A method for packing articles (1) in a box comprises the steps of depositing at least one article (1) on a bottom (21) of a mandrel (10), and of at least partially folding a blank (7) around the mandrel (10), in order to form a box containing the article. The method provides that, before depositing the article, the side wall (22) is lowered relative to the bottom (21) so as to define a first height (H1) of the side wall (22) of the mandrel and that, before folding the blanks around the mandrel, the side wall (22) is raised relative to the bottom (21) so as to define a second height (H2) of the side wall (22) of the mandrel, which is greater than the first height (H1).
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B31B 50/28 - Folding sheets, blanks or webs around mandrels, e.g. for forming bottoms
B65B 43/26 - Opening or distending bagsOpening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
B65B 59/00 - Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
B31B 50/32 - Folding sheets, blanks or webs around mandrels, e.g. for forming bottoms the mandrels moving in circular paths
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
B65B 11/30 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 45/00 - Apparatus or devices for supporting or holding wrappers during wrapping operation
B65B 49/02 - Fixed or resiliently-mounted folders, e.g. non-driven rollers
2.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ORIENTING POUCHES HEAD-TO-TOE
A product transfer apparatus for transferring product between a horizontal form, fill, and seal machine and a cartoner machine is provided. The product transfer apparatus includes an electromagnetic motor table configured to define a plurality of pre-selected zones and a plurality of moving elements configured to float over a surface of the electromagnetic motor table and move between one or more of the pre-selected zones. The product transfer apparatus further includes a product delivery device configured to deposit one or more products in a pre-selected common orientation, relative to a longitudinal axis of the product transfer apparatus, onto one or more moving elements of the plurality of moving elements, respectively, at a first pre-selected zone of the plurality of pre-selected zones such that each of the one or more moving elements receives a single product from the product delivery device in the pre-selected common orientation at the first pre-selected zone. The product transfer apparatus further includes a product picking device configured to pick a group of products constituted by one or more products from a pre-selected group of the plurality of moving elements at a second pre-selected zone of the plurality of pre-selected zones, wherein the orientation of one or more products of the group of products at the second pre-selected zone is different from the pre-selected common orientation of the products received at the first pre-selected zone, and deposit the one or more products of the group of products into at least one cartoner bucket of a cartoner.
A transfer unit (1) for transferring articles (200) comprises a first transfer element (10) provided with at least a first support structure (11) intended to receive at least one of said articles (200), and a conveyor (101) adapted to receive said at least one article (200) from said first transfer element (10), positioned at a vertical height (Z1) which is lower with respect to said first support structure (11) and movable along a transport direction (F) at a transport speed (VF), wherein said first transfer element (10) is movable between a receiving station (104) in which said first transfer element (10) is arranged to receive said at least one article (200) and a storage station (105) in which said first transfer element (10) is arranged to release said at least one article (200) onto said conveyor (101), wherein said transfer unit (1) further comprises, an actuation device (30) configured to move said first transfer element (10) between said receiving station (104) and said storage station (105) along a chasing trajectory with a chasing speed (Vi) having in the storage station (105) a component (Vi) with the same direction as the transport speed (VF), and wherein said transfer unit (1) further comprises a rotation unit (40) configured to rotate said first support structure (11) about a first rotation axis (A1) from a support configuration (W) in which said at least one article (200) is supported by said first support structure (11) to a discharge configuration (W') in which said at least one article (200) is free to fall from said first transfer element (10) onto said conveyor (101).
B65G 47/53 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices between conveyors which cross one another
B65G 47/90 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
B65G 49/08 - Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for fragile or damageable materials or articles for ceramic mouldings
A transfer unit (1) for transferring articles (2, 20, 20A) comprises: a first transfer element (10) with a first support structure (11) and a first abutment structure (12) for a first article (20); a second transfer element (10A) with a second support structure (11A) and a second abutment structure (12A) for a second article (20A); a conveyor (101) adapted to receive said first and second articles (20, 20A) from said first and second transfer elements (10, 10A); a rotation unit (40) configured to rotate said first and second support structures (11, 11A) about respective rotation axes (A1, A2) from a support configuration (W) in which said first and second articles (20, 20A) are supported by said support structures (11, 11A), to a discharge configuration (W') in which said first and second articles (20, 20A) are free to fall from said transfer elements (10, 10A) onto said conveyor (101), wherein in said support configuration (W) said support structures (11A) are inclined with respect to a horizontal plane so as to ease the movement of said first and second articles (20, 20A) respectively towards said abutment structures (12, 12A).
