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
  • 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
  • B65B5/106—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by 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
  • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
  • B65B65/08—Devices for counting or registering the number of articles handled, or the number of packages produced by the machine

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the technical sector of packing articles; more in particular, the invention concerns an identifying and accumulating device of articles.
• a device of known type for identifying and accumulating articles is usually present in a machine for packing articles, for example a boxing machine.
• the known device (D) mentioned above, illustrated by way of example in figure 1, comprises:
• a detecting region (3) which receives a stack of articles (A) (for example cases) each provided with an identifying code; the articles (A) are arranged in such a way that the relative identifying code is at a side (L) of the stack;
• a television camera (4) arranged in proximity of the detecting region (3) and which detects the identifying code of each article (A) in the detecting region (3);
• the detecting region (3) is interposed between the accumulating region (5) and the television camera (4) is aligned to the accumulating region (5) and to the television camera (4).
• the device (D) further comprises:
• a pusher (8) borne by the carriage (7), comprising an L-shaped connecting arm (80) fixed to the carriage (7) and a pushing plate (81) which is made of a transparent material and is fixed to the connecting arm (80).
• the pushing plate (81), made of a transparent material, is drawn by the carriage (7) along a straight advancement pathway from a retracted position (the situation in figure 1), in which the pushing plate (81) is interposed between the detecting region (3) and the television camera (4), to an advanced position in which the pushing plate (81) is located in the accumulating region (5).
• the television camera (4) detects the identifying code of each article (A) which forms the stack.
• the pushing plate (81) is made of a transparent material (for example Plexiglass).
• the pushing plate (81) is moved along the straight advancement pathway, so as to push the stack of articles (A) from the detecting region (3) into the accumulating region (5).
• the pushing plate is made of a transparent material, correct detecting of the identifying codes of the articles by the television cameras is not guaranteed. Primarily, this is due to the fact that the pushing plate made of transparent material (for example Plexiglass) can be subject over time to damage (such as scratching, splintering, etc.).
• transparent material for example Plexiglass
• the presence of damage to the pushing plate and/or light reflections can even significantly obstruct the detection of the identifying codes of the articles by the television camera.
• the aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
• the device of the invention advantageously enables, in any situation, a correct detection of the identifying codes of the articles, differently to the prior art.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an identifying and accumulating device of articles of the prior art
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an identifying and accumulating device of articles according to the invention, in a first embodiment, in which some parts have been removed better to evidence others;
• figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of an identifying and accumulating device of articles according to the invention in an alternative embodiment of figure 2;
• figure 4 is a perspective view of an identifying and accumulating device of articles according to the invention in a further variant with respect to figure 3, wherein some parts have been removed better to evidence others;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an identifying and accumulating device of articles according to the invention in a further variant with respect to the preceding ones, in which some parts have been removed better to evidence others;
• FIG. 6 and 7 illustrate two perspective views of an identifying and accumulating device according to the present invention, in two different operating situations of a second embodiment
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an identifying and accumulating device of the present invention, in a third embodiment
• figure 8A illustrates detail J of figure 8, according to a larger-scale view.
• numerals 1, 10 and 100 denote an identifying and accumulating device of articles (A) according to different embodiments of the present invention.
• the articles (A) are provided with an identifying code (for example a standardized GS1 code, such as Barcode, Datamatrix, etc.).
• the device (1) comprises: a frame (2); a detecting region (3), in which the articles (A) are positioned in a row in such a way that the relative identifying code is arranged at a side (L) of the row; optical detecting means (4) arranged in proximity of the detecting region (3) for detecting the identifying code of the articles (A) when the articles (A) are arranged in the detecting region (3).
• the device (1) further comprises: an accumulating region (5) in which the articles (A) coming from the detecting region (3) are accumulated so as to be subsequently packed; in particular, the detecting region (3) is interposed between the accumulating region (5) and the optical detecting means (4) and is aligned to the accumulating region (5) and the optical detecting means (4).
• the detecting region (3), the accumulating region (5) and the optical detecting means (4) are arranged along a line.
• the device (1) comprises a linear guide (6, 60, 61) fixed to the frame (2), a carriage (7) that is mobile along the linear guide (6, 60, 61); and a pusher (8) borne by the carriage (7), comprising a connecting arm (80) constrained to the carriage (7) and a pushing plate (81) which is borne by the connecting arm (80).
• the pushing plate (81) is dimensioned so as to push the articles (A) from the detecting region (3) to the accumulating region (5).
• the pushing plate (81) is drawn by the carriage (7) along a straight advancing pathway from a retracted position, in which the pushing plate (81) is interposed between the detecting region (3) and the optical detecting means (4) and wherein the pushing plate (81) is aligned with the detecting region (3) and the optical detecting means (4), to an advanced position in which the pushing plate (81) is at the accumulating region (5).
