Device for packaging objects

Abstract

 A packaging unit of a plurality of objects (A) such as containers for milk or juice is formed with a box-shaped tray of corrugated board or the like which tray has at least one double-layered partition wall folded about a perforated line, whereby the packaging unit can be separated along a perforated line (C) into two sub-units each containing a sub-group of said plurality of objects. The packaging units are formed on a packaging device by collecting the objects into a rectangular array with at least one guide partition (4) inserted between the articles to divide the array into at least two groups, and by pushing the array onto a pre-folded sheet with the groups located at either side of a pre-folded partition _Nall.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a packaging unit comprising a pluraltiy of objects packed into a rectangular open tray-shaped box of corrugated board or the like. According to a preferred field of use of the invention the objects are rectangular containers made of laminated paper, metal and/or plastics sheet and containing a liquid such as milk, juice etc.

[0002] When forming packaging units of these objects by arranging them in a rectangular array on a box-like tray or palette folded from corrugated board etc. it is usual to form arrays of 3 x 8 = 24 pieces or 3 x 9 = 27 pieces or 3 x 10 = 30 pieces or similar arrays. It is often impractical to form larger arrays because the packaging units will tend to get too large and heavy and difficult to handle, and larger units may also exceed the size and capacity of the packaging machine.

[0003] On the other hand it is often desirable to have smaller packing units which are easier to transport, to handle and to distribute. Therefore, packaging units including an array of 3 x 4 = 12 pieces, 3 x 3 = 9 pieces or 3 x 5 = 15 pieces are often found to be more convenient. However, when forming such smaller packaging units on a large size packaging machine the working capacity of the machine is insufficiently utilized and the working speed of the packaging process is reduced.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide - a packaging unit and a method and device for making same which allows the user, if desired, to handle a relatively small sized packaging unit whilst on the other hand enabling the packaging machine and packaging process to be utilized at full capacity and high speed.

[0005] For solving this object, according to the invention a packaging unit is provided which is defined in claim 1. The packaging unit has the advantage that it can be easily separated along perforated lines into two or more sub-units each containing a sub-group of the objects which are packed in the whole packaging unit. The packaging machine may be used with its full capacity by forming packaging units comprising a rather large array of objects. The separating into sub-units may be done at any desired time and location, either at the packaging site itself or by the transporter, the distributor or the user.

[0006] A packaging method and a packaging device in accordance with the invention for forming the aforemention packaging unit are defined in claims 2 and 3.

[0007] Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0008] 

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a packaging plant according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 and 3 show a plan view and a side elevation of the collecting station of the packaging plant of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, 5 and 6 are a front view,side view and plan view, respectively, of the sheet folding device in the packaging plant of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7(a) to 7(e) are front views illustrating the various stages of the collecting process for the articles to be packed.

Fig. 8 and 9 show a packaging unit and a pre-formed fold-box sheet, respectively, according to the prior art.

Fig. 10 and 11 show a packaging unit and a plan view of the pre-formed fold-box sheet,respectively, for a packaging unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the pre-formed and pre-folded fold-box sheet.

Fig. 13 and 14 show a packaging unit and a pre-formed fold-box sheet for an array of 3 x 9 objects according to the prior art.

Fig. 14, 15 und 16 show a packaging unit, a pre-formed fold-box sheet and a pre-folded-fold-box sheet, respectively, for a 3 x 9 packaging unit according to the invention.

[0009] According to Fig. 8 and 9 in the conventional packaging method an array of 3 x 8 = 24 objects A such as milk or juice containers is arranged on a pre-cut fold-box sheet b,, whereafter the flaps of the sheet are folded upwardly to form the side walls of a box-like tray or palette supporting the articles.

[0010] Fig. 10 illustrates an arrangement where the same number of objects A are packaged according to the present invention, using a pre-cut sheet b₂ as shown in Fig. 11. The sheet b₂ has two halves b', b', each forming a box-like tray for holding 3 x 4 = 12 objects. The two halves b', b' are located at either side of a perforated line _c, and the sheet _b2 is folded into the form b'₂ shown in Fig. 12, with the flaps f located at either side of the perforated line c folded upwardly to form a double-layered partition wall, which together with the upwardly folded end walls e confines two compartments d. Each compartment d may receive an array of 3 x 4 = 12 objects A, for example by pushing the objects into the compartments d in a direction parallel to the perforated line c, whereafter the side wall g may be folded up and secured by folding and glueing the flaps h onto them. The result is a packaging unit as shown in Fig. 10 containing 3 x 8 = 24 articles, which packaging unit can easily be divided along the perforated line c into two sub-units each containing 3 x 4 = 12 objects. This dividing may be carried out at the packaging site or at a transporting site or at a ditributing or sales site or eventually by the customer.

