Carton supply assembly

Abstract

 A supply assembly (1) for cartons (A), of the type that comprises a fixed frame (2) provided with at least one lateral containment wall (3) for the cartons (A) that have not yet been formed, at least one conveyor (4) arranged above the frame (2) and associated with at least one respective motor (5), and suitable means (6) for blocking the leading carton (A), at the end edge of the conveyor (4), for the subsequent pickup of the leading carton (A). The side walls (3) are two, face each other and are mutually opposite at a mutual distance that can be adjusted, as a function of the length of the cartons (A) that have not yet been formed, by means of specific control devices (7). The conveyor (4) comprises separating partitions (8) which form, together with the two side walls (3), containment pockets (9) for a preset number of cartons (A) that have not yet been formed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a carton supply assembly for forming machines and/or packaging machines.

[0002] Packaging cartons are normally stored in a closed configuration: the faces of the cartons are superimposed, forming an overall flat shape. This arrangement minimizes the space occupation of the cartons: at the time of use it is necessary to form such cartons, manually or (more frequently) by means of machines which arrange the various contiguous faces of the cartons in mutually perpendicular conditions.

[0003] The cartons are supplied to the machine designed for forming by a specific unit on which they are stacked in a closed configuration: all the cartons advance parallel to each other on a respective conveyor toward the station for picking up the first carton to transfer it to the forming machine.

[0004] The fact that the cartons follow each other and rest against each other produces considerable pressure on the first carton of the line, which is applied by the entire block of cartons inserted on the transfer unit.

[0005] Extraction of the first carton is therefore complicated, since the carton is squeezed between the stroke limiting shoulders provided on the unit and the upstream cartons: the larger the number of upstream cartons, the higher the compression of the first carton and therefore the greater the difficulty in extracting it in order to supply it to the forming machine.

[0006] During operation, all the stacked cartons will be extracted, one after the other: the last remaining cartons will be subjected to minimal pressure. If the pickup element is set to pick up cartons that are subjected to intense pressure, probably it will not pick up correctly the last cartons remaining on the conveyor.

[0007] The consequence is that operation will be irregular: the ability to extract the leading carton may be calibrated/optimized for an intermediate pressure value, but in fully loaded conditions of the conveyor and in minimum loading conditions it will be inaccurate, and this in many cases causes irregularities in operation.

[0008] It should be noted that the cartons must be arranged in the closed configuration on the conveyor by an operator.

[0009] Although this arrangement does not have to be performed necessarily while the machine is idle, it nonetheless requires performing operations for releasing the locking element that keeps in position the last carton of the line, which is already present on the conveyor, to then arrange thereon the first carton of the pack that is being loaded, thus creating discontinuity in pressure with consequent risk of malfunction of the pickup action.

[0010] The last carton of the new pack is then constrained by means of the locking element.

[0011] These operations must be performed in order to ensure the necessary safety of the operator and a correct arrangement of the new pack to allow optimum advancement thereof.

[0012] The advancement of the cartons on the conveyor is determined by suitable traction elements: although these traction elements generally work synchronously (driven by a same motor), the advancement of the cartons can occur with a certain inclination that will compromise their extraction (the grip apparatus acts parallel to the ideal plane of arrangement of the leading carton). The inclination of the cartons during advancement is a severe problem, since it can cause incorrect grip of the leading carton, with consequent jamming of the entire forming apparatus.

[0013] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by proposing a carton supply assembly in which the pressure applied by the stack of cartons to the leading carton is variable within a very narrow range, consequently smoothing the extraction of the leading carton by the assigned apparatus.

