Method and apparatus for filling a multi-row packaging tray with piece-form products
AssigneeLoesch Verpackungstechnik GmbH
InventorHeinz-Peter Hammacher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tray loading packaging machine that carries out a method for filling a multi-row packaging tray with piece-form products at a high performance level, having the following steps: dividing up a single-row stream of piece-form products onto a plurality of lanes arranged substantially parallel to one another in order to convey the products further; synchronizing the individual streams of products on the plurality or lanes with one another such that in each case one product from one lane can be transferred to the packaging tray substantially at the same time as in each case one product from the other lanes; and transferring the produces to the packaging tray, wherein in each case one product from one lane is transferred to one row of the packaging tray.
Claims15
A method for filling a multi-row packaging tray with piece-form products, characterized by the following steps of:
- a. dividing up a single-row stream of piece-form products onto a plurality of lanes arranged substantially parallel to one another in order to convey the products further,
- wherein the step of dividing up the single-row stream of products comprises the steps of dividing up the single-row stream of products into successive groups of piece-form products and conveying the product groups further;
- and feeding one respective product group respectively to one of the lanes arranged substantially parallel to one another;
- b. synchronizing the individual streams of products on the plurality of lanes with one another such that one product from one lane can be transferred to the packaging tray substantially at the same time as one respective product from each of the other lanes;
- c. transferring the products to the packaging tray in the form of a first layer, wherein in each layer, one product from each lane is transferred to a corresponding row of the packaging tray;
- and
- d. wherein, prior to the synchronization of the product streams on the lanes arranged substantially parallel to one another, a gapless product stream composed of the individual product groups is formed on each lane.
An apparatus for filling a multi-row packaging tray with piece-form products, characterized by the following features:
- a. a first apparatus for dividing up a single-row stream of piece-form products onto a plurality of lanes arranged substantially parallel to one another for conveying the products further in a conveying direction;
- wherein the first apparatus for dividing up the single-row stream of products comprises the following features:
- a conveying device for dividing up the single-row stream of products into successive groups, or individual streams, of the piece-form products and for conveying the product groups further;
- and a distribution device for feeding one product group to one of the respective lanes arranged substantially parallel to one another;
- b. a second apparatus for synchronizing the individual streams of products with one another on the plurality of lanes such that one product from one lane can be transferred to the packaging tray substantially at the same time as one respective product from each of the other lanes, wherein the second apparatus comprises:
- i. a first set of conveying devices for separating out the individual product stream on each lane such that respectively successive individual products from the individual product stream are conveyed further at a spacing from one another;
- and
- ii. control devices for controlling the speed of further conveying of the individual products on the lanes arranged substantially parallel to one another, such that the products on all the lanes reach positions at the end of the lanes such that each product from each lane is transferred to the packaging tray at substantially the same time as the products from the other lanes;
- and
- c. a third apparatus for transferring the products to the packaging tray, wherein in each case one product from each lane is transferred to a corresponding row of the packaging tray;
- d. wherein, a second set of conveying devices is arranged upstream, in the conveying direction of the single-row stream of products, of the second apparatus for synchronizing or at an inlet thereto, said second set conveying devices forming a gapless product stream composed of the individual product groups on each lane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.