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
  • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
  • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
  • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
• • 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
  • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
  • B65B35/24—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles 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
  • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
  • B65B35/26—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by rotary conveyors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • 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
• • 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
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/005—Adjustable conveying means
• • 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
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/24—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for shaping or reshaping completed packages
• • 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
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/28—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for discharging completed packages from machines
• • 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
  • B65B65/02—Driving gear

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a conveying apparatus for advancing packages, in particular for advancing finalized packages of a pourable product formed from semi-finalized packs of the pourable product.
• the present invention also relates to a folding apparatus for forming finalized packages of a pourable product from semi-finalized packs of the pourable product and having a conveying apparatus.
• the present invention also relates to a packaging machine for packaging a pourable product, preferentially a pourable food product, into finalized packages and having a folding apparatus for folding semi-finalized packs into the finalized packages.
• liquid or pourable food products such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc.
• UHT ultra-high-temperature treated milk
• wine tomato sauce
• etc. are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
• a typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated packaging material.
• the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a carton and/or paper base layer, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
• the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
• Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines.
• packaging machines that advance a web of packaging material through a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the web of packaging material and into an isolation chamber in which the sterilized web of packaging material is maintained and advanced.
• the web of packaging material is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, the tube being further fed along an (vertical) advancing direction.
• the tube is filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, and is transversally sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced transversal cross sections during advancement along the advancing direction. Pillow packs are so obtained.
• These pillow packs define sealed semi-finalized packs having each a central main body, two sealing fins resulting from transversally sealing and cutting the tube and protruding from the respective central main body and a plurality of flaps laterally protruding from the central main body.
• the pillow packs are further formed and the sealing fins and the flaps are folded and sealed onto the respective central main bodies.
• a typical packaging machine of this type comprises:
• folding apparatus comprising a folding unit for forming the finalized packages from the semi-finalized packs and a conveying apparatus configured to receive the finalized packages from the folding apparatus and to advance the finalized packages towards secondary packaging apparatuses such as palletizers, wrappers, or the like.
• a known kind of conveying apparatus comprises a conveyor belt.
• Number 1 indicates as a whole a packaging machine for producing finalized packages 2, preferentially sealed finalized packages 2, of a pourable product, preferentially a pourable food product such as pasteurized milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, yoghurt, milk drinks, yoghurt drinks, emulsions, beverages with pulp, salt, sugar and the like.
• a pourable food product such as pasteurized milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, yoghurt, milk drinks, yoghurt drinks, emulsions, beverages with pulp, salt, sugar and the like.
• finalized packages 2 are formed from a multilayer packaging material. Even more preferentially, finalized packages 2 may be formed from a web of packaging material 3.
• the multilayer packaging material may comprise at least a layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another.
• a layer of fibrous material such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer
• heat-seal plastic material e.g. polyethylene
• the multilayer packaging material, preferentially web of packaging material 3 may also comprise a layer of gas-and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, preferentially being arranged between one of the layers of the heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material.
• the multilayer packaging material, preferentially web of packaging material 3 may also comprise a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.
• each finalized package 2 may extend along a longitudinal axis A (see Figures 2 and 8 ), and preferentially may have a longitudinal seam portion (extending along the respective longitudinal axis A) and a pair of transversal sealing fins, preferentially a transversal top sealing fin and a transversal bottom sealing fin.
• each finalized package 2 may have a substantially parallelepiped structure.
• each finalized package 2 may comprise at least a first end portion and a second end portion arranged at opposite sides of finalized package 2 and an intermediate portion interposed between the first end portion and the second end portion.
• each first end portion may define a bottom of the respective finalized package 2 and each second end portion may define a top of the respective finalized package 2.
• each first end portion and each second end portion may comprise at least one respective transversal wall (being transversal to the respective longitudinal axis A of the respective finalized package 2).
• each intermediate portion may comprise and/or define a side wall, e.g. formed from a plurality of interconnected side wall portions, extending between the respective transversal walls.
• each first end portion may define a bottom wall and the respective transversal wall of each second end portion may define a top wall.
