MACHINE FOR PACKAGING PRODUCTS ARRANGED IN ORDERED GROUPS

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to machines for packaging products arranged in ordered groups, for instance groups of paper rolls, such as tissue paper rolls, or the like, or other products that must be grouped according to defined geometries to form packs or packages.

State of the Art

[0002] In the production of products arranged in ordered groups it is well known to provide a feeding line, along which the individual products are fed and grouped in ordered manner and from which the ordered products are synchronously inserted into a packaging machine or station, forming single groups that are then wrapped for instance in sheets of heat-sealed plastic. US-B-7909157 discloses an example of a feeding line to form groups of ordered and superposed products towards a packaging station. This prior art feeding line is comprised of more adjacent modules, joined and connected together to obtain a continuous feeding line and synchronous movements. Once assembled and joined together, the modules can be displaced from one another only by demounting the line and therefore interrupting the mechanical, electronic and electric continuity between them. Similar feeding lines comprised of modules that are mechanically, electronically, and electrically joined together to form a single complex are described in US2006/0090419 and in EP-A-2314511.

[0003] WO/2009/060489 describes a system for forming groups of products ordered according to more superposed layers.

[0004] The ordered product groups fed by these feeding lines can be inserted in packaging stations of the type described for instance in US-B-7789219 or US-B-6308497.

[0005] EP-A-0462352 discloses a system and a method for forming groups of bar-shaped products, for instance made of steel. The bars are fed to a conveyor belt moving according to a feeding direction to unload the bars onto an elevator. The conveyor belt is supported by a carriage that moves parallel to the feeding movement of the conveyor belt. In this way, by combining the movements of the conveyor belt and of the carriage it is possible to unload single bars one adjacent to the other onto a collection plane of the elevator. Practically, while the bars are fed to the elevator the return roller downstream of the conveyor belt moves parallel along the elevator unloading plane thanks to the movement of the carriage supporting the conveyor belt itself. In this way the first bar is unloaded at one end of the elevator plane and the last bar is unloaded at the opposite end, said two ends being distanced in feeding direction of the conveyor belt. The carriage has a back-and-forth reciprocating movement to unload the various groups of bars onto the elevator orderly and successively.

[0006] In known packaging machines the mechanical members may be adjusted according to the size of the packs to be packaged. To this end, when a feeding line is provided towards a packaging station, typically equipped with an elevator, an adjustable stop is provided in the loading area of the products to be packaged in the packaging station. The position of this stop can be adjusted at the same time as the position for unloading the products from the feeding line. To this end a single motor is provided to adjust the position for unloading the products from the feeding line and the position of the opposite stop synchronously and symmetrically. In this way it is possible always to position correctly, centered in the packaging station, the product group to be packaged, even if the group dimensions vary. The adjustment movement cited above is limited and serves to adjust the machine to the various transverse dimensions of the packages to be obtained.

[0007] The feeding lines and the packaging stations are inserted in more complex systems, usually comprising stations for preparing the singles products, conveyors for feeding the products to the feeding lines towards the packaging station, palletizing areas or portions and the like.

[0008] In these systems shutdowns may occur, for instance when the products jam along the path. In this case it is necessary to free the line as soon as possible to avoid production losses and related costs. Also, it is often necessary to have stations serviced, for instance for maintenance, adjustments or the like.

[0009] One of the stations that must be more frequently accessed is the packaging station, to maintain it, to remove jammed products or for other reasons. Accessing the packaging station is often difficult or impossible due to the presence of the feeding line, which usually extends in orthogonal direction with respect to the movement of the product groups in the packaging station. It is difficult for the operator to access the involved area, i.e. the area in which the products are transferred from the feeding line to the packaging station.

[0010] It is therefore necessary to improve the production lines, in particular the packaging machines, to make the use thereof easier and accelerate maintenance and adjustment operations, as well as removal of jammed products, or for other production needs.

[0011] EP2314511 describes a machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Summary of the Invention

[0012] According to the invention, a machine is provided for packaging products arranged in ordered groups, according to claim 1. The machine comprises a packaging station and a feeding line configured and controlled for feeding ordered groups of products to the packaging station. The feeding line is movable with respect to the packaging station to form an access space between the packaging station and the same feeding line. More in particular, the feeding line has a movable unit, or carriage or slide, which defines the end part of the feeding line and may be moved towards the packaging station, to feed it with the products, and away from the packaging station, preferably in a direction parallel to the feeding direction, to form the access space. The movable unit moves by means of an actuator, such as a motor, for instance an electric motor. Guides are provided to guide the movable unit with respect to the packaging station. When it is necessary to have the access space, the movable unit can be moved away from the packaging station without the need for demounting modules of the feeding line. An access space is formed between the packaging station and the feeding line which is sized to allow an operator to pass and easily access the packaging station

[0013] The access space is adequately sized, to allow an operator to pass. The access space dimension in the feeding direction along the feeding line may be for instance around 40-100 cm. This allows accessing to the various parts of the packaging station more comfortably. The packaging station may also serve as a passage to allow the operator to access parts of a complex production line that otherwise would be hard-to-reach or require long transfers inside the plant.

[0014] In advantageous embodiments the feeding line may comprise in sequence: an entrance conveyor for the products, a synchronizing and ordering system for groups of products to be packaged, and members for inserting the groups of products into the packaging station. In advantageous embodiments the insertion members are movable so as to move towards and away from the packaging station forming said access
space.

