WO2015193758A1 - An apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction - Google Patents

An apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015193758A1
WO2015193758A1 PCT/IB2015/054083 IB2015054083W WO2015193758A1 WO 2015193758 A1 WO2015193758 A1 WO 2015193758A1 IB 2015054083 W IB2015054083 W IB 2015054083W WO 2015193758 A1 WO2015193758 A1 WO 2015193758A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sliding
relative
rollers
bars
pathway
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2015/054083
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Giuseppe Monti
Original Assignee
Marchesini Group S.P.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Marchesini Group S.P.A. filed Critical Marchesini Group S.P.A.
Publication of WO2015193758A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015193758A1/en

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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
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/40—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers
    • 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
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/40—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers
    • B65B35/405—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers linked to endless conveyors
    • 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
    • B65B39/14—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers movable with a moving container or wrapper during filling or depositing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the technical sector concerning automatic packing of articles internally of relative containers.
  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction, which articles are to be displaced and pushed transversally to the advancement direction thereof, internally of relative containers which in turn are continuously advanced, by a flank of the articles.
  • the apparatus of the present invention can be for example applied in automatic machines for carrying out packing of blister packs internally of packs, where the packs are arranged on a conveyor which advances continuously, while the blister packs are in turn arranged on a relative conveyor which also advances continuously, flanked to the conveyor of the packs and activated in synchrony therewith, so that the blister packs are transported facing the packs, and are advanced with the same advancement velocity as the packs.
  • An apparatus of known type which is used to displace articles advancing continuously on a conveyor along an advancement direction, such as for example blister packs which are to be displaced and inserted in relative packs, comprises a loop-wound conveyor organ which is positioned by a flank of the conveyor of the articles, and pusher elements, specifically mounted on the conveyor organ for displacing and pushing the articles transversally of the advancement direction thereof and inserted into relative containers.
  • the pusher elements must be moved so that they can advance continuously and in synchrony with the articles and, at the same time, so that they can further be moved transversally to the advancement direction thereof in order to carry out the operations of displacement and insertion of the articles into the containers.
  • the loop-wound conveyor organ comprises a pair of chains, loop-wound about relative actuating crown wheels/cogwheels, and a series of rods or bars arranged and fixed transversally between the pair of chains: the loop-wound conveyor is predisposed such that the a relative straight conveying branch of the pair of chains (for example the upper branch or the lower branch) is at a level corresponding to the level of the conveyor of the articles.
  • each pusher element of the first pusher elements is borne by a relative carriage mounted translatably on one or a pair of the rods fixed to the pair of chains of the conveyor organ.
  • the pair of chains of the loop-wound conveyor organ are activated in synchrony with the conveyor of the articles such that when the pusher elements, follow the straight conveying branch of the pair of chains, they advance along an advancement direction parallel to the advancement direction of the articles, and with a velocity corresponding to the advancement velocity of the articles, so that each of them is opposite a relative article.
  • the movement means comprise rollers, which are mounted idle below the carriages bearing the pusher elements, and sliding pathways that are associated to the conveyor organ and which exhibit a shape such that the rollers can slide internally thereof.
  • the first movement means comprise at least a first sliding pathway and a second sliding pathway alternative to one another for the sliding of the rollers of the carriages.
  • the first sliding pathway is included and predisposed so that when it is travelled along by the rollers of the carriages, the pusher elements borne by the carriages are made inoperative, i.e. they are kept in a retracted position to the articles while they travel along the straight conveying branch.
  • the second sliding pathway is included and predisposed so that when it is travelled along by the rollers of the carriages, the pusher element borne by the carriages are made operative, i.e. they are pushed to transversally translate with respect to the advancement direction thereof along the straight conveying branch to push the articles into the containers.
  • the first sliding pathway is arranged, with respect to the chains of the conveyor organ, and exhibits an extension such that when the rollers of the carriages engage with the first sliding pathway, the carriages maintain a stationary position with respect to the relative rods during the activating of the chains, and are in a retracted position with respect to the articles which therefore are not pushed transversally.
  • This situation can arise when, for example, a container is missing on the container conveyor, and therefore the article which should have been inserted in the missing container must not be displaced towards the container conveyor; or, it can also arise in a case where an article is missing and there is therefore no need to displace the pusher element.
  • sensor organs are provided to detect the correct presence both of the articles and the containers on the relative conveyors.
  • the second sliding pathway is arranged with respect to the chains of the conveyor organ in such a way that it can be travelled along by the carriages only when the carriages travel along the straight conveying branch and exhibits a curved trajectory and extends in such a way that the carriages are forced:
  • the apparatus further comprises, immediately upstream of the straight conveying branch of the conveyor organ, a special switching device for abutting the rollers of the carriages which carry the pusher elements and switch the carriages so that they are deviated to following the second sliding pathway in consequence of the signals received by the sensor organs.
  • the carriages are predisposed such that the relative rollers follow the first sliding pathway, the switching device will be activated, time by time, in consequence of the signals received from the sensor organs of a correct presence and positioning of the articles and the containers, so as to switch the rollers of the carriages from the first sliding pathway towards the second sliding pathway, in such a way that the pusher elements can be made operative and pushed and translated towards the advanced operating position so as to displace and push the articles into the containers.
  • the switching device remains non-operative and the roller of the carriage bearing the pusher element which was destined to push the missing article or the article of a missing container continues its normal sliding along the first sliding pathway, keeping the carriage stationary on the relative rod and therefore the corresponding pusher element in the retracted position thereof.
  • this switching device is usually constituted by pneumatic means for moving an alternative piston which is commanded so as to abut the rollers of the carriages which bear the pusher elements.
  • the conveyors of the articles and the containers are activated with a very fast advancement velocity and therefore, correspondingly, the chains of the conveyor organ of the pusher elements must also be activated at high velocity so as to be able to guarantee the advancement synchrony between the pusher elements and the articles.
  • the frequency with which the alternative piston of the switching device must be made operative is very high and it is not always possible for the piston to be activated with a frequency such as to keep up with the advancement velocity of the conveyor organ and therefore it can occur that the deviating of the carriages towards the second sliding pathway does not happen in good time and there might be unsuccessful insertion of the articles into relative containers.
  • the aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction able to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
  • the aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus able to displace articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction for inserting them in containers, also continuously advancing, when both the articles and the relative containers are advancing at high advancing velocities.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above of the apparatus for moving articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction disclosed by the present invention, shown in a particular operating step; in this figure the advancement direction along which the articles continuously advance has been denoted in its entirety by reference letter A;
  • figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention in the operative configuration of figure 1 ;
  • figure 3 is a schematic view from above of the apparatus of the present invention, in a different operating configuration from the one shown in figure 1 ; in figure 3 too the advancement direction along which the articles continuously advance has been denoted in its entirety by reference letter A;
  • figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention in the operative configuration of figure 3;
  • - figure 5 in a schematic perspective view, illustrates some significant components of the apparatus of the invention, represented apart from the remaining parts of the apparatus for the sake of greater clarity and in a first possible operating configuration thereof corresponding to the situation illustrated in figures 1 and 2;
  • - figure 6 in a schematic perspective view, illustrates some significant components shown in figure 5 in a second possible operating configuration thereof corresponding to the situation illustrated in figures 3 and 4;
  • figure 5A is a frontal view of the components of the apparatus illustrated in figure 5, while figure 5B is a cross-section view along a transversal plane to the plane of figure 5A;
  • figure 6A is a frontal view of the components of the apparatus illustrated in figure 6, while figure 6B is a cross-section view along a transversal plane to the plane of figure 6A;
  • reference number (100) denotes the apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction (A) disclosed by the present invention, in its entirety.