• the bottom wall may have a support surface adapted to be placed on a (horizontal) plane, such as e.g. a shelf within a distribution point, and the top wall may be opposite to the bottom wall.
• each finalized package 2 may also comprise an opening device, such as a closure or a lid.
• each opening device may be applied to the respective multilayer packaging material, preferentially web of packaging material 3, or onto semi-finalized packs 5 (which will be described in more detail in the following) or onto finalized packages 2.
• each opening device may be provided on the respective second end portion, preferentially the respective transversal wall defining the respective top wall.
• packaging machine 1 may be configured to produce (sealed) semi-finalized packs 5, such as e.g. pillow packs, being filled with the pourable product and to further treat and/or manipulate and/or form semi-finalized packs 5 for obtaining finalized packages 2.
• semi-finalized packs 5 such as e.g. pillow packs
• each finalized package 2 extends along the respective longitudinal axis A, and more specifically also along a first transversal axis perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axis A and a second transversal axis perpendicular to longitudinal axis A and the first transversal axis.
• an extension of each finalized package 2 along the respective longitudinal axis A is larger than an extension along the respective first transversal axis and an extension along the respective second transversal axis.
• each semi-finalized pack 5 may extend along a respective longitudinal axis B, and preferentially may comprise a longitudinal sealing band 6 (extending along and/or being parallel to longitudinal axis B).
• Each semi-finalized pack 5 may comprise a central main body 8, one or more flaps 9 protruding away, preferentially laterally protruding away, from the respective central main body 8 and one or more transversal sealing fins 10, preferentially transversal to longitudinal axis B.
• each sealing fin 10 and each flap 9 may be arranged at a respective end portion of the respective semi-finalized pack 5. In even further detail, each sealing fin 10 and each flap 9 may result from transversally sealing the respective semi-finalized pack 5.
• each semi-finalized pack 5 may comprise at least two transversal sealing fins 10, preferentially transversal to longitudinal axis B, and two pairs of flaps 9, each pair being associated with one respective sealing fin 10.
• each pair of flaps 9 and the respective sealing fin 10 are arranged at a respective end portion of the respective semi-finalized pack 5.
• one pair of flaps 9 and the respective sealing fin 10 of each semi-finalized pack 5 are arranged at a first end portion 11 of the respective semi-finalized pack 5 and the other pair of flaps 9 and the respective sealing fin 10 of each semi-finalized pack 5 are arranged at a second end portion 12 of the respective semi-finalized pack 5 opposite to the respective first end portion 11.
• each sealing fin 10 may define a respective transversal sealing fin of the respective finalized package 2 (obtained from the respective semi-finalized pack 5).
• each sealing fin 10 may protrude from the respective central main body 8 along a direction parallel to the respective longitudinal axis B.
• Each longitudinal sealing band 6 may define a corresponding longitudinal seam portion of the respective finalized package 2 (obtained from the respective semi-finalized pack 5).
• each end portion in particular each first end portion 11 and each second end portion 12, may taper from the respective central main body 8 to and/or into the respective sealing fin 10 and the respective flaps 9.
• each flap 9 and the respective sealing fin 10 are connected to one another.
• each semi-finalized pack 5 may comprise the respective first end portion 11, the respective second end portion 12 and an intermediate portion interposed between first end portion 11 and second end portion 12.
• packaging machine 1 may comprise at least:
• forming apparatus 15 may comprise:
• each sealing fin 10 may result from transversally sealing and cutting tube 19.
• the pack forming unit may be arranged downstream of isolation chamber 17 and tube forming and sealing device 20 along tube advancement path Q.
• tube 19 may extend along a longitudinal axis, preferentially having a vertical orientation.
• packaging machine 1 may further comprise a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion of web of packaging material 3 at a sterilization station arranged upstream of the tube forming station along web advancement path P.
• filling device 21 may comprise at least a filling pipe 22 being in fluid connection or being controllable to be in fluid connection with a pourable product storage tank (not shown and known as such) and being, in use, partially placed within tube 19 for feeding the pourable product into the, in use, advancing tube 19.
