System and container for conveying flexible packages

Abstract

 Described herein is a system for conveying flexible packages for the transfer thereof in the various workstations of a packaging line, in particular a continuously operating one, in which there are provided substantially rigid containers (1) designed for housing said flexible packages (3), said containers (1) being arranged free, i.e., without any constraints with the conveyor, so that the containers (1) advance set alongside one another with a distance between centres determined by the sizes of the containers and not imposed by the structure of the conveyor itself.

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a system for conveying flexible packages, for the transfer thereof into the various workstations, for example for filling, vacuumizing, sealing, etc. of a packaging line, until the final package is obtained.

[0002] For conveying the packages linear chain conveyors are used, in which the packages, open, empty or already filled with the product, are gripped to the chain by means of special grippers with fixed distances between centres.

[0003] This involves serious limits in the operation of the machine. In fact, it is not possible to go beyond a certain maximum size of the package, which is imposed precisely by the fixed distance between centres of two consecutive packages. On the other hand, once again on account of the fixed distance between centres of the packages, for packages of very small size there is a limit to the rate of output of the machine, in so far as each package must follow a longer path to pass from one station to another.

[0004] Other known types of equipment for conveying flexible packages are turntable conveyors or carousel conveyors, in which the packages are gripped to the turntable and follow a circular path instead of a linear one.

[0005] Since the distance between centres of the packages is also in this case fixed, exactly the same drawbacks are encountered as those presented by the linear conveyors described previously.

[0006] There also exist carousel conveyors for substantially rigid containers, such as bottles, flasks, tins and the like, which enable high rates of packaging to be achieved, but such conveyors would not be usable, or in any case could not operate at such high rates, with packages of a flexible type, which need to stop in particular stations, such as, for example, the sealing station.

[0007] The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the problems illustrated above presented by the conveyors according to the prior art.

[0008] In particular, a purpose of the invention is to provide a conveying system for flexible packages, which has practically no constraints as regards the maximum size of the packages that it can handle.

[0009] Another purpose of the invention is to provide such a system for transferring flexible packages as will enable working at high rates of output in the case of packages of very small dimensions.

[0010] The above purposes are achieved, in accordance with the invention, by the characteristics of the annexed independent Claim 1.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0012] Basically, according to the invention, a substantially rigid container is used for conveying flexible packages, which is designed to receive the flexible packages inside it.

[0013] Conveniently, such containers are independent of the conveying means and are transferred from one workstation to another set side by side one another, resting, for example, on a conveyor belt.

[0014] It is evident that in this way, by varying the dimensions of the containers, it is possible to convey flexible packages of any size.

[0015] For this purpose, the various workstations, for example the station for sealing the top flap of the packages, are sized in such a way as to be able to receive at least one package of the maximum size possible. In this way, in the case of packages of small dimensions, it is possible to process a number of packages at the same time.

[0016] The rigid container used in the conveying system according to the invention for receiving the flexible packages, may be without a bottom or, with a bottom that can be opened in trap-door fashion, for allowing the finished package to drop through.

[0017] The container according to the invention, is likewise provided with means for hooking to a conveying system, such as for example a chain, in which case there is obviously a limitation imposed by the distance between centres of the system for movement of the containers, and there is only the advantage of having a rigid container for conveying the flexible package.

[0018] Further characteristics of the invention will emerge more clearly from the ensuing detailed description, which refers to one purely non-limiting example of embodiment thereof, illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a container designed to receive a flexible package and convey it on the conveying system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view taken in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a median section taken according to the plane III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevation showing a plurality of containers set alongside one another, advancing on a conveyor belt by mere friction;

Figures 5 and 6 are elevations, similar to the one of Figure 4, showing packages of two different sizes, and hence with different distances between centres, in the filling station;

Figures 7 and 8 are elevations showing the same packages as those of Figures 5 and 6, respectively, in the sealing step, using a multiple sealer;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a possible packaging line, for example a continuously operating one, with a system for conveying flexible packages according to the invention, which uses the containers illustrated in the previous figures;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are schematic illustrations of the container according to the invention, moved using systems with fixed distance between centres, with fixing to a chain, to pins or prongs, and to a ratchet mechanism, respectively.

[0019] With reference to the above figures, and for the moment in particular to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the reference number 1 designates a container that may be used in the system for conveying flexible packages according to the invention.

