STATION FOR INSERTING PRODUCTS INTO BOX-LIKE BODIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES
A station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types includes a conveyance line for box-like bodies and a conveyor belt for bundles constituted by at least one product. The station includes a handling element for a bar, the latter being provided with at least one functional unit that abuts against at least one respective bundle. The bar can move, by virtue of the action of the handling element, transversely with respect to the belt and to the line from the line toward the belt and vice versa, and at right angles with respect to the belt and to the line, along a direction away from/towards them.
The present disclosure relates to a station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types.
BACKGROUNDIn particular the use is known of two different types of shaped sheets (blanks) for providing box-like bodies that are generally parallelepiped in shape.
In some cases shaped sheets are used (which are cut according to a preset shape, generally by way of a punching process), which, following adapted folding and gluing operations, take on the desired box-like shape structure. In this case the shaped sheets are generally referred to as “flat sheets”.
In other cases the shaped sheets, which define the blank to be folded further in order to provide the box-like body, have already been subjected to a first operation of folding and gluing. This second type of shaped sheets, referred to as “pre-glued”, has a tubular shape structure and, for storage, is collapsed with respect to two mutually opposite edges.
Both types of shaped sheets (“flat sheets” and “pre-glued sheets”) offer numerous mutually competing advantages and therefore makers of machines for packaging have developed several models for operating solely with one type or the other.
The huge difference in encumbrances of “flat sheets” with respect to “pre-glued sheets” in fact determines the need to adopt very different implementation architectures for inserting products into the different types of sheets, which translate to different elements for manipulating the products and/or bundles constituted by a preset plurality of products.
SUMMARYThe aim of the present disclosure is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types which makes it possible to insert them equally from the front and from above.
Within this aim, the disclosure provides a station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types which requires a few simple change-of-format operations in order to pass from the configuration adapted to insert the products into a first type of box-like bodies to the configuration adapted to insert the products into a second type of box-like bodies.
The disclosure provides a station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types which is adapted to operate in association with a conveyance line of the box-like bodies which is actuated interchangeably with continuous motion and/or with alternating motion.
The disclosure also provides a station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types which is different from conventional stations for inserting products into respective box-like bodies.
The present disclosure further provides a station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types which is low cost, easily and practically implemented, and safe in use.
These advantages which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by providing a station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types of the type comprising a conveyance line for box-like bodies and a conveyor belt for bundles constituted by at least one product, characterized in that it comprises a handling element for a bar provided with at least one functional unit that abuts against at least one respective bundle, said bar being movable, by virtue of the action of said handling element, transversely with respect to said belt and to said line from said line toward said belt and vice versa, and at right angles with respect to said belt and to said line, along a direction away from/towards them.
Further characteristics and advantages of the disclosure will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types according to the disclosure, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference to
The station 1 comprises a conveyance line 2 for box-like bodies A and B and a conveyor belt 3 of bundles X which are constituted by at least one product P.
The station 1 comprises a handling element 4 for a bar 5a, 5b which is provided with at least one functional unit that abuts against at least one respective bundle X.
The bar 5a, 5b can move, by virtue of the action of the handling element 4, preferably along two separate directions: the bar 5a, 5b can in fact be translated transversely with respect to the belt 3 and to the line 2. In particular the bar can move from the line 2 toward the belt 3 and vice versa; the bar 5a, 5b, furthermore, can translate at right angles with respect to the belt 3 and to the line 2. In particular the bar can move along a direction away from/towards them (thus varying, with particular reference to the example shown in the accompanying figures, its height).
According to a particularly efficient embodiment, the handling element 4 comprises a third degree of freedom, controlled by specific actuation systems, for the translation of the bar 5a, 5b along the advancement direction of the box-like bodies A, B on the line 2 and of the bundles X on the belt 3.
The third degree of freedom and the corresponding actuation systems are adapted to allow the bar 5a, 5b to follow the box-like bodies A, B in order to ensure that the operations to fill the box-like bodies A and B with the bundles X can be executed continuously.
According to an embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the functional units can be a plurality, arranged mutually side by side and distributed along the respective bar 5a, 5b.
More specifically, with reference to an embodiment shown purely for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying
According to an alternative embodiment, safe and convenient in application, the at least one functional unit comprises at least one grip element 7 which abuts, in at least one operating configuration, against the bundle X for the locking in place thereof: in practice the grip element 7 must be adapted to grip the entire bundle X in order to enable the transfer thereof (therefore also its raising from the belt 3 from which it will be taken).
It should be noted that, according to a form of execution that is simple to implement and stable in operation, the at least one grip element 7 comprises a sucker 8.
It is convenient to note that the possibility is not ruled out that the grip element 7 could have further degrees of freedom with respect to the bar 5a (for example rotation or translation): such further movements would be aimed at appropriately configuring the bundles X before insertion into the box-like body B.
The bar 5a will therefore be movable between a first configuration, of alignment with the belt 3 and juxtaposition of the at least one sucker 8 against the bundle X arranged thereon, a second, raised configuration, in which the at least one sucker 8 keeps the bundle X raised with respect to the line 2 and to the belt 3, and a third configuration, of alignment with the line 2 and release of the bundle, by the above mentioned at least one sucker 8, into a respective box-like body A arranged on the line 2.
In order to enable the necessary versatility of the bar 5a, 5b, the handling element 4 can be coupled detachably to a bar 5a, 5b chosen between a first bar 5b provided with at least one functional unit constituted by at least one fixed tab 6 and a second bar 5a provided with at least one functional unit comprising at least one grip element 7.