  • the apparatus (100) is particularly suitable for use in the situations where it is necessary to perform insertion of articles (not illustrated in the accompanying figures) internally of relative containers (also not illustrated) when both the articles and the relative containers have been advanced continuously along relative conveyors flanked to one another and advancing in synchrony at a same advancement velocity.
  • the conveyors of the articles and the containers have not been illustrated as they are not pertinent to the characteristics of the apparatus (100) that is the object of the present invention, but the reference arrow denoted by the letter (A) is used to generically indicate the advancement direction along which the articles are continuously advanced, which articles must be displaced and pushed transversally to the advancement direction (A) thereof, into the containers, while they continuously advance along the advancement direction (A).
  • the apparatus (100) of the present invention can be particularly applicable and useful in automatic packing machines which are to carry out inserting of blister packs internally of relative packs, when the blister packs are arranged one following another on a relative conveyor and are advanced continuously along an advancement direction (A), while the packs in turn are arranged one following another on a relative conveyor and are advanced continuously along an advancement direction parallel to the advancement direction of the blister packs and in synchrony therewith, so that each pack is facing a relative product.
  • the apparatus (100) comprises a loop-wound conveyor organ (1) constituted by a pair of belts (12) wound on relative activating pulleys (121 ,122) in a winding pathway which comprises at least a straight conveying branch ( 0).
  • the conveyor organ (1) is arranged in such a way that the straight conveying branch (10) exhibits a conveying direction parallel to the advancement direction (A) of the articles and is activated continuously, and in synchrony, with the advancement velocity of the articles along the relative advancement direction (A).
  • the apparatus (100) To displace the articles transversally to the advancement direction thereof (A), the apparatus (100) comprises pusher elements (11) which are borne by relative carriages (14) which are mounted on relative support rods (13) that are transversally fixed to the pair of belts (12).
  • the pusher elements (11 ), when they follow the straight conveying branch (10), are advance along an advancement direction (V) parallel to the advancement direction (A) of the articles, and with a velocity corresponding to the advancement velocity of the articles, so that each of them is opposite a relative article.
  • the carriages (14) are further mounted and predisposed on the support rods (13) slidably so that the pusher elements (11) can be movable along the rods (13) and transversally to the advancement direction (V) and transversally to the straight conveying branch (10).
  • the apparatus (100) comprises appropriate movement means (3).
  • the movement means (3) comprise rollers (31) which are mounted idle below the carriages (14), and sliding guides (15, 16) which exhibit a shape such that the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) can slide internally thereof: the sliding guides (15, 16) comprising at least a first sliding pathway (15) and a second sliding pathway (16) alternative to one another for the sliding of the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) which must follow the straight conveying branch (10).
  • the first sliding pathway (15) is arranged with respect to the belts (12) of the first loop-wound conveyor organ (1) in such a way as to be followed by the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) at least when the first pusher elements (11) advance along the first straight conveying branch (10).
  • the first sliding pathway (15) exhibits an extension and profile such that when the rollers (31) follow the first sliding pathway (15) the carriages (14) are forced to maintain a stationary position on the respective support rods (13) so that the pusher elements (11) are maintained in a retracted position with respect to the articles advancing along the relative advancement direction (A) (see for example figures 3 and 4 which illustrate this situation, where the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) of the first five pusher elements (11), starting from left in the figure, which are following the straight conveying branch (10) of the conveyor organ (1), are in a retracted position and therefore inoperative, i.e. they cannot perform any displacement and pushing action of the relative articles, not illustrated, which therefore continue to advance undisturbed along the advancement direction (A) thereof)).
  • the second sliding pathway (16) is instead arranged with respect to the belts (12) of the conveyor organ (1) in such a way as to be followed by the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) at least when the first pusher elements (11) advance along the first straight conveying branch (10).
  • the apparatus (100) further comprises a switching device (5), arranged at a curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) of winding of the belts (12) about relative activating pulleys (121 ) arranged upstream of the straight conveying branch (10), and which is specially provided for abutting the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) which follow the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) and deviating the sliding thereof so that the rollers (31) can insert and slide either in the first sliding pathway ( 5) or in the second sliding pathway (16).
  • a switching device (5) arranged at a curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) of winding of the belts (12) about relative activating pulleys (121 ) arranged upstream of the straight conveying branch (10), and which is specially provided for abutting the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) which follow the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) and deviating the sliding thereof so that the rollers (31) can insert and slide either in the first sliding pathway ( 5) or in the second sliding pathway
  • the apparatus (100), through the switching device (5), can deviate the rollers (31) and therefore the carriages (14), with the relative pusher elements (1 1), so that they insert and slide either in the first sliding pathway (15) (the pusher elements (1 1) non-operative as they are maintained in the retracted position thereof) or in the second sliding pathway (16) (the pusher elements (1 1) operative, as they are pushed transversally of the advancement direction thereof towards the advanced position thereof).
  • the switching device (5) comprises at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers (31) of the carriages (14), and at least a support element (52) for supporting the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers.
  • the abutting element (50) comprises at least a wall (51 ) for abutting with a corresponding roller (31) of a carriage (14) which is following the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1).
  • the abutting element (50) can exhibit a U-shape with a base and two lateral walls (51) distanced from one another so that a relative roller (31) can be accommodated between them.
  • the at least a support element (52) is mounted and predisposed in such a way as to be connected to the activating pulleys (121) of the belts (12) of the conveyor organ (1) which are arranged upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) in such a way as to rotate with the rotation of the activating pulleys (121) about the rotation axis of the pulleys (121) (for example, as can be seen in figures 5B and 6B, the support element (52) is predisposed and mounted, by means of relative bearings, so as to be connected to the connecting shaft between the activating pulleys (121) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) of the conveyor organ (1)).
  • the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers is mounted and borne by the at least a support element (52) in such a way as to be rotatable together therewith so as to abut, with the at least a wall (51), a corresponding roller (31) of a carriage (14) of a pusher element (11) which is following the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10), (see for example figures 2 and 4 where the rollers (31) of carriages (41) of pusher elements (11) are following the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) and which are between the walls of the abutting element (50)).
  • the abutting element (50) is mounted with respect to the at least a support element (52) so as to be able to assume, with respect to the support element (52), two extreme positions: a first retracted position (AR) (illustrated in figures 4, 6, 6A.6B) and a second advanced position (AV) (illustrated instead in figures 2, 5, 5A,5B).
  • AR first retracted position
  • AV second advanced position
  • the abutting wall (51) of the roller is aligned to the initial part of the first sliding pathway (15) of the sliding guides (15,16) associated to the straight conveying branch (10) of the conveyor organ (1) in such a way that the roller (31) of the carriage of the pusher element (11) abutted thereby is accompanied to insert in the first sliding pathway (15).
  • the switching device (5) of the apparatus (100) disclosed by the invention further comprises switching means (7) for switching the position of the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers from the first retracted position (AR) to the second advanced position (AV).
  • the apparatus (100) disclosed by the invention obviates the drawbacks of the prior art and enables carrying out the inserting of the rollers internal of the first and second sliding pathway at a high velocity and frequency, corresponding to the activating velocity of the conveyor organ.