[0014] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to propose a carton supply assembly in which loading of additional cartons by an operator is simple, reducing the number of operations to be performed, their complexity and therefore the risk of positioning errors.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to propose a carton supply assembly in which the loading of additional cartons does not require machine downtime or more simply stopping of the conveyor of said cartons.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to propose a carton supply assembly in which the cartons advance in conditions of optimum parallel arrangement with respect to the ideal pickup plane of the leading carton.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to propose a carton supply assembly that has easy adjustment of width and height as a function of the size of the cartons to be processed.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide a carton supply assembly which has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

[0019] This aim and these objects, as well as others which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a carton supply assembly of the type that comprises a fixed frame provided with at least one lateral containment wall for the cartons that have not yet been formed, at least one conveyor arranged above said frame and associated with at least one respective motor, and suitable means for blocking the leading carton, at the end edge of said conveyor, for the subsequent pickup of said leading carton, characterized in that said side walls are two, face each other and are mutually opposite at a mutual distance that can be adjusted as a function of the length of the cartons that have not yet been formed by means of specific control devices, said conveyor comprising separating partitions which form, together with said two side walls, containment pockets for a preset number of cartons that have not yet been formed.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the carton supply assembly according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a carton supply assembly according to the invention while it is loaded with cartons to be formed;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the carton supply assembly according to the invention while it is loaded with cartons to be formed;

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the carton supply assembly according to the invention, partially loaded with cartons to be formed;

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the carton supply assembly according to the invention without cartons to be formed;

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the carton supply assembly according to the invention mounted on wheels, without cartons to be formed;

Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the carton supply assembly of Figure 1 while it is loaded with cartons to be formed which are larger than the ones of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a side view of the carton supply assembly according to the invention, partially loaded with small-format cartons to be formed;

Figure 8 is a side view of the carton supply assembly according to the invention, partially loaded with large-format cartons to be formed;

Figure 9 is a top view of the carton supply assembly according to the invention, partially loaded with cartons to be formed.

[0021] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an assembly for supplying cartons A.

[0022] The assembly 1 comprises a fixed frame 2, which is provided with at least one lateral containment wall 3 for the cartons A that have not yet been formed.

[0023] At least one conveyor 4 is also provided, which is arranged above the frame 2 and associated with at least one respective motor 5.

[0024] The leading carton A is kept within the assembly 1 thanks to suitable means 6 for locking the leading carton: the means 6 are arranged at the end edge of the conveyor 4 and rest on a peripheral area of the leading carton A.

[0025] The presence of the locking means 6 facilitates the subsequent picking of the leading carton A by the apparatus that will be located downstream of the assembly 1.

[0026] The side walls 3 are two, which face each other and are mutually opposite at a mutual distance which is adjustable as a function of the length of the cartons A that have not yet been formed, by way of specific control devices 7.

[0027] The conveyor 4 comprises suitable separation partitions 8, which form, together with the two side walls 3, containment pockets 9 for a preset number of cartons A that have not yet been formed.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, each wall 3 comprises a respective conveyor 4, which is provided with respective partitions 8, which are equidistant and perpendicular to the wall 3.

[0029] In this case, each conveyor 4 is actuated by a respective motor 5.

[0030] Within the scope of this constructive solution, the conveyor 4 associated with a respective wall 3 comprises at least one position sensor 10 for detecting the position of a reference that is jointly connected to the conveyor 4: in particular, the sensor 10 can detect the presence of a carton A in a given position or its absence (which corresponds to the total absence of cartons A on the assembly 1 or to the alignment of the sensor 10 with the interspace comprised between two pockets 9 filled with cartons A to be formed). The motor 5, in this case, is fed by a respective control and management unit (not shown in the figure) which is associated with the at least one sensor 10: the motor 5 moves the conveyor 4 only upon a specific position detection performed by the sensor 10. In this manner it is possible to ensure the optimum alignment of the cartons A in the pockets 9, since although the conveyors 4 are actuated by potentially independent motors 5, their movement is controlled by detections of the position of the products (cartons A) on the assembly 1.

[0031] In order to optimize operation and smooth the control and actuation logic of the assembly 1, the motors 5 designed to actuate the respective conveyors 4 are each controlled by a respective control and management unit, which is associated with the sensors 10 provided on the two conveyors 4.

[0032] The advancement of the conveyors 4 is therefore substantially synchronous and the references that are jointly connected to the corresponding conveyors 4 are constantly aligned (the signals supplied by the sensors 10 produce a control feedback of the position on the part of the control and management unit) in order to keep the cartons A that have not been formed perfectly at right angles to the walls 3.