A method for controlling the movement of an operating assembly (11, 20, 30) of an apparatus (1) for the automatic processing of articles (2, 2a, 7), comprises the steps of: - defining, for at least one segment of the movement trajectory (M1, M3, M4) of the operating assembly (11, 20, 30), an acceptable deviation (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) from the movement trajectory, such that the operating assembly (11, 20, 30) can be moved in safe conditions, - arranging an auxiliary guide element (15, 25, 35) at a safety trajectory (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) which is alongside the movement trajectory (M1, M3, M4) at a distance substantially equal to the deviation (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5), and - moving the operating assembly (11, 20, 30) by means of at least one electric motor (13, 23, 33) along said movement trajectory (M1, M3, M4). If the operating assembly (11, 20, 30) moves away from the movement trajectory (M1, M3, M4) by a distance equal to said deviation, the auxiliary guide element (15, 25, 35) abuts the operating assembly, controlling its movement and guiding it along the safety trajectory (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5).
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B65B 35/26 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by rotary conveyors
B65B 43/46 - Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up stateFeeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging positionLocating containers or receptacles at the filling positionSupporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using grippers
B65B 43/50 - Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up stateFeeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging positionLocating containers or receptacles at the filling positionSupporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using rotary tables or turrets
B65B 57/00 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices
B65B 57/04 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages
B65B 57/08 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole
B65B 57/14 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
B65B 57/16 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole
B65B 57/18 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices causing operation of audible or visible alarm signals
6.
PACKAGING UNIT FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES INTO BOXES AND RELATIVE PACKAGING METHOD
A unit (100) and a method of packaging items (1) into boxes are described, the packaging unit comprising: – a gripping device (20) for gripping at least one blank (7) intended to be folded to form a box adapted to contain at least one of said articles (1), the at least one blank (7) having at least one panel (7d) and at least one end flap (7f) extended from the at least one panel (7d), the gripping device (20) being configured to define a gripping position for the at least one panel (7d), – an abutment element (25) configured to abut at least partially the at least one panel (7d) and bearing a folding edge (26), – a pressing element (30; 30') configured to press the at least one panel (7d) against the abutment element (25) in proximity of the folding edge (26), – a folding element (40; 40') configured to fold the at least one end flap (7f) relative to the at least one panel (7d) about the folding edge (26) and in the direction of the abutment element (25) when the gripping device (20) is in the gripping position for the at least one panel (7d) and the at least one panel (7d) is pressed at least partially by the pressing element (30; 30') against the abutment element (25).
A blanks feeding unit (100) comprises: a blanks storage device (1) for containing a stack of blanks and displacing said stack along a movement direction (F) towards an outlet section (3) of said storage device (1); at least one retaining element (51-54) provided at said outlet section (3) and intended to abut an advanced blank (7) of said stack at least at a portion of said advanced blank (7); a pressure sensor (30, 31) operatively connected to said at least one retaining element (51-54) and intended to detect the pressure exerted on said at least one retaining element (51-54) by said advanced blank (7); an adjusting device (40) operatively connected to said pressure sensor (31) and intended to adjust the position of said at least one retaining element (51-54) based on the pressure detected by said pressure sensor (31).
