PACKAGING SYSTEM, MACHINE AND TRANSFER APPARATUS AND METHOD
A packaging system (10) for packaging on or more articles the packaging system comprising two or more devices (14, 16, 20, 24, 32, 34) each for performing at least one packaging operation upon on or more articles, each of the two or more packaging devices being coupled to one another in a linear series by a first conveyor (19), the system comprising at least one bypass conveyor (26, 28) providing a forward bypass path and/or a reverse bypass path for bypassing one or more of the devices in a forward and/or reverse direction, and wherein there comprises one or more transfer switches (18, 22, 30, 36) for transferring one or more articles between the first conveyor and the at least one bypass conveyor.
The present invention relates to a packaging system, packaging machine for packaging articles a transfer apparatus and method of packaging articles, more specifically, but not exclusively to a packaging machine comprising at least two packaging operations performed in a sequence upon one or more articles in which the sequence of the packaging operations is adjustable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the field of packaging it is often required to provide consumers with a package comprising multiple primary product containers, such multi-packs are desirable for shipping and distribution and for display of promotional information. For cost and environmental considerations, such cartons or carriers need to be formed from as little material as possible and cause as little wastage in the materials from which they are formed as possible. Another consideration is the strength of the packaging and its suitability for holding and transporting large weights of articles.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile packaging system capable of producing multiple different packaging configurations, and to enable multiple packaging operations to be performed upon the primary product containers and the sequence in which the packaging operation are performed to be changed.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
There is provided a packaging machine which is capable of packaging two or more different styles of packaging, including different carton types, for example trays, wrap around carriers, basket carrier, top gripping clips and fully enclosed cartons; some packages may require application of a shrink wrap.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a packaging system which can package the primary product container hereinafter referred to as articles; preferably the articles are arranged in groups of multiple articles. The groups of articles are packaged in a secondary package and the secondary articles may be placed in a tertiary package, the tertiary package may comprise a group of one or more secondary packages. In embodiments of the invention the packaging machine places the primary product containers directly in the tertiary package; optionally the primary products may be shrink wrapped, wrapped in a shrinkable material (for example by application of heat), before placement in the tertiary package. In some embodiments shrink wrap may be applied to groups or stacks of the secondary packages or tertiary packages.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging system for packaging one or more articles the packaging system comprising two or more devices each for performing at least one packaging operation upon one or more articles, each of the two or more packaging devices being coupled to one another in a linear series by a first conveyor, the system comprising at least one bypass conveyor providing a forward bypass path and/or a reverse bypass path for bypassing one or more of the devices in either a forward and/or a reverse direction, and wherein there comprises one or more transfer switches for transferring one or more articles between the first conveyor and the at least one bypass conveyor.
Preferably, there is a transfer switch provided at the input and output of one or more of the packaging devices.
Preferably, the packaging system comprises an input end and an output end, the system having multiple paths between the input and output ends and there comprises a controller for controlling the path articles take between the input and output.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging machine for packaging articles the packaging machine comprising a plurality of packaging devices arranged to perform a plurality packaging operations in a sequence, the packaging machine comprising at least one bypass conveyor for conveying articles in a forward and reverse direction so as to avoid one or more of the packaging devices such that the sequence of packaging operations performed upon the articles can be changed.
Preferably, one or more articles may be conveyed in the packaging machine such that one or more of the packaging operations can be omitted by bypassing the respective packaging device.
Preferably, one or more articles may be conveyed in the packaging machine such that one or more of the packaging operations can be repeated by returning the articles to an input end of the respective packaging device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a transfer device for changing an article's path through a packaging machine the transfer mechanism comprising a first section for transferring articles to and from a first conveyor and a second section for transferring articles to and from a second conveyor wherein the transfer device comprises a plurality of loading platforms disposed upon a conveyor mechanism having an endless path, the platforms being arranged to convey articles on both the forward and return paths of the conveyor.
