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
  • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
  • B65B5/10—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
  • B65B5/105—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by grippers
• • 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
  • B65B35/44—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by endless belts or chains
• • 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
  • B65B35/56—Orientating, i.e. changing the attitude of, articles, e.g. of non-uniform cross-section
  • B65B35/58—Turning articles by positively-acting means, e.g. to present labelled portions in uppermost position
• • 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
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
  • B65B43/265—Opening, erecting or setting-up boxes, cartons or carton blanks
• • 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
  • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
  • B65B5/02—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
  • B65B5/024—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles for making containers from preformed blanks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/14—Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming
  • B31B50/20—Cutting sheets or blanks

Definitions

• This invention relates to a packaging machine which is especially suitable for
• cartons for example, wrap-around cartons used in beverage multiple packs.
• carton compartments are in a spaced relationship, it is necessary for some form of article grouping to be adapted.
• said carton erecting means
• each said die member being mounted to a
• each said complementing die member is adapted to interengage when a blank is positioned between the two members, such that said die members cause
• one of said complementing members comprises a protruding portion extending from a working
• the other said complementing member comprises a recessed portion adapted to receive said protruding portion and wherein the
• the carton comprises a
• At least two channels are adapted to diverge into a plurality of sub-groups wherein each said sub-group is spaced to align an article held in each said sub-group with one of said
• packaging machine of this aspect of the invention may further comprise
• a conveyor including means to convey the articles and means to regulate the flow of
• a second aspect of the invention provides a method of loading a plurality of articles into a carton whilst the articles and carton are moved in a synchronised manner and in a continuous forward direction comprising the following steps: i) transferring carton blank from a stowed position and erecting said blank; ii) selecting a group of articles to be loaded into said carton
• a third aspect of the invention provides a mechanism for forming a carton including a
• pair of article receiving cells comprising complementary die members, each said die member being mounted to a rotating wheel wherein each said complementing die
• complementing members comprises a protruding portion extending from a working
• a fourth aspect of the invention provides a mechanism for grouping a plurality of articles which mechanism comprising an endless series of channels along which articles
• each grouping may be transferred into a plurality of article receiving cells of a carton wherein the channels are organised into groupings whereby each grouping corresponds to a given number of articles to be loaded in the carton.
• the channels may
• each said sub-group is spaced to align an article held in each said
• a fifth aspect of the invention provides a mechanism for causing a label affixed to an
• the mechanism comprises support means adapted to support an article
• orientation means adapted to cause the article to rotate in the support means until the
• protruding position is restrained by abutment means formed in said support means.
• one edge of the label affixed to the article overlays an opposed edge of said label to define said protruding portion.
• the support means is configured to:
• said support surface may comprise a channel including a support surface to retain part of the article within said channel.
• said support surface substantially corresponds to the exterior surface of said retained part of the article.
• the orientation means may comprise an elongate member connected to resilient means, wherein said
• elongate member is adapted to abut a portion of said article as said support means is moved in a substantially parallel plane to said elongate member such that a tangential
• the resilient means is adapted to reduce said tangential force when said
• protruding portion is restrained by said abutment means.
• a sixth aspect of this invention provides a method of orienting a label affixed to an article to a predetermined display position wherein the article includes an outwardly protruding portion in a fixed position relative to said label which method comprising
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a selection of "blister pack” type cartons packaged
• FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a unitary blank used to construct one type of carton capable of being used with a machine according to the invention .
• FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank shown in Figure 2.
• FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a machine according to one or more aspects of the
• FIGURES 5a and 5b are perspective views of the carton supply in-feed and set-up
• FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the carton conveyor and loading station of the
• FIGURES 7 illustrates an example of an article to be packaged by the machine according to one or more aspects of the invention.
• FIGURES 8a, and 8b illustrate a mechanism according to another aspect of the
• the machine according to the present invention is capable of loading cartons comprising compartments for retaining a given number of articles within each
• Figure 2 shows one example of a blank for forming a carton to be constructed and loaded by a packaging machine of one or more aspects of the present invention formed from paperboard or other suitable material.
• a packaging machine of one or more aspects of the present invention formed from paperboard or other suitable material.