Packaging device for packaging (100) articles (1) into boxes (2) comprising: - a mandrel (10) adapted to be wrapped at least partially by panels of a blank (20) so as to form a partially closed box (210), - a handling unit (50) configured to move said mandrel (10) along a feed trajectory (F); - a first retaining device (60) configured to retain at least a first panel (23a) of the blank (20) wrapped at least partially on the mandrel (10), and - a closing unit (30) arranged to at least partially overlap and fix an outer panel (241) onto an inner panel (242) of the blank (20), the closing unit (30) comprising: - a hitting element (31) movable along a displacement trajectory (D) between a rest position, wherein the hitting element (31) is in a position far from the mandrel (10), and a pressure position, wherein the hitting element (31) is in a position such to press the outer panel (241) on the inner panel (242) and against a second abutment surface (10a) of the mandrel (10), and - a displacement member (32) configured to displace the hitting element (31) between the rest position and the pressure position.
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
B65B 11/28 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
B65B 25/00 - Packaging other articles presenting special problems
B65B 43/10 - Forming three-dimensional containers from sheet material by folding the material
B65B 49/00 - Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents
B65B 49/14 - Folders forming part of, or attached to, conveyors for partially-wrapped articles
B65B 11/10 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
A packaging unit (100) for packaging articles (1) into boxes (2), comprises a mandrel (10) configured to accommodate therein at least one of the articles (1), and adapted to be at least partially wrapped by a blank (7), the blank having an outer flap (7e) and an inner flap (7f) intended to be mutually overlapped and fixed so as to form a partially closed box (2), and a folding device (30; 30') configured to abut and fold the inner flap (7f) of the blank (7) in the direction of the mandrel (10) when the blank is at least partially wrapped onto the mandrel. A method for packaging articles (1) into boxes (2) by means of such a unit is also described.
B65B 25/00 - Packaging other articles presenting special problems
B65B 49/00 - Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents
B65B 49/14 - Folders forming part of, or attached to, conveyors for partially-wrapped articles
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
B65B 11/28 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
A packaging unit (100) of articles (1) in boxes (2), comprising a mandrel (10) configured to accommodate at least one of the articles (1) therein, a movement device configured to move the mandrel (10) along a movement trajectory, a feeding device (4) configured to feed at least one blank (7) towards the mandrel (10), a folding device (5) configured to cooperate with the mandrel (10) so as to fold at least one panel of the blank (7) being wound around the mandrel (10), so as to form one of the boxes (2), a first retaining device (25) movably guided parallel to the movement trajectory and configured to cooperate with the mandrel (10), along a section of the movement trajectory, retaining the at least one panel (7c, 7d) of the blank (7), wound on the mandrel (10), against an abutment surface of the mandrel extended parallel to the movement trajectory. A packaging method of articles (1) into boxes (2) by means of such a unit is also described.
B65B 3/02 - Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B31B 50/32 - Folding sheets, blanks or webs around mandrels, e.g. for forming bottoms the mandrels moving in circular paths
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B65B 11/20 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in two or more straight paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 11/22 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in two or more straight paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
A process for moving packages (100) with a box-like body having an opening (103) at at least one of a front end (101) thereof and a rear end (102) thereof, comprises the steps of arranging a manipulator (10) on which a pair of gripping elements (11) is mounted in an open configuration (O) and grasping one of said packages (100) by means of the manipulator (10) moving the gripping elements (11) in a gripping configuration (C). Furthermore, the process involves at least partially obstructing the opening (103) with at least one obstruction element (22, 23) extended from one of the gripping elements (11), moving the package (100) by displacing the manipulator (10) along a predefined path and, finally, releasing the package (100).
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B31B 50/00 - Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
B31B 50/54 - Folding sheets, blanks or webs by reciprocating or oscillating members, e.g. fingers operating on moving material
B65B 7/20 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by folding-down preformed flaps
B65B 49/14 - Folders forming part of, or attached to, conveyors for partially-wrapped articles
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
A packaging unit (100) for packaging articles (1) in boxes (2), comprises: - a mandrel (10) configured to accommodate at least one of said articles (1) inside it, - a movement device configured to move said mandrel along a movement trajectory (M) at a desired movement speed (VM), - a feeding device (30) configured to feed at least one blank (7) towards said mandrel (10) along a feeding trajectory which intersects said movement trajectory (M), - a folding device (20) intended to abut said blank (7) and configured to cooperate with said mandrel (10) to fold said blank (7) around said mandrel (10) when said blank (7) is positioned between said mandrel (10) and said folding device (20), so as to form one of said boxes (2), and - an actuation device (40) configured to displace said folding device (20) along at least one folding stroke (P) with an accompanying speed (Va) having at least one accompanying component with the same direction as the movement speed (VM) of the mandrel (10) and modulus (Ml) lower than the modulus (M2) of the movement speed (VM) in said folding stroke (P).