Preferably, the second section is moveable between a first position and a second position such that articles can be transferred between the second section and either of the first and second conveyors.
Preferably, the first position is at a first elevation and the second position is disposed at a second elevation.
Preferably, the platforms are conveyed at a velocity matching that at of the first or second conveyor in either the first or second section thereof.
Preferably, the platforms comprise a loading surface which is disposed uppermost in both the forward and return paths of the conveyor mechanism.
Preferably, articles may be transferred to and from the return path of the conveyor mechanism.
Preferably, a forward path of one of the first or second sections is disposed at substantially the same elevation as a loading surface of a forward conveyor and a return path of the same section is disposed at substantially the same elevation as a loading surface of a reverse conveyor.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of packaging articles comprising providing a packaging machine having a plurality of packaging devices each for performing at least one packaging operation, the packaging devices being coupled to one another by a first conveyor for conveying one or more articles between the packaging devices, the packaging machine comprising at least one bypass conveyor for bypassing at least one packaging device in a forward direction and/or in a reverse direction, the method comprising; selecting the sequence of packaging operations to be performed upon one or more articles, transferring the one or more articles between the first conveyor and the at least one bypass conveyor so as to convey the one or more articles to the one or more packaging devices in an order such that the packaging operations are performed in the selected sequence.
Within the scope of this application it is envisaged that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings may be taken independently or in any combination thereof. For example, features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless there is incompatibility of features.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the package, blanks and cartons are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. Indeed, it will be understood that the packages, blanks and cartons described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.
Referring to
Articles are conveyed to an article grouping and metering device 14 upon an input conveyor 12. The article grouping and metering device 14 is coupled to a secondary packaging machine 16 by a first conveyor 19, the article grouping and metering device 14 is also coupled to a forward bypass conveyor 28, best illustrated in
A first transfer mechanism 18 is provided for switching the article processing path, the first transfer mechanism 18 couples the forward bypass conveyor 28 to the first conveyor 19 in the secondary packaging machine 16 and couples a reverse bypass conveyor 26 to the secondary packaging machine 16, in some embodiments the first transfer mechanism 18 couples the forward bypass conveyor 28 to the reverse bypass conveyor 26.
The secondary packaging machine 16 is coupled to a secondary package grouping apparatus 20 by the first conveyor 19, the first conveyor 19 couples the secondary package grouping apparatus 20 to a tertiary packaging machine 24.
A second transfer mechanism 18 is provided for changing the article processing path, the second transfer mechanism 18 is couples the first conveyor 19 to the forward bypass conveyor 28 and the reverse bypass conveyor 26; the second transfer mechanism 18 is disposed between the secondary package grouping apparatus 20 and the tertiary packaging machine 24.
The tertiary packaging machine 24 is coupled to a shrink wrap application apparatus 32 which in turn is coupled to an oven 34.
A third transfer mechanism 30 is provided for changing the article processing path, the third transfer mechanism 30 is couples the first conveyor 19 to the forward bypass conveyor 28 and the reverse bypass conveyor 26; the third transfer mechanism 30 is disposed between the tertiary packaging machine 24 and the shrink wrap application apparatus 32.
The oven 34 is coupled to a second conveyor 40; a fourth transfer mechanism 36 is provided for changing the article processing path, the fourth transfer mechanism 30 is couples the first conveyor 19 to the forward bypass conveyor 28 and the reverse bypass conveyor 26; the fourth transfer mechanism 30 is disposed between the oven 34 and a second conveyor 40 which second conveyor 40 is coupled to a palletizer (not shown).
In an alternative embodiment the tertiary packages bypass the shrink wrapping operation; the tertiary packages are transferred to the forward bypass conveyor 28 by the third transfer mechanism 30, the tertiary packages are conveyed on the forward bypass conveyor 28 and subsequently by the output conveyor 40 to the palletizer (not shown), in this way the tertiary packages avoids the shrink wrap apparatus 32 and oven 34.