• the pusher (8) further comprises movement means (900) for moving the connecting arm (80) and the pushing plate (81) with respect to the carriage (7), which movement means (900) enable displacing the pushing plate (81) out of the straight advancement pathway in order that the optical detecting means (4) face the articles (A) arranged in a row in the detecting region (3) so as to detect the relative identifying code (this situation is illustrated in figure 2-5).
• the pushing plate (81) is brought out of the straight pathway, thus enabling the optical means (which for example comprise a television camera (4) or a photographic camera) to optimally and completely detect the identifying codes of the articles (A) in the detecting region (3).
• the optical means which for example comprise a television camera (4) or a photographic camera
• the pushing plate was made of a transparent material and was constrained to carry out only the straight advancement path described above: in fact, the connecting arm was unremovably fixed to the carriage. During the identifying operation of the articles, therefore, the pushing plate was aligned to the articles and to the optical detecting means and interposed between the articles and the optical detecting means.
• the connecting arm was not made of a transparent material and thus at least partly encroached upon the field of vision of the television camera. In this way the detecting of the identifying codes was only partial.
• the fact that the connecting arm (80) is mobile with respect to the carriage (7) enables taking the connecting arm (80) out of the field of vision of the optical detecting means (4), and thus enabling a complete detecting of the identifying codes of the articles (A) by the optical detecting means (4).
• the pushing plate (81) of the device (1) is taken out of the straight advancement pathway during the detecting of the identifying codes by the optical detecting means (4), there is no requirement for it to be made of a transparent material, i.e. it can be made of an opaque material.
• the articles (A) can be positioned in the detecting region (3) in a stack (i.e. in a plurality of rows) as in the case illustrated in the accompanying figures.
• the pushing plate (81) is brought out of the straight advancing pathway and the optical detecting means (4) can detect the identifying code of the articles (A), directly facing the side (L) of the row of articles (A).
• the optical detecting means (4) can detect the identifying code of the articles (A), directly facing the side (L) of the row of articles (A).
• the pushing plate (81) is moved along the straight advancement pathway, so as to push the articles (A) from the detecting region (3) into the accumulating region (5).
• the accumulating region (5) can comprise, for example, two guide and containing walls (50), facing one another, as in the illustrated case, between which the articles (A) are arranged, pushed by the pusher (8), before being packed.
• a carton (C) can be present, with the opening thereof facing and turned towards the accumulating region (5).
• the connecting arm (80) comprises a portion (82) that is transversal to the straight advancement pathway; further, in this variant, the movement means (900) comprise: a motor mounted on-board the carriage (7); a pinion (91) activated in rotation by the motor; and a rack (92) which is fixed to the portion (82) of the connecting arm (80) and which engages with the pinion (91) so that the connecting arm (80) and the pushing plate (81) are further mobile in a direction that is transversal to the straight advancement pathway.
• the variant is advantageously particularly compact.
• the movement of the connecting arm (80) and pushing plate (81) in a transversal direction with respect to the straight advancement pathway in no way interferes with the identifying and accumulating operations of the articles (A).
• the portion (82) of the connecting arm (80) can be perpendicular to the straight advancement pathway (as in the case of figure 2).
• the overall size of the device (1) is further reduced.
• the displacement of the connecting arm (80) and the pushing plate (81) is vertical, vastly reducing the space required for moving the connecting arm (80) and the pushing plate (81).
• the movement means (900) comprise a motor (901) (visible in figure 4) mounted on-board the carriage (7), the output shaft (93) (also visible in figure 4) of which commands rotation of the connecting arm (80) and the pushing plate (81).
• the connecting arm (80) is hinged to the carriage (7).
• the motor (901) is fixed to the carriage (7) and the output shaft (93) of the motor (901) can be arranged such as to be parallel to the straight pathway (this is the case of figure 3).
• the output shaft (93) of the motor (901) can be arranged such as to be transversal (for example perpendicular) to the straight pathway (the case of figure 4).
• the device (1) comprises two linear guides (60, 61), first (60) and second (61), parallel to one another to which the carriage (7) is constrained and along which the carriage (7) can slide.
• the carriage (7) comprises a transversal portion (70) (for example perpendicular) to the linear guides (60, 61) along which the connecting arm
• the connecting arm (80) can slide.
• the connecting arm (80) is constrained by the carriage (7) and is arranged in a first position at the first linear guide (60).
• the movement means in this case enable translation of the connecting arm (80) (and consequently of the pushing plate (81) along the transversal portion (70) of the carriage (7) into a second position at the second linear guide (61) (the situation illustrated in figure 5), enabling the optical detecting means (4) to detect the identifying codes of the articles (A).