Packaging device for packaging (100) articles (1) in boxes (2) comprising a mandrel (10) adapted to be wrapped at least partially by a blank (20) so as to form a partially closed box (210), and a closing group (30) arranged for an outer flap (241) of the blank (20) on an inner flap (242), the closing group (30) comprising an abutting element (31) movable with respect to the mandrel (10) between a rest position, in which the abutting element (31) is in a remote position with respect to the mandrel (10), and a pressing position, in which the abutting element (31) is in a position such to press the outer flap (241) on the inner flap (242) and against an abutment surface (10a) of said mandrel (10), and a displacement member (32) configured to displace the abutting element (31) between the rest position and the pressing position, wherein the abutting element (31) comprises at least one contact surface (3131a) intended to abut the mandrel (10) at said abutment surface (10a) and one or more compensating elements (312) configured to compensate for a misalignment between the abutment surface (10a) of the mandrel (10) and the at least one contact surface (3131a) of the abutting element (31).
B65B 11/20 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in two or more straight paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 11/30 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
A device for packaging (100) articles (1) in boxes (2) comprises a mandrel (10), configured to accommodate one or more of said articles (1) inside it and to be wound at least partially by a blank (20) so as to form a partially closed box (210), and a closing group (30) provided to at least partially overlap and fix an outer flap (241) of the blank (20) on an inner flap (242) of the blank (20). The closing group (30) comprises an abutting element (31) movable with respect to the mandrel (10) between a rest position, at least one folding position and a pressure position, and a displacement member (32) configured to displace the abutting element (31) between the rest position, the at least one folding position and the pressure position.
B65B 11/20 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in two or more straight paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 11/30 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
15.
MANIPULATOR FOR PACKAGES AND RELATED PROCESS FOR MOVING PACKAGES
A manipulator (10) for packages (100) with variable geometry, comprises a pair of gripping elements (11), movable from an open configuration (O) to a gripping configuration (C) and vice versa, and cooperating with each other to grasp one of said packages (100). The manipulator (10) further comprises a plurality of adhesion elements (12), interposed between the gripping elements (11), wherein each of said adhesion elements (12) is mounted on a respective elastic support (13) capable of varying their extension independently of each other.
Packaging unit for packaging (100, 100') articles (1) in boxes (2), comprising: a mandrel (10) configured to accommodate at least one of said articles (1) inside it, a movement device (40) configured to move said mandrel (10) along a movement trajectory (M), a feeding device (30) configured to feed at least one blank (7) along a feeding trajectory which intersects said movement trajectory (M) towards said mandrel (10) in order to form one of said boxes (2) around said mandrel (10), a first abutment surface (10A) defined on said mandrel (10) as the surface of said mandrel (10) intended to abut said blank (7) as first when positioned in said movement trajectory (M), a retaining device (60) displaceable between an operating position (El) in which said retaining device (60) is approached to said first abutment surface (10A) to retain said blank (7) against said first abutment surface (10A) and a non-operating position in which said retaining device (60) is spaced apart from said first abutment surface (10A).
B65B 49/14 - Folders forming part of, or attached to, conveyors for partially-wrapped articles
B65B 11/28 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
17.
PACKAGING UNIT FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN BOXES AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN BOXES
A packaging unit for packaging (100; 200; 300) articles (1) in boxes (2), comprises: a mandrel (10) for accommodating an article (1) inside it; a movement device (50) for moving said mandrel (10) along a movement trajectory (M); a feed device (30) for feeding a blank (7) towards said mandrel (10) along a feeding trajectory which intersects the movement trajectory (M); a folding device (20) mounted at the movement trajectory (M) for cooperating with said mandrel (10) to fold said blank (7) around the mandrel (10) and to form a box (2). The folding device (20) comprises a folding element (21) for abutting said blank (7) positioned between said mandrel (10) and said folding element (21), and an adjustment device for modifying the position of the folding element (21) and for adjusting the folding of the blank (7) around the mandrel (10).
