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US 7,726,462 B2Granted
Method and unit for the formation of groups of products in a machine for continuous packaging of products
AssigneeKPL Packaging S.p.A. Societa Unipersonale
InventorsNicola Baldanza, Moreno Cremonini, Giordano Gorrieri
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Abstract
Described herein is a method and a unit for the formation of groups of products in a machine for continuous packaging of products, according to which at least two continuous rows of products are fed via two conveyor devices set in series with respect to one another along a first given path and in contact with at least one alignment element, which is set transverse to the first path and in front of the rows of products to align the rows themselves with respect to one another, and is displaced along a second, loop-like, path defined by two portions, along which the alignment element is set on the inside and on the outside, respectively, of the first path.
Claims46
A method for the formation of groups (2) of products (3) in a machine for continuous packaging of products (3), the method comprising the steps of:
- feeding a first plurality of products (3) ordered in at least two continuous rows (30) set alongside one another via first and second conveyor means (8, 9), which are set in series with respect to one another, are connected together in a position corresponding to a transfer station (10) arranged between the first and second conveyor means, and are designed to feed said at least two continuous rows (30) along a first path (P1) and in a first direction (7), the two continuous rows (30) having the first plurality of products extending in the first direction (7);
- providing at least one alignment element (28) independent of the first and second conveyor means (8,9), the at least one alignment element (28) configured to extend transversely to said first path (P1) and across said at least two rows of products, which is displaceable along a first loop-like path (P2) comprising:
- (i) a first portion (T1), wherein the alignment element (28) is set inside the first path (P1) and extends across the at least two rows of products and moves along said first path (P1) in said first direction (7) away from said transfer station, and (ii) a second portion (T2) outside the first path (P 1);
- providing at least one thrust element (29) configured to extend transversely to said first path (P1) and across said at least two rows of products, which is displaceable along a second loop-like path (P2) comprising:
- (i) a first portion (T1), wherein the thrust element (29) is set inside the first path (P1) and extends across the at least two rows of products and moves along said first path (P1) in said first direction (7) away from said transfer station, and (ii) a second portion (T2) outside the first path (P 1);
- aligning the rows (30) transversely to said first direction (7) by abutting said at least two rows (30) against said at least one alignment element (28) arranged in front of the rows (30), while moving said alignment element (28) along said first portion (T1) of said first loop-like path (P2) away from said transfer station;
- disengaging the alignment element (28) from the first path (P 1);
- feeding a second plurality of products (3) from the first plurality that defines a corresponding group (2) of products (3) through said transfer station (10), said group of products including at least two rows of products set alongside in a direction extending transversely to said first direction (7) and with each row including at least two products extending in the first direction;
- stopping the first conveyor means (8) for separating the group (2) of products (3) from the continuous rows (30) of products positioned on the first conveyor means (8);
- inserting and accelerating said at least one thrust element (29) in said first portion (T1) of said second loop-like path (P2), in contact with and behind said group (2) of products (3) with respect to said first direction (7);
- moving said thrust element away from said transfer station along said first direction;
- and
- feeding said group (2) of products (3) into a tubular casing made of wrapping material by means of said at least one thrust element (29).
10 more elements
A unit for the formation of groups (2) of products (3) in a machine for continuous packaging of products (3), the unit comprising:
- first and second conveyor means (8, 9), which are set in series with respect to one another, are connected together in a position corresponding to a transfer station (10) arranged between the first and second conveyor means, and are designed to feed a plurality of products (3) ordered in at least two continuous rows (30) set alongside one another along a first path (P1) and in a first direction (7), with the two continuous rows (30) having the plurality of products extending in the first direction (7);
- at least one alignment element (28) independent of the first and second conveyor means (8, 9), the at least one alignment element (28) configured to be set transverse to the first path (P1) across the at least two rows of products, the at least one alignment element configured and dimensioned to engage the rows (30) at the front with respect to the first direction (7) for aligning the rows (30) in a second direction (16) transverse to the first direction (7);
- wherein a first actuator means (25, 26) is provided, for displacing the alignment element (28) along a first loop-like path (P2) comprising:
- (i) a first portion (T1), wherein the alignment element (28) is set inside the first path (P1) and extends across the at least two rows of products and moves along the first path (P1) in said first direction (7) away from said transfer station, and (ii) a second portion (T2) outside the first path (P1);
- at least one thrust element (29), which is configured to be set transverse to the first path (P1) across the at least two rows of products, said at least one thrust element (29) being displaceable along a second loop-like path (P2) comprising:
- (i) a first portion (T1), wherein the thrust element (29) is set inside the first path (P1) and extends across the at least two rows of products and moves along said first path (P1) in said first direction (7) away from said transfer station, and (ii) a second portion (T2) outside the first path (P1);
- wherein said first conveyor unit (8) is controlled to stop for separating a group (2) of products (3) from said continuous rows (30) of products;
- and said at least one thrust element (29) is controlled to be inserted behind said group (2) of products (3) separated from said rows (30), to engage each group (2) of products (3) at the rear with respect to said first direction (7);
- wherein each group (2) of products includes at least two rows of products set alongside in a direction extending transversely to the first direction, with each row including at least two products extending in the first direction;
- and
- wherein said thrust element (29) is arranged and controlled to move along said first path (P1) in said first direction (7) away from said transfer station, thereby pushing said group (2) of products (3) into a downwardly arranged tubular casing made of wrapping material.