[0033] It is fundamental to note that the assembly 1 comprises at least one lower low-friction track 11 for the resting and sliding, as a consequence of the traction performed by the conveyor 4, of a portion of the edge of the cartons A that have not yet been formed. The lower track 11 can also be optionally motorized.

[0034] The track 11 is preferably constituted by a plurality of hinged cylinders and balls: the adoption of a platform with rollers, spherical bearings or other rolling elements is not excluded.

[0035] It must be noted that the track 11 might also be made of self-lubricating material (mention is made, merely by way of example, of polytetrafluoroethylene, commercial name Teflon, or polyamide, commercial name Nylon) or be constituted by a plane provided with a plurality of holes which lead to a common manifold which is associated with a line for supplying compressed air (the air cushion lifting the edge of the cartons A from the surface and therefore minimizing the sliding friction thereon).

[0036] The lower track 11 can be constituted optionally by conveyor elements such as belts, chains, modular belts, et cetera in the form of parallel devices, provided with mutually independent actuation systems which are however synchronous with the motors 5 of the lateral conveyance devices, forming a pair actuated by a single actuation system.

[0037] A coupling assembly 12 is positively interposed between the track 11 and the frame 2 and its length is adjustable in order to adjust the height of the track 11 with respect to the upper locking means 6, which must always be aligned with the top of the leading carton A (for this reason, the means 6 also are adjustable in height) as a function of the height of the cartons A that have not yet been formed.

[0038] The adjustments related to the height of the track 11 and related to the distance of the walls 3 will be obtainable advantageously by adopting gearmotors and one or more screw-and-nut couplings: in this case, the rotation of the shaft of the gearmotor will turn the screw and generate a translational motion of the block that is jointly connected to the female thread, with consequent movement of the components jointly connected thereto.

[0039] Of course, this solution is merely one of the possible solutions that can be adopted to adjust the position of the walls 3 and of the track 11: in practice the use of hydraulic and/or pneumatic pistons, electric actuation systems or electrically actuated systems and/or actuation systems of another kind is not excluded.

[0040] The possibility is of course provided from the outset to provide a manual adjustment of the height of the track 11 by way of suitable guiding apparatuses controlled by a manually-actuated lever system.

[0041] It should be noted that according to an embodiment that is particularly interesting for constructive purposes, the position sensor 10 is a mechanical probe, arranged below the respective wall 3, in alignment and partial interference with a portion of the edge of the cartons A that have not yet been formed which are arranged in the containment pockets 9: one end of the mechanical probe therefore interferes with the cartons A and with their stroke, in order to detect their position, while another portion acts on a switch (in particular, the preferred adoption of a microswitch, a photocell and the like is noted), producing its closure when the cartons A move the interfering end and its opening when it does not make contact with the cartons A (the opposite, in which the switch is open upon movement of the end by the cartons and vice versa, is also to be considered within the scope of this operation).

[0042] It should be noted that in order to maximize the versatility of the assembly 1 according to the invention the frame 2 can be mounted on respective wheels 13 for moving the assembly 1.

[0043] The assembly 1 may in fact be associated with different carton forming machines: as a function of the machine that one intends to operate, the assembly 1 is moved, aligning it functionally with the respective machine. The wheels 13 ensure that this can be done without resorting to bridge cranes or other expensive and bulky means of transport.

[0044] The assembly 1 may further comprise a lower conveyor, constituted by a sliding and motorized surface on which at least one portion of the lower edge of the cartons A that have not been formed rests.

[0045] The movement of such surface is determined by a motor that is controlled by a control and management unit which is associated with at least one respective sensor for detecting the position of a specific reference that is jointly connected to the cartons A that have not been formed and are accommodated in the pockets 9.

[0046] The adjustment stroke of the side walls 3 is of a type which is substantially symmetrical with respect to a reference plane that is comprised between them and on which the main folding lines of the cartons A to be formed, inserted in the respective pockets 9, are arranged.

[0047] Positively, the assembly 1 for forming cartons A according to the invention ensures that the thrust applied by the stack of cartons A on the leading carton is variable within a very narrow range, with consequent smoothing of the extraction of the leading carton A by the assigned apparatus (located downstream of the assembly 1).