[0011] In a similar way Fig. 13 illustrates a conventional packaging unit containing 3 x 9 = 27 objects using a box-like tray folded from a pre-cut sheet b₃ shown in Fig. 14.

[0012] Fig. 15 illustrates an arrangement in which the same number of objects A are packaged according to the invention using a pre-cut sheet b₄ as shown in Fig. 16. The sheet b₄ is provided with two perforated lines c dividing the sheet into three sections b" each adapted to be folded into a box-like tray or compartment for receiving a group of 3 x 3 = 9 objects. The sheet b₄ is pre-folded to the shape shown in Fig. 17 for receiving the objects which are pushed into the three compartments d in a direction parallel to the perforated lines c, whereafter the side wall flaps g and the securing flaps h are folded and secured. The result is a packaging unit holding 3 x 9 = 27 articles which can be separated into three sub-units holding 3 x 3 = 9 objects. It is therefore easy to provide large packaging units for the convenience of packaging, transport and whole-sale and to divide these units into smaller units for the convenience of distribution and retailing.

[0013] Now, an embodiment of a packaging device as well as the packaging method according to the invention will be described, referring to an example where 3 x 8 = 24 objects are packaged into a packaging unit that can be divided into two units of 3 x 4 = 12 objects.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of left and right vertical belts 2 and 2 are provided on the front end part of a continuously driven conveyor 1 for conveying the objects.These vertical belts 2 and 2, which are intermittently driven, feed forward the commodities or objects A conveyed on the conveyer 1 such that they are assembled into groups of, for example, three articles each.

[0015] A collecting 3, which is provided in front of the vertical belts 2 and 2, is actuated in a direction perpendicular to the travelling direction of the conveyer 1, thereby pushing forward (toward the right side of Fig. 1) the objects A three pieces by three pieces. This position p to which the objects A are fed is the collecting section, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is equipped- with a partition plate 4 provided perpendicularly to the actuation direction (longitudinal direction of Fig. 1) of the above-mentioned pusher 3, a receiving plate 7 which is arranged on the right side of and parallel to said partition plate 4 and a transfer pusher 8 which pushes the array of collected objects to the side (to the lower part of Fig. 1). As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, said partition plate 4 is connected with two cylinders 5 and 6 so that the actuation of cylinder 5 causes said partition plate 4 to make an advance toward the pusher 3, while exhausting the pressure from the cylinder 5 causes the same to make a gradual retreat. The actuation of the cylinder 6 causes the partition plate 4 to be pivoted up sideways as shown by two-dot chain line 4' of Fig. 3.

[0016] On other hand, the receiving plate 7 is caused to make an advance toward the pusher 3 by the actuation of the cylinder 7a, whereas it is caused to make a gradual retreat by exhausting the pressure from the cylinder 7a.

[0017] Referring now to the situation of collecting the objects by means of the pusher 3, the partition plate 4, and the receiving plate 7, as shown in Fig. 7-(a), in response to the actuation of cylinder 7a the receiving plate 7 makes an advance towards the pusher 3, which is in the state of waiting for pushing the objects. In that case, the piston rod of the cylinder 5 is extended, the partition plate 4 being raised and lying flat sideways.

[0018] Upon the commencement of actuating the pusher 3, a group of three pieces of objects are pushed out forward (to the right sides of Figs. 1, 2 and 7). At this moment the receiving plate 7 is in a position to stop this group of objects so that they may not fall down. By repeating the foregoing action four times, as shown in Fig. 7-(c), four groups of three objects (12 pieces in total) are adapted to be collected side by side. Every time when the pusher 3 pushes out a group of three objects, the receiving plate 7,following the motion of the objects, is caused to make a retreat step by step by the exhaust pressure from the cylinder 7a.

