FR2612488A1 - Method for automatically and continuously packaging objects such as, for example, bottles, and machine for implementing this method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a machine for automatically and continuously packaging objects such as, for example, bottles. This machine essentially comprises a horizontal conveyor 1 with horizontal and parallel bars carrying gripping heads 3 and on which the heads 3 may be displaced transversely, this conveyor 1 comprising, on the one hand, an upper strand 1a for return of the heads 3 above which are arranged means 26 for supplying objects or bottles B to be siezed with separation elements, and, on the other hand, a lower strand 1b under which extend, parallel and side by side, a first conveyor 10 for transporting cartons C and a second conveyor 20 for transporting objects B which, by translation of the gripping heads 3 on the bar conveyor 1, may be conveyed from the second conveyor 20 towards the first conveyor 10. The machine according to this invention permits, in particular, the boxing of a group of bottles, with inserted partitions, into a carton.

Description

 The present invention essentially relates to a process for automatic and continuous packaging of objects such as, for example, boots, bottles, jars, cylindrical or frustoconical pots, or the like.

 It also relates to a machine for implementing this process.

 I1 is already known to introduce into a group of bottles or the like movable by a conveyor belt, partitions, also called spacers, so as to physically separate the bottles from each other, after which the group of bottles thus partitioned is put in crate or cardboard.

 However, such a procedure has drawbacks in that the successive introduction of the spacers requires an elongation of the bottle transport circuit, and that the insertion more or less by force of the spacers between the rows and columns of the bottle risks deteriorate the labels worn by these bottles.

 Furthermore, machines have already been proposed which essentially comprise a carousel from which are gripped heads each comprising a certain number of bells capable of picking up objects such as bottles and then depositing them in a cardboard box or a crate conveyed by example on a conveyor belt.

 But here again, if it is desired that the cased bottles are separated by spacers, the spacers must be arranged in the box or the carton before introduction into the latter of the group of bottles, which causes the deterioration of the labels worn by the bottles.

 The problem of casing a group of bottles separated by dividers without the risk of damaging the labels carried by the bottles and without the need to lengthen the circuit of the bottles to insert the dividers therefore remains unresolved and has not not been resolved by the machines offered to date.

 This is why the present invention proposes a method and a machine which solve this problem and obviously remedy all the drawbacks resulting from the insertion of the spacers between the bottles or vice versa.

 To this end, the subject of the invention is a method of packaging a group of objects, such as for example bottles, in a carton, a box or the like, using a gripper head comprising bells capable of picking up objects and placing them in the cardboard box or crate, characterized in that first of all we introduce and retain between the bells means for separating the objects, then we grab the objects with the bells already retaining these separation means, after which the bells are removed to release said means while simultaneously releasing the objects retained by the bells so that they are collected in the cardboard or the box at the same time as the means which separate them.

 We therefore already understand that we take advantage of the space between the bells capable of gripping and releasing the bottles and movable relative to each other, to retain cardboard dividers for example, after which the bottles can be gripped or released by the bells which already hold the dividers, which can thus in no way damage the labels of the bottles.

 According to another characteristic of this process, the above-mentioned separation means consist of intermediate partitions introduced successively between the bells or by a wall pierced with orifices through which said bells pass.

 It will also be specified here that the objects or bottles with their associated separation means are introduced substantially horizontally into an element in the form of a gutter or the like which, after the objects and the means which separate them are released, is closed to form a closed carton containing said objects.

 The invention also relates to a machine for carrying out the process meeting the above characteristics, this machine comprising a carousel supporting gripping heads each comprising a number of bells capable of grasping objects such as bottles for depositing them in a cardboard or a box conveyed by a conveyor or the like, and being characterized in that said carousel and constituted by a horizontal conveyor with horizontal and parallel bars carrying the gripping heads and on which said heads can move transversely, this conveyor comprising on the one hand an upper strand for the return of the heads above which are arranged means for supplying elements for separating the objects to be grasped, and on the other hand a lower strand under which extend substantially parallel and side by side a first conveyor for transporting boxes and a second conveyor for transporting objects which, by translation of the gripping heads on the bar conveyor, can be routed from the second conveyor to the first conveyor and vice versa.