[0048] The leading carton A in fact must bear (at the most) the pressure of a pack of cartons A that is equal to the maximum content of a pocket 9: differently from known assemblies (in which all the cartons A that are present act on the leading carton), in this case only a small number of cartons A pushes against the leading carton A, which therefore is not pressed strongly against the locking means 6 and therefore its extraction is simpler and more regular.

[0049] Advantageously, the assembly 1 for supplying cartons A according to the invention makes it simple for an operator to load additional cartons A. The operator in fact merely has to insert a pack of cartons A within a respective pocket 9, without having to stop the assembly 1 (without stopping the conveyors 4) and therefore without any reduction in productivity.

[0050] Moreover, the reduction of the number of cartons A moved simultaneously submits the operator to a reduced physical effort and avoids the risks related to the handling of heavy loads.

[0051] Conveniently, the proposed forming assembly 1 ensures that the cartons A advance in conditions of optimum parallel arrangement with respect to the ideal pickup plane of the leading carton A thanks to the presence of the sensors 10 and of the control and management unit that controls the motors 5 that drive the conveyors 4.

[0052] Finally, it should be noted that the supply assembly 1 has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

[0053] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0054] In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

[0055] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

[0056] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0057] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A supply assembly for cartons (A), of the type that comprises a fixed frame (2) provided with at least one lateral containment wall (3) for the cartons (A) that have not yet been formed, at least one conveyor (4) arranged above said frame (2) and associated with at least one respective motor (5), and suitable means (6) for blocking the leading carton (A), at the end edge of said conveyor (4), for the subsequent pickup of said leading carton (A), characterized in that said side walls (3) are two, face each other and are mutually opposite at a mutual distance that can be adjusted as a function of the length of the cartons (A) that have not yet been formed by means of specific control devices (7), said conveyor (4) comprising separating partitions (8) which form, together with said two side walls (3), containment pockets (9) for a preset number of cartons (A) that have not yet been formed.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of said walls (3) comprises a respective conveyor (4), which is provided with respective equidistant partitions (8), which are perpendicular to said wall (3), and is actuated by a respective motor (5).

3. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said conveyor (4) associated with a respective wall (3) comprises at least one position sensor (10) for detecting the position of a reference that is jointly connected to said conveyor (4), said motor (5) being fed by a respective control and management unit which is associated with said at least one sensor (10).

4. The assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the motors (5) designed to actuate the respective conveyors (4) are each controlled by a respective control and management unit, which is associated with the sensors (10) provided on the two conveyors (4) of the two walls (3), the advancement of said conveyors (4) being substantially synchronous and the references jointly connected to the corresponding conveyors (4) being constantly aligned in order to maintain the cartons (A) that have not been formed perfectly perpendicular to said walls (3).

5. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one lower low-friction track (11) for the resting and sliding, as a consequence of the traction performed by said conveyor (4), of a portion of the edge of the cartons (A) that have not been formed, between said track (11) and said frame (2) there being interposed a coupling assembly (12) whose length is adjustable in order to adjust the height of said track (11) as a function of the height of the cartons (A) that have not yet been formed.

6. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said position sensor (10) is a mechanical probe, arranged below the respective wall (3), in alignment and partial interference with a portion of the edge of said cartons (A) that have not yet been formed which are arranged in said containment pockets (9) for detecting the position of said cartons.

7. The assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame (2) is mounted on respective wheels (13) for the movement of the assembly (1).

8. The assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a lower conveyor, which is constituted by a sliding surface on which at least one portion of the lower edge of said cartons (A) that have not been formed rests, the movement of said surface being determined by a motor that is controlled by a control and management unit which is associated with at least one respective sensor for detecting the position of a specific reference that is jointly connected to said cartons (A) that have not been formed and are accommodated in said pockets (9).

9. The assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stroke for the adjustment of said side walls (3) is of a type which is substantially symmetrical with respect to a reference plane that is comprised between said side walls on which the main folding lines of the cartons (A) to be formed, inserted in the respective pockets (9), are arranged.

Drawing