  • the switching means (7) comprise (see in detail figures 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 6A, 6B):
  • first sliding element (71) mounted on an upper wall of the bar (70) and a second sliding element (72) which is instead mounted on a lower wall of the said bar (70),
  • first guide cam (73) and the second guide cam (74) are predisposed in such a way as to be positioned about at least the bar (70), on which the relative first sliding element (71) is present (see in particular figure 5 and figure 6).
  • the first guide cam (73) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that when the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) slides internally thereof, the abutting element (50) of the rollers remains positioned in the first retracted position (AR), with the relative abutting wall (51) being aligned to the initial part of the first sliding pathway (15) (this situation is illustrated in figure 6, and in figures 6A and 6B).
  • the first guide cam (74) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that when the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) slides internally thereof, the abutting element (50) of the rollers remains positioned in the second retracted position (AV), with the relative abutting wall (51) being aligned to the initial part of the first sliding pathway (16) (this situation is illustrated in figure 5, and in figures 5A and 5B).
  • an exchange zone (S) is included, in which the first guide cam (73) and the second guide cam (74) are interrupted in order to enable passage of the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) from the first guide cam (73) to the second guide cam (74), and the switching means (7) comprise an exchange element (8) predisposed at the exchange zone (S) and having a first channel (81 ) and a second channel (82) alternative to one another for the sliding of the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) when the rotation of the support element (52) along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) brings the bar (70) to transit thereat.
  • the first channel (81 ) of the exchange element (8) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that, when the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) follows the first channel (81 ), the bar (70), during the rotation thereof, is maintained stationary with respect to the support element (52) and the relative first sliding element (71) maintains the alignment thereof with the first guide cam (73) and can continue the sliding in the first guide cam (73) in such a way that the abutting element (50) of the roller remains in the retracted position (AR) thereof with the relative abutting wall (51) aligned at the start of the first sliding pathway (15) of the sliding guides (15,16) so that the relative roller (31) abutted thereby, following the rotation thereof along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1), can insert, and therefore subsequently slide, in the first sliding pathway (15) (this situation is visible in figure 4).
  • the second channel (82) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that when the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) follows the second channel (82), the bar (70) is forced to translate with respect to the support element (52) in such a way that the relative first sliding element (71) aligns with the second guide cam (74) and inserts in the second guide cam (74) so that the relative abutting element (50) translates from the relative first retracted position (AR) to the second relative second advanced position (AV), with the relative abutting wall (51) aligning with the start of the second sliding pathway (16) of the sliding guides (15,16), displacing the roller (31) of the carriage (14) abutted precedingly at the start of the second sliding pathway (16) for subsequent sliding of the roller in the second sliding pathway (16) (situation visible in figure 2).
  • the apparatus (100) is predisposed in such a way as to comprise a series of abutting elements (50, 50') of the rollers mounted on a relative series of bars (70,70') which are predisposed on corresponding support elements (52,52') which are mounted reciprocally angularly equidistanced so as to be connected in rotation with the activating pulleys (121) of the belts (12), upstream of the straight conveying branch (10).
  • six bars can be provided which are mounted on relative six support elements bearing relative six abutting elements, the support elements being angularly mounted offset from one another by 60°.
  • the bars (70,70') include, in the lower wall thereof, and alternatedly, relative second sliding elements (72,72') positioned in two distinct positions, staggered to one another, in such a way as to identify a first group of bars (70) and a second group of bars (70') which groups of bars (70') are alternated.
  • the bars (70) of the first group of bars (70) have, on the relative lower walls, relative second sliding elements (72) all positioned in a same corresponding position with respect to the bars (70), and the bars (70') of the second group of bars (70') have, on the relative lower walls thereof, relative second sliding elements (72') all positioned in a same corresponding position with respect to the bars (70') but staggered with respect to the position of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70)
  • the apparatus (100) comprises at least a second exchange element (85) with a relative first channel (86) and a relative second channel (87) situated by a flank of the first exchange element (8).
  • the first exchange element (8) and the second exchange element (85) are reciprocally positioned in such a way that the first channel (81) and the second channel (82) of the first exchange element (8) can be involved by the alternative sliding of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) (in the above-cited example of a bar of the first group of three bars) while the first channel (86) and the second channel (87) of the second exchange element (85) can be involved by alternative sliding of the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70') (in the above-cited example of a bar of the second group of three bars).
  • the first switching element (9) is predisposed to abut and deviate in turn the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) so that they can insert and slide either in the first channel (81) or in the second channel (82) of the first exchange element (8).
  • the first switching element (9) and the second switching element (91) are reciprocally alternatively activatable following the alternated transit of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) and the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70') along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10).
  • the conveyor organ (1) can be activated also at even faster velocities, as at least two distinct switcher elements are usable, activatable alternatively to one another so as to deviate the second sliding elements present in the two alternate bar groups, i.e.
  • two distinct switcher elements are present, activatable alternatively with one another so as to sub-divide the switching action and the switching of the position of the rollers of the carriages which follow the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch ( 0).
  • the first switching element (9) can be constituted by an actuator organ, such as for example a pneumatic actuator
  • the second switching element (91) can also be constituted by an actuator organ, for example a pneumatic actuator, both actuator organs being activatable alternatively so as to alternatively abut the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) or the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70').
  • the above-mentioned second guide cam (74) has an extension such that after the above-mentioned passage zone (S), it connects with the first guide cam (73) so that the abutting element (50) of the rollers, once the relative support element has completed a full revolution about the rotation axis thereof (which coincides with the rotation axis of the activating pulley) is in the relative retracted position when it begins to follow the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) so as to be able to abut a relative roller of a corresponding carriage which is following the curved portion.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)

Abstract

The apparatus (100) for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction (A) comprises a conveyor organ (1) and a pusher element (11), mounted on carriages predisposed slidably on support rods fixed transversally to the belts of the conveyor organ (1), so as to displace the articles transversally to the advancement direction thereof. The apparatus comprises rollers (31) idle below carriages (14), a first sliding pathway (15) and a second sliding pathway (16) alternative to one another for the sliding of the rollers (31) having a shape such that when the rollers (31) follow the first sliding pathway (16) the carriages (14) maintain a stationary position on the support rods (13) and when the rollers (31) follow the second sliding pathway (16) the carriages (14) are forced to translate along the support rods (13), so that the pusher elements (11) are forced to translate transversally so as to displace and push the articles transversally. A switching device (5) is arranged so as to be able to abut the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) and deviate the sliding thereof so that the rollers (31) can insert and slide either in the first sliding pathway (15) or in the second sliding pathway (16).

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR DISPLACING ARTICLES ADVANCING CONTINUOUSLY ALONG AN ADVANCEMENT DIRECTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the technical sector concerning automatic packing of articles internally of relative containers.
In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction, which articles are to be displaced and pushed transversally to the advancement direction thereof, internally of relative containers which in turn are continuously advanced, by a flank of the articles.
In this situation, the problem to be overcome is how to carry out the transversal displacement of the articles so as to push them internally of the relative containers while both the articles and the containers are advancing continuously, transported by the relative conveyors. The apparatus of the present invention can be for example applied in automatic machines for carrying out packing of blister packs internally of packs, where the packs are arranged on a conveyor which advances continuously, while the blister packs are in turn arranged on a relative conveyor which also advances continuously, flanked to the conveyor of the packs and activated in synchrony therewith, so that the blister packs are transported facing the packs, and are advanced with the same advancement velocity as the packs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
An apparatus of known type which is used to displace articles advancing continuously on a conveyor along an advancement direction, such as for example blister packs which are to be displaced and inserted in relative packs, comprises a loop-wound conveyor organ which is positioned by a flank of the conveyor of the articles, and pusher elements, specifically mounted on the conveyor organ for displacing and pushing the articles transversally of the advancement direction thereof and inserted into relative containers. In particular, the pusher elements must be moved so that they can advance continuously and in synchrony with the articles and, at the same time, so that they can further be moved transversally to the advancement direction thereof in order to carry out the operations of displacement and insertion of the articles into the containers.