In one embodiment the secondary packages are conveyed on the forward bypass conveyor 28 and the output conveyor 40 to the palletizer and also bypass the shrink wrap apparatus 32 and the oven 34.
In an alternative embodiment the secondary packages are heat or shrink wrapped, preferably after being stacked in groups, by the shrink wrap apparatus 32 and oven 34 before being conveyed to the palletizer on the output conveyor 40. In this embodiment the third transfer mechanism 30 switches the articles back onto the first conveyor 19 from the forward bypass conveyor 28.
In one embodiment the shrink wrapped articles are then conveyed upon the reverse bypass conveyor 26 back to the input of the tertiary packaging machine 24; the shrink wrapped articles are transferred form the first conveyor 19 to the reverse bypass conveyor 26 by the fourth transfer mechanism 36. The shrink wrapped articles are transferred from the reverse bypass conveyor 26 to the first conveyor 19, upstream of the tertiary packaging machine 24, which conveys the articles into the tertiary packaging machine 24, by the second transfer mechanism 22. The tertiary packaging machine 24 applies, or loads the articles into a tertiary package such as,but not limited to, a tray. The tertiary packages are then transferred from the first conveyor 19 to the forward bypass conveyor 28 by the third transfer mechanism 30. The tertiary packages are conveyed on the forward bypass conveyor 28 and the output conveyor 40 to the palletizes (not shown), thus the tertiary packages avoid processing by the shrink wrap apparatus 32 and oven 34.
In an alternative embodiment the shrink wrapped articles are conveyed from the shrink wrap apparatus 32 and oven 34 to the input end of the secondary packaging machine 16 on the reverse bypass conveyor 26 bypassing the tertiary packaging machine 24. The shrink wrapped articles are transferred from the reverse bypass conveyor 26 to the secondary packaging machine 16 by the first transfer mechanism 18. The shrink wrapped articles are packaged in secondary cartons to form secondary packages; the secondary packages are grouped together in the secondary package grouping mechanism 20. The grouped secondary packages are then conveyed upon the first conveyors 19 to the tertiary packaging machine 24. The tertiary packages are then transferred from the first conveyor 19 to the forward bypass conveyor 28 by the third transfer mechanism 30. The tertiary packages are conveyed on the forward bypass conveyor 28 and the output conveyor 40 to the palletizer (not shown) and thus avoid the shrink wrap apparatus 32 and oven 34.
Referring now to
The forward bypass conveyor 128 and a reverse bypass conveyor 126 extend beneath the tertiary packaging machine 124 such that articles can bypass the tertiary packaging machine 124 in either direction.
The tertiary packaging machine 124 is coupled to a shrink wrap apparatus 132 and oven 134 by the first conveyor 119, the forward bypass conveyor 128 and reverse bypass conveyor 126 extend beneath the shrink wrap apparatus 132 and oven 134 such that articles can bypass the shrink wrap apparatus 132 and oven 134 in either direction.
A second transfer mechanism 130 is provided for switching the articles' path through the packaging system 110. The second transfer mechanism 130 is disposed between the tertiary packaging machine 124 and the shrink wrap apparatus 132. The second transfer mechanism 130 couples the first conveyor 119 to the forward bypass conveyor 128 and the reverse bypass conveyor 126.
A third transfer mechanism 136 is provided for switching the articles' path through the packaging system 110. The third transfer mechanism 136 is disposed between the oven 134 and an output conveyor 140 which conveys the articles to a palletizer (not shown). The third transfer mechanism 136 couples the first conveyor 119 to the forward bypass conveyor 128 and the reverse bypass conveyor 126.
The forward bypass conveyor 228 and a reverse bypass conveyor 226 extend above the tertiary packaging machine 224 such that articles can bypass the tertiary packaging machine 224 in either direction,
The tertiary packaging machine 224 is coupled to a shrink wrap apparatus 232 and oven 234 by the first conveyor 219, the forward bypass conveyor 228 and a reverse bypass conveyor 226 extend above or over the shrink wrap apparatus 232 and oven 234 such that articles can bypass the shrink wrap apparatus 232 and oven 234 in either direction.