[0019] At the moment of finishing to collect four groups of three objects (12 pieces in total) the cylinder 6 is actuated to extend its piston rod whereby the partition plate 4 is lowered as shown in the dot line of Fig. 7-(c), so as to lie against the rear end face of the 12 collected objects.

[0020] Subsequently, the pusher 3 is actuated again so that the next group of three objects are pushed out forward and since the partition plate 4 is inserted between the group of 12 objects previously collected and the objects presently being collected as shown in Fig. 7-(d), these two groups are separated from each other and, as shown in Fig. 7-(e), the reciprocating motion of the pusher 3 provides another group of 12 objects to be collected on the left side of the partition plate 4.

[0021] Every time when a group of three objects are pushed towards the left side of the partition plate 4 by the pusher 3, since both the piston rods of the cylinders 5 and 7a, following up the motion of the commodities, make a retreat step by step, the partition plate 4 and the receiving plate 7, following up the motion of the commodities, also make a retreat step by step.

[0022] Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, two groups of 3 x 4 = 12 objects are collected at the collecting section p with the partition plate 4 interposed between these groups.

[0023] Next, the pusher 8 is actuated and pushes out the two groups of collected objects. As shown in Fig. 3, there is a sufficient clearance between the lower edge of the partition plate 4 and the collecting surface to allow the transfer pusher 8 to pass through without being impeded by the partition plate 4. When the pusher 8 returns to the original position, the cylinders 5, 6, and 7a are actuated so that the partition plate 4 and the receiving plate 7 correspondingly return to the positions shown in Fig. 7-(a), standing ready for the next collecting cycle.

[0024] The repetition of such an operation collects against two groups of 3 x 4 objects with the partition plate 4 interposed between the two groups, which can be discharchged to the side. The foregoing case has been described with reference to an arrangement in which the partition plate 4 and others are actuated so that two groups of 3 x 4 = 12 objects are collected in one tray, but it is possible to easily change the collecting pattern by changing the actuating timing of the cylinder 6 which vertically moves the partition plate 4 or by not actuating said cylinder 6.

[0025] At the side of the collecting section p there is provided a tray sheet folding device as shown in Figs. 4 to 6. This sheet folding device comprises a sheet dropping device 10 provided above a feeder 9 for transferring the tray sheet as well as a flap folding device 11. Said sheet dropping device 10 comprises,for example, a pair of left and right suction heads actuated by a cylinder 10a to pull down individually the tray sheets b₂ which are accumulated above the feeder 9, starting from the bottom sheet to the next one. On the other hand, the flap folding device 11 has upstanding left and right folding plates 11a and 11a and a folding blade 11b interposed between those plates as shown in Fig. 6,and is capable of vertically moving by means of a cylinder 11c; when said flap folding device 11 makes an ascent, the two left and right folding plates 11a and lla fold the external left and right flaps e and e of the tray sheet which is pulled down by the tray sheet dropping device 10 and the intermediate folding blade folds the flaps f and f connected by the perforated line c as shown in Fig. 4, thereby forming the sheet into a shape having left and right compartments d as shown in Fig. 12.

[0026] Into both the compartments d and d of the tray sheet b'g which undergoes the above-mentioned forming process the groups of 3 x 4 objects collected on the collecting section p are pushed simultaneously by the pusher 8. Then the feeder 9 with its claws 9a and 9a moves the tray sheet b'₂ to the left side of Fig. 1.

[0027] During this conveyance to the left side, an adhesive applicator 12 applies adhesive 13 to four external flaps g which are not yet folded and the tray sheet is then pushed out on a discharging feeder 14 advancing (in the direction idicated by the arrow in Fig. 1) and passing by a flap folding device (not shown) which folds the internal flaps h and the external flaps g, thereby forming such a finished tray B₂ as shown in Fig. 10, which is discharged.

[0028] As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the tray sheet dropping device 10 is located within the frame of the flap folding device 11 and does not impede the vertical motion of the latter device.