In this regard, the loop-wound conveyor organ comprises a pair of chains, loop-wound about relative actuating crown wheels/cogwheels, and a series of rods or bars arranged and fixed transversally between the pair of chains: the loop-wound conveyor is predisposed such that the a relative straight conveying branch of the pair of chains (for example the upper branch or the lower branch) is at a level corresponding to the level of the conveyor of the articles.
In particular, with the apparatus each pusher element of the first pusher elements is borne by a relative carriage mounted translatably on one or a pair of the rods fixed to the pair of chains of the conveyor organ.
The pair of chains of the loop-wound conveyor organ are activated in synchrony with the conveyor of the articles such that when the pusher elements, follow the straight conveying branch of the pair of chains, they advance along an advancement direction parallel to the advancement direction of the articles, and with a velocity corresponding to the advancement velocity of the articles, so that each of them is opposite a relative article.
The apparatus further comprises movement means predisposed to be able to move the pusher elements when they advance along the straight conveying branch transversally to the advancement direction thereof, towards the conveyor of the articles and towards the conveyor of the containers so that the pusher elements can abut and then push the articles to displace them transversally from the conveyor thereof into the containers, while they advance continuously.
The movement means comprise rollers, which are mounted idle below the carriages bearing the pusher elements, and sliding pathways that are associated to the conveyor organ and which exhibit a shape such that the rollers can slide internally thereof.
In particular, the first movement means comprise at least a first sliding pathway and a second sliding pathway alternative to one another for the sliding of the rollers of the carriages. The first sliding pathway is included and predisposed so that when it is travelled along by the rollers of the carriages, the pusher elements borne by the carriages are made inoperative, i.e. they are kept in a retracted position to the articles while they travel along the straight conveying branch.
Differently, the second sliding pathway is included and predisposed so that when it is travelled along by the rollers of the carriages, the pusher element borne by the carriages are made operative, i.e. they are pushed to transversally translate with respect to the advancement direction thereof along the straight conveying branch to push the articles into the containers.
In particular, the first sliding pathway is arranged, with respect to the chains of the conveyor organ, and exhibits an extension such that when the rollers of the carriages engage with the first sliding pathway, the carriages maintain a stationary position with respect to the relative rods during the activating of the chains, and are in a retracted position with respect to the articles which therefore are not pushed transversally. This situation can arise when, for example, a container is missing on the container conveyor, and therefore the article which should have been inserted in the missing container must not be displaced towards the container conveyor; or, it can also arise in a case where an article is missing and there is therefore no need to displace the pusher element. In this regard, sensor organs are provided to detect the correct presence both of the articles and the containers on the relative conveyors.
The second sliding pathway, on the other hand, is arranged with respect to the chains of the conveyor organ in such a way that it can be travelled along by the carriages only when the carriages travel along the straight conveying branch and exhibits a curved trajectory and extends in such a way that the carriages are forced:
- first to carry out a first translation along the rods, transversally of the conveyor, towards the conveyors of the articles and the containers, so that the pusher elements and the relative elements pushed thereby are translated transversally above the conveyor the products up to reaching an extreme advanced position at which they are inserted in the packs, at the same time maintaining the synchrony of advancement with the conveyors, so as to push the products transversally to the advancement direction thereof and introduce them into the packs, - and then to perform a second translation in an opposite direction, distancing from the conveyors of the packs and the articles so as to be repositioned in the above-mentioned inoperative retracted position.
The apparatus further comprises, immediately upstream of the straight conveying branch of the conveyor organ, a special switching device for abutting the rollers of the carriages which carry the pusher elements and switch the carriages so that they are deviated to following the second sliding pathway in consequence of the signals received by the sensor organs.
As a starting ("default") situation, the carriages are predisposed such that the relative rollers follow the first sliding pathway, the switching device will be activated, time by time, in consequence of the signals received from the sensor organs of a correct presence and positioning of the articles and the containers, so as to switch the rollers of the carriages from the first sliding pathway towards the second sliding pathway, in such a way that the pusher elements can be made operative and pushed and translated towards the advanced operating position so as to displace and push the articles into the containers.
In a case in which, on the other hand, the sensor organs detect a positioning defect, either due to an absence of the article or the container, the switching device remains non-operative and the roller of the carriage bearing the pusher element which was destined to push the missing article or the article of a missing container continues its normal sliding along the first sliding pathway, keeping the carriage stationary on the relative rod and therefore the corresponding pusher element in the retracted position thereof.
In the prior art apparatus, this switching device is usually constituted by pneumatic means for moving an alternative piston which is commanded so as to abut the rollers of the carriages which bear the pusher elements.
The alternative piston is positioned in a zone situated at a curved portion of the chains of the conveyor organ, which wind about the cogged crown wheels for activating upstream of the straight conveying branch situated by the flank of the conveyor of the articles and in a position such that when activated it can abut and deviate, as needed according to the signals received from the sensor organs, the rollers of the carriages of the pusher elements which are following this curved portion and push them so that they are forced to deviate the sliding thereof from the sliding pathway of the second sliding pathway instead of continuing the sliding thereof along the first sliding pathway. An apparatus of the above type has certain drawbacks.
The conveyors of the articles and the containers are activated with a very fast advancement velocity and therefore, correspondingly, the chains of the conveyor organ of the pusher elements must also be activated at high velocity so as to be able to guarantee the advancement synchrony between the pusher elements and the articles.
Consequently, the frequency with which the alternative piston of the switching device must be made operative is very high and it is not always possible for the piston to be activated with a frequency such as to keep up with the advancement velocity of the conveyor organ and therefore it can occur that the deviating of the carriages towards the second sliding pathway does not happen in good time and there might be unsuccessful insertion of the articles into relative containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction able to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus able to displace articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction for inserting them in containers, also continuously advancing, when both the articles and the relative containers are advancing at high advancing velocities.
The stated aims are obtained with an apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction, according to what is set out in claim 1.
Other advantageous characteristics of the apparatus disclosed by the present invention are set out in the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The characteristics of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement directly disclosed by the present invention, are described in the following with reference to the accompanying tables of drawings, in which:
- figure 1 is a schematic view from above of the apparatus for moving articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction disclosed by the present invention, shown in a particular operating step; in this figure the advancement direction along which the articles continuously advance has been denoted in its entirety by reference letter A;
- figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention in the operative configuration of figure 1 ;
- figure 3 is a schematic view from above of the apparatus of the present invention, in a different operating configuration from the one shown in figure 1 ; in figure 3 too the advancement direction along which the articles continuously advance has been denoted in its entirety by reference letter A;
- figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention in the operative configuration of figure 3;
- figure 5, in a schematic perspective view, illustrates some significant components of the apparatus of the invention, represented apart from the remaining parts of the apparatus for the sake of greater clarity and in a first possible operating configuration thereof corresponding to the situation illustrated in figures 1 and 2; - figure 6, in a schematic perspective view, illustrates some significant components shown in figure 5 in a second possible operating configuration thereof corresponding to the situation illustrated in figures 3 and 4;
- figure 5A is a frontal view of the components of the apparatus illustrated in figure 5, while figure 5B is a cross-section view along a transversal plane to the plane of figure 5A;
- figure 6A is a frontal view of the components of the apparatus illustrated in figure 6, while figure 6B is a cross-section view along a transversal plane to the plane of figure 6A;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings, reference number (100) denotes the apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction (A) disclosed by the present invention, in its entirety.
