Method and apparatus for boxing ice cream type products
AssigneeCt Pack S.R.L.
InventorsAlberto Bonazza, Daniele Mezzaro, David Rosignoli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for automatically boxing ice cream type products allows, via an apparatus with simple mechanical configuration, a sequence of boxing steps to be performed, keeping constant the number of products boxed from one boxing sequence to another, in consideration of possible variations, from one boxing sequence to another, in the spatial distribution of absences of product on the transport system, operating between the apparatus for production of the products and the boxing unit, with the boxing unit being configured, for each boxing sequence, for picking up the products and transferring them into at least one box. The apparatus is configured to automatically perform the method.
Claims12
A method for boxing products comprising an operating sequence, said operating sequence comprising the steps of:
- storing in a storage zone a predetermined number of products to be boxed;
- after said storage step, picking up the products from respective starting positions in the storage zone using a plurality of boxing elements;
- and
- placing the products picked up into a box using said boxing elements;
- the step of storing products in the storage zone comprising moving a plurality of storage elements from a receiving zone for receiving the products to said storage zone, each of said storage elements being configured to transport a respective product present in the respective storage element;
- for each step of moving the plurality of storage elements, monitoring a presence or absence of a respective product in each storage element moved;
- automatically determining for each product to be boxed a respective storage position of the product to be boxed in the storage zone depending on the presence or absence of respective products in the respective storage elements;
- automatically setting up, for each boxing element, the respective starting position of the respective boxing element as a function of the determined storage position for the respective product to be boxed.
An apparatus for boxing products comprising:
- a storage unit for storing a predetermined number of products to be boxed in a storage zone;
- a boxing unit comprising a plurality of boxing elements, said boxing unit being configured so that each of said boxing elements, starting from a respective starting position with respect to said storage zone, picks up and boxes a respective product to be boxed;
- said storage unit comprising a plurality of storage elements, each is configured to move said products to be boxed from a receiving zone for the products to said storage zone, each of said storage elements being configured to transport a respective product present in the respective storage element;
- a monitoring unit that automatically monitors a presence or absence of a respective product in each storage element being moved from the receiving zone to the storage zone;
- a determining module configured to automatically determine, for each product to be boxed, a respective storage position of the respective product to be boxed in the storage zone depending on the presence or absence of respective products in the respective storage elements;
- a setting up unit configured to automatically set up, for each boxing element, the starting position of the respective boxing element as a function of the storage position determined of the respective product to be boxed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.