Process and machine for outer packaging of articles
View Patent ↗With a random incoming axial stream of pallets of articles, there is a stack of blanks, an axial stream synchronized with pallets is formed, all of the pallets are transferred from the axial stream synchronized with pallets to constitute an axial stream that is synchronized with lots, lots are separated by empty spaces having length of one or more article lengths, whereby the spacing is thus variable and adapted to lot length, blanks are unstacked upon demand based on the pallets to constitute a synchronized stream of blanks corresponding to the stream synchronized with lots. Blanks are separated by empty spaces with length of one or more article lengths, starting from the stream synchronized with lots and the stream synchronized with blanks; each lot of articles is made to work with each blank before the blank is folded around the lot of articles and made into a single unit.
1. A process for outer packaging, in a dynamic way, of lots (L) of articles (A) in an outer-packaging blank (F), the articles (A) being arranged on pallets (P), the articles (A) being of a same length in a direction of travel, plural of the articles (A) being arranged on each of the pallets (P) in at least one column or in at least one line on each pallet (P), each lot (L) of the articles (A) comprising at least one layer of the pallets (P), the method comprising the steps of:
A) starting from a random incoming axial stream of the pallets (P) moving in the direction of travel, with the articles (A) each having the same length in the direction of travel, and with the articles (A) arranged on each of pallets (P) in the at least one column or in the at least one line, composing the pallets (P) into the lots (L) of the articles (A) ;
B) starting from a stack of the outer-packaging blanks (F) arranged flat, successively unstacking the outer-packaging blanks (F) as flat unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F);
C) putting together each lot (L) of the articles (A) with a corresponding individual outer-packaging blank (F), and then folding the corresponding individual outer-packaging blank (F) around each lot (L) of the articles (A) and make each lot (L) of the articles (A) and the corresponding individual outer-packaging blank (F) into a single unit of outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A);
D) evacuating an exiting axial stream of the units of the outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A),
wherein based on a desired format of the outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A), each of the units of the outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A) comprises a number of the articles (A) per pallet, an arrangement of the articles (A) on each pallet, and a selected number of pallets (P), stacked one pallet (P) on another pallet (P),
wherein said step A) of composing the pallets (P) into the lots (L) of the articles (A) comprises the sub-steps of
i) regulating and synchronizing the pallets (P) of the articles (A) of the random incoming axial stream to a spacing of a machine to form a synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A),
ii) transferring all of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) from the synchronized axial stream to constitute another synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) according to the desired format of the outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A) and an operating rate, and
iii) within the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A), providing first empty axial spaces ( 5 a , 5 c ) that have an axial length of one of the articles (A) or a multiple of the axial length of the one article (A) between each of the lots (L) of the articles (A) so that each lot (L) of the articles (A) of the other synchronized axial stream is thus separated axially from a preceding lot (L) of the articles (A) and a following lot (L) of the articles (A) by one of the first empty axial spaces ( 5 a, 5 c), whereby the axial spacing of the machine is variable and adapted to an axial length of the lot (L) of the articles (A),
wherein said step B) of unstacking the outer-packaging blanks (F) as flat unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) comprises a sub-step iv) of unstacking the flat outer-packaging blanks (F) upon demand based on the pallets (P) of the articles (A) that are thus transferred in constituting the other synchronized axial stream, with the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) forming a further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) corresponding exactly to the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) such that each unstacked individual outer-packaging blank (F) is thus separated from a preceding unstacked individual outer-packaging blank (F) and from a following unstacked individual outer-packaging blank (F) by a second empty axial space ( 19 ) that has the axial length of the article (A) or the multiple of the axial length of the article (A), and
wherein said step C) of putting together comprises i) starting from the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) and ii) starting with the further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F), putting together each lot (L) of the articles (A) other synchronized axial stream with the corresponding individual outer-packaging blank (F) from the further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) to form each single unit of the outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A).
2. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said step C) of putting together, a further step of a fine and final axial resetting of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) in the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) is performed.