• the connecting arm (80) has an L-shaped configuration, i.e. it exhibits a first portion (82) that is perpendicular to the straight advancement pathway and a second portion that is perpendicular to the first portion (i.e. parallel to the straight advancement pathway) and connected to the first portion (see for example figure 2).
• the device comprises: a detecting region (3) in which the articles (A) are positioned in a row such that the relative identifying code is arranged at a side
• optical detecting means (4) (which for example comprise a television camera or a photographic camera) for detecting the identifying code of the articles (A) when the articles (A) are arranged in the detecting region (3).
• the device (100) further comprises: an accumulating region (5) in which the articles (A) coming from the detecting region (3) are to be accumulated in order to be successively packed; the detecting region (3) is interposed between the accumulating region (5) and the optical detecting means (4) and is aligned to the accumulating region (5) and to the optical detecting means (4).
• the device (100) further comprises a pusher (8) for pushing the articles (A) from the detecting region (3) to the accumulating region (5), comprising a pushing plate (81) which is mobile along a straight pathway from a retracted position (see figures 7 and 7A), in which the pushing plate (81) is aligned with the optical detecting means (4) and faces a side (L) of the row of articles (A) arranged in the detecting region (3), to an advanced position in which the pushing plate (81) is at the accumulating region (5), and vice versa.
• a pusher (8) for pushing the articles (A) from the detecting region (3) to the accumulating region (5) comprising a pushing plate (81) which is mobile along a straight pathway from a retracted position (see figures 7 and 7A), in which the pushing plate (81) is aligned with the optical detecting means (4) and faces a side (L) of the row of articles (A) arranged in the detecting region (3), to an advanced position in which the pushing plate (81) is at the
• the pushing plate (81) comprises a through-opening (9), and the pusher (8) comprises a closing element (90) dimensioned such as to close the through-opening (9) of the pushing plate (81).
• the closing element (90) is constrained to the pushing plate (81) so as to be mobile between two configurations: a first configuration in which it is arranged in the through-opening (9), closes the through-opening (9) and defines, with the pushing plate (81), a pushing surface (S) for pushing the articles (A) from the detecting region (3) to the accumulating region (5) when the pushing plate (81) is moved into the advanced position (see figures 6, 6A); and a second configuration in which it makes the through-opening (9) accessible (see figures 7, 7A).
• the through-opening (9) is arranged and dimensioned such that, when the pushing plate is in the retracted position and the closing element (90) is moved into the second configuration, the optical detecting means (4) are facing towards the through-opening (9) and, through the through-opening (9), face the articles (A) arranged in the detecting region (3), in such a way as to detect the relative identifying code thereof (see figures 7, 7A).
• optical detecting means (4) are advantageously in no way obstructed in detecting the identifying code of the articles (A), as the presence of the through-opening (9) of the pushing plate (81) enables completely freeing the visual field of the optical detecting means (4).
• the optical detecting means (4) are at the through- opening (9) (i.e. into the through-opening (9), see the detail of figures 7, 7A).
• the retracted position of the pusher plate (81) is at the optical detecting means (4).
• the retracted position of the pushing plate (81) can be interposed between the optical detecting means (4) and the detecting region (3): clearly the through-opening (9) will be adequately dimensioned so as to enable the optical detecting means (4) to detect the identifying code of the articles (A) through the through-opening (9).
• the through-opening (9) is clearly aligned with the optical detecting means (4).
• the device (100) further comprises a frame (2) and movement means (94, 95) of the closing element (90).
• the movement means (94, 95) comprise a fixed part (94) solidly constrained to the frame (2), and a mobile part (95) borne by the pushing plate (81), connected to the closing element (90) and movable with respect to the pushing plate (81) so as to bring the closing element (90) into the relative second configuration.
• the fixed part (94) and the mobile part (95) are reciprocally arranged and conformed such that when the pushing plate (81) is moved into the relative retracted position, the fixed part (94) contacts and moves the mobile part (95), determining the movement of the closing element (90) into the relative second configuration (and thus making the through-opening (9) accessible).
• the closed element (90) when it is in the second configuration for example extends towards the side (L) of the row of articles (A).
• the optical detecting means (4) can be solidly constrained to the frame (2); for example, the fixed part (94) can be fixed to the optical detecting means (4) (as in the case illustrated in figures 7, 7A).
• the fixed part (94) of the movement means can be solidly constrained to the frame (2); for example, the fixed part (94) can be fixed to the optical detecting means (4) (as in the case illustrated in figures 7, 7A).