The apparatus (100) is particularly suitable for use in the situations where it is necessary to perform insertion of articles (not illustrated in the accompanying figures) internally of relative containers (also not illustrated) when both the articles and the relative containers have been advanced continuously along relative conveyors flanked to one another and advancing in synchrony at a same advancement velocity.
In the figure of the drawings, the conveyors of the articles and the containers have not been illustrated as they are not pertinent to the characteristics of the apparatus (100) that is the object of the present invention, but the reference arrow denoted by the letter (A) is used to generically indicate the advancement direction along which the articles are continuously advanced, which articles must be displaced and pushed transversally to the advancement direction (A) thereof, into the containers, while they continuously advance along the advancement direction (A).
For example, the apparatus (100) of the present invention can be particularly applicable and useful in automatic packing machines which are to carry out inserting of blister packs internally of relative packs, when the blister packs are arranged one following another on a relative conveyor and are advanced continuously along an advancement direction (A), while the packs in turn are arranged one following another on a relative conveyor and are advanced continuously along an advancement direction parallel to the advancement direction of the blister packs and in synchrony therewith, so that each pack is facing a relative product.
In the figures of the drawings, as mentioned above, the conveyors of the articles and the containers have not been illustrated, but the reference arrow denoted by the letter (A) is used to generically indicate the advancement direction along which the blister packs are continuously advanced.
The apparatus (100) comprises a loop-wound conveyor organ (1) constituted by a pair of belts (12) wound on relative activating pulleys (121 ,122) in a winding pathway which comprises at least a straight conveying branch ( 0).
The conveyor organ (1) is arranged in such a way that the straight conveying branch (10) exhibits a conveying direction parallel to the advancement direction (A) of the articles and is activated continuously, and in synchrony, with the advancement velocity of the articles along the relative advancement direction (A).
To displace the articles transversally to the advancement direction thereof (A), the apparatus (100) comprises pusher elements (11) which are borne by relative carriages (14) which are mounted on relative support rods (13) that are transversally fixed to the pair of belts (12).
In this way, the pusher elements (11 ), when they follow the straight conveying branch (10), are advance along an advancement direction (V) parallel to the advancement direction (A) of the articles, and with a velocity corresponding to the advancement velocity of the articles, so that each of them is opposite a relative article.
The carriages (14) are further mounted and predisposed on the support rods (13) slidably so that the pusher elements (11) can be movable along the rods (13) and transversally to the advancement direction (V) and transversally to the straight conveying branch (10).
With the aim of activating the translation of the carriages (14) along the relative support rods (13), and therefore of moving the pusher elements (11) transversally to the advancement direction (V) thereof, when the pusher elements (11) follow the straight conveying branch (10), the apparatus (100) comprises appropriate movement means (3).
The movement means (3) comprise rollers (31) which are mounted idle below the carriages (14), and sliding guides (15, 16) which exhibit a shape such that the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) can slide internally thereof: the sliding guides (15, 16) comprising at least a first sliding pathway (15) and a second sliding pathway (16) alternative to one another for the sliding of the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) which must follow the straight conveying branch (10).
In particular, the first sliding pathway (15) is arranged with respect to the belts (12) of the first loop-wound conveyor organ (1) in such a way as to be followed by the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) at least when the first pusher elements (11) advance along the first straight conveying branch (10).
Further, the first sliding pathway (15) exhibits an extension and profile such that when the rollers (31) follow the first sliding pathway (15) the carriages (14) are forced to maintain a stationary position on the respective support rods (13) so that the pusher elements (11) are maintained in a retracted position with respect to the articles advancing along the relative advancement direction (A) (see for example figures 3 and 4 which illustrate this situation, where the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) of the first five pusher elements (11), starting from left in the figure, which are following the straight conveying branch (10) of the conveyor organ (1), are in a retracted position and therefore inoperative, i.e. they cannot perform any displacement and pushing action of the relative articles, not illustrated, which therefore continue to advance undisturbed along the advancement direction (A) thereof)).
The second sliding pathway (16) is instead arranged with respect to the belts (12) of the conveyor organ (1) in such a way as to be followed by the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) at least when the first pusher elements (11) advance along the first straight conveying branch (10).
It exhibits a progression and profile such that when the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) follow the second sliding pathway (16), the carriages (14) are forced:
- first to translate along the respective support elements (13), transversally to the belts (12) so that the second pusher elements (11) during the advancement thereof along the first portion of the straight conveyor branch (10) are forced to translate transversally to the advancement direction (V) and transversally to the straight conveying branch (10) from the retracted position to an advanced position thereof so that they can abut the blister packs (B) and push the articles up to introducing them into the containers,
- and, subsequently, forced to perform an inverse translation on the respective support elements (13), during the advancement thereof along the second straight conveying branch (10), so that the relative pusher elements (11) are forced to translate in an opposite direction from the advanced position to the initial retracted position.
See for example the situation illustrated in figures 1 and 2, where the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) of the pusher elements (11) advancing along the straight conveying branch (10) are travelling long the second sliding pathway (16), and the first four pusher elements (11), starting from left in the figure, are progressively pushed towards the advanced position thereof, the fifth pusher element is in the relative advanced position, while the sixth and seventh pusher element are illustrated while they are returning into the initial retracted position thereof, once the transversal displacement of the relative articles has been completed. The apparatus (100) further comprises a switching device (5), arranged at a curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) of winding of the belts (12) about relative activating pulleys (121 ) arranged upstream of the straight conveying branch (10), and which is specially provided for abutting the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) which follow the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) and deviating the sliding thereof so that the rollers (31) can insert and slide either in the first sliding pathway ( 5) or in the second sliding pathway (16).
In this way, according to the presence or not of articles and containers, the apparatus (100), through the switching device (5), can deviate the rollers (31) and therefore the carriages (14), with the relative pusher elements (1 1), so that they insert and slide either in the first sliding pathway (15) (the pusher elements (1 1) non-operative as they are maintained in the retracted position thereof) or in the second sliding pathway (16) (the pusher elements (1 1) operative, as they are pushed transversally of the advancement direction thereof towards the advanced position thereof).
The special characteristics of the apparatus (100) of the present invention consist in the fact that the switching device (5) comprises at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers (31) of the carriages (14), and at least a support element (52) for supporting the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers.
The abutting element (50) comprises at least a wall (51 ) for abutting with a corresponding roller (31) of a carriage (14) which is following the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1). For example, the abutting element (50) can exhibit a U-shape with a base and two lateral walls (51) distanced from one another so that a relative roller (31) can be accommodated between them.
The at least a support element (52) is mounted and predisposed in such a way as to be connected to the activating pulleys (121) of the belts (12) of the conveyor organ (1) which are arranged upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) in such a way as to rotate with the rotation of the activating pulleys (121) about the rotation axis of the pulleys (121) (for example, as can be seen in figures 5B and 6B, the support element (52) is predisposed and mounted, by means of relative bearings, so as to be connected to the connecting shaft between the activating pulleys (121) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) of the conveyor organ (1)). In particular the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers is mounted and borne by the at least a support element (52) in such a way as to be rotatable together therewith so as to abut, with the at least a wall (51), a corresponding roller (31) of a carriage (14) of a pusher element (11) which is following the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10), (see for example figures 2 and 4 where the rollers (31) of carriages (41) of pusher elements (11) are following the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) and which are between the walls of the abutting element (50)). In greater detail, in a special characteristics of the apparatus (100) of the invention, the abutting element (50) is mounted with respect to the at least a support element (52) so as to be able to assume, with respect to the support element (52), two extreme positions: a first retracted position (AR) (illustrated in figures 4, 6, 6A.6B) and a second advanced position (AV) (illustrated instead in figures 2, 5, 5A,5B).