• support panel 12 is hingably connected to top panel 14 along fold line 30.
• Top panel 14 is connected to
• side panel 16 by way of fold line 32.
• Side panel 16 is foldably connected to base panel
• end panel 26 is hingably connected to side panel 16 along fold line 42 and glue flap 28 is hingably connected to the opposing side of end panel 26 along fold line 44.
• top panel 14 In a set up condition, top panel 14, side panel 16, base panel 18 and a portion of support
• panel 20 are folded out of alignment and into an angular relationship to form a display carton shown in Figure 3. More particularly, support panel 20 is folded into face
• end panels 22, 26 provide closures for the box, which are held in place by glue flaps 24, 28 that are secured by gluing or other suitable means, to support panel 20 to maintain the carton in set up condition.
• side panel 16 provides a display face for the package,
• support panel 20 provides a back panel.
• the carton incorporates two securing cells or display windows Cl, C2 constructed from partition sections 96, 98 as illustrated in Figure 3.
• 96 is hinged to glue flap 24 along fold line 40 and to side panel 16 along fold line 35.
• this partition section will define an individual
• partition section 98 is struck from side panel 16 and end panel 22 along opposing cut lines 50, 52. Partition section 98 is hinged to glue flap 24 along fold line 40 and along its opposing edge to side panel 16 along fold line 37.
• this partition section will define an individual cell C2 shown in Figure 3.
• the carton can vary depending upon the shape and/or quantity of articles to be packaged and accordingly, a machine in accordance with one or more
• the upstream end of the machine includes a hopper 54 or other suitable storage means in which a multiplicity of cartons 52 in flat collapsed condition are held ready for processing.
• the cartons are removed from the hopper 54 sequentially by suitable feeder means for example, a rotary vacuum feeder 56.
• the vacuum feeder 56 comprises four pairs of suction cups 58 each being connected to a drive shaft 60 by a drive rod 62.
• Drive means 64 for example a servo motor, rotates the drive shaft 60.
• a cam track and cam rod may be provided to define a uniform path for the
• the hopper 54 is, in this embodiment, a 'gravity feed' type whereby the carton blank 52
• suitable conveying means for example, a pair of endless side lug chains 66, 68, and is conveyed downstream by suitable support means, for example leading and
• 70, 72 convey the carton blank downstream to the set-up station shown generally at 74.
• carton erecting means to part erect the carton blank to define at least one cell.
• the carton erecting means is provided by a pair of rotating wheel units 76, 78 which are preferably
• the rotating wheels 76, 78 can be
• each wheel powered by known drive means, for example a servo motor.
• drive means for example a servo motor.
• rotating wheel unit 76, 78 comprises a pair of die members 80, 82, 84, 86 mounted in
• a drive shaft 88, 90 driven by the drive means.
• the rotating wheels 76, 78 can comprise more than two die members, if manufacturing requirements
• the die members 80, 82 of the upper wheels 76, in this embodiment are identical in
• the upper rotating wheel 76 comprises the (male) die member 80 formed from a substantially rectangular block 92 mounted to the rotating
• a protruding portion 94 extends downwardly from the lower surface 100 of
• the protruding portion is shaped to correspond to
• partition sections 96, 98 defining the article receiving cells Cl, C2.
• the lower rotating wheel 78 comprises the corresponding (female) die
• each is formed from a substantially rectangular block 102 and
• female block comprises a recessed portion 106 (not optimally visible) which is shaped
• the block 92 mounted to the upper rotating wheel 76 is rotated in unison with the lower block 102 to come into contact with the upper surface of the carton blank 52.
• the conveyor 66, 68 and the upper and lower rotating wheels are controlled by suitable
• control means to coordinate the position of the blank and to control its speed through
• the positions and speeds of the devices can be put in manually or a specific
• pre-written programme can be loaded into the central processor for control of the
• the upper and lower blocks 92, 102 continue to rotate, and the
• cam track and cam arrangement within the rotating wheels 76, 72 cause the blocks to move towards each other and to interengage, whereby the protruding portion 94 is
• upper and lower blocks 92, 102 are then separated to release the carton blank 52 as it moves forward to the loading station 150 by the leading and trailing lugs 70, 72 on the
• detachable securing means for example quick release mechanism
• the line pressure of the batteries is controlled by
• control means for example, an infeed star wheel 154, as is well known.
