Grouping device and method for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles
AssigneeG.D S.p.A.
InventorsLuca Borderi, Gianluca Parisini, Antonio Gigante
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grouping device includes a feeding device with a plurality of elongated transport elements to support at least one of discrete rows of articles to be grouped and defining a respective seat in which an open or openable longitudinal end is defined. The grouping device further includes a pusher device to contact a discrete row of articles so that the discrete row slides out of one of the elongated transport elements, and an unloading device to receive, through an interchange zone, the discrete row unloaded through a longitudinal end. The feeding device is configured to position, in sequence, each elongated transport element at the interchange zone.
Claims15
A grouping device for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, comprising:
- a feeding device including a plurality of elongated transport elements configured to support at least one of discrete rows of articles, wherein each elongated transport element defines a respective seat mainly extending along a longitudinal axis, in which seat an open or openable longitudinal end is defined;
- a pusher device configured to abut against the at least one discrete row of articles so that the at least one discrete row slide out of one of said elongated transport elements through a respective longitudinal end;
- an unloading device configured to receive, through an interchange zone, the at least one discrete row discharged through the respective longitudinal end, and
- a control device configured to control one or more characteristics of the discrete rows in said feeding device, wherein said one or more characteristics comprise a direction of alignment of said discrete row of articles with respect to said longitudinal axis, wherein said control device is configured to temporarily inhibit operation of said pusher device if one or more of the one or more characteristics of the discrete row controlled by the control device do not correspond to an expected value,
- the feeding device being configured to position, in sequence, each elongated transport element at said interchange zone.
A grouping device for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, comprising:
- a feeding device including a plurality of elongated transport elements configured to support at least one of discrete rows of articles, wherein each elongated transport element defines a respective seat mainly extending along a longitudinal axis, in which seat an open or openable longitudinal end is defined;
- a pusher device configured to abut against the at least one discrete row of articles so that the at least one discrete row slide out of one of said elongated transport elements through a respective longitudinal end;
- an unloading device configured to receive, through an interchange zone, the at least one discrete row discharged through the respective longitudinal end;
- a control device configured to control one or more characteristics of the discrete rows in said feeding device, wherein said one or more characteristics comprise a direction of alignment of said discrete row of articles with respect to said longitudinal axis, and
- a discarding zone, said feeding device being configured to transport the discrete row to said discarding zone when one or more of the one or more characteristics of the discrete row controlled by the control device do not correspond to an expected value,
- the feeding device being configured to position, in sequence, each elongated transport element at said interchange zone.
A grouping device for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, comprising:
- a feeding device including a plurality of elongated transport elements configured to support at least one of discrete rows of articles, wherein each elongated transport element defines a respective seat mainly extending along a longitudinal axis, in which seat an open or openable longitudinal end is defined;
- a pusher device configured to abut against the at least one discrete row of articles so that the at least one discrete row slide out of one of said elongated transport elements through a respective longitudinal end;
- and
- an unloading device configured to receive, through an interchange zone, the at least one discrete row discharged through the respective longitudinal end, wherein said unloading device comprises a rotation device configured to reverse a direction of alignment of said discrete row, wherein said rotation device comprises a rotating support configured to rotate 180° with respect to an axis perpendicular to an axis of alignment of said discrete row,
- the feeding device being configured to position, in sequence, each elongated transport element at said interchange zone.
A grouping method for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, each discrete row defining a respective axis of alignment, said grouping method comprising:
- arranging a plurality of discrete rows of articles on a feeding device so that each discrete stack of articles defines a respective axis of alignment;
- pushing a discrete row of said plurality of discrete rows so that the discrete row slides along said respective axis of alignment;
- unloading the discrete row from said feeding device by passing the discrete row, unloaded through a longitudinal end, through an interchange zone;
- moving the plurality of discrete rows of articles by said feeding device to position, in sequence, each discrete stack of articles in said interchange zone;
- monitoring one or more characteristics of the plurality of discrete rows of articles prior to said pushing said discrete row, and
- transporting said discrete row to a discarding zone when one or more of the monitored one or more characteristics of the discrete row do not correspond to an expected value.
A grouping method for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, each discrete row defining a respective axis of alignment, said grouping method comprising:
- arranging a plurality of discrete rows of articles on a feeding device so that each discrete stack of articles defines a respective axis of alignment;
- pushing a discrete row of said plurality of discrete rows so that the discrete row slides along said respective axis of alignment;
- unloading the discrete row from said feeding device by passing the discrete row, unloaded through a longitudinal end, through an interchange zone;
- moving the plurality of discrete rows of articles by said feeding device to position, in sequence, each discrete stack of articles in said interchange zone;
- and
- reversing a direction of alignment of said discrete row if the direction of alignment does not correspond to a predetermined direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.