Method of managing a set of lids, stacked and inserted in a package, transport device for transporting a set of stacked lids and inserted in a package, and system for producing palletized set of lids

1. A method of managing a set of lids ( 42 ) stacked and inserted into a package, the set ( 42 ) having a first portion ( 43 ) including a lid stack, and a second portion ( 44 ) including an opening ( 45 ) and a free end of the package, comprising the steps of:

pressing said set ( 42 ) and moving it to a transport device ( 1 ), while keeping the lids in the package;

pressing said second portion ( 44 ) with a handle ( 23 ) of the transport device ( 1 );

displacing handle ( 23 ) so as to take at least a part of the second portion ( 44 ) towards the first portion ( 43 );

displacing handle ( 23 ) so as to place the second portion against the first portion ( 43 );

immobilizing the second portion ( 44 ) against the first portion ( 43 ) using an immobilizing device ( 9 ), wherein the immobilizing device ( 9 ) includes movable jaws ( 12 ) provided with nails ( 13 ), the nails ( 13 ) extending in a horizontal plane beneath the stack lids inserted in the package;

opening the handle ( 23 ) and moving it away from said set ( 42 ), wherein the immobilizing device ( 9 ) is opened before the step of displacing handle ( 23 ) so as to place the second portion ( 44 ) against the first portion ( 43 ), the immobilizing device ( 9 ) being closed after this step.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sliding of the second portion ( 44 ) occurs relative to the handle ( 23 ), during the step of displacing the handle ( 23 ) so as to take at least a part of the second portion ( 44 ) towards the first portion ( 43 ).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the handle conforms to the second portion ( 44 ) in in an S-shape ( 46 ) in the step of displacing handle ( 23 ) so as to take at least a part of the second portion ( 44 ) towards the first portion ( 43 ).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of pressing said second portion ( 44 ) is carried out shortly after a boundary between the first portion ( 43 ) and the second portion ( 44 ), wherein the boundary is a region of the package defined by the last lid of the stack inside the package.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of displacing the handle ( 23 ) so as to take at least a part of the second portion ( 44 ) towards the first portion ( 43 ), the handle ( 23 ) is displaced, in the beginning, following the radial direction of the set ( 42 ), and then following the axial direction of the set ( 42 ).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the set ( 42 ) is displaced by transport device ( 1 ) simultaneously to the step of displacing handle ( 23 ) so as to take at least a part of the second portion ( 44 ) towards the first portion ( 43 ).

7. A transport device ( 1 ) for transporting the set ( 42 ) formed of stacked lids and inserted into a package comprising:

a support tool ( 3 ) to said set ( 42 ), adapted to hold the lids and the package;

a handling tool ( 4 ) movable relative to the support tool;

an immobilizing device ( 9 ) adapted for immobilizing a fold of the package, wherein the immobilizing device ( 9 ) includes movable jaws ( 12 ) provided with nails ( 13 ), the nails ( 13 ) extending in a horizontal plane beneath the stack lids inserted in the package;

the support tool ( 3 ) and the handling tool ( 4 ) being mounted on a movable platform allowing the displacement of said set ( 42 ).

8. The transport device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the handling tool ( 4 ) includes two handling rolls ( 32 , 33 ) movable against each other.

9. The transport device ( 1 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the handling rolls ( 32 , 33 ) are free in axial rotation and are provided with rubber rings ( 36 ).

10. The transport device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 wherein the movable platform ( 2 ) includes a coupling plate ( 5 ) to a robotic arm ( 37 ).

11. The transport device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 wherein the support tool ( 3 ) is coupled to the movable platform ( 2 ) through a cylinder ( 20 ) allowing a translation of the support tool ( 3 ) in relation to the handling tool ( 4 ).

12. The transport device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 wherein the support tool ( 3 ) includes a stop ( 47 ) to the rear of said set ( 42 ).

13. A system for producing palletized sets of lids including a device ( 38 ) for forming sets of lids adapted to produce sets ( 42 ) formed of lids, stacked and inserted into a package, and a palletizing device ( 39 ) of said sets ( 42 ), comprising a transport device ( 1 ) as defined in claim 9 , coupled to a robotic arm so that the transport device ( 1 ) is adapted to grasp sets ( 42 ) in said device ( 38 ) for forming sets of lids and to transport these sets ( 42 ) to the palletizing device ( 39 ) performing a packaging closure operation.