• the articles may be transferred from the infeed conveyor 152 to an article
• grouping means for example a conveyor 156, shown in Figure 6.
• a conveyor 156 shown in Figure 6.
• the article grouping conveyor 156 separates the articles into groups of the desired number for each carton, by means of a series of channels 158 mounted to an endless chain 160. The articles (A) are then transferred into the plurality of article receiving
• each grouping 162 corresponds to a given number, for example four, of articles to be loaded
• Suitable guide means (not shown), for example, a guide rail or static guide, are used to push the articles into the respective cells Cl, C2, and the grouping
• conveyor 156 is controlled by suitable control means so that endless chains 160, 165 move in unison so that the flow of articles (A) can be introduced to the carton blank 52 at the same rate as the carton blank flow.
• the channels 158 are adapted to diverge into sub-groupings 164 whereby each sub ⁇
• group 164 is spaced to align an article or articles (A) held in each sub-group (164) with
• each sub-grouping is
• the machine may include a device 200 shown in Figure 8 for causing a label
• the articles to be packaged include a portion protruding 204 outwardly of
• protruding portion 204 is formed by the side edges 206, 208 of the label 202 being
• the support means 210 comprises a group of channels (or holding combs) 212
• each channel comprises a
• support surface 214 which substantially corresponds to the shape and configuration of the outer surface of the article (A).
• the different profiles of channel can be
• abutment means 216 is provided by a surface 218 connecting adjacent channels 212 that is used as the
• each channel 204 is loaded with an article by suitable
• the orientation means 220 illustrated in greater detail in Figure 8b, comprises an
• elongate member 222 (or static member) can comprise a strip including a working
• the elongate member 222 can comprise a flexible belt (not
• the working surface 226 preferably includes a layer
• friction inducing material 228, for example, rubber or other suitable plastic materials.
• the strip is connected to a support frame (not shown) by resilient means 230, for
• the length of the strip 224 should be equal to or greater than the circumference of the article (A) being rotated to ensure that each
• article can be rotated by up to 360 degrees.
• the channels 214 continue to move forward and the articles (A) continue to rotate until the leading edge of the protruding portion 204 comes into abutment with the abutment means 216.
• the article is orientated to the correct position and can then be loaded into the cartons.
• resilient means 230 is used to reduce the tangential forces applied to the article (A) by
• the article orienting device can be incorporated into a machine
• the groups of articles or sub-groupings are introduced to the carton from one side as the carton and article group are moved
• support panel 12 and top panel are folded into a substantially perpendicular relationship with front panel 16 about fold line 32 as shown in Figure 6.
• guide means for example a fixed guide (not shown) and the support panel 12 is folded back upwards so that top panel 14 is folded
• the end panels 22, 26 are folded about fold lines 38, 42 to enclose the article receiving cells Cl, C2 by suitable folding means, for
• suitable securing means for example glue or other means known in the art. Thereafter, pressure belts 169 can be applied to the carton to firmly secure the support panels 12,
• the devices of the present invention and, in particular, the carton erecting means, the article selecting and grouping means, the article separating and

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
• Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=10825372

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications After (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (11)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1998
  • 1998-01-16 GB GBGB9800884.0A patent/GB9800884D0/en not_active Ceased
• 1999
  • 1999-01-15 EP EP99902269A patent/EP1047595B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-01-15 PT PT99902269T patent/PT1047595E/pt unknown
  • 1999-01-15 ES ES99902269T patent/ES2207169T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-01-15 ES ES03002938T patent/ES2251631T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-01-15 AU AU22289/99A patent/AU2228999A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-01-15 EP EP03002938A patent/EP1350723B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-01-15 DE DE69927065T patent/DE69927065T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-01-15 DK DK99902269T patent/DK1047595T3/da active
  • 1999-01-15 AT AT99902269T patent/ATE248746T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-01-15 AT AT03002938T patent/ATE303303T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-01-15 DE DE69910973T patent/DE69910973T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-01-15 WO PCT/US1999/000853 patent/WO1999036317A2/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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