B, are joined in order to slide one with respect to the other.
• the portion 18A can slide with respect to portion 17A
• the portion 18B can slide with respect to the portion 17B to change the "duct" width in which the product is housed and to adjust dimensions and shape of unload opening of the container 21 according to the input opening of the box below.
• the section of the second feeding container having generically rectangular shape, can be adjusted in both dimensions, as shown by arrows 62 and 63 in figure 8.
• coupled portions 17 and 18 have been slidingly assembled on a base plate 51.
• the plate 51 is assembled fixed on conveying chains and it is assembled on the cage 27 with rails that allow the cage to slide vertically on the plate.
• the carrying plate 51 is made integral with two conveying chains (not shown) in the connection points 52.
• adjusting means 25A - 25D of the second feeding container 21 are now described.
• the adjusting roller 25A is made integral, in known ways, by means of screws, bolts or similar, to the adjusting cage 27 of the second feeding container 21.
• the packaging machine 31, as described later, can handle vertically an adjusting roller 25 A.
• the roller 25B is constrained to the carrying plate 51,
• the packaging machine 31 is further provided with means, as described later, adapted to handle vertically said roller 25B. Said handling of the height of the roller 25B acts on the depth of the second feeding container 21 through kinematic mechanisms (shown in schematic manner), or rather it allows the sliding of elements 17A and ISA with respect to elements 17B and 1 SB along the guide 22 and 23 in the direction of the arrow 62 in figure 8. The depth of the second feeding container 21 is then adjusted through the adjusting roller 25B based on the depth of the package 16.
• the adjusting rollers 25C are shown, preferably in pairs.
• the pairs of adjusting rollers 25C is movable in height under the action of the packaging machine 31, better described later. Because the operation of the two adjusting rollers 25C is specular, for easiness of discussion only one adjusting roller 25C is described.
• Said adjusting roller 25 C is integral with a lever 26 that has a fulcrum on the carrying plate 51.
• the width of the second feeding container 21 is then adjusted through the adjusting roller 25C based on the width of the package 16.
• the adjusting roller 25D and the adjusting elements 25E are shown.
• the adjusting roller 25D has a substantially vertical axis, contrary to the adjusting rollers 25A 25B and 25C that have a substantially horizontal axis. A better explained later, this allows the packaging machine 31 to displace the adjusting roller 25D horizontally.
• the adjusting roller 25D is integral with a rail 54, being able to slide perpendicularly with respect to the carrying plate 51, in the direction shown by the arrow 53, Through the adjusting roller 25D the adjustment of the back rest happens, based on the depth of the box format 16.
• the back rest tray acts also as an ejector thereby allowing the box to be pushed towards the operative station 41 or the reject station 44.
• This tray in order to operate correctly, provides for a rest affecting a great surface that changes with the format of the box 18 and placed on the box wall facing towards the inside of the carousel. Because of the great height variability of boxes IS, in the shown embodiment a swinging rest tray is selected, driven by a mechanical lever that takes motion from the element 25E, the latter moving vertically during height adjustment of the box format. In this way, as the box height increases, the tray 55 increases its tilt with respect to the horizontal lie it takes for the minimum format, thereby increasing with this movement the vertical extension of the rest surface of the box .
• the adjusting elements 25E are C-shaped and they are inserted into appropriate means of the packaging machine 31, better defined later, able to handle them vertically.
• the adjusting means 25 are integral with rails 30 that could slide in parallel, according to the direction indicated by the arrow 56, with the activating element 2S and the carrying plate 51.
• the height adjustment of the package 16 happens through the adjusting element 25E, so that to be able to position the second feeding container 21 just over the opening of the boxes 16, in order to optimi2e the product transfer thereon.
• the gripping means 33 that is the two clamp elements 33A and 33B, are fixed to rails 30.
• the rails 30 are arranged to be integral with the width changes of the second container 21.
• the L- shaped portion 17B of the second feeding container 21 is subjected to displacement with respect to the resh ed portion 18B, through the activating elements 28 driven by the previously described adjusting roller 25B, the same displacement is transferred in sequence to rails 30 and to clamp elements 33A and 33B of the gripping means 33.
• the packaging machine 31 has a fixed guide 57A, shaped like a C, defining a path for the adjusting roller 57A.
• the fixed guide 57A has a slope 57.1A coinciding with the approach of the second feeding container 21 towards the box 16 and the product unload therein.
• the path of the adjusting roller 25A is always the same in every operative cycle of the packaging machine 31.
• the packaging machine has the guides 57B and 57C, vertically movable and shaped tike a C, adapted to handle the adjusting rollers 25B and 25C, respectively.
• a motor assembly 59.1 A handles a group of warms 58. IA on which the guides 57B screw.
• a further motor assembly 59.2A handles a group of warms 58.2A on which the guide 57C screws.
• the packaging machine has the guide 57D, vertically movable and shaped like a U, adapted to handle the adjusting roller 25D.
• the guide 57D is formed by two connecting flexible elements 57. ID and 57.2D or, as shown in figures, conveniently shaped so that to slide one with respect to the other, adapted to guarantee the path continuity of the adjusting roller 57D for all possible dimensions of the guide 57D,
• the guide 57D is provided with ejecting means 60 and 61 (figure 16) of the boxes 16 from the path 34.
• the ejecting means 60 and 61 are shaped to intercept the path of the adjusting roller 57D, so that to handle the ejecting tray 55 towards the box 16 and to release the same box 16 from the gripping means 33.
• the ejecting means 60 and 61 are shaped like a lever, movable around the fulcra 60A and 61 A, respectively, and they are shown in their interference position with the path 32.
• Appropriate means, not shown, are adapted to handle the ejecting means 60 and 61, that is their rotation around the fulcra 60A and 61 A, respectively, so that to interfere with the path 32 of the adjusting rollers 25D or to avoid the passage thereof.
• the activation of the ejecting means 60 pushes the box 1 towards the reject station 44 whereas the activation of the ejecting means 61 pushes the box 16 towards the operative station 41.
• the packaging machine 31 has means adapted to handle vertically the slide flange 57E.
• said means are composed of the motor assembly 59B and are adapted to activate the group of warms 58B.
• the slide flange 57E acts also as slide plane that supports the boxes 16 at the bottom.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Quality & Reliability (AREA)
• Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
• Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

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• 2011
  • 2011-12-22 IT IT002359A patent/ITMI20112359A1/it unknown
• 2012
  • 2012-12-20 BR BR112014015379A patent/BR112014015379A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2012-12-20 PL PL12824707T patent/PL2794404T3/pl unknown
  • 2012-12-20 ES ES12824707.9T patent/ES2595429T3/es active Active
  • 2012-12-20 EP EP12824707.9A patent/EP2794404B1/en active Active
  • 2012-12-20 WO PCT/IB2012/002959 patent/WO2013093622A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-12-20 US US14/367,603 patent/US20140360136A1/en not_active Abandoned

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