In particular, when the abutting element (50) is in the first retracted position (AR) in which it continues to rotate together with the support element (52), the abutting wall (51) of the roller is aligned to the initial part of the first sliding pathway (15) of the sliding guides (15,16) associated to the straight conveying branch (10) of the conveyor organ (1) in such a way that the roller (31) of the carriage of the pusher element (11) abutted thereby is accompanied to insert in the first sliding pathway (15).
At the same time, when the abutting element (50) is in the A second advanced position (AV) thereof, it continues to rotate together with the support element (52) and the relative abutting wall (51) of the roller is aligned to the start of the second sliding pathway (16) of the sliding guides (15,16) in such a way that the roller (31) of the carriage (14) of the pusher element (11) abutted thereby is accompanied to insert in the second sliding pathway (16).
The switching device (5) of the apparatus (100) disclosed by the invention further comprises switching means (7) for switching the position of the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers from the first retracted position (AR) to the second advanced position (AV).
In this way, having predisposed the abutting element (50) of the rollers, which is included for taking the rollers (31) or to the first sliding pathway (15) or the second sliding pathway (16), directly on a support element (52) which rotates together with the activating pulleys (121) of the conveyor element (1), the apparatus (100) disclosed by the invention obviates the drawbacks of the prior art and enables carrying out the inserting of the rollers internal of the first and second sliding pathway at a high velocity and frequency, corresponding to the activating velocity of the conveyor organ.
Other advantageous characteristics of the apparatus (100) of the invention are set out in the following.
The switching means (7) comprise (see in detail figures 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 6A, 6B):
- at least a bar (70), which bears the at least an abutment element (50) of the rollers and which is mounted on the at least a support element (52) in such a way as to be able to translate with respect thereto in a parallel direction to the rotation axis of the activating pulleys (121),
- a first sliding element (71) mounted on an upper wall of the bar (70) and a second sliding element (72) which is instead mounted on a lower wall of the said bar (70),
a first fixed circular guide cam (73) and a second fixed circular guide cam (74), alternative to one another for the sliding of the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70); the first guide cam (73) and the second guide cam (74) are predisposed in such a way as to be positioned about at least the bar (70), on which the relative first sliding element (71) is present (see in particular figure 5 and figure 6).
In particular, the first guide cam (73) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that when the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) slides internally thereof, the abutting element (50) of the rollers remains positioned in the first retracted position (AR), with the relative abutting wall (51) being aligned to the initial part of the first sliding pathway (15) (this situation is illustrated in figure 6, and in figures 6A and 6B).
The first guide cam (74) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that when the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) slides internally thereof, the abutting element (50) of the rollers remains positioned in the second retracted position (AV), with the relative abutting wall (51) being aligned to the initial part of the first sliding pathway (16) (this situation is illustrated in figure 5, and in figures 5A and 5B).
With the aim of enabling the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) to slide either in the first guide cam (73) or in the second guide cam (74), and therefore enabling the abutting element (50) of the roller to assume either the retracted position (AR) (figure 6A) or the relative advanced position (AV) (figure 5A) an exchange zone (S) is included, in which the first guide cam (73) and the second guide cam (74) are interrupted in order to enable passage of the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) from the first guide cam (73) to the second guide cam (74), and the switching means (7) comprise an exchange element (8) predisposed at the exchange zone (S) and having a first channel (81 ) and a second channel (82) alternative to one another for the sliding of the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) when the rotation of the support element (52) along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) brings the bar (70) to transit thereat.
In particular (see figures 6 and 6A), the first channel (81 ) of the exchange element (8) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that, when the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) follows the first channel (81 ), the bar (70), during the rotation thereof, is maintained stationary with respect to the support element (52) and the relative first sliding element (71) maintains the alignment thereof with the first guide cam (73) and can continue the sliding in the first guide cam (73) in such a way that the abutting element (50) of the roller remains in the retracted position (AR) thereof with the relative abutting wall (51) aligned at the start of the first sliding pathway (15) of the sliding guides (15,16) so that the relative roller (31) abutted thereby, following the rotation thereof along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1), can insert, and therefore subsequently slide, in the first sliding pathway (15) (this situation is visible in figure 4).
Further, the second channel (82) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that when the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) follows the second channel (82), the bar (70) is forced to translate with respect to the support element (52) in such a way that the relative first sliding element (71) aligns with the second guide cam (74) and inserts in the second guide cam (74) so that the relative abutting element (50) translates from the relative first retracted position (AR) to the second relative second advanced position (AV), with the relative abutting wall (51) aligning with the start of the second sliding pathway (16) of the sliding guides (15,16), displacing the roller (31) of the carriage (14) abutted precedingly at the start of the second sliding pathway (16) for subsequent sliding of the roller in the second sliding pathway (16) (situation visible in figure 2).
The switcher means (7) further comprise at least a first switching element (9), activatable for abutting the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70), during the rotation of the support element (52) which brings the bar (70) along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1), and for deviating the second sliding element (72) so that it can insert either in the first channel (81) or in the second channel (82) of the exchange element (8). In this way, the displacement of the abutting element (50) between the relative retracted position (AR) and the advanced origin (AV) which determines the deviation and subsequent sliding of the corresponding roller (31) either in the first sliding pathway (15) or the second sliding pathway (16), happens automatically at the same time as the rotation of the bar (70) borne by the relative support element (52) which, in turn, rotates at the same time and at the same rotation velocity as the activating pulleys (121) of the conveyor organ (1).
In a further advantageous aspect, the apparatus (100) is predisposed in such a way as to comprise a series of abutting elements (50, 50') of the rollers mounted on a relative series of bars (70,70') which are predisposed on corresponding support elements (52,52') which are mounted reciprocally angularly equidistanced so as to be connected in rotation with the activating pulleys (121) of the belts (12), upstream of the straight conveying branch (10).
For example six bars can be provided which are mounted on relative six support elements bearing relative six abutting elements, the support elements being angularly mounted offset from one another by 60°.
In this case, the bars (70,70') include, in the lower wall thereof, and alternatedly, relative second sliding elements (72,72') positioned in two distinct positions, staggered to one another, in such a way as to identify a first group of bars (70) and a second group of bars (70') which groups of bars (70') are alternated.
The bars (70) of the first group of bars (70) have, on the relative lower walls, relative second sliding elements (72) all positioned in a same corresponding position with respect to the bars (70), and the bars (70') of the second group of bars (70') have, on the relative lower walls thereof, relative second sliding elements (72') all positioned in a same corresponding position with respect to the bars (70') but staggered with respect to the position of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70)
In the above-cited example, there are three bars (70) which include the second sliding element (72) located in a same corresponding position in the relative lower walls, and another three bars (70'), alternated and interposed between the preceding three bars (70), which include the relative second sliding element (72') in the relative lower walls located in a corresponding but offset position with respect to the abutting elements (72) of the other three bars (70). In this case, the apparatus (100) comprises at least a second exchange element (85) with a relative first channel (86) and a relative second channel (87) situated by a flank of the first exchange element (8).
