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US 12,715,721 B2Granted
Movement unit and process for moving a blank and packing apparatus associated thereto
AssigneeG.D S.p.A.
InventorsSalvatore Carboni, Antonio Vitali
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A movement unit for moving a blank includes a drum, a blank with central and lateral panels, and a retention device for retaining the blank. The lateral panel has an end secured to the central panel by a folding zone and an opposite free end. The retention device is secured to the drum and includes a support, a first gripping portion secured to the support and having first retention elements configured to retain the central panel, and a second gripping portion secured to the support or to the first gripping portion and having second retention elements configured to retain the lateral panel.
Claims18
A movement unit for moving a blank, comprising:
- i) at least one drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis along a rotation direction;
- ii) a blank comprising:
- a central panel, and
- a lateral panel having a first end secured to said central panel by a first folding zone, and a second, free, end opposite to said first end, said lateral panel extending for at least 10 cm in a direction perpendicular to said first folding zone and being configured to precede said central panel in said rotation direction of said at least one drum;
- and
- iii) at least one retention device for retaining said blank, the at least one retention device being secured to said at least one drum and comprising:
- a support,
- a first gripping portion secured to said support and comprising first retention elements configured to selectively and fixedly retain said central panel,
- a second gripping portion secured to said support or to said first gripping portion, the second gripping portion comprising second retention elements configured to selectively and fixedly retain said lateral panel of said blank, and
- a movement mechanism for moving said second gripping portion with respect to said first gripping portion, said movement mechanism being configured to perform, during a rotational arc of said at least one drum, a controlled rotation of said second gripping portion with respect to said first gripping portion.
7 more elements
A process for moving a blank, comprising:
- providing a movement unit comprising at least one drum having a rotation axis for rotating in a rotation direction, and at least one retention device secured to the at least one drum;
- providing a blank comprising a central panel and a lateral panel, the lateral panel having a first end secured to said central panel by a first folding zone and a second, free, end opposite said first end, said lateral panel extending for at least 10 cm in a direction perpendicular to said first folding zone and being configured to precede said central panel in said rotation direction of said at least one drum;
- bringing said at least one drum into a removal position, wherein said retention device faces said blank;
- activating a first retention element of a first gripping portion of said retention device by selectively and fixedly securing said central panel to said first retention element;
- activating a second retention element of a second gripping portion of said retention device by selectively and fixedly securing said lateral panel to said second retention element, thereby providing a controlled configuration of said blank;
- rotating said at least one drum in a rotation direction up to a release position of said retention device, while controlling by said first and second retention elements respective positions and orientations of said central panel and said lateral panel;
- rotating, in a controlled manner, at least one among said first gripping portion and said second gripping portion while said at least one drum rotates between said removal position and said release position, to provide a rotation equal to an angle of inclination between 60° and 120° with respect to a radial direction of said at least one drum;
- and
- deactivating said retention elements by disengaging said blank from said retention device while said at least one drum is in said release position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.