[0029] In the flap folding device the folding tool or tools may be changed according to the shape and size of the tray sheets. For example, when using a conventional tray sheet b₁ as shown in Fig. 9 and or a tray sheet b₂ as shown in Fig. 14, only the two folding plates 11a are employed in the flap folding device 11 or, alternatively, when performing the packaging with a tray sheet b₄ as shown in Fig. 16, a flap folding device 11 having two left and right folding plates 11a and two folding blades 11b, is employed. Also, by changing the number of suction heads 10 of the tray sheet dropping device 10 according to the shape of the sheet, or by adapting the left and right folding plates lla and the folding blade 11b to be indipendently moved in vertical direction by individual cylinders so that actuating a switch determines whether each of cylinders is actuated or stopped it becomes possible to adapt the device to using various shapes of tray sheets.

[0030] According to the packaging method and device of the present invention, by folding at least one partition wall in the tray sheet at least two compartments are formed for receiving groups of objects which have previously been collected in the predetermined number. This enables efficient packaging of the objects on fold-box type trays without reducing the capacity of the packaging machine. Furthermore, by using different shapes of tray sheets it is possible to perform the packaging into smaller collecting patterns whilst of keeping the total number of objects to be packaged the same.

[0031] Although the packaging units as shown in Figs. 8, 10, 13 and 15 may be delivered without being further treated, it is possible to apply shrinking film packaging by surrounding the peripheries of the packaging units polyethylene film. In that case, it is recommendable to provide the film in advance with a perforation running along the perforated line c of the tray sheet in order not to impede the separation of the packaging unit into two or more parts.

Claims

1. A packaging unit of a plurality of objects (A) packed into a rectangular open box-shaped tray folded from a sheet (b₂,b₃) of corrugated board or the like to form a bottom wall and side walls,said oojects being substantially identical in shape and arranged side by side in a rectangular array inside the space confined by said side walls,
characterized in that said tray has at least one partition wall (f, f) extending across said space and dividing it into compartments (d), each compartment containing a group of objects (A) of said plurality of objects,
and that each partition wall (f, f) is formed double-layered from two panels (f) of said sheet (b₂) folded upwardly from said bottom and located at either side of a perforated line (c), said compartments (d) being separable from each other along said perforated line (c) to form separated box-shaped trays each containing a group of objects (A).

2. A method of packaging objects into packaging units as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: collecting a plurality of objects (A) side by side to form a rectangular array;
locating alongside said array of objects a preformed and partly folded fold-box sheet (b₂) and transferring said array of objects onto said sheet characterized by the steps of forming in said sheet (b₂) at least one upwardly directed fold consisting of two sheet panels (f) connected by a perforated line (c) to form a double-layered partition wall
and transferring one part of said array of objects (A) onto the sheet at one side of said partition wall and another part of said array of objects at the other side of said partition wall.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, charac- terized in that when forming said array of objects at least one guide partition (4) is inserted between the objects to divide the array into at least two groups of objects (A)
said sheet (b₂) being located alongside said array with at least the side wall panels (g) facing the array not yet folded up and which each partition wall (f, f) being aligned with a respective guide partition and the objects are transferred onto the sheet (b₂) by pushing them in a direction parallel to said aligned

4. A device for packaging objects to form packaging units as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a conveyor (1) for feeding objects (A) to be packed, a collecting pusher (3) movable across said conveyor (1) for delivering the objects (A) onto a collecting surface,
a step-wise retractible stop plate (7) facing the collecting pusher (3) for successively assembling an array of objects, a fold-box sheet feeding and folding device (9, 11) for locating preformed fold-box sheets alongside said collecting surface,
and a transfer pusher (8) movable across said collecting surface at right angles to the movement of the collecting pusher (3) for transferring the array of objects (A) onto the sheet (b₂) character- ized by comprising at least one guide partition (4) arranged above said collecting surface, means (6) for raising and lowering said guide parti- tiqn (4) so as to bring it into or out of the part of movement of the objects (A), means (5) for horizontally moving said guide partition (4) so as to follow the movement of the articles (A) pushed by said collecting pusher (3) and being collected in groups at either side of the guide partition (4) and means (10, 11b) for prefolding each fold-box sheet (b₂) to form at least one upwardly directed double-layered fold (f, f) to form a partition wall extending in a direction parallel to the movement of the transfer pusher (8) and aligned with said guide partition.

5. A device as claied in claim 4, wherein a cylinder for actuating a stop plate (7), cylinders for raising and lowering and for horizontally moving said guide partition (4) to follow the movement of the collecting pusher (3), as well as the cylinder for actuating the transfer pusher (8) are controlable in timed sequence by a switching device.

Drawing