A second transfer mechanism 230 is provided for switching the articles' path through the packaging system 210. The second transfer mechanism 230 is disposed between the tertiary packaging machine 224 and the shrink wrap apparatus 232. The second transfer mechanism 230 couples the first conveyor 219 to the forward bypass conveyor 228 and the reverse bypass conveyor 226.
A third transfer mechanism 236 is provided for switching the articles' path through the packaging system 110. The third transfer mechanism 236 transfers articles to a packaging conveyor (not shown) which conveys the articles to a palletizer (not shown). The third transfer mechanism 236 couples the first conveyor 219 to the forward bypass conveyor 228 and the reverse bypass conveyor 226.
The forward, upper, path of first horizontal portion 250 of the conveyor is disposed at substantially the same elevation as the forward, upper, path of the first conveyer 219. A pusher or guide mechanism P1 is provided to selectively transfer articles from the first conveyor 219 to a platform 254 of the transfer mechanism 222. In some embodiments the articles may be transferred by a pick and place robot.
The pusher or guide mechanism P1 may be employed to selectively transfer articles from a platform 254 of the transfer mechanism 222 to the first conveyor 219; alternatively a separate pusher or guide mechanism may be provided to transfer articles from a platform 254 of the transfer mechanism 222 to the first conveyor 219. It is envisaged that articles will be transferred to and from the first conveyor 219 onto or from a platform 254 of the transfer mechanism 222 whilst the articles and platforms 254 are being conveyed in the forward direction, as indicated by direction arrow D1, in the region where the first conveyor 219 is disposed alongside the first horizontal portion 250 of the conveyor.
The forward, upper, path of second horizontal portion 252 of the conveyor is disposed at substantially the same elevation as the upper path of the forward bypass conveyer 228. A pusher or guide mechanism P3 is provided to selectively transfer articles from a platform 254 of the transfer mechanism 222 to the forward bypass conveyer 228.
The return, lower, path of second horizontal portion 254 of the conveyor is disposed at substantially the same elevation as the upper path of the reverse bypass conveyer 226. A pusher or guide mechanism P2 is provided to selectively transfer articles from a platform 254 of the transfer mechanism 222 to the reverse bypass conveyer 226.
It is envisaged that the first conveyor 219, the transfer mechanism 222 and the forward and reverse bypass conveyors 228, 226 will be matched in speed during transfer of articles between the transfer mechanism 222 and the conveyors.
Turning now to
The pusher or guide mechanism P1 may be employed to selectively transfer articles from a platform 354 of the transfer mechanism 322 to the first conveyor 319 or alternatively a separate pusher or guide mechanism may be provided to transfer articles from a platform 354 of the transfer mechanism 322 to the first conveyor 319, such that articles may be transferred to and from the first conveyor 219 onto or from a platform 254 of the transfer mechanism 222 whilst the articles and platforms 254 are being conveyed in the forward direction, as indicated by direction arrow D1, in the region where the first conveyor 219 is disposed alongside the first horizontal portion 250 of the conveyor.
The second, output, horizontal section 352 is moveable from the position in which it is disposed at substantially the same elevation as the first conveyor 319 to a position in which the forward, upper, reach F is disposed at substantially the same elevation as the upper path of the forward bypass conveyer 328 and the return, lower, reach R is disposed at substantially the same elevation as the upper path of the reverse bypass conveyer 326. A third pusher P4 transfers articles from the transfer mechanism 322 to the forward bypass conveyer 328 and a fourth pusher P3 transfers articles from the reverse bypass conveyer 326 to the transfer mechanism 322, in some embodiments a single pusher may be provided in place of the third and fourth pushers P3, P4, this single pusher being moveable to be operable in a first position and a second position to perform respective the functions of third and fourth pushers P3, P4. It is envisaged that the second, output, horizontal section 352 is moveable between the upper and lower positions of
An advantage of providing separate pushers P3, P4 is that articles can be simultaneously transferred to and from the transfer mechanism 322 on both the forward and return paths of the second, output, horizontal section 352.