• the pack forming unit may comprise:
• each operative assembly may be configured to cooperate, in use, with the respective counter-operative assembly of the respective pair for forming, transversally sealing, and preferentially also transversally cutting, tube 19 for obtaining one respective semi-finalized pack 5, in particular when, in use, advancing along a respective operative portion of the respective conveying path.
• folding apparatus 16 is configured to form finalized packages 2 from the respective semi-finalized packs 5.
• folding apparatus 16 is, more specifically also forming apparatus 15 is, arranged on and/or arrangeable on a support surface, in particular a horizontal support surface.
• the support surface can be a floor of a production hall and/or a base structure placed within a production hall may comprise the support surface.
• folding apparatus 16 comprises:
• conveying apparatus 26 is arranged such that folding unit 25 feeds finalized packages 2 to conveying apparatus 26.
• folding apparatus 16 may also comprise an infeed conveyor configured to receive semi-finalized packs 5 from forming apparatus 15 and to feed semi-finalized packs 5 to folding unit 25.
• folding unit 25 comprises:
• finalized packages 2 are formed from semi-finalized packs 5 by interaction of manipulation assembly 34 with semi-finalized packs 5 while semi-finalized packs 5 advance, in use, between receiving station 32 and release station 33.
• semi-finalized packs 5 advance together with the respective retaining pockets 30 from receiving station 32 to release station 33.
• the infeed conveyor may be interposed between conveying device 31 and forming apparatus 15.
• conveying device 31 is arranged such that endless path R comprises a main portion R1 extending between receiving station 32 and release station 33, in particular from receiving station 32 to release station 33.
• manipulation assembly 34 is configured to manipulate semi-finalized packs 5 during advancement of semi-finalized packs 5 along main portion R1.
• main portion R1 comprises a first operative section R1a, a second operative section R1b and a connecting section R1c, in particular a curved connecting section R1c, connecting first operative section R1a and second operative section R1b with one another.
• first operative section R1a may extend from receiving station 32 to connecting section R1c and second operative section R1b may extend from connecting section R1c to release station 33.
• second operative section R1b is arranged downstream of first operative section R1a along endless path R.
• endless path R may also comprise a return portion R2, in particular a curved return portion R2, connecting second operative section R1b with first operative section R1a.
• retaining pockets 30 are empty when moving along return portion R2 and are ready to receive a new semi-finalized pack 5.
• return portion R2 extends from release station 33 to receiving station 32.
• endless path R has an oval-like shape.
• first operative section R1a and of second operative section R1b Preferentially but not necessarily, at least parts of first operative section R1a and of second operative section R1b have a rectilinear shape. More preferentially, first operative section R1a and second operative section R1b are rectilinear.
• manipulation assembly 34 is configured not to actively manipulate semi-finalized packs 5 when semi-finalized packs 5 advance, in use, along connecting section R1c.
• manipulation assembly 34 comprises at least:
• each retaining pocket 30 may be delimited by two spaced apart retaining plates 70.
• each retaining plate 70 is coupled to conveying device 31.
• Conveying device 31 is configured to advance retaining plates 70 along endless path R so as to advance retaining pockets 30 along endless path R.
• conveying device 31 comprises a chain 71 carrying retaining plates 70 and an actuation mechanism for advancing chain 71 and therewith retaining plates 70.
• chain 71 comprises a plurality of links, each link caring a respective plate 70.
• the actuation mechanism comprises at least two gear wheels, an actuator coupled to one of the two gear wheels and configured to rotate the respective gear wheel around a rotation axis so as to advance chain 71 and retaining plates 70.
• conveying apparatus 26 comprises:
• folding unit 25 and conveying apparatus 26 are arranged such that finalized packages 2 are, in use, transferred from folding unit 25, in particular the respective retaining pockets 30, into the respective retaining spaces 40 at feeding station 42.
• feeding station 42 is arranged at release station 33.
• finalized packages 2 are discharged from the respective receiving spaces 40 at discharge station 43, e.g. onto further conveyors 51 such as belt conveyors.
• each retaining space 40 is delimited by a respective pair of delimiting elements, each pair of delimiting elements comprising a respective first delimiting element 44 and a respective second delimiting element 45.
• each first delimiting element 44 of each pair of delimiting elements is arranged downstream of the respective second delimiting element 45 of the respective pair of delimiting elements along advancement path S.