[0020] The container 1 is substantially rigid and may be made of metal, plastic or some other material. It has a box-like shape, which in the embodiment illustrated is substantially parallelepipedal, with a rectangular cross section, and has in practice just a skirt 2, which develops along the perimeter of the container, which is thus without top and bottom walls.

[0021] Figures 1-3 are also schematic illustrations of a flexible package 3, housed in the container 1, which is normally conveyed on a plane surface without constraints, as will be described in greater detail in what follows and as appears schematically, for example, in Figure 4.

[0022] The container 1, as shown in Figures 1-3, is designed without a bottom, so that the package 3, when completed, may be unloaded from the conveyor by dropping through an opening provided in the surface for conveying the containers.

[0023] It is, however, evident that the container 1 is not limited to the embodiment illustrated, but it may be provided with a bottom wall, which can be opened, for example, with a hinge, like a trap-door, when the package 3 has to be unloaded through an opening in the conveying surface.

[0024] As may be seen from Figures 1-3, the skirt 2 of the container 1 is envisaged as continuous and has a top edge 4 and a bottom edge 5 of the same thickness, which corresponds to the thickness of two small vertical central walls 6 set opposite to one another, provided on the skirt 2, whilst the remaining part of the skirt 2 has a smaller thickness, determining an ample undercut or removal of material 7, which constitutes a lightening of the structure of the container. In addition, when a number of containers 1 are set alongside one another, for example on a conveyor belt 10, as is shown in Figure 4, the small walls 6 of adjacent containers set themselves in contact with one another, whilst the said undercuts 7 determine cavities 7' between adjacent containers, which can possibly serve for the insertion of an arrest designed to immobilize temporarily the containers upstream, whilst the ones downstream advance along the conveyor 10.

[0025] In the attached figures, the skirt 2 of the container 1 is shown made of full material, but it is evident that it may also be made appropriately slotted.

[0026] The elevation of Figure 4 is very schematic, and illustrates a plurality (three) of containers 1 that advance freely, just by friction, on the conveyor belt 10. Since the containers 1 are in reciprocal contact with one another, the conveyors upstream push the ones downstream, in the event of difficulty of advance of the latter, due, for example, to sliding.

[0027] It is evident that side guides are provided (not illustrated) for advance of the containers 1 on the conveyor belt 10.

[0028] With free conveying of such a kind, i.e., without constraints between the containers 1 and the conveyor, the packaging line may conveniently be a continuously operating one, it being possible for the arrest or temporary slowing of the containers to be obtained with means that interfere therewith along the path of advance, including possibly the said arrests that insert into the cavities 7' that are formed between adjacent containers.

[0029] The conveying system according to the invention, for the transfer of flexible packages in the various workstations, which uses the aforesaid rigid containers 1 for receiving the flexible packages 3, containers which are independent of the conveying means, eliminates any limit in the sizes of the packages to be conveyed, enables carrying-out of an extremely fast change of format, it being sufficient to replace the containers 1 with containers of the appropriate sizes, and enables maximum productivity to be achieved for any given format, the maximum rates of output being obviously reached for small formats.

[0030] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate, by way of example, the conveying of respective packages of various dimensions and hence with different distances between centres. More precisely, in the example of Figure 5, there are illustrated eight packages of sizes such as to occupy approximately the same longitudinal space as five larger containers illustrated in the example of Figure 6.

[0031] In the above Figures 5 and 6, there is a schematic representation of the step of filling of the packages 3, which is performed using the same dispenser 11.

[0032] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the step of sealing of the packages of different dimensions, represented, respectively, in Figure 5 and Figure 6, with the same sealing element that carries out multiple sealing, in order to demonstrate how the packaging line does not require any modifications or replacements of parts at each change of format.

[0033] In practice, the eight packages of Figure 5 and the five larger packages of Figure 6 are sealed simultaneously using the same sealing jaws 12. Obviously, the number of packages to be accumulated in the sealing station and to be sealed simultaneously is established on the basis of the size of the packages 3 so as to enable maximum productivity of the machine.

[0034] Figure 9 is a schematic top plan view of a packaging line with continuous operation, which can be obtained by exploiting the conveying system with the rigid containers 1 according to the invention.

[0035] In particular, the packaging line of Figure 9 comprises two linear stretches 20, 21 and one curved stretch 22, which develops around a carousel 23, with advance in the direction indicated by the arrow F.

