EP0911262B1 - Station for determining a preset number of articles, partially inserted in one another, forming a group of these articles - Google Patents

Station for determining a preset number of articles, partially inserted in one another, forming a group of these articles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0911262B1
EP0911262B1 EP98119571A EP98119571A EP0911262B1 EP 0911262 B1 EP0911262 B1 EP 0911262B1 EP 98119571 A EP98119571 A EP 98119571A EP 98119571 A EP98119571 A EP 98119571A EP 0911262 B1 EP0911262 B1 EP 0911262B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
station
counting
disc
articles
rows
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98119571A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0911262A1 (en
Inventor
Gianluigi Montali
Gianluca Grilli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
S T S Srl
STS SRL
Original Assignee
S T S Srl
STS SRL
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 S T S Srl, STS SRL filed Critical S T S Srl
Publication of EP0911262A1 publication Critical patent/EP0911262A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0911262B1 publication Critical patent/EP0911262B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/20—Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles
    • 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
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B57/14—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

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns packaging articles which can be partially inserted in one another, e.g. plastic beakers used for food.
  • the beakers going out of the rim making machine are arranged in a series of stepwise spaced out horizontal rows.
  • the beakers in each row are partially inserted in one another.
  • a packaging machine Downstream of the rim making machine there is a packaging machine, that takes groups of beakers and wraps them into packages.
  • a device for dividing the rows of beakers into groups of predetermined number thereof, is disposed between the rim making machine and the packaging machine.
  • Known devices for forming the groups of beakers usually include a toothed wheel which meshes with a row of beakers, so as to count them.
  • the toothed wheel co-operates with separating means, of various shapes, which separate each group from the row of beakers.
  • EP 302 837 discloses a counting device usable in the present invention in a station corresponding to the preamble of appended claim 1.
  • EP 654 408 discloses a feeding device for feeding articles from a processing machine to two packaging machines, alternatively. In case of malfunction of one of the packaging machines, the articles can be all directed towards the other one.
  • the object of the present invention is to propose a station, situated between a rim making machine and a packaging machine, and equipped with suitable means and devices, that co-operate with one another and feature the following technical - functional characteristics:
  • Another object of the present invention is to propose a station, whose requested performance is achieved by simple technical solutions, which guarantee a high general reliability.
  • reference numeral 100 indicates the whole subject station for forming groups 10 containing a predetermined number of articles 1 partially inserted in one another.
  • these articles 1 are plastic beakers for food or beverages.
  • the group-forming station 100 is situated downstream of a rim making machine 2, which makes a rim around the upper edge 1a of each beaker 1, so as to allow its safe use, without the risk of injuring.
  • the groups of articles 10, leaving the station 100, are directed to a packaging station 3, situated downstream, where each group 10 is suitably packed by known, not shown, means.
  • the rotary displacement device 5 includes a shaft 50 equipped with a series of radial frames 51, angularly spaced apart.
  • the rotary displacement device 5 is supported, with possibility to turn, by a not shown structure, over the final part of the conveying line 4 and with the shaft 50 extending parallel to the line 4 ( Figures 2 and 3).
  • Motor means are joined to the rotary displacement device 5 and drive it into stepwise rotation, in one or the other direction.
  • the width of each step corresponds to angular width between the two adjacent frames 51.
  • An inlet conveyor 61 joined to a first counting-separating device 60 of the station 100, is situated along the conveying line 4 near the rotary displacement device 5.
  • a connection conveyor 7 extends on the other side of the line 4, between the rotary displacement device 5 and a second inlet conveyor 81 joined to a relative counting-separating device 80, identical with the first one.
  • connection conveyor 7 has made therein a plurality of seats 70, each of which contains one row 11 of beakers 1; in this way the connection conveyor 7 acts as a storage unit, whose function will be better explained later on.
  • the first counting-separating device 60 is disposed upstream of a main packaging machine 30 of the packaging station 3, while the second counting-separating device 80 is disposed upstream of an additional packaging machine 31, also situated in the station 3.
  • the packaging machines 30, 31 are identical and have not been shown in detail, as they are of known type.
  • rows 11 are moved sidewise and put onto the inlet conveyor 61 of the first counting-separating device 60, which subsequently feeds the main packaging machine 30.
  • These groups 10 comprise a predetermined number of beakers 1 and are obtained from these rows 11 as described in the following.
  • the rotary displacement device 5 is driven in the direction R2, opposite to the first one.
  • the storage unit, constituted by the connecting conveyor 7, is particularly advantageous
  • an interval of time results which can be used for controlling the correct arrangement of the operating means.
  • each of the devices 60, 80 includes also centring means 9, made by e.g. a pair of longitudinal bars 9a opposite to each other.
  • the task of the longitudinal bars 9a is that of guiding the rows 11 of beakers 1 towards a disc 13, situated over the respective inlet conveyor, vertical and crosswise to the advancement direction of the beakers 1.
  • the disc 13 has an outer circular edge, that is divided in sectors 14, each of which is rotated by a predetermined angle about the respective radial symmetry line, like fan paddles.
  • the above mentioned rotation angle is sufficient for the distance between the adjacent edges of two successive sectors 14 to permit the rim la of a container 1 to be inserted therebetween in the region of the outer edge of the disc 13.
  • the disc 13 is driven by a motor 15, in a predetermined direction T.
  • the disc 13 is fitted with a plurality of holes 16 regularly spaced apart along a circumference, which is coaxial with the disc 13, each in correspondence to a relative sector 14 ( Figure 6).
  • the disc 13 is provided also with suitable sensor means 17, which detect each hole 16 while passing thereby, and consequently, also a respective beaker 1 being moved downstream of the disc 13.
  • the disc 13 is made to rotate in direction T until the number of sectors 14 which pass the point of contact with the row 11 is the same as the number of beakers 1 required to form each group 10.
  • An aspiration hood 20 is provided over the disc 13 for evacuating possible dust produced by the disc 13 rubbing against the beakers, by keeping the area under negative pressure.
  • Expeller means 40 and sensor means 39 are provided downstream of the disc 13.
  • the expeller means 40 include a stop pin 41 operated by a relative jack 42, and a pusher 43 operated by relative jacks 44.
  • the stop pin 41 is situated on the groups 10 outlet line and, when in its working position O (indicated with broken line in Figure 5), it stops the group 10 just formed by the disc 13.
  • the pusher 43 is situated beside the groups 10 outlet line and, when in its working position K (indicated with broken line in Figure 4), it displaces crosswise the group 10 blocked by the pin 41.
  • the sensor means 39 situated over the groups 10 outlet line, verify the regular flow of the groups toward the packaging machine, situated downstream.
  • the sensor means 39 detect the groups 10 accumulated at the machine inlet and issue a signal corresponding to the necessity to activate the expellers 40.
  • the expeller means 40 of the first counting-separating device 60 allow to empty the line, while the rows 11 going out of the rim making machine 2 are sent, by the rotary displacement device 5, to the other counting-separating device 80 joined to the additional packaging machine 31.
  • the additional line including also a storage unit allows to temporarily store the rim making machine production without stopping it, while the particular shape of the counting-separating devices 60, 80 allows to reach a high working speed together with the high precision of articles counting without risk of their damage.
  • the operating means of the station 100 are very simple to adjust when the size of the articles 1 is changed, also because there are few standard sizes of beakers.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)
  • Exchange Systems With Centralized Control (AREA)
  • Radio Relay Systems (AREA)
  • Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
EP98119571A 1997-10-21 1998-10-16 Station for determining a preset number of articles, partially inserted in one another, forming a group of these articles Expired - Lifetime EP0911262B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT97BO000629A IT1295633B1 (it) 1997-10-21 1997-10-21 Stazione per la determinazione di un numero prefissato di articoli, parzialmente inseriti l'uno dentro l'altro, a costituire un lotto di
ITBO970629 1997-10-21

