US 5,666,786 AGranted

Process and apparatus for introducing compressible packs into a container

AssigneeFocke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)

InventorsHeinz Focke, Harald Freudenberg

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Abstract

Process and apparatus for introducing compressible packs, especially bundles (10) or bundle groups (16, 17) comprised of small packs (11) of paper tissues into a carton (15). Articles or packs or pack groups of cellulose products are difficult to handle from the point of view of packaging technology. For the introduction into a carton (15) open at the top, bundle groups (16, 17) consisting of a multitude of small packs (11) of paper tissues are mechanically compressed, especially into a V-shaped form, then grasped on the top side by a lifting head (23) with suction holders (24 to 27) and held by suction. The lifting head (23) conveys a complete layer of bundle groups (16, 17) into the carton (15) from above, the compressed, reduced formation of the bundles (10) being maintained until they are deposited in the carton (15).

Claims13

Dependent claims

Process for introducing packs with pack contents made from compressible material into large containers comprising:

(a) providing each pack with a wrapping which completely surrounds the pack contents, each pack having an original volume;
(b) providing the wrapping with an air permeable closure seam in a top side of the pack;
(c) compressing the pack into a compressed shape by mechanical force acting laterally upon mutually opposite sides of the pack, such that air contained in the pack exits at least via the air-permeable closure seam;
(d) contacting the pack in the compressed shape by a lifting member with a suction head so as to subject the compressed pack to subatmospheric pressure;
(e) grasping the pack with the suction head at the top side of each pack, in the region of the closure seam;
(f) releasing the mechanical force after the pack has been grasped by the suction head, wherein the compressed shape of the pack is maintained by continuing to subject each pack at said closure seam to subatmospheric pressure;
(g) conveying the pack to a large container and depositing the pack therein by the lifting member with the pack held in the compressed shape exclusively by the subatmospheric pressure of the suction head without mechanical force compressing the pack and by continuously subjecting said top side to said subatmospheric pressure;
(h) releasing the suction head from the pack and withdrawing subatmospheric pressure from the pack after the pack has been deposited in the large container;
(i) wherein, after the suction head has been released from the pack and thus also after the subatmospheric pressure has been withdrawn, the pack substantially entirely regains said original volume by taking in air.

6 more elements

Apparatus for introducing packs with pack contents of compressible material and with a wrapping made from foil or paper into large containers, the packs being introducible into the large container in layers, each pack having a top side and mutually opposite ends, the wrapping having an air-permeable closure seam at said top side, comprising:

(a) a lifting conveyor with at least one suction member connected thereto, for grasping, transporting and for depositing each pack into the large container;
(b) wherein the suction member grasps the pack at the top side of the pack and subjects the pack to subatmospheric pressure for grasping the pack at said top side;
(c) a compressing station positioned upstream of the lifting conveyor for laterally compressing the packs at mutually opposite ends of the pack;
(d) wherein the compressing station is provided with pressure members which are positioned at the mutually opposite ends of the pack and whereby the pack is laterally compressed to a reduced volume with air escaping the pack;
(e) wherein the pressure members are plate-shaped, and selected from the group consisting of slide plates and a stop wall with sliding plate, the pressure members being arranged in a downwardly converging oblique V-position;
(f) control means for gasping the pack by the suction member at said top side in the region of the closure seam, after the pack is compressed and subjecting it to subatmospheric pressure;
(g) control means for releasing the pressure members after the pack has been grasped by the suction member, and
(h) control means for conveying the compressed pack into the large container and depositing said pack therein by the lifting conveyor while the subatmospheric pressure and the reduced volume are maintained.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/534,396Filed 27 Sep 1995
Priority: DE 44 34 866.529 Sep 1994
Granted: 16 Sep 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B65B 5/105
Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles: by grippers
B65B 5/06
Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars: packaging groups of articles, the groups…
B65B 35/38
By grippers: by suction-operated grippers
B65B 63/02
Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged: for compressing or compacting articles or…