Method and device for filling tubes
OwnerPeter Weckerleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Empty tubes are received in a pallet with the tubes oriented with their central axes substantially perpendicular to a conveyor plane and at a predetermined spacing along first and second axes that are perpendicular to each other and parallel to the conveyor plane. All the empty tubes are simultaneously removed from the pallet, and the tubes are moved mutually apart along the first axis and are subsequently moved mutually apart along the second axis, and the tubes are then filled and sealed. The tubes are moved mutually together to a spacing that is substantially the same as the predetermined spacing and the filled tubes are placed in a pallet.
Claims21
A method for filling tubes, in which the tubes are transported in a feed direction parallel to a conveyor plane from an entry station to an exit station, said method comprising:
- (a) receiving empty tubes in a pallet at the entry station, the tubes in the pallet being oriented with their central axes substantially perpendicular to the conveyor plane and being at a predetermined spacing along first and second axes that are perpendicular to each other and parallel to the conveyor plane,
- (b) simultaneously removing all the empty tubes from the pallet,
- (c) moving the tubes mutually apart along the first axis, and subsequently moving the tubes mutually apart along the second axis,
- (d) filling and sealing the tubes,
- (e) moving the tubes mutually together to a spacing that is substantially the same as said predetermined spacing, and
- (f) placing the filled tubes in a pallet at the exit station.
Apparatus for filling tubes arranged two-dimensionally on pallets at a predetermined spacing along first and second mutually perpendicular axes and having open upper ends, said apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor system with holding devices for receiving tubes and transporting the holding devices and tubes contained therein in a feed direction from an entry station to an exit station,
- a first gripping device for gripping empty tubes in a pallet received at the entry station, removing the tubes from the pallet, moving the tubes mutually apart along said first axis, and setting the tubes down,
- a second gripping device for gripping the tubes that have been set down by the first gripping device, moving the tubes mutually apart along said second axis, and placing the tubes in respective holding devices of the conveyor system,
- a filling device for filling the tubes by way of the open upper ends thereof,
- a sealing device for sealing the upper ends of the tubes, and
- a pallet loading mechanism for gripping the tubes in the holding devices, removing the tubes from the holding devices, moving the tubes mutually together to a spacing that is substantially the same as the predetermined spacing, and placing the tubes in a pallet at the exit station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.