3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein in said step A) of composing the pallets (P), each the pallets (P) of the articles (A) of the synchronized axial stream is transferred from the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) to the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) according to the desired format and the operating rate, by a manipulation of robotized grasping.
4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the manipulation of robotized grasping grasps plural pallets (P) simultaneously from the synchronized axial stream and transfers the grasped plural pallets (P) from the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) to the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A).
5. The process according to claim 1 , comprising the further steps of:
in step A) of composing the pallets (P) into the lots (L), controlling the spacing between the lots (L) of the articles (A) in the other synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A), upon determining that a region of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) comprises one lot (L) of the articles (A), controlling the unstacking of the outer-packaging blanks (F) upon determining that the region of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) does not comprise one lot (L) of the articles (A), not controlling the unstacking of the outer-packaging blanks (F), and controlling the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) and the further axial stream of the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) to cooperate in such a way that i) a first spacing that comprises a specific flat blank (F) corresponds to a second spacing that comprises a specific lot (L) of the articles (A), and ii) a third spacing that does not comprise any flat blank (F) corresponds to a fourth spacing that does not comprise any lot (L) of the articles (A).
6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein,
in said sub-step iv) each unstacked individual outer-packaging blank (F) is pushed from the further synchronized axial stream by driving pusher pins ( 18 ) that have uniform axial spacing and that are arranged to be either in an active projecting situation or in an inactive retracted situation,
the successive pusher pins ( 18 ) are guided and directed to be in the active projecting situation or in the inactive retracted situation corresponding to a configuration that is required for driving the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) of the further synchronized axial stream in correspondence with the another synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A).
7. The process according to claim 6 , wherein regulating spacing of the further synchronized axial stream comprises:
directing in an inactive routing segment ( 24 b ) for returning pusher pins ( 18 ) where the pusher pins ( 18 ) do not provide any push function of the flat blanks (F), the successive pusher pins ( 18 ) to bring them into the active projecting situation or into the inactive retracted situation in such a way as to define a configuration of successive pusher pins ( 18 ) corresponding to a required configuration for driving the successive flat blanks (F) of the axial stream that is synchronized with flat blanks (F) in correspondence with the axial stream that is synchronized with lots (L) of articles (A), and
guiding in movement, one the thus directed pusher pins ( 18 ) are brought into the active projecting situation or into the inactive retracted situation that is required, the pusher pins ( 18 ) by maintaining their active projecting situation or inactive retracted situation, including in an active routing segment ( 24 a ) for intake of pusher pins ( 18 ) where the pusher pins ( 18 ) provide their push function of the flat blanks (F).
8. The process according to claim 6 , wherein, without regulating the spacing of the further synchronized axial stream, guiding in movement the pusher pins ( 18 ) by maintaining their active projecting situation or their inactive retracted situation corresponding to a required configuration to drive the successive flat blanks (F) of the further synchronized axial stream in correspondence with the other axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A), in an inactive routing segment for returning ( 24 b ) pusher pins ( 18 ) where the pusher pins ( 18 ) do not provide any push function of the flat blanks (F) and in an active routing segment for intake ( 24 a ) of pusher pins ( 18 ) where the pusher pins ( 18 ) provide their push function of the flat blanks (F).
9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein, during the unstacking of the blanks (F), separating one of the blanks (F) that is currently being unstacked from a following blank (F) by accelerating the blank (F) that is currently being unstacked.