• each first delimiting element 44 of the respective pair of delimiting elements defines a trailing delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 of the respective pair of delimiting elements defines a leading delimiting element 45.
• first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45 are connected to conveying device 41.
• conveying device 41 is configured to advance first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45 along advancement path S and through feeding station 42 and discharge station 43 so as to advance retaining spaces 40 along advancement path S and through feeding station 42 and discharge station 43.
• conveying device 41 comprises a support base 46 carrying first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45.
• conveying device 41 is configured to move support base 46 for advancing retaining spaces 40, in particular first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45, along advancement path S.
• conveying device 41 also comprises an actuator 47, e.g. an electrical motor, configured to actuate movement of support base 46 for advancing retaining spaces 40, in particular first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45, along advancement path S.
• actuator 47 e.g. an electrical motor
• support base 46 is rotatable about a support base rotation axis C and conveying device 41, in particular actuator 47, is configured to rotate support base 46 about support base rotation axis C so as to advance retaining spaces 40, in particular first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45, along advancement path S.
• support base 46 has a (substantially) circular shape.
• first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45 are spaced about support base rotation axis C.
• support base rotation axis C defines together with the horizontal support surface an angle different from 90°, i.e. support base rotation axis C is not perpendicular to the horizontal support surface.
• support base rotation axis C is inclined with respect to the horizontal support surface.
• support base rotation axis C is inclined towards folding unit 25.
• the angle defined between a vertical direction and support base rotation axis C ranges between 30° and 80°, more specifically between 45° and 65°. The Applicant has observed that such an orientation allows an improved working efficiency.
• first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45 are mounted to a peripheral portion of support base 46.
• each first delimiting element 44 and each second delimiting element 45 is movably connected to support base 46, i.e. first delimiting elements 44 and second delimiting elements 45 can execute a relative movement with respect to support base 46.
• conveying apparatus 26 comprises a control device 48 configured to control a relative movement of each first delimiting element 44 and each second delimiting element 45 during advancement of each first delimiting element 44 and each second delimiting element 45 along advancement path S.
• control device 48 is configured to control a relative position of the respective first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 of each pair of delimiting elements.
• control device 48 is configured such to control the relative position of each first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 such to clamp the respective finalized packages 2 between the respective first delimiting elements 44 and the respective second delimiting elements 45 during advancement of the respective first delimiting elements 44 and the respective second delimiting elements 45 between feeding station 42 and discharge station 43. Additionally, control device 48 is configured such to control the relative position of each first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 such to allow to feed finalized packages 2 into and discharge finalized packages 2 out of the respective retaining spaces 40 at, respectively, feeding station 42 and discharge station 43.
• control device 48 is configured to move each first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 towards one another after the respective retaining space 40 having received the respective finalized packages 2 at feeding station 42 and to move each first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 away from one another prior to releasing the respective finalized packages 2 at discharge station 43.
• each first delimiting element 44 and each second delimiting element 45 is angularly movably coupled to (a respective portion) of support base 46 and each first delimiting element 44 and each second delimiting element 45 is angularly movable about a respective delimiting element rotation axis E, more specifically a respective delimiting element rotation axis E parallel to support base rotation axis C.
• control device 48 is configured to control an angular movement of each first delimiting element 44 and each second delimiting element 45 about the respective delimiting element rotation axis E and during advancement of each first delimiting element 44 and each second delimiting element 45 along advancement path S.
• control device 48 is configured to control a respective first angular position of each first delimiting element 44 with respect to the respective delimiting element rotation axis E in dependence of a respective angular position of first delimiting element 44 with respect to support base rotation axis C and to control a respective second angular position of each second delimiting element 45 with respect to the respective delimiting element rotation axis E in dependence of a respective angular position of second delimiting element 45 with respect to support base rotation axis C.
• support base 46 comprises a first support plate 49 and a second support plate 50 spaced apart from one another along support base rotation axis C.
• first delimiting elements 44 are connected, more specifically rotatably coupled (hinged), to first support plate 49 and second delimiting elements 45 are connected, more specifically rotatably coupled (hinged), to second support plate 50.