 According to another characteristic of this machine, the gripping heads are mounted horizontally sliding on crosspieces which are parallel to the aforementioned bars and which are coupled to arms or the like mounted vertically sliding on the bars.

 It will also be specified here that the arms, at their end opposite to that integral with the crosspieces, carry a roller or the like cooperating with a rail forming a cam extending along each of the interior sides of the bar conveyor and allowing the raising and lowering said sleepers in a plane orthogonal to that of the bar conveyor.

 According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the frame supporting the bar conveyor comprises, in addition to the aforementioned rails forming a cam, a second sinuous rail forming a cam path which extends both in the longitudinal direction of the bar conveyor and transversely to this direction, which sinuous rail cooperates with a roller or the like integral with each gripper head to allow its sliding on the crosspieces.

 It is therefore understood that the combination of the two cam rails and the sinuous rail will allow the gripping heads to move both in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane.

 According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the carton transport conveyor comprises respectively upstream and downstream a station for forming a gutter-shaped element receiving the objects, and stations for closing and gluing this element after deposits objects with their separation elements.

 It will also be specified here that the means for supplying elements for separating the objects comprise several stations arranged successively above the upper arm of the bar conveyor.

However, other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better in the detailed description which follows and refers to the appended drawings, given only by way of example, and in which
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine according to the principles of the invention
- Figure 2 is a very schematic view from above of this machine, the gripping heads not being shown for clarity; and
- Figure 3 is an end view of the machine, along arrow III of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that an automatic and continuous packaging machine for objects such as bottles B, in accordance with this invention essentially comprises a horizontal conveyor 1 with parallel and horizontal bars 2 carrying gripping heads 3, a conveyor 10 for transporting cases or cartons C, and a conveyor for transporting bottles
B.

 As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the conveyors 10 and 20 for transporting cartons and bottles extend substantially parallel and side by side below the conveyor 1 of gripping heads 3, and the assembly is supported by a frame 4 which rests on the ground by means of feet 5.

 The gripping heads 3 each comprise, as known per se, a certain number of bells 6 which can grip the bottles B by the neck to deposit them in groups in the boxes C. These gripping heads 3 are extensible, so that the bells 6 can deviate or approach depending on the interval and / or the diameter of the bottles of a group of bottles to be grabbed.

 The horizontal conveyor 1 carrying the gripping heads 2 comprises two pairs of toothed wheels 7 with a horizontal axis 14 driving endless chains 8 between which are fixed the bars 2 carrying the gripping heads 3.

 More specifically, and as best seen in FIG. 3, the bars 2 are fixed by means of a stirrup or the like 9 on the chains 8, and the end of these bars carries rollers 11 which roll on a U-shaped guide rail 12 carried by a lateral support 13 integral with the frame 4 and external to the wheels 7.

The shafts 14 carrying the pairs of toothed wheels 7 are fixed by means of bearings 15 to the supports 13.

It is therefore understood that the rotation of the wheels 7 drives the bars 2 which are supported and guided at their ends by the rails 12 forming a closed loop circuit.

 The bars 2 are provided with vertical supports 16 in each of which arms or the like 17 slide vertically.

 As can be seen in FIG. 3, the gripping heads 3 include ears or the like 19 by which they can slide horizontally on crosspieces 18 fixed by their ends on one 16a of the ends of the sliding arms 17. As a result not only the gripping heads 3 can slide in the horizontal plane, but they can be animated with an upward or downward movement relative to the conveyor 1, and this thanks to the sliding arms 17 which support them.

 The vertical or upward and downward movement of the gripping heads 3 is obtained by a rail 21 forming a cam which extends along each of the interior sides of the conveyor 1 and which cooperates with a roller 22 integral with the other end 16b of the arms 17.

 As seen in Figure 1, each gripper head 3 slides on two crosspieces 18 which, once again can move up or down thanks to the rollers 22 cooperating with the cam rails 21 and which are of course integral of the machine frame 4.