The first exchange element (8) and the second exchange element (85) are reciprocally positioned in such a way that the first channel (81) and the second channel (82) of the first exchange element (8) can be involved by the alternative sliding of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) (in the above-cited example of a bar of the first group of three bars) while the first channel (86) and the second channel (87) of the second exchange element (85) can be involved by alternative sliding of the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70') (in the above-cited example of a bar of the second group of three bars).
There will be at least a second switching element (91) for abutting and deviating the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70') so that they can insert and slide alternatively either in the first channel (86) or in the second channel (87) of the second exchange element (85). In this case the first switching element (9) is predisposed to abut and deviate in turn the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) so that they can insert and slide either in the first channel (81) or in the second channel (82) of the first exchange element (8).
The first switching element (9) and the second switching element (91) are reciprocally alternatively activatable following the alternated transit of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) and the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70') along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10). In this way, the conveyor organ (1) can be activated also at even faster velocities, as at least two distinct switcher elements are usable, activatable alternatively to one another so as to deviate the second sliding elements present in the two alternate bar groups, i.e. two distinct switcher elements are present, activatable alternatively with one another so as to sub-divide the switching action and the switching of the position of the rollers of the carriages which follow the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch ( 0).
Consequently the frequency/velocity of activation of the switcher elements can be lower than the rotation velocity of the activating pulleys of the conveyor organ, i.e. the advancing velocity of the articles which must be displaced and pushed by the pusher element when the pusher elements follow the straight conveying branch of the conveyor organ.
In this case, the first switching element (9) can be constituted by an actuator organ, such as for example a pneumatic actuator, and the second switching element (91) can also be constituted by an actuator organ, for example a pneumatic actuator, both actuator organs being activatable alternatively so as to alternatively abut the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) or the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70').
Lastly, the above-mentioned second guide cam (74) has an extension such that after the above-mentioned passage zone (S), it connects with the first guide cam (73) so that the abutting element (50) of the rollers, once the relative support element has completed a full revolution about the rotation axis thereof (which coincides with the rotation axis of the activating pulley) is in the relative retracted position when it begins to follow the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) so as to be able to abut a relative roller of a corresponding carriage which is following the curved portion.

Claims

1) An apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction (A), the articles having to be displaced and pushed transversally while being continuously advanced along the advancement direction (A), internally of relative containers which in turn are continuously advanced, by a flank of and in synchrony with the advancing of the articles, comprising: a loop-wound conveyor organ (1) comprising a pair of belts (12) wound on relative activating pulleys (121 ,122) in a winding pathway which comprises at least a straight conveying branch (10), the conveyor organ (1) being arranged in such a way that the straight conveying branch (10) exhibits a conveying direction parallel to the advancement direction (A) of the articles and is activated continuously, and in synchrony, with the advancement velocity of the articles along the relative advancement direction (A), pusher elements (11) for displacing and transversally pushing the articles advancing along the relative advancement direction (A), the pusher elements (1 1) being borne by relative carriages (14) which are mounted on relative support rods (13) fixed transversally to the pair of belts (12) in such a way that the pusher elements (1 1), when crossing the straight conveying branch (10), advance along an advancement direction (V) at an advancing velocity of the articles along the relative advancement direction (A) such that each thereof is opposite a relative article advancing along the relative advancement direction (A), the carriages (14) being mounted on the support rods (13) slidably so that the pusher elements (11) can be movable along the rods (13) and transversally to the advancement direction (V) and transversally to the straight conveying branch (10), movement means (3), associated to the conveyor organ (1), provided for translating the pusher elements (1 1) transversally to the advancement direction (V) thereof, when the pusher elements (1 1) follow the straight conveying branch (10), the movement means (3) comprising rollers (31), mounted idle below the carriages (14) and sliding guides (15, 16), having a shape such that the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) can slide internally thereof, the sliding guides (15, 16) comprising at least a first sliding pathway (15) and a second sliding pathway (16) alternative to one another for the sliding of the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) which must follow the straight conveying branch (10), the first sliding pathway (15) being arranged, with respect to the belt (12) of the conveyor organ (1) in such a way as to be followed by the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) at least when the pusher elements (11) advance along the straight conveying branch (10) and having a progression and a profile such that, when the rollers (31) follow the first sliding pathway (15), the carriages (14) are forced to maintain a stationary position on the respective support rods (13) so that the pusher elements (11) are maintained in a retracted position with respect to the articles advancing along the relative advancement direction (A), and the second sliding pathway (16) being arranged with respect to the belts (12) of the conveyor organ (1) in such a way as to be followed by the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) only when the pusher elements (11) advance along the straight conveying branch (10) and having a progression and profile such that when the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) follow the second sliding pathway (16), the carriages (14) are forced, first, to translate along the respective support rods (13), transversally to the belts (12), in such a way that the pusher elements (11), during the advancing thereof along a first portion of the straight conveying branch (10), are forced to translate transversally to the advancement direction (V) thereof and transversally to the straight conveying branch (10) from the retracted position to an advanced position, so that they can abut the articles and displace and push the articles transversally so as to insert the articles in the containers, and, thereafter, are forced to perform a reverse translation on the respective support rods (13), during the advancement thereof along a second portion of the straight conveying branch (10), so that the pusher elements ( 1) are forced to translate in an opposite direction from the advanced position to the retracted position thereof, a switching device (5), arranged at a curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) of winding of the belts (12) about relative activating pulleys (121) arranged upstream of the straight conveying branch ( 0), for abutting the rollers (31) of the carriages (14) which follow the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1 ) and deviating the sliding thereof so that the rollers (31) can insert and slide either in the first sliding pathway ( 5) or in the second sliding pathway (16), the apparatus (100) being characterised in that the switching device (5) comprises: at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers (31 ) of the carriages (14), the abutting element (50) comprising at least a wall (51 ) for abutting with a corresponding roller (31) of a carriage (14) which is following the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1), at least a support element (52) for supporting the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers, the at least a support element (52) being mounted and predisposed in such a way as to be connected to the activating pulleys (121 ) of the belts (12) of the conveyor organ (1) which are arranged upstream of the straight conveying branch (10) in such a way as to rotate with the rotation of the activating pulleys (121) about the rotation axis of the pulleys (121), the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers being mounted and borne by the at least a support element (52) in such a way as to be rotatable together therewith so as to abut, with the at least a wall (51), a corresponding roller (31) of a carriage (14) of a pusher element (1 1) which is following the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10), and which is further mounted with respect to the relative at least a support element (52) in such a way as to be able to assume, with respect to the support element (52), two end positions: a first retracted position (AR) in which as it continues to rotate together with the support element (52), the abutting wall (51 ) of the roller is aligned to the initial part of the first sliding pathway (15) of the sliding guides (15,16) associated to the straight conveying branch (10) of the conveyor organ (1) in such a way that the roller (31 ) of the carriage of the pusher element (11 ) abutted thereby is accompanied to insert in the first sliding pathway (15), a second advanced position (AV) in which, as it continues to rotate together with the support element (52), the relative abutting wall (51 ) of the roller is aligned to the start of the second sliding pathway (16) of the sliding guides (15,16) in such a way that the roller (31 ) of the carriage (14) of the pusher element (11) abutted thereby is accompanied to insert in the second sliding pathway (16); switching means (7) for switching the position of the at least an abutting element (50) of the rollers from the first retracted position (AR) to the second advanced position (AV).