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0911262A1 EP0911262A1 (en) 1999-04-28
EP0911262B1 true EP0911262B1 (en) 2001-07-25

Family

ID=11342603

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98119571A Expired - Lifetime EP0911262B1 (en) 1997-10-21 1998-10-16 Station for determining a preset number of articles, partially inserted in one another, forming a group of these articles

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0911262B1 (it)
AT (1) ATE203479T1 (it)
DE (1) DE69801204T2 (it)
ES (1) ES2162379T3 (it)
IT (1) IT1295633B1 (it)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102006033680A1 (de) * 2006-07-20 2008-01-24 Saint-Gobain Isover G+H Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Gebindes aus einer Mehrzahl von Einzelpaketen sowie derartiges Gebinde
CN114590575A (zh) * 2022-03-01 2022-06-07 苏州全彩机械设备有限公司 联线分配装置

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1399809A (fr) * 1964-05-08 1965-05-21 Plieuses Automatiques Sa Des Dispositif pour amener des objets plats à plusieurs machines à emballer
IT212184Z2 (it) * 1987-08-03 1989-07-04 Sts Srl Dispositivo per la determinazione di un numero prefissato di contenitori parzialmente inseriti l'uno dentro l'altro,a costituire un pacchetto di contenitori medesimi
IT1264739B1 (it) * 1993-11-19 1996-10-04 Cassoli Srl Apparato per alimentare alternativamente ed in modo flessibile a due macchine operatrici, i prodotti provenienti da un'unica macchina di

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69801204T2 (de) 2001-11-08
ITBO970629A0 (it) 1997-10-21
ITBO970629A1 (it) 1999-04-21
ES2162379T3 (es) 2001-12-16
ATE203479T1 (de) 2001-08-15
IT1295633B1 (it) 1999-05-24
DE69801204D1 (de) 2001-08-30
EP0911262A1 (en) 1999-04-28

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