Device and method for packing a cushioning element in a carton
AssigneeGP System
InventorJacky Peterlini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic packing device (1) for cushioning element (s) (2) in a carton (C) is mounted along a conveyor (4) directed along a longitudinal axis (Y, Y′). The packing device (1) includes a robotic cell (3) associated with a cushioning element storage zone (2), the robotic cell (3) including at least one gripping device fo a cushioning element (2). The storage zone includes at least one magazine (18) with at least one cassette (8) movable along a transverse axis (X, X′) from a loading position to an unloading position.
Claims8
An automatic packing device (1) for packing of cushioning element(s) (2) in a carton (C), said automatic packing device being configured to be mounted along a conveyor (4), said packing device (1) comprising:
- a robotic cell (3), and
- a storage zone,
- said robotic cell (3) comprising at least one means of gripping a cushioning element (2) in form of tubes of crinkled paper, said at least one means of gripping comprising a gripper (6) comprising two jaws (7) movable along a longitudinal axis compressing the cushioning element (2) when gripped,
- wherein the storage zone comprises at least one magazine (18) comprising at least one cassette (8) receiving cushioning elements (2) from at least one cushioning element distributor (D1, D2) configured to deliver cushioning elements (2) of different materials, shapes and structures, wherein the magazine is movable from a loading position corresponding to a position facing the at least one cushioning element distributor (D1, D2) to an unloading position where the cassette (8) is located below the at least one means of gripping a cushioning element (2),
- the robotic cell (3) is associated computationally by an automaton to the magazine (18) , wherein the automaton determines, as a function of acquired dimensions of the carton (C), a number and type of cushioning elements (2) to be introduced.
A method of inserting at least one cushioning element (2) into a carton (C) by a packing device (1), said method comprising the steps of:
- acquisition by an automaton of a length, width and height of the carton (C);
- determination by the automaton of a number and type of cushioning elements (2) comprising tubes of crinkled paper to be introduced into the loaded carton (C),
- providing said at least one cushioning element in a cassette (8) from a cushioning element distributor (D1, D2),
- movement of the cassette (8) to an unloading position under a means of gripping a cushioning element (2),
- movement downward of the means of gripping a cushioning element (2) to substantially a bottom of the cassette (8);
- loading and compressing of the cushioning element (2) in the means of gripping,
- movement upward of the means of gripping loaded with a cushioning element (2),
- movement of the cassette (8) from which the cushioning element (2) has been unloaded from the unloading position to a position awaiting loading,
- movement downward of the means of gripping loaded with the cushioning element (2),
- release of the cushioning element (2), and
- movement upward of the means of gripping of the cushioning element (2) to a loading position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.