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
B65B 43/18 - Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers by suction-operated grippers
B65B 49/04 - Ploughs or plates with inclined slots or opposed inclined edges
B65B 59/00 - Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
18.
METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN BOXES AND PACKAGING DEVICE OPERATING ACCORDING TO SUCH A METHOD
A method for packaging articles (1) in boxes (2), comprises: • composing a mandrel (20) from a plurality of separate units (11, 12), • depositing at least one article (1) inside the mandrel (20), • wrapping a blank (7) around the mandrel (20) so as to form a box (2) that is at least partially closed around the article deposited in the mandrel (20), • decomposing the mandrel (20) in the plurality of separate units (11, 12), and • leaving the article (1) inside the box (2). The invention also refers to a packaging device (10) configured to operate according to such a method.
B31B 50/32 - Folding sheets, blanks or webs around mandrels, e.g. for forming bottoms the mandrels moving in circular paths
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
B65B 11/30 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 23/00 - Packaging fragile or shock-sensitive articles other than bottlesUnpacking eggs
B65B 45/00 - Apparatus or devices for supporting or holding wrappers during wrapping operation
B65B 49/02 - Fixed or resiliently-mounted folders, e.g. non-driven rollers
B65B 59/00 - Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
B65B 65/00 - Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided forArrangements of such details
B65B 43/10 - Forming three-dimensional containers from sheet material by folding the material
19.
METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN BOXES AND PACKAGING DEVICE OPERATING ACCORDING TO SUCH A METHOD
A method for packaging articles (1) in a box (2) comprises the steps of depositing at least one article in a mandrel (10), and folding a blank (7) around the mandrel (10) in correspondence with at least one folding line (7 a) of the blank (7). The blank (7) is folded along the folding line (7a) abutting the folding line (7a) with an edge (18a, 18b) of the mandrel (10) only for a first part of the folding line (7a), while a second part of the folding line (7a) remains not abutted by the mandrel (10).
B31B 50/00 - Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
B31B 50/32 - Folding sheets, blanks or webs around mandrels, e.g. for forming bottoms the mandrels moving in circular paths
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
B65B 11/30 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 45/00 - Apparatus or devices for supporting or holding wrappers during wrapping operation
B65B 49/02 - Fixed or resiliently-mounted folders, e.g. non-driven rollers
B65B 23/00 - Packaging fragile or shock-sensitive articles other than bottlesUnpacking eggs
20.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING ON PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN BOXES
Device (100) for packaging articles (1) in boxes (2), comprising a carousel (3) rotatable about a substantially vertical axis of rotation (X) and a frame (4) provided with a first operating unit (5) arranged to operate on one of said articles and/or one of said boxes. The frame is supported and kept raised from the ground by the carousel by means of a rotatable coupling that allows the relative rotation between the carousel and the frame. The device (100) also comprises a fixing structure (14) connected to the frame so that the frame remains fixed with respect to the ground when the carousel rotates around the axis of rotation. A method for packaging articles (1) in boxes (2) is also described.
An apparatus (100) for shaping a box by wrapping-around, which is characterised by particular compactness and flexibility, is described. The apparatus includes a shaping device (150) with a carousel, on which shaping supports (151) are circulated along a closed circular trajectory. A portion of the trajectory constitutes a box shaping path. The carousel is such that it rotates around a vertical axis of rotation with a continuous motion. The shaping supports (151) are adapted to receive products to be packaged. The apparatus also includes a dispenser device (180) of blanks (200) intended to be wrapped around so as to contain the products to be packaged. The apparatus then includes a transfer device (170) of blanks (200), apt to sequentially pick-up the blanks (200) and insert them, one at a time, into the shaping path. A process for shaping boxes by wrapping-around is also described.
