Method and apparatus for boxing ice cream type products
AssigneeCt Pack S.R.L.
InventorsAlberto BONAZZA, Daniele MEZZARO, David ROSIGNOLI
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Abstract
A method for automatically boxing ice cream type products which allows, by means of 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 the absences of product on the transport system, operating between the apparatus for production of the products and the boxing unit, the latter being configured, for each boxing sequence, for picking up the products and transferring them in at least one box. An apparatus configured to automatically perform the method.
Claims12
A method for boxing products comprising an operating sequence, said operating sequence comprising:
- a step of storing in a storage zone a predetermined number of products to be boxed;
- after said storage step, a step of picking up the stored products, during which each of a plurality of boxing elements, starting from a respective starting position with respect to said storage zone, picks up a respective product to be boxed;
- a step of boxing products picked up, during which each of said boxing elements boxes the respective product picked up;
- wherein:
- the storage step comprises at least one step of moving a plurality of storage elements from a zone for receiving the products to said storage zone, each of said storage elements being configured to transport, during said movement step, a respective product present in the respective storage element;
- the operating sequence comprises, for each movement step, a step of monitoring the presence or absence of a respective product in each storage element moved;
- the operating sequence comprises an obtaining step, during which is obtained automatically, for each product to be boxed and depending on the presence or absence of respective products in the respective storage elements, a respective storage position of the product to be boxed in the storage zone;
- the operating sequence comprises an automatic setting up step, during which is automatically set, for each boxing element and as a function of the storage position obtained of the respective product to be boxed, the starting position of the respective boxing element.
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;
- wherein:
- said storage unit comprises a plurality of storage elements and is configured for moving said the plurality of storage elements in order to store 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;
- said apparatus comprises a monitoring unit, the apparatus being configured so that the monitoring unit automatically monitors the presence or absence of a respective product in each storage element which is moved from the receiving zone to the storage zone;
- said apparatus comprises an obtaining module, the apparatus being configured so that the obtaining module automatically obtains, for each product to be boxed and depending on the presence or absence of respective products in the respective storage elements, a respective storage position of the respective product to be boxed in the storage zone;
- said apparatus comprises a setting up unit, the apparatus being configured so that the setting up unit automatically sets up, for each boxing element and as a function of the storage position obtained of the respective product to be boxed, the starting position of the respective boxing element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.