Cartoning machine
The invention relates to a cartoning machine comprising: a store unit for cardboard blanks; means for picking the blanks from the store unit; an unfolding station for forming boxes with the blanks; a conveyor for the blanks to the unfolding station; a feeding station for the products destined for the boxes; an insertion station, in which the products are inserted into the boxes; an exit station for the filled boxes; wherein between the insertion station and the exit station there is a paddle conveyor that moves downstream the filled box (C). The paddle conveyor is provided with a plurality of paddles connected with moving means controlled independently of each other, wherein the paddles are mounted on three pairs of flexible members motorized independently of each other.
1 . A cartoning machine comprising:
a store unit (M) configured for storing a stack (P) of flat cartons (F) or blanks (F);
a station (E) for feeding the individual blanks, arranged downstream of the store unit (M);
an unfolding station (SR), in which the blanks (F) are shaped, assuming the configuration of a substantially parallelepiped open box (C) defined by an upper base (CU), a lower base (CL), two lateral bases (CS), a front base (CF) and a rear base (CR), wherein the front base and the rear base are open but intended to be closed by flaps made up of appendices (PU, PL) of the upper and lower bases and appendages (PSL, PSR) of the lateral bases: said lateral, upper and lower bases being defined by respective portions of the blanks (F);
a product feeding station (A), into which the products (RC) destined to be packaged in the boxes (C) obtained from the blanks (F) are fed;
an insertion station (N), in which the products (RC) are inserted into the open boxes (C) by means of a pusher (SP) that pushes the products (RC) through said front base (CF);
an exit station (U) for the completed packages;
wherein between the insertion station (N) and the exit station (U) a paddle conveyor (TRP) is arranged and acting which moves downstream the filled box (C);
wherein said paddle conveyor (TRP) comprises:
three distinct pairs of endless flexible members ( 101 L, 101 R; 102 L, 102 R; 103 L, 103 R),
each pair consisting of a left flexible member and a right flexible member arranged opposite one another along respective sides ( 100 L, 100 R) of the conveyor,
each pair being driven by a respective dedicated motor so as to be motorized independently from the other pairs,
and
a plurality of paddles ( 110 ),
each paddle being mechanically fixed to one selected pair of flexible members so as to move synchronously with that selected pair,
wherein each pair of flexible members is controllable independently in speed and phase relative to the other pairs, thereby enabling differential advancement of successive boxes (C) along the paddle conveyor (TRP).
2 . Cartoning machine according to claim 1 wherein said paddles ( 110 ) are pairs of paddles ( 110 ).
3 . Cartoning machine according to claim 1 wherein said flexible members ( 101 L, 101 R, 102 L, 102 R, 103 L, 103 R) are belts or chains motorized independently of each other.
4 . Cartoning machine according to claim 3 wherein each pair of flexible members ( 101 L, 101 R), ( 102 L, 102 R) and ( 103 L, 103 R) supports two sets of paddle pairs ( 110 ), arranged diametrically opposite with respect to the development of the flexible member which supports them.
5 . Cartoning machine according to claim 1 wherein each paddle ( 110 ) is formed by a support base ( 111 ), which can be fixed to one of said flexible members ( 101 - 103 ) and by at least one contact portion ( 112 ) intended to interact with the boxes (C), the support base ( 111 ) being provided with two lateral appendices ( 113 ), each appendix carrying a respective idle pin,
wherein said idle pins are slidingly received within corresponding grooved guides ( 114 ) provided by respective sides ( 100 L, 100 R) of said paddle conveyor (TRP).
6 . Cartoning machine according to claim 5 wherein each support base ( 111 ) has a number of seats ( 115 ) corresponding to a respective number of flexible members ( 101 - 103 ), each of said flexible members being provided with at least one engagement element ( 116 ) shaped so as to be firmly connectable with one of the seats ( 115 ) provided on said support base ( 111 ) so as to make the paddle ( 110 ) integral with the respective flexible member ( 101 - 103 ).
7 . Cartoning machine according to claim 5 wherein each pair of flexible members ( 101 L, 101 R), ( 102 L, 102 R) and ( 103 L, 103 R) supports two sets of paddle pairs ( 110 ), the two sets being arranged at approximately 180° angular spacing along the closed loop defined by the flexible members, so that one set operates in an upper advancing branch while the other set returns in a lower branch.
8 . Cartoning machine according to claim 6 wherein each pair of flexible members ( 101 L, 101 R), ( 102 L, 102 R) and ( 103 L, 103 R) supports two sets of paddle pairs ( 110 ), arranged diametrically opposite with respect to the development of the flexible member which supports them.
9 . Cartoning machine according to claim 1 wherein each paddle ( 110 ) has two contact portions ( 112 ) whose reciprocal distance is adjustable.
10 . Cartoning machine according to claim 9 , wherein each support base ( 111 ) has a number of seats ( 115 ) corresponding to a respective number of flexible members ( 101 - 103 ), each of said flexible members being provided with at least one engagement element ( 116 ) shaped so as to be firmly connectable with one of the seats ( 115 ) provided on said support base ( 111 ) so as to make the paddle ( 110 ) integral with the respective flexible member ( 101 - 103 ).
11 . Cartoning machine according to claim 9 wherein each pair of flexible members ( 101 L, 101 R), ( 102 L, 102 R) and ( 103 L, 103 R) supports two sets of paddle pairs ( 110 ), arranged diametrically opposite with respect to the development of the flexible member which supports them.