With regard to the coupling of the handling element 4 to the bar 5a, in addition to the operations necessary to its correct fixing, it may be necessary to carry out operations for wiring and/or connection of a specific suction circuit that will serve the suckers 8. In such context, the possibility furthermore exists of connecting an optional electric circuit in order to bring signals, or electric power, to the bar 5a in order to fulfill specific further functions defined by the particular application that it is necessary to provide.
It should be noted that, in order to allow an efficacious movement of the bundle X, the belt 3 can preferably comprise distributed shoulder protrusions 9: each pair of protrusions 9 will therefore be adapted to contain and delimit a respective bundle X.
Similarly, the line 2 can preferably comprise specific distributed protruding teeth 10a, 10b.
Each pair of teeth 10a, 10b is adapted to contain and delimit a respective box-like body A and B.
In more detail, the line 2 will comprise at least two conveyor bands 11 and 12, at least one first band 11 comprising first protruding teeth 10a for containing and delimiting a respective box-like body A of a first type, and at least one second band 12 comprising second protruding teeth 10b for containing and delimiting a respective box-like body B of a second type.
Advantageously the present disclosure solves the above mentioned problems, by providing a station 1 for inserting products P into box-like bodies A and B of different types which makes it possible to insert them equally from the front and from above.
Such aim is achieved thanks to the ability of the handling element 4 to translate the bar 5a, 5b according to three different degrees of freedom, it therefore being possible to align the products P (which constitute the bundle X held thereby by way of the respective units) taken from the belt 3 with the box-like body A, B that is present on the line 2, according to the direction defined by the opening of the box-like body A, B.
Conveniently, the station 1 requires a few simple change-of-format operations in order to pass from the configuration adapted to insert the products P into a first type of box-like bodies A, to the configuration adapted to insert the products P into a second type of box-like bodies B.
From a merely mechanical and setup point of view, it is, in fact, a simple substitution of the bar 5a with a bar 5b, as described previously. From the point of view of internal management of changes of format, it is further necessary to set a different law of motion of the various components for actuating the handling element 4 (if there are cams it may be necessary to substitute them or modify their orientation). If the components for actuating the handling element 4 comprise servomotors, then setting the law of motion will be similarly rapid (since the operation is managed by software alone).
Positively the station 1 can operate in association with a conveyance line 2 of the box-like bodies A, B which is actuated interchangeably with continuous motion and/or with alternating motion. In fact it has been seen that the degree of freedom of translation, along a direction parallel to the advancement direction of the box-like bodies A, B on the line, of the bar 5a, 5b (ensured by the handling element 4), enables the bar 5a, 5b to follow and therefore insert products P into box-like bodies A, B in motion.
Profitably the station 1 is different from conventional stations for inserting products P into respective box-like bodies A or B.
Such conventional stations in fact do not have the versatility of the station 1 according to the disclosure.
Advantageously the station 1 is easily and practically implemented and is low cost, and such characteristics make it safe in use.
The disclosure, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.
In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102015000059410 (UB2015A004231) from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A station for inserting products into bodies of different types, of the type comprising a conveyance line for bodies and a conveyor belt for bundles constituted by at least one product, comprising a handling element for a bar provided with at least one functional unit that abuts against at least one respective bundle, said bar being movable, by virtue of the action of said handling element, transversely with respect to said belt and to said line from said line toward said belt and vice versa, and at right angles with respect to said belt and to said line, along a direction away from/towards them.
12. The station according to claim 11, wherein said handling element comprises a third degree of freedom, controlled by specific actuation systems, for the translation of said bar along the advancement direction of the bodies on said line and of the bundles on said belt, said third degree of freedom and the corresponding actuation systems being adapted to follow said bodies for continuous operation.
13. The station according to claim 11, wherein said functional units are a plurality, arranged mutually side by side and distributed along said bar.
14. The station according to claim 11, wherein said functional unit is a fixed tab designed to abut against a face of said bundle in order to impose its translation from said belt to said line, into a respective body.
15. The station according to claim 11, wherein said at least one functional unit comprises at least one grip element that abuts, in at least one operating configuration, against said bundle for the locking in place thereof.
16. The station according to claim 15, wherein said at least one grip element comprises a sucker, said bar being movable between a first configuration, of alignment with said belt and juxtaposition of said at least one sucker against said arranged bundle, a second configuration, in which said at least one sucker keeps said bundle raised with respect to said line and said belt, and a third configuration, of alignment with said line and release of said bundle, by said at least one sucker, into a respective body arranged on said line.
17. The station according to claim 11, wherein said handling element can be coupled detachably to a bar chosen between a first bar provided with at least one functional unit constituted by at least one fixed tab and a second bar provided with at least one functional unit comprising at least one grip element.
18. The station according to claim 11, wherein said conveyor belt comprises distributed shoulder protrusions, each pair of protrusions being adapted to contain and delimit a respective bundle.
19. The station according to claim 11, wherein said conveyance line comprises specific distributed protruding teeth, each pair of teeth being adapted to contain and delimit a respective body.
20. The station according to claim 11, wherein said conveyance line comprises at least two conveyor bands, at least one first band comprising first distributed protruding teeth for containing and delimiting a respective body of a first type, and at least one second band comprising second distributed protruding teeth for containing and delimiting a respective body of a second type.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 6, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2018
Inventor: Fabio SASSI (Zola Predosa)
Application Number: 15/761,341