 Each gripper head 3 is provided with a substantially horizontal arm 23 which carries a roller 24 at its end. This roller 24 rolls in a sinuous rail 25 forming a cam track and extending both in the longitudinal direction of the bar conveyor 1, as seen in 25a and in a direction transverse to this longitudinal direction, as seen in 25b.

It will be noted that the portions 25a of the sinuous rail 25, and which extend in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 1 follow a trajectory capable of making compatible the horizontal displacement of the heads 3 on the bars 18 with the rotation drive of the heads 3 by the conveyor 1 and also with the up and down movement of these heads caused by the two rails 21.

Above the upper strand 1a of the bar conveyor 1, which upper strand constitutes the return strand of the gripping heads 3, means 26 for supplying elements for separating the bottles are provided.
B.

 According to the embodiment shown, these means 26 successively comprise a station 26a for the distribution of dividers or cardboard partitions 27 between the bells 6 carried by the heads 3, three stations 26b for the distribution of dividers 27 between the bells 6, and this along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the inserts delivered by the station 26a, and a station 26c allowing the introduction of inserts between the bells 6, and this along a plane parallel to the inserts delivered by the station 26a.

 That said, it is perfectly possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to provide another arrangement making it possible to carry out another sequence of insertion of the cardboard inserts between the bells 6. Similarly, in place of one or more stations distribution of the dividers, one could provide a single unstacking station of cardboard plates having orifices and which would be placed flat on the gripping heads, so that said orifices pass through the bells 6. In other words, the bottles B which will be loaded into the boxes C may, without departing from the scope of the invention, be separated either by vertical dividers such as 27, or by a horizontal cardboard plate.

 The conveyor 10 with boxes C intended to receive a group of bottles B separated by the spacers 27, can transport either boxes or even cases previously formed or, as shown in FIG. 1, boxes each having, before loading, the shape of U-shaped elements or gutter 28 which will be filled with a group of bottles before being folded, closed and glued to form a finished package.

 To this end, and as can be seen in FIG. 1, the machine according to this invention comprises a magazine 29 for flat cartons which is followed by a pivoting mandrel whose movement is shown diagrammatically at 30 and which gives the cardboard plates a shape in gutter or U-shaped, and this upstream of the machine, as seen in 28. Downstream of the conveyor 1, when the U-shaped cardboard elements are loaded with bottles, they are folded laterally and at the top, then glued to make the final packaging, as shown schematically in 31.

 The conveyor 10 for cartons or blanks of cartons C comprises, as is known per se and is visible in FIG. 3, fingers or tabs 32 capable of advancing them.

 As for the bottle conveyor 20 arranged next to the cardboard conveyor 10 and below the bar conveyor 1, it is of a type known per se and may include upstream an indexing system and then grouping of the streams of bottles B , before these are gripped by the gripping heads 3 which are then suspended from the lower strand 1b of the bar conveyor 1.

 But, for the sake of better understanding, the operation of the machine which has just been described will be explained in what follows, and this with reference to FIG. 1.

 The bar conveyor 1 rotating counterclockwise, as shown by arrows, the bells 6 of the gripping heads 3 carried by the upper strand 1a of this conveyor are directed upwards, so that the cardboard inserts delivered by stations 26a, 26b and 26c are inserted successively between the bells that hold them.

 The gripping heads thus provided with spacers arrive at the end of the conveyor 1 (left part of FIG. 1) and pass around a pair of wheels 7 to find themselves in an inverted position under the lower strand 1b of the conveyor 1. It It should be noted here that a system of clamps (not shown) can be provided at the level of the bells to retain the spacers during the half-turn of rotation of the heads arriving in line with a stream of bottles transported by the conveyor 20.

 As explained above, this stream of bottles is previously treated to constitute a group of bottles according to a number corresponding to that of the bells and which can of course be arbitrary.

 At this stage, thanks to the rails 21, the gripping heads 3 descend so that the bells grip the bottles, as can be seen at 33, it being understood that the spacers 27 are held by said bells and that between the bottles B.