2) The apparatus of claim 1 , characterised in that the switching means (7) comprise: at least a bar (70), which bears the at least an abutment element (50) of the rollers and which is mounted on the at least a support element (52) in such a way as to be able to translate with respect thereto in a parallel direction to the rotation axis of the activating pulleys (121 ), a first sliding element (71) mounted on an upper wall of the bar (70) and a second sliding element (72) mounted on a lower wall of the said bar (70), a first fixed circular guide cam (73) and a second fixed circular guide cam (74), alternative to one another for the sliding of the first sliding element (71) of the bar, which are predisposed in such a way as to be positioned about the bar (70), the first guide cam (73) being arranged and exhibiting a progression such that when the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) slides internally thereof, the abutting element (50) of the rollers remains positioned in the first retracted position (AR), with the relative abutting wall (51) being aligned to the initial part of the first sliding pathway (15), and the second guide cam (74) being arranged and exhibiting a progression such that when the first sliding element (71) of the bar (70) slides internally thereof, the abutting element (50) of the rollers maintains the second advanced position (AV) with the relative abutting wall (51 ) of the roller being aligned to the initial part of the second sliding pathway (16), an exchange zone (S), in which the first guide cam (73) and the second guide cam (74) are interrupted to enable passage of the first sliding element (71 ) of the bar (70) from the first guide cam (73) to the second guide cam (74); at least an exchange element (8) predisposed at the exchange zone (S) and having a first channel (81) and a second channel (82) alternative to one another for the sliding of the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) when the rotation of the support element (52) along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) brings the bar (70) to transit thereat, the first channel (81) being arranged and exhibiting a progression such that, when the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) follows the first channel (81), the bar (70), during the rotation thereof, is maintained stationary with respect to the support element (52) and the relative first sliding element (71) maintains the alignment thereof with the first guide cam (73) and can continue the sliding in the first guide cam (73) in such a way that the abutting element (50) of the roller remains in the retracted position (AR) thereof with the relative abutting wall (51) aligned at the start of the first sliding pathway (15) of the sliding guides (15, 16) so that the relative roller (31) abutted thereby, following the rotation thereof along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1), can insert, and therefore subsequently slide, in the first sliding pathway (15), and the second channel (82) is arranged and exhibits a progression such that when the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70) follows the second channel (82), the bar (70) is forced to translate with respect to the support element (52) in such a way that the relative first sliding element (71) aligns with the second guide cam (74) and inserts in the second guide cam (74) so that the relative abutting element (50) translates from the relative first retracted position (AR) to the second relative second advanced position (AV), with the relative abutting wall (51) aligning with the start of the second sliding pathway (16) of the sliding guides (15, 16), displacing the roller (31 ) of the carriage (14) abutted precedingly at the start of the second sliding pathway (16) for subsequent sliding of the roller in the second sliding pathway (16); at least a first switching element (9), activatable for abutting the second sliding element (72) of the bar (70), during the rotation of the support element (52) which brings the bar (70) along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1), and for deviating the second sliding element (72) so that it can insert either in the first channel (81 ) or in the second channel (82) of the exchange element (8). 3) The apparatus of claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a series of abutting elements (50, 50') of the rollers mounted on a relative series of bars (70, 70') which are predisposed on corresponding support elements (52, 52') which are mounted reciprocally angularly equidistanced so as to be connected in rotation with the activating pulleys (121) of the belts (12), upstream of the straight conveying branch (10), the bars (70, 70') including, in the lower wall thereof, and alternatedly, relative second sliding elements (72, 72') positioned in two distinct positions, staggered to one another, in such a way as to identify a first group of bars (70) and a second group of bars (70') which groups of bars (70, 70') are alternated, with the bars (70) of the first group of bars (70) having, on the relative lower walls, relative second sliding elements (72) all positioned in a same corresponding position with respect to the bars (70), and the bars (70') of the second group of bars (70') having, on the relative lower walls thereof, relative second sliding elements (72') all positioned in a same corresponding position with respect to the bars (70') but staggered with respect to the position of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70), and in that it comprises at least a second exchange element (85) with a relative first channel (86) and a relative second channel (87) situated by a flank of the first exchange element (8), the first exchange element (8) and the second exchange element (85) being reciprocally positioned in such a way that the first channel (81) and the second channel (82) of the first exchange element (8) can be involved by the alternative sliding of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) while the first channel (86) and the second channel (87) of the second exchange element (85) can be involved by alternative sliding of the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70'), and at least a second switching element (91) for abutting and deviating the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70') so that they can insert and slide alternatively either in the first channel (86) or in the second channel (87) of the second exchange element (85), the first switching element (9) being predisposed to abut and deviate in turn the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) so that they can insert and slide either in the first channel (81) or in the second channel (82) of the first exchange element (8), and in that the first switching element (9) and the second switching element (91) are reciprocally alternatively activatable following the alternated transit of the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) and the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70') along the curved portion (19) of the conveyor organ (1) upstream of the straight conveying branch (10).
4) The apparatus of the preceding claim, characterised in that the first switching element (9) is constituted by an actuator organ and in that the second switching element (91) is constituted by an actuator organ, the actuator organs being activatable alternatively so as to alternatively abut the second sliding elements (72) of the first group of bars (70) or the second sliding elements (72') of the second group of bars (70').
5) The apparatus of claim 4, characterised in that the second guide cam (74) exhibits a progression such that after the passage zone (S) it connects with the first guide cam (73).
PCT/IB2015/054083 2014-06-18 2015-05-29 An apparatus for displacing articles advancing continuously along an advancement direction WO2015193758A1 (en)

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ITBO20140338 2014-06-18

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ITUB20161180A1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2017-08-29 Marchesini Group Spa APPARATUS FOR MOVING CONTINUOUSLY CONTINUOUS ITEMS ALONG A DIRECTION OF ADVANCE
IT201700089386A1 (en) * 2017-08-04 2019-02-04 Azionaria Costruzioni Acma Spa Equipment for packaging products inside cases
CN110834765A (en) * 2019-09-20 2020-02-25 广东信一科技有限公司 Packaging assembly line for automatic forming and filling of paper boxes
EP3878760A4 (en) * 2020-01-18 2022-01-26 Zhejiang Hoping Machinery Co., Ltd. High-speed blister-pack boxing machine
KR102666889B1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2024-05-17 마르체시니 그룹 에스.피.에이. A device for arranging items that continuously advance along the forward direction

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ITUB20161180A1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2017-08-29 Marchesini Group Spa APPARATUS FOR MOVING CONTINUOUSLY CONTINUOUS ITEMS ALONG A DIRECTION OF ADVANCE
WO2017149424A1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2017-09-08 Marchesini Group S.P.A. An apparatus for displacing articles continuously advancing along an advancement direction
CN108778933A (en) * 2016-02-29 2018-11-09 马尔凯西尼集团股份公司 A kind of equipment for being moved along the article that direction of advance is constantly advanced
US10377580B2 (en) 2016-02-29 2019-08-13 Marchesini Group S.P.A. Apparatus for displacing articles continuously advancing along an advancement direction
KR102666889B1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2024-05-17 마르체시니 그룹 에스.피.에이. A device for arranging items that continuously advance along the forward direction
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CN110834765A (en) * 2019-09-20 2020-02-25 广东信一科技有限公司 Packaging assembly line for automatic forming and filling of paper boxes
EP3878760A4 (en) * 2020-01-18 2022-01-26 Zhejiang Hoping Machinery Co., Ltd. High-speed blister-pack boxing machine

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