[0036] In the rectilinear stretch 20 there are envisaged three packaging machines 25, which feed the packages 3, possibly already filled with product, if they are of the filling-shaping type, to the containers 1 (not shown), which are sent towards the carousel 23, where various treatment stations (not shown) are envisaged, such as ones for opening and filling of the packages 3, if these are not pre-filled, and so forth.

[0037] At output from the carousel 23, the packages are then sent on to the sealing stations 12, of the type of which three are envisaged in the example of embodiment illustrated in Figure 9.

[0038] Advantageously, there may be provided a store or storage unit of containers for the different formats of package, with automatic transfer to the processing line. In this way, at each change of format, the containers used previously are sent on towards the store, and the containers for the new package format are introduced into the circuit, with commands issued automatically, for example by means of a personal computer, and in any case without manual interventions by the user.

[0039] The geometry or layout of the packaging line illustrated in Figure 9 is provided purely by way of example, it being evident that any other geometry comprising rectilinear stretches and circular stretches and multiple workstations is possible, thanks to the fact that the packages are made to advance in containers that are completely independent of the conveyors.

[0040] Thus, for example, where the processes to be carried out in the processing stations are relatively slow, it is possible get the containers to advance in parallel lines, the number of lines corresponding to the number of processing stations set in parallel, and to bring the containers back onto a single line so that they advance in series, where they are to undergo processing steps in fast processing stations.

[0041] Even though it is convenient for the container 1 according to the invention to travel free on the conveyor, there is also envisaged the possibility that the container will be coupled to particular types of conveyors.

[0042] Thus, for example, in Figure 10 a bracket 30 is fixed to the container 1, by means of which the container is hooked to a conveying chain 31.

[0043] In Figure 11 the container is shown hooked to the conveyor 10 by means of a pair of pins or prongs 32, which insert in the hollow bottom of the container 1 or in special cavities provided in a possible bottom wall of the container.

[0044] Finally, in Figure 12, a blind hole 35 is provided on a wall of the container 1, in which there is engaged a pin 36 of a ratchet mechanism fixed to the system for movement of the containers, which thus conveys the container 1, the said pin 36 bearing upon a contrast element (not shown) provided on the side opposite to the pin 36.

[0045] Of course, in the cases of Figures 10-12, since the containers 1 are fastened to the conveyor and hence with a fixed distance between centres of the containers, determined by the conveyor used, the advantages of the free conveying illustrated previously are lost.

Claims

1. A system for conveying flexible packages (3), for the transfer thereof in various workstations, characterized in that it envisages substantially rigid containers (1), designed for housing the flexible packages (3) to be conveyed, said containers (1) being arranged completely free, i.e., without constraints on the conveyor so that the distance between centres of consecutive containers (3) may vary according to the sizes of the containers themselves.

2. The conveying system according to Claim 1, characterized in that said containers (1) rest on a plane supporting surface (10).

3. The conveying system according to Claim 2, characterized in that said containers (1) are drawn by friction by means of a conveyor belt (10).

4. The conveying system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conveyor has one or more rectilinear stretches (20, 21) and one or more curved stretches (23), determining a continuously operating packaging line.

5. The conveying system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containers (1) for housing the flexible packages (3) have a box-like shape and are without bottoms, for enabling dropping of the package through an opening in the supporting surface (10).

6. The conveying system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said containers for housing the flexible packages (3) have a box-like shape, with a hinged bottom that can be opened, like a trap-door, for enabling unloading by dropping of the package through an opening provided in the supporting surface (10).

7. A substantially rigid container (1), designed to receive a flexible package (3) for conveying in the various workstations of a packaging line, in particular a continuously operating one, said container (1) having a box-like shape, with at least one perimetral skirt (2) enclosing said flexible package (3).

8. The container according to Claim 7, characterized in that it is without a bottom.

9. The container according to Claim 7, characterized in that it has a bottom wall that can be opened with a hinge, like a trap-door.

10. The container according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it has means for constraint to a conveyor, such as a bracket (30) for fixing to a conveying chain (31), cavities on its bottom for the housing of pins or prongs (32) provided on a conveyor belt (10), or a blind hole (35) on its skirt (2), for the engagement of a pin (36) of a ratchet mechanism fixed to the conveying means.

Drawing