• each first delimiting element 44 and each second delimiting element 45 comprises a respective interaction portion 55 configured to interact with finalized packages 2 and a connection portion 56 angularly movably coupled to support base 46, in particular to first support plate 49 and second support plate 50, respectively.
• connection portion 56 radially protrudes from support base 46, and the respective interaction portion 55 (axially) extends from the respective connection portion 56.
• control device 48 comprises:
• control device 48 comprises a control plate 59 carrying on a first side first cam profile 57 and on a second side, opposite to the first side, second cam profile 58.
• control plate 59 is interposed between first support plate 49 and second support plate 50.
• conveying apparatus 26 also comprises a support structure 60 extending (at least) between feeding station 42 and discharge station 43 and being configured to carry finalized packages 2 during advancement of finalized packages 2 from feeding station 42 to discharge station 43.
• support structure 60 is arc-shaped.
• conveying apparatus 26 comprises a lateral support 61, e.g. connected to support structure 60, extending at least between feeding station 42 and discharge station 43 and being configured to laterally support finalized packages 2 during advancement of finalized packages 2 between feeding station 42 and discharge station 43.
• a lateral support 61 e.g. connected to support structure 60, extending at least between feeding station 42 and discharge station 43 and being configured to laterally support finalized packages 2 during advancement of finalized packages 2 between feeding station 42 and discharge station 43.
• a respective first angle ⁇ 1 is defined between longitudinal axis A of finalized package 2 and support base rotation axis C.
• a respective second angle ⁇ 2 is defined between longitudinal axis A of finalized package 2 and support base rotation axis C.
• first angle ⁇ 1 and second angle ⁇ 2 equal one another.
• each finalized package 2 equals the respective first angles ⁇ 1 of the other finalized packages 2.
• each finalized package 2 equals the respective first angles ⁇ 2 of the other finalized packages 2.
• each finalized package 2 is arranged within retaining space 40 and is at discharge station 43 (the finalized package 2 being shown on the right in Figure 8 ) longitudinal axis A of finalized package 2 is arranged along a substantially vertical direction, in particular a vertical direction.
• packaging machine 1 forms finalized packages 2 filled with the pourable product.
• the method for forming finalized packages 2 comprises the main steps of:
• the main step of forming semi-finalized packs 5 comprises at least the steps of:
• the step of forming may also comprise the step of sterilizing web of packaging material 3 at the sterilization station.
• step of folding semi-finalized packs 5 comprises the sub-steps of:
• At least one manipulation step is executed on semi-finalized packs 5 when advancing along first operative section R1a and at least another manipulation step is executed on semi-finalized packs 5 when advancing along second operative section R1b.
• a step of conveying is also provided during which retaining spaces 40 advance along advancement space S.
• respective finalized packages 2 are placed into retaining spaces 40 at feeding station 42 and are discharged from retaining spaces 40 at discharge station 43.
• control device 48 controls the relative position of the each first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 of each pair of delimiting elements, in particular in dependence of the angular position of first delimiting element 44 with respect to support base rotation axis C and of the angular position of second delimiting element 45 with respect to support base rotation axis C.
• control device 48 controls the relative position of each first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 such to clamp the respective finalized packages 2 between the respective first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 during advancement of the respective first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 between feeding station 42 and discharge station 43. Additionally, during the step of conveying, control device 48 controls the relative position of each first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45 such to allow to feed finalized packages 2 into and discharge finalized packages 2 out of the respective retaining spaces 40 at, respectively, feeding station 42 and discharge station 43.
• conveying apparatus 26 allows to provide for an improved guidance during advancement from feeding station 42 to discharge station 43.
• conveying apparatus 26 thanks to the possibility of controlling the relative position of each first delimiting element 44 and the respective second delimiting element 45, allows to avoid rotations of finalized packages 2 during advancement of finalized packages 2 between feeding station 42 and discharge station 43.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=92107002

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (9)

• 2025
  • 2025-05-22 WO PCT/EP2025/064170 patent/WO2025247749A1/fr active Pending
  • 2025-05-22 EP EP25178248.8A patent/EP4656533A1/fr active Pending

Patent Citations (9)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events