• the abutting element (94) has for example a prevalently longitudinal shape and can exhibit an inclined edge, i.e. a shape which tapers towards an end of the abutting element itself (see figures 6A, 7A). This variant is particularly simple from the constructional point of view, effective in functioning and bears modest costs. Clearly the fixed part (94) and the mobile part (95) will be adequately dimensioned according to the dimension of the through-opening (9) and the retracted position of the pushing plate (81). Obviously, other variants are possible for the movement of the closing element (90).
• the closing element (90) is hinged to an edge of the through-opening (9).
• the through-opening (9) can has, for example, a shape such that the relative edges define a parallelogram; the closing element (90) in this case can be hinged to any one of the four edges which each constitute a side of the parallelogram.
• the closing element (90) is movable such that when it is in the second configuration thereof it develops, with respect to the through-opening (9), to the right or the left, or up or down.
• the pushing plate (81) can be fixed to a connecting arm (80) (for example L- shaped) which is also a part of the pusher (8), as in the illustrated case.
• a connecting arm (80) for example L- shaped
• the device (100) further comprises a linear guide (6) fixed to the frame (2); and a carriage (not visible) mobile along the linear guide (6) to which the connecting arm (80) is fixed.
• the device (10) comprises: a detecting region (3) in which the articles (A) are positioned in a row such that the relative identifying code is arranged at a side (L) of the row; optical detecting means (4) (which for example comprise a television camera or a photographic camera) for detecting the identifying code of the articles (A) when the articles (A) are arranged in the detecting region (3).
• optical detecting means (4) which for example comprise a television camera or a photographic camera
• the device (10) further comprises: an accumulating region (5) in which the articles (A) coming from the detecting region (3) are to be accumulated in order to be successively packed; in particular, the detecting region (3) is interposed between the accumulating region (5) and the optical detecting means (4) and being aligned to the accumulating region (5) and to the optical detecting means (4).
• the device (10) further comprises a pusher (8) for pushing the articles (A) from the detecting region (3) to the accumulating region (5), comprising: a connecting arm (80); a pushing plate (81) constrained to the connecting arm (80), which pushing plate (81 ) is mobile along from a retracted position, in which the pushing plate (81) is aligned with the optical detecting means (4) and faces a side (L) of the row of articles (A) arranged in the detecting region (3), to an advanced position in which the pushing plate (81) is at the accumulating region (5); and vice versa.
• a pusher (8) for pushing the articles (A) from the detecting region (3) to the accumulating region (5), comprising: a connecting arm (80); a pushing plate (81) constrained to the connecting arm (80), which pushing plate (81 ) is mobile along from a retracted position, in which the pushing plate (81) is aligned with the optical detecting means (4) and faces a side (L) of the row of articles (A
• the pushing plate (81) is further mobile with respect to the connecting arm (80) such as to move externally of the straight pathway and thus enable the optical detecting means (4) to face the articles (A) arranged in the detecting region (3), such as to detect the identifying code thereof.
• the pushing plate (81) is constrained to the connecting arm (80) so as to be mobile (for example rotatable) between two extreme configurations, an operative configuration in which it is aligned to the optical detecting means (4) and can push the articles (A) from the detecting region (3) to the accumulating region (5), and a non-operative configuration (illustrated in figures 8, 8A), in which it is not aligned to the optical detecting means (4) and enables the means (4) to detect the identifying code of the articles (A).
• the third embodiment has the same advantages as the first and second above-described embodiments.
• the device (10) can further comprise motorisation means, for enabling movement of the pushing plate (81) out of the straight pathway, for example in order to enable rotation with respect to the connecting arm (80).
• the motorisation means (not illustrated) can move the pushing plate (81) when the plate (81) is brought into the relative retracted position, in any case so as not to interfere with the optical detecting means (4).
• the pushing plate (81) can be moved in various orientations so as to be, with respect to the connecting arm (80), to the right or the left or above or below (as in the illustrated case).
• the illustrated device (10) can comprise a frame (2), a linear guide (6) fixed to the frame (2); and a carriage (not visible) mobile along the linear guide (6) which the connecting arm (80) is fixed (which is for example L- shaped).
• the device (1 , 10, 100) of one of the illustrated embodiments can comprise illuminating means, associated to the optical detecting means (4) and predisposed to illuminate the detecting region (3), for facilitating detection of the identifying codes by the optical detecting means (4).
• the invention further relates to a machine (M) for packing articles (A) provided with an identifying code, comprising an identifying and accumulating device (1 , 10, 100) for identifying and accumulating the articles (A) according to any one of the described embodiments.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)

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• 2015
  • 2015-01-13 WO PCT/IB2015/050240 patent/WO2015107452A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-01-13 DE DE15707773.6T patent/DE15707773T1/de active Pending
  • 2015-01-13 EP EP15707773.6A patent/EP2935018B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2015-01-13 ES ES15707773.6T patent/ES2612345T3/es active Active

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