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
B65B 43/46 - Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up stateFeeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging positionLocating containers or receptacles at the filling positionSupporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using grippers
B65B 45/00 - Apparatus or devices for supporting or holding wrappers during wrapping operation
B65B 49/02 - Fixed or resiliently-mounted folders, e.g. non-driven rollers
B65B 65/00 - Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided forArrangements of such details
B31B 50/32 - Folding sheets, blanks or webs around mandrels, e.g. for forming bottoms the mandrels moving in circular paths
B65B 35/24 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
22.
PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING A BOX BY WRAPPING AROUND
In a process and apparatus for shaping a box by wrapping around, wherein a blank (200) is wrapped around a content to be packaged, they are provided the steps of: conveying a content to be packaged onto an inlet transport plane (120), arranged horizontally, the content to be packaged being laid on said inlet transport plane; transferring the content to be packaged onto a shaping support (151) which moves continuously along an annular path (160), on a portion (161) of which the shaping support moves on a shaping plane; and wrapping a box around the content to be packaged while the shaping support (151) moves on said shaping plane; wherein the inlet transport plane, and the shaping plane are coplanar to reduce the stress on the final product during packaging.
A rotary feeder (10) comprises first and second sun members (20, 30) provided with respective outer ring surfaces (40, 41), coaxially mounted about and axially displaced along a central axis of rotation (18); planetary members (1, 2, 3; 4, 5, 6) in operative engagement with said outer ring surfaces (40, 41) and configured to rotate each about a different and separate planetary axis of rotation (55); and spindle assemblies (16) selectively mountable on the planetary members (1, 2, 3; 4, 5, 6). The spindle assemblies (16) mounted on the rotary feeder (10) as a whole are located at different and separate positions angularly spaced about the central axis of rotation (18) in order to be coupled with at least a portion of items (B) to feed.
B65H 3/42 - Separating articles from piles by two or more separators mounted for movement with, or relative to, rotary or oscillating bodies
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B31B 50/80 - Opening and distending flattened articles pneumatically
B65G 47/91 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers
24.
AUTOMATIC MAGAZINE LOADER FOR SUPPLYING CARTON BLANKS TO CARTON MAGAZINE
A carton handling system (12) for a carton blank magazine (32). The carton handling system (12) includes a carriage assembly (68) with a carton handling tool (30). The carriage assembly (68) moves the carton handling tool (30) in two axes of motion to receive a slug (22) of carton blanks (24) and to position the slug (22) of carton blanks (24) in the carton blank magazine (32). The carton handling system (12) further includes a finger (66) carried on the carton handling tool (30). The carton handling tool (30) is movable to engage the finger (66) with an underside (144) of a fallen carton blank (64) lying at an end of an advancing stack of blanks (36) in the carton blank magazine (32) so as to lift the fallen carton blank (64) against a preceding blank (150) at the end of the advancing stack of blanks (36). The carton handling tool (30) is also movable to position the slug (22) of carton blanks (24) at an endmost blank (34) in the advancing stack of blanks (36).
B65H 1/02 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge
B65H 5/00 - Feeding articles separated from pilesFeeding articles to machines
B65H 1/30 - Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for replenishing the pile during continuous separation of articles therefrom
A pouch machine vertical sealer (12) capable of fusing a pouch film web (14) to form a plurality of spaced vertical seals (30) along a length of the film web (14) to form pouches. The pouch machine vertical sealer (12) includes a sealer wheel (26) rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation (28) and defines a film web path (58) about a periphery (24) of the sealer wheel (26). The vertical sealer (12) further includes a plurality of vertical sealer land assemblies (32) spaced apart about the periphery of the sealer wheel (26). Each vertical sealer land assembly (32) includes an impulse heater (34) such that contact between the film web (14) and each impulse heater (34) of the plurality of vertical sealer land assemblies (32) forms the spaced apart vertical seals (30) along the length of the film web (14).