8 more elements
A method for forming groups (2) of products (3) in a machine for continuous packaging of products (3), the method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a first and a second conveyor (8, 9) to feed at least two continuous rows (30) of products (3), set alongside one another, along a product advancement path (P1) in an advancement direction (7), with the at least two continuous rows (30) having a plurality of products extending in the advancement direction (7);
- bringing a leading product of each of said rows (30) in abutment against an alignment element (28) extending transversely to said advancement path and across said at least two continuous rows (30), the alignment element (28) being independent of the first and second conveyors (8, 9);
- moving said alignment element (28) and said rows (30) of products (3) along said advancement path (P1);
- moving the alignment element (28) outside said advancement path (P1);
- advancing the plurality of products (3) along said advancement path (P1);
- in each row (30), separating a trailing product (3) of a first group (2) from a leading product (3) of a subsequent second group (2), thereby forming a gap between the trailing products of said first group and the leading products of said subsequent second group;
- inserting in said gap and in said advancement path (P1) a thrust element (29) between said trailing products (3) of said first group (2) and said leading products (3) of the subsequent second group (2) said thrust element extending transversely substantially across the advancement path of the trailing and leading products;
- accelerating said thrust element (29) towards and against said trailing products (3);
- pushing said first group (2) of products (3) by means of said thrust element (29) along said advancement path (P1);
- feeding said groups (2) of products (3) into a tubular casing made of wrapping material, wherein said groups (2) of products (3) are pushed into said tubular casing by said thrust element (29);
- wherein each group (2) of products includes at least two rows of products set alongside in a direction extending transversely to the advancement direction, with each row including at least two products extending in the advancement direction.
8 more elements
A unit for forming groups (2) of products (3) in a machine for continuous packaging of products (3), including:
- a product advancement path (P1);
- a conveyor arrangement (8, 9), extending along said advancement path (P1), for advancing at least two continuous rows (30) of said products (3) in an advancement direction (7) along said advancement path (P1), said at least two continuous rows (30) being set alongside one another in a direction extending transversely to said advancement direction (7), the products of each row extending in the direction (7);
- at least one alignment element (28) independent of the conveyor arrangement (8, 9), the at least one alignment element (28) configured to extend transversely to said product advancement path (P1) and across said at least two rows (30), and movable along a first loop-like path (P2), said first loop-like path (P2) including:
- (i) a first portion (T1), wherein the alignment element (28) is set inside the advancement path (P1) and extends across the at least two rows and moves along said advancement path (P1) in said advancement direction, and (ii) a second portion (T2) extending outside the advancement path (P1);
- at least one thrust element (29) configured to extend transversely to said product advancement path (P1) and across said at least two rows (30), and movable along a second loop-like path (P2), said second loop-like path including:
- (i) a first portion (T1), wherein the thrust element (29) is set inside the advancement path (P1) and extends across the at least two rows and moves along said advancement path (P1) in said advancement direction, and (ii) a second portion (T2) extending outside the advancement path (P1);
- wherein said at least one thrust element (29) is controlled to be inserted and accelerated between a first group (2) of products (3) and a subsequent group of products (3) and to push said groups of products into a tubular casing made of wrapping material;
- wherein each group (2) of products includes at least two rows of products set alongside in a direction extending transversely to the advancement direction, with each row including at least two products extending in the advancement direction.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.