# US 9,038,354 B2 · Machine for packaging articles inside containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,354 B2 - Document ID: US9038354B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/193,798 - Filed: 2011-07-29 - Published: 2012-02-02 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-30 - Assignees: Ct Pack S.R.L. - Applicants: Daniele Davi; Michele Pallara - Inventors: Daniele Davi; Michele Pallara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038354B2 ## CPC - B65G 17/065: {the load carrying surface being formed by plates or platforms attached to a single traction element} - B65B 5/105: {by grippers (B65B5/12 and B65B5/108 take precedence)} - B65B 25/007: {packaging of ice-cream} - B65B 35/24: by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/205 takes precedence)} - B65G 17/12: comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element - B65G 17/32: Individual load-carriers - B65B 57/10: responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged - B65B 65/08: Devices for counting or registering the number of articles handled, or the number of packages produced by the machine - B65G 2201/0202: Agricultural and processed food products - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract Machine (1) for packaging articles (2) inside containers (3), a conveyor (6) is provided with a longitudinally movable transporting section (7) for feeding the articles (2) in a given direction (D) and along a given conveying path (P); a robot (23), which is arranged along the conveying path (P) and controlled by an operating and control device depending on detection at least of the position of each article (2) on the transporting section (7), picks up single articles (2) from the transporting section (7) and transfers each picked-up article (2) inside a container (3); the transporting section (7) is delimited transversely by two side walls (18) stabilizing the position and direction of each article (2) with respect to the transporting section (7); on the latter the articles (2) are stably seated between the side walls (18), one behind another in a row, in the conveying direction (D). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine for packaging articles inside containers, comprising: at least one conveyor provided with a longitudinally movable transporting section including at least one conveying channel for feeding the articles in a given direction and along a given conveying path; a station for loading the articles onto the transporting section; a sensor arranged along the conveying path for detecting at least a position of each article on the transporting section; at least one robot arranged along the conveying path; a control mechanism connected to the sensor and to the robot for imparting to the robot commands for picking up single articles from the transporting section and transferring each picked-up article inside a container; wherein, a conveying channel of the transporting section is delimited transversely by two side walls for contacting opposing sides of each article to stabilize the position and direction of each article with respect to the transporting section so the articles are stably seated on the transporting section between the side walls, with the articles aligned one directly behind another in a row in the conveying direction; wherein the two side walls are movable along the conveying direction; wherein the conveyor comprises at least one chain wound in a conveying loop around two pulleys and a plurality of links hinged to the at least one chain and placed adjacent to each other such that shoulders of the plurality of links define the two side walls, wherein gaps are open between the shoulders of the plurality of links when the plurality of links are in an arc portion of the loop and wherein, when the plurality of links are in a straight upper portion of the transporting section, there are no gaps between the shoulders of directly adjacent links; wherein the transporting section includes a plurality of adjacent parallel conveying channels extending along the conveying path defined by the plurality of links positioned adjacent to each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the side walls mutually converge towards a bottom of the transporting section, transversely relative to the conveying direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The machine of claim 2, wherein the side walls extend with a continuous surface from the bottom of the transporting section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the side walls transversely define a groove for receiving the articles; each article being retained, with contact, between the side walls in a stable and fixed position on the transporting section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The machine of claim 4, wherein the groove has, in cross-section, a substantially triangular shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The machine of claim 4, wherein groove has, in cross-section, a substantially trapezoidal shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, in which each article has an elongated form and a main longitudinal axis of extension, and wherein the side walls define transversely a groove inside which each article is stably seated with its longitudinal axis aligned with the conveying direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises at least two pulleys, at least one of the at least two pulleys is a driving pulley; the chain defining, at a top, the transporting section and, at a bottom, a return section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the loading station comprises a feed mechanism for loading the articles one behind another in a row onto the transporting section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the robot comprises a movable gripping head which has a component of movement directed along the transporting section parallel to the conveying direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is programmed to impart to the robot commands for picking up single articles from the transporting section and transferring each picked-up article into a container until a predetermined number of transferred articles, defining a group, is reached inside the container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The machine of claim 11, wherein each link of the chain defines a respective basic portion of the bottom and the side walls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the side walls are parallel to each other and movable in the conveying direction.