B65B 9/087 - Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing the web advancing continuously
A method for carrying out a multi-layered packaging system (900), comprising providing a plurality of packagings (800), moving said plurality of packagings (800) by means of a first movement device (10), bringing a first group of packagings (810) of said plurality of packagings (800) into a collection zone (ZP), collecting by means of said transfer device (20) having two degrees of freedom dais first group of packagings (810) and moving said transfer device (20) in accordance with a vertical component towards a bundling zone (ZA) of a bundling device (30) to activate a second retention element (35) of said bundling device (30) so as to collect said first group of packagings (810), moving again said transfer device (20) into said collection zone (ZP) and starting to move said first movement device (10) so as to bring a second group of packagings (820) towards said collection zone (ZP) before said transfer device (20) arrives in said collection zone (ZP), moving said transfer device (20) by bringing said second group of packagings (820) into said bundling zone (ZA) in such a manner that said second group of packagings (820) vertically moves said first group of packagings (810) by taking the position thereof and thereby forming said multi-layered packaging system (900).
A method for packaging products (1) in boxes (2) comprises the steps of: a) providing a plurality of boxes (2) in a folded configuration, b) collecting one box (2) in the folded configuration and modifying the configuration thereof so as to bring it into an open configuration which is suitable for containing said products, c) verifying the conformity of the box (2) in the open configuration with at least one predetermined quality parameter, and d) if the box (2) in the open configuration complies with the quality parameter, introducing the products into the box, otherwise e) if the box (2) in the open configuration does not comply with the quality parameter, returning the box to the folded configuration.
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B65B 57/04 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages
B65B 57/06 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
B31B 50/00 - Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
B65B 43/12 - Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed stateFeeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
B65B 43/28 - Opening or distending bagsOpening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers co-operating with fixed supports
B65B 43/26 - Opening or distending bagsOpening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
B65B 5/06 - Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
A stack of products such as pouches are formed in a product bucket (16), pushed into a stack guide bucket (14) and from there into a carton (12). A stack tamp (20) descends over the stack, engages and confines it downwardly during stack pushing from product bucket and through stack guide bucket into a carton. Multiple product buckets, stack guide buckets and cartons move downstream during cartoning, and are respectively aligned in a cartoning station. Reciprocal containment blades (30) hold the stack in respective cartons prior to flap closing.
B65B 5/06 - Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
B65B 7/20 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by folding-down preformed flaps
B65B 35/40 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers
B65B 35/44 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by endless belts or chains
B65B 63/02 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
B65B 5/10 - Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
29.
PICK AND PLACE APPARATUS FOR ORIENTATION AND HOLE HEALING APPLICATIONS
Article packaging apparatus (10) includes a multiple lane article infeed (12), first #1 and second #2 transfers, an intermediate article orientation station (30) and an article group discharge conveyor (14). The first #1 and second #2 transfers have respective article grippers (1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1- 4, and 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and 2-4) expansible and contractible toward and away from one another while the intermediate article orientation station (30) includes article rotating trays (31-34) spaced further apart than the lanes (16-19) of the article infeed (12).
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
B65G 47/244 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
B65G 47/68 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
B65G 47/91 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers
B65B 35/38 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers by suction-operated grippers
30.
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCT ORIENTATION AND HOLE HEALING APPLICATIONS
Articles (21) are transferred from an article supply conveyor (12, 12a) to an article receiving conveyor (13, 12b) while the transferring articles (21) are selectively reoriented. When the conveyors (12, 12a, 13, 12b) are in parallel, a travelling article reorienting turret (20, 30) seeks articles (21) following an article absence or hole on the supply conveyor (12, 12a) and transfers the following article to a next-in-line position on the receiving conveyor (13, 12b) to cure or avoid holes of articles (21) on the receiving conveyor (13, 12b).
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B65G 47/252 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning over or inverting them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction
An apparatus (100) for dispensing lids (2) has at least one magazine lane (4) including an entrance end (6), an exit end (8), and a longitudinal length defined therebetween. The at least one magazine lane (4) further includes a plurality of side guides (14) along the longitudinal length for guiding the lids (2) therebetween and a pair of rollers (12a, 12b) for carrying the lids (2) thereon. The apparatus further has a throat plate (16) at or near the exit end (8), the throat plate (16) including an opening (18). At least one of the throat plate (16), the side guides (14), or the rollers (12a, 12b) is adaptable so as to accommodate different sizes and/or shapes of lids (2).