10. An outer-packaging machine for implementation of the process according to claim 1 of outer packaging of the lots (L) of the articles (A) in the outer-packaging blanks (F), the machine comprising:
upstream axial intake means ( 1 ) of said incoming random axial stream of pallets (P) of articles (A),
upstream means ( 8 ) for constituting the lots (L) of articles,
upstream means for forming a stack of the flat, outer-packaging blanks (F, 15 ), and
means ( 10 ) for unstacking the flat, outer-packaging blanks (F) successively,
downstream means for constituting the lots (L) of the articles (A),
means of cooperation of each lot (L) of the articles (A) constituted with each unstacked flat, outer-packaging blank (F), and, downstream, means for folding the blank (F) around the lot of the articles (A) and for making each lot (L) of the articles (A) and the corresponding individual outer-packaging blank (F) into the single units of outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A); and
downstream means for axial evacuation of the exiting axial stream of the units of the outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A),
said means being comprised by:
upstream means ( 2 ) for regulating and means for synchronizing the pallets (P) of the articles (A) of the random incoming axial stream to the spacing of the machine, followed by axial conveying means of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A),
means ( 7 ) for transferring all of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) from the axial conveying means of the synchronized axial stream to the axial conveying means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) according to the desired format and the operating rate,
means ( 10 ) for unstacking the flat blanks (F) upon demand that are responsive to the means ( 7 ) for transferring all the pallets (P) of the articles, followed by axial conveyor means of further synchronized axial stream ( 17 ) of the unstacked flat blanks (F) in correspondence with the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A), and
downstream axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) and axial conveyor means ( 17 ) of the further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked flat blanks (F), means for cooperation successively from each lot of the articles (A) with each flat blank (F), and, downstream, means for folding the blanks (F) around each lot of articles (A) when making each lot (L) of the articles (A) and the corresponding individual outer-packaging blank (F) into the single unit of outer-packaged lots (L) of the articles (A).
11. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) comprises projections ( 12 ) for positioning and maintaining uniform axial spacing so that a lot of articles (A) of the stream that is synchronized with lots (L) of articles (A) is positively maintained separated from the preceding lot of articles (A) and/or the following lot of articles (A) by an empty axial space ( 5 c) that has at least the axial length of an article (A) or that has the axial length of a multiple of the axial length of an article (A), the axial spacing of the machine thus being variable and adapted to the length of the lot of articles, the axial conveyor means of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) being adapted to the conveying of the lots (L) of the articles (A) with a variable axial length, without the need for regulation.
12. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) can be regulated in terms of transverse spacing, whereby the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) is suitable for conveying the lots (L) of the articles (A) with a variable transverse length.
13. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 17 ) of further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) comprise pusher pins ( 18 ) for positioning and maintaining uniform axial spacing that is retractable so that a flat blank (F) of the stream that is synchronized with a flat blank (F) is positively maintained separated from the preceding flat blank (F) and/or the following flat blank (F) by an empty axial space ( 19 ) that has at least the axial length of an article (A) or that has the axial length of a multiple of the axial length of an article (A), whereby the axial spacing of the machine thus is variable and is adapted to the length of the lot (L) of articles (A), with the axial conveyor means ( 17 ) of further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) being adapted to the conveying of blanks (F) of variable axial length, without the need for regulation.
14. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 13 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 17 ) of the further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked flat blanks (F) come in a form of two endless driving belts ( 20 a , 29 b ), arranged parallel to one another by forming a conveying corridor ( 20 c ), supporting pusher pins ( 18 ) for positioning and driving that are uniformly axially spaced, arranged to move and that can be locked in position in such a way as to each be separately either in an active projecting situation or in an inactive retracted situation, and comprise means ( 22 ) for guiding and means ( 23 ) for directing successive pusher pins ( 18 ) that are capable in that they are in the active projecting situation or in the inactive retracted situation corresponding to a configuration that is required for driving the successive flat blanks (F) of the axial stream that is synchronized with flat blanks (F) in correspondence with the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A).
15. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 14 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 17 ) of the further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked flat blanks (F) comprise an active routing segment ( 24 a ) for intake of pusher pins ( 18 ) where the pusher pins ( 18 ) provide their push function of the flat blanks (F) and an inactive routing segment ( 24 b ) for returning pusher pins ( 18 ) where the pusher pins ( 18 ) do not provide any push function of the flat blanks (F), a segment on which there are means ( 22 ) for guiding and means ( 23 ) for directing of the pusher pins ( 18 ).
16. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 14 , wherein a pusher pin ( 18 ) is carried by an axial driving part ( 25 ) that is carried by an endless belt ( 20 a , 20 b ), whereby the axial driving part ( 25 ) is able to work with axial sliding with an axial guiding slide ( 26 ), the pusher pin ( 18 ) being mounted on the axial driving part ( 25 ) in an articulated way around a transverse axis ( 18 c ) to be able to pivot in a relative way over a course that has two end-of-travel positions that define the two active projecting and inactive retracted situations, whereby the pusher pin ( 18 ) laterally comprises a control stud ( 27 ) that is directed transversally and that is separated from the pivoting axis ( 18 c ), working with one of the two axial guiding slides of the stud ( 28 a , 28 b ), arranged parallel to one another and to the axial guiding slide ( 26 ) of the driving part ( 25 ), whereby the stud ( 27 ) is in one of the two axial guiding slides of the stud ( 28 a ) in the active projecting situation and is in the other ( 28 b ) of the two axial guiding slides of the stud ( 28 a , 28 b ) in the inactive retracted situation.
17. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 16 , wherein the directing means ( 23 ) comprise a guiding bypass ( 29 a , 29 b ) that connects the two axial guiding slides of the stud ( 28 a , 28 b ) and a controlled, movable orientation part ( 30 a , 30 b ) that can control the guiding of the stud ( 27 ) so that it is in the axial guiding slide of the stud ( 28 a , 28 b ) where it was found or it is oriented toward the other axial guiding slides of the stud ( 28 b , 28 a ).
18. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 17 ) further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) can be regulated in terms of transverse spacing, the axial conveyor means ( 17 ) of further synchronized axial stream of the unstacked individual outer-packaging blanks (F) being adapted to the conveying of flat blanks (F) with a variable transverse length.
19. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein upstream from the means of cooperation of each lot of the articles (A) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) with each flat blank (F) of the further synchronized axial stream further comprising means ( 11 ) for fine and final resetting of the synchronization of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A).
20. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the means ( 7 ) for transfer of all of the pallets (P) of articles (A) from the axial conveyor means of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) to the axial conveyor means of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A), according to the desired format and operating rate, comprise one or multiple robots ( 7 a , 7 b ) for manipulation of grasping.
21. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the means ( 7 ) for transfer of all of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) from the axial conveyor means of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) to the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A), according to the desired format and operating rate, comprise means ( 7 ) for manipulation of grasping of a single pallet (P) at a same time or multiple pallets (P) simultaneously.
22. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , further comprising means for controlling each spacing of the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) to detect the presence or the absence of a lot of articles (A) and means for controlling means ( 10 ) for unstacking that are responsive to these control means.
23. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the means ( 2 ) for regulation and the means for synchronization to the spacing of the machine of the pallets (P) of articles (A) of the incoming stream comprise an upstream portion ( 3 a ) of the axial conveyor means ( 3 ) of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) with which are combined retractable locking elements ( 4 ) downstream from the pallets (P) of the articles (A) that move axially at a lower speed than that of the axial conveyor means of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A).
24. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the downstream portion of the axial conveyor means of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) has an adequate length such that all of the pallets (P) that they receive can be transferred by the transfer means ( 7 ) to the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A).
25. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 3 ) of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) and the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) are arranged side by side.
26. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 2 ) of the synchronized axial stream of the pallets (P) of the articles (A) have a transverse width that can receive a multiple of pallets (P) of articles (A).
27. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) have a transverse width that can receive a single pallet (P) of articles (A).
28. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 11 , wherein the axial conveyor means ( 8 ) of the other synchronized axial stream of the lots (L) of the articles (A) come in a form of two endless belts ( 13 a , 13 b ) that are arranged parallel to one another and that form a conveying corridor ( 13 c ), supporting projections ( 12 ) for positioning and maintaining uniform axial spacing, arranged to be directed toward the corridor ( 13 c ), whereby the two belts ( 13 a , 13 b ) are carried by carrying means in a movable manner with locking that can be regulated in terms of transverse spacing.
29. The outer-packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the unstacking means ( 10 ) comprise means ( 10 d ) that can separate the blank (F) that is to be unstacked from the following blank (F) that comprises means of acceleration of the blank (F) that is to be unstacked.