 Then, thanks to the sinuous rail 25, the gripping heads 3, which slide on the crosspieces 18, carry out a transverse movement to effect the loading of the gutter-shaped cardboard element 28 from the side, as seen in 34.

 Then the bells 6 are moved aside to release the dividers 27, at the same time as the bottles B are released in the elements 28, as seen in 35. it is important to note here that the simultaneous or substantially simultaneous release of the dividers and bottles in the element 28 will not cause any deterioration of the labels that the bottles can carry.

 Then, thanks to the transverse portion 25b of the winding rail 25, the gripping heads return to the conveyor 20 for transporting the bottles, as seen in 36, and the sequence of operations described above can start again.

As for the elements 28 containing the bottles
B with the spacers 27, they continue their way on the conveyor 10, and as previously explained, the elements 28 are folded, closed and glued to make a carton 37 filled with bottles and ready for shipping.

 It should be noted that the machine according to this invention operates in a fully automatic and continuous manner, which means that the conveyors 1, 10 and 20 operate in synchronism by means of suitable drive means.

 Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only by way of example.

 Thus, the number of bells carried by the gripping heads, the type and nature of the spacers used and the type of cartons or cases used, preformed or not, can be any without departing from the scope of the invention.

 This means that the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the means described, as well as their combinations if these are carried out according to the spirit.

Claims (9)

 1. Method for packaging a group of objects, such as for example bottles, in a carton, a box or the like using a clamshell head comprising bells capable of picking up the objects and depositing them in the cardboard or the box, characterized in that first of all we introduce and retain between the bells means of separation of the objects, then we seize the objects with the bells already retaining these separation means, after which we discard the bells for releasing said means and simultaneously releasing the objects retained by the bells so that they are collected in the cardboard or the box at the same time as the means which separate them.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned separation means consist of intermediate partitions introduced successively between the bells or by a wall pierced with orifices through which the bells pass.  3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the objects are introduced substantially horizontally with their associated separation means into an element in the form of a gutter or the like which, after relaxation of the objects and the means which separate them, is closed to constitute a closed box containing these objects.  4. Machine for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 3 and of the type comprising a carousel supporting gripping heads (3) each comprising a number of bells (6) capable of gripping objects such as bottles (B) for depositing them in a carton or a crate conveyed by a conveyor or the like, characterized in that said carousel is constituted by a horizontal conveyor with transverse and parallel bars (2) carrying the gripping heads (3) and on which can moving said heads transversely, this conveyor (1) comprising on the one hand an upper strand (la) for returning the heads (3) above which are arranged means (26) for supplying elements for separating the objects to be grip and on the other hand, an upper strand (lb) under which extend parallel and side by side a first conveyor (10) for transporting the cartons and a second conveyor (20) for transporting the objects which, by translation gripping heads (3) on the bar conveyor (1), can be conveyed from the second conveyor (20) to the first conveyor (10).  5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the gripping heads (3) are mounted horizontally sliding on crosspieces (18) which are parallel to the aforementioned bars (2) and which are coupled to arms or the like (17) mounted vertically sliding on the bars (2).  6. Machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the arms (17), at their end (16b) opposite to that (16a) integral with the sleepers (18) carry a roller or the like (22) cooperating with a rail (21) forming a cam extending along each of the interior sides of the conveyor (1) and allowing the ascent and descent of said crosspieces in a plane orthogonal to that of the bar conveyor (1).  7. Machine according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, in addition to the aforementioned rails (21) forming a cam, the frame (4) supporting the bar conveyor (1) comprises a sinuous rail (25) forming a path cam which extends both in the longitudinal direction of the bar conveyor (1) and transversely to this direction, which sinuous rail (25) cooperates with a roller or the like (24) integral with each gripper head (3) for allow its sliding on the crosspieces (18).  8. Machine according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the conveyor (10) for transporting the boxes comprises respectively upstream and downstream a station (29, 30) for forming an element (28) in form of gutter receiving the objects and stations (31) for closing and gluing this element after removal of the objects.  9. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for supplying elements for separating the objects comprise several stations (26a, 26b, 26c) arranged successively above the upper strand (la) of the bar conveyor (1) .