The transfer device 322 when in the configuration illustrated in
It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the platforms may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape. It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper” and “lower” do not limit the respective features to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these features from one another.
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A packaging system for packaging one or more articles, the packaging system comprising at least two devices, each for performing at least one packaging operation upon the one or more articles and having a device input and a device output, the devices being coupled to one another in a linear series by a first conveyor, the system further comprising at least one bypass conveyor providing a forward bypass path and/or a reverse bypass path for bypassing at least one of the devices in a forward and/or a reverse direction, and wherein the system further comprises at least one transfer switch for transferring the one or more articles between the first conveyor and the at least one bypass conveyor.
19. A packaging system according to claim 18 wherein one said transfer switch is provided at the device input of at least one of said devices, and a second said transfer switch is provided at the device output of said at least one device.
20. A packaging system according to claim 18 wherein the packaging system comprises an input end and an output end, the system having multiple paths between the input end and the output end, and further comprising a controller for controlling which of said multiple paths the articles take between the input end and the output end.
21. A packaging machine for packaging articles, the packaging machine comprising a plurality of packaging devices arranged to perform a plurality of packaging operations in a sequence, the packaging machine further comprising at least one bypass conveyor for conveying articles in a forward and reverse direction so as to avoid at least one of the packaging devices such that the sequence of packaging operations performed upon the articles can be changed.
22. A packaging machine according to claim 21 wherein one or more of the articles may be conveyed in the packaging machine such that one or more of the packaging operations can be omitted by bypassing at least one of the packaging devices.
23. A packaging machine according to claim 21 wherein one or more of the articles may be conveyed in the packaging machine such that one or more of the packaging operations can be repeated by returning the one more articles to at least one of the packaging devices.
24. A transfer device for changing the path of an article through a packaging machine having a first conveyor and a second conveyor, the transfer device comprising a first section for transferring articles to and from the first conveyor and a second section for transferring articles to and from the second conveyor, wherein the transfer device further comprises a conveyor mechanism having an endless path defining a forward path portion and a return path portion, and a plurality of loading platforms disposed upon said endless path, the platforms being arranged to convey articles on both the forward and return path portions of the conveyor mechanism.
25. A transfer device according to claim 24 wherein the second section is further configured for transferring articles to and from a third conveyor, the third conveyor being disposed at a lower elevation with respect to the second conveyor.
26. A transfer device according to claim 24 wherein the second section is moveable between a first position and a second position such that the articles can be transferred between the second section and either of the first or second conveyors.
27. A transfer device according to of claim 26 wherein the first position is disposed at a first elevation and the second position is disposed at a second elevation.
28. A transfer device according to any of claim 24 wherein the platforms are driven, in at least the first section or second section, at a velocity matching that of the first or second conveyor respectively.
29. A transfer device according to claim 24 wherein the platforms each comprise a loading surface which is disposed uppermost when said platform is in both the forward and return path portions of the conveyor mechanism.
30. A transfer device according to claim 24 wherein the articles may be transferred to and from the return path portion of the conveyor mechanism.
31. A transfer device according to claim 24 wherein the packaging machine further includes a reverse conveyor for conveying articles in a reverse direction to the first and second conveyors, and wherein the forward path portion of at least one of the first or second sections is disposed at substantially the same elevation as one of the first and second conveyors, and the return path portion of the at least one section is disposed at substantially the same elevation as the reverse conveyor.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 28, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 16, 2014
Inventor: Jean-Christophe Bonnain (Chateauroux)
Application Number: 14/354,830
International Classification: B65B 59/02 (20060101); B65B 59/00 (20060101); B65B 65/00 (20060101);