B65B 7/28 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
B65B 35/10 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
B65B 35/18 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by grippers by suction-operated grippers
B65B 35/22 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by roller-ways
32.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES AT ONE PITCH BETWEEN THEM FROM A SUPPLY CONVEYOR TO CONTAINERS ON ANOTHER CONVEYOR WITH PITCH ADJUSTMENT
Packaging apparatus and methods include a plurality of article grippers (20-26) driven by independently controlled motors (8) in an end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) (10), for picking articles (40), grouping articles (40), adjusting group pitch and placing article groups in packages (48) where incoming articles (10) and packages (48) are continuously or intermittently moving and without motion of the entire EOAT (10) in the direction in which articles and packages are picked and moved. Hole healing and incoming product registration apparatus and methods are disclosed.
B65B 21/18 - Introducing or removing groups of bottles, for filling or emptying containers in one operation using grippers engaging bottles, e.g. bottle necks
B65B 21/20 - Introducing or removing groups of bottles, for filling or emptying containers in one operation using grippers engaging bottles, e.g. bottle necks with means for varying spacing of bottles
B65B 35/36 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers
B65B 35/38 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers by suction-operated grippers
B65B 57/10 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
B65B 57/14 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
B65G 47/90 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
B65G 47/91 - Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers
Packaging apparatus (10, 11, 12) includes, in combination, a product receiving or loading station(16) requiring individual product buckets(18) oriented at one pitch for loading with products and a cartoning station(40,47,48) requiring groups of buckets(18) oriented at another different pitch for packaging articles into cartons(C). The apparatus(10,11, 12) accommodates the packaging of varying numbers of buckets or product stacks in varied width cartons(C-1,C-2,C-3), independent of the orientation of buckets(18) in the product receiving station(16). Buckets(18) are conveyed in a path(32) through the packaging apparatus under the influence of a linear motor conveyor(30) independently of, and separate from, other buckets(18) in the path(32) and without regard to pitch between other buckets(18) in the path(32). Apparatus and methods are disclosed.
B65B 35/18 - Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by grippers by suction-operated grippers
B65B 59/00 - Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
B65B 5/06 - Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
B65G 54/02 - Non-mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
An asymmetric article-carrying puck 10 is driven by a linear star conveyor 50 through an angular rotation orienting section 58 to orient the pucks 10 and articles therein irrespective of random initial orientation. In one embodiment, an upper puck plate 14 carries the article 12 while a separated lower puck plate 16 defines a rotational orienting circular gear rack 36 with a rotation-stopping bridge 38, separating ends of the rack 36 and inclined from a base 40a of one end tooth 40 in the rack to a crest 39a of another end tooth 39 in the rack 36. The lower puck plate 16 can be a combination of two circular plates with the circular gear rack 36 interposed therebetween and within the periphery of the circular plates. Pucks 10 can be accumulated in mutual engaged positions and separated by the linear star 50 into preselected pitch while transported and turned, integral pucks can be used. The structural details and methods are disclosed.
B65B 35/58 - Turning articles by positively-acting means, e.g. to present labelled portions in uppermost position
B65C 9/06 - Devices for presenting articles in predetermined attitude or position at labelling station
B65G 47/244 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
B65G 29/00 - Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones
A column of cups (C) guided by their rims (93, 94) in elongated slots (95, 96, 97, 98) is spaced into desired cup pitch by one or more linear stars (85, 86) from which the cups (C) can be transferred for packaging. The linear stars have lugs (16) engaging and spacing the cups. In another aspect of the invention, cups (C) are manipulated into patterns for final grouping and packaging and by a plurality of cup orienting pickers (110-114) engaging, inverting and re-orienting the cups (C). In one final packaged cup group of two or more layers, alternating cups (C) in each layer are inverted and a top lid (99) of a cup (C) in an upper layer is disposed on a top lid (99) of a cup (C) in a bottom layer, while a bottom of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a bottom of a cup (C) in a lower layer, and in an alternating pattern.
patents