[0015] In some embodiments, along the feeding line a backward moving device is provided for moving back the products along said feeding line, designed and arranged to move back the products upwards of the synchronizing and ordering system, when the feeding line is distanced from the packaging station forming said access space. In this way, the movement of the feeding line to open and close the access space does not alter the reciprocal position of the products that have been already ordered and synchronized and are arranged to be inserted into the packaging station. This minimizes the shutdown times. As the access space is closed again and the machine starts, the products closer to the packaging station are already positioned and ordered correctly so as to be inserted into the packaging station and re-start the production.

[0016] In some embodiments the entrance conveyor has a variable length and is shortened when the feeding line is distanced from the packaging station forming said access space. To this end, the entrance conveyor may comprise for instance at least one conveyor belt with an exit end facing the packaging station, wherein said exit end is movable backwards with respect to the product feeding direction along the feeding line, so as to move away from the packaging station when the access space is formed. In this way the access space may be opened and closed without changing the reciprocal position of the products arranged along the feeding line downstream of said end of the conveyor belt. The change in length of the conveyor upstream of the ordering and synchronizing section, or more precisely the change in the active length of this conveyor, causes a backward movement and then a forward movement of the products that are already in the feeding line but not yet positioned orderly with respect to one another to be inserted into the packaging station synchronously.

[0017] In some embodiments the synchronizing and ordering system and the insertion members are supported by a movable unit, for instance a movable carriage or slide, to move towards and away from the packaging station. The access space between the feeding line and the packaging line is advantageously obtained by moving the movable unit away from the packaging station. As the synchronizing and ordering system and the insertion members are carried by the movable unit, the products that are already synchronized and ready to be inserted into the packaging station keep their position with respect to the members moving them. When the line is ready to re-start, the movable unit is therefore moved towards the packaging station and the products can be fed again without the need for a new synchronization. The above mentioned entrance conveyor with variable length may be arranged upstream of the synchronizing and ordering system; this conveyor may be advantageously configured to move its downstream end back when the movable unit moves away from the packaging station forming the access space; in this way the products that are on the entrance conveyor and not yet synchronized do not interfere with the synchronizing and ordering system and do no change the position of the products that are already in the synchronizing and ordering system and in the insertion members.

[0018] In some embodiments the synchronizing and ordering system may comprise one or more launchers that, in phase synchronization, insert products or groups of products into a conveying unit. The conveying unit may comprise for instance at least one oscillating conveyor to distribute groups of products on at least two different levels in the members for inserting the groups of products in the packaging station.

[0019] The insertion members may be advantageously configured and controlled to adjust the distance of the insertion members, and advantageously of the other elements in the feeding line upstream of said insertion members with respect to the feeding direction of the products to be packaged, from a reference point of the packaging station according to the dimensions of said groups of products. The reference point may be a median plane of an elevator provided for transferring the groups of products from an insertion height to a packaging height. The packaging station may also comprise a stop for positioning the products, whose position can be adjusted according to the dimension of the groups of products to be packaged.

[0020] In some embodiments a first motor is advantageously provided to adjust the distance of the insertion members from the reference point of the packaging station, and a second motor to adjust the position of the stop. The first and the second motor are preferably controlled in a reciprocally coordinated manner to position the insertion members and the stop in a settable position with respect to the reference point, for instance with respect to a median plane of the elevator. In other embodiments it is possible to use a single motor and a connecting and disconnecting system, for instance by means of clutches, to move the insertion members and the stop alternatively.

Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The invention will be better understood by means of the description below and the attached drawing, which shows a non-restrictive practical embodiment of the invention. More in particular, in the drawing:

figure 1 is a side view of a packaging machine in a stop condition, with the feeding line distanced from the packaging station, the feeding line being divided into two parts for greater clarity of representation;

figure 1A is a side view similar to that of figure 1 in reduced scale, wherein the feeding line is illustrated as a whole;

figure 2 is a view similar to that of figure 1, wherein the machine is in working condition, feeding the products to the packaging station;

figure 3 is a plan view according to III-III in figure 2;

figure 4 is a view according to IV-IV of figure 1;

figures 5 and 6 are two enlargements of a side view of the area where the products are transferred from the feeding line to the packaging station, in two different machine configurations, to process groups of products of two different dimensions.

Detailed description of an embodiment

[0022] The detailed description below of exemplary embodiments is made with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Furthermore, the drawings are not necessarily scale. The detailed description below does not limit the invention. The protective scope of the present invention is defined by the attached claims.

[0023] In the description, the reference to "an embodiment" or "the embodiment" or "some embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure or element described with reference to an embodiment is comprised in at least one embodiment of the described object. The sentences "in an embodiment" or "in the embodiment" or "in some embodiments" in the description do not therefore necessarily refer to the same embodiment or embodiments. The particular features, structures or elements can be furthermore combined in any adequate way in one or more embodiments.

[0024] Specific reference will be made hereunder to a machine for packaging rolls of tissue paper, for instance toilet paper, kitchen towels or the like. It should, however, be understood that the subject matter described herein may be also embodied in machines for packaging other types of products, whenever problems similar to those solved in the machines for packaging rolls are to be solved.

[0025] Figures 1, 1A, 2, and 3 show a portion of a system for producing packs of rolls, for instance of toilet paper. The system portion illustrated in figures 1, 1A, 2, and 3 is designated "packaging machine" as a whole and indicated with the reference number 1. The packaging machine is actually inserted inside a more complex processing line having (upstream of the packaging machine 1) more stations, groups, equipment, apparatuses or the like for instance for processing paper reels to produce logs that are then cut into rolls to be packaged. Downstream of the packaging machine 1 further machines, stations, equipment and the like are provided to group and, if necessary, to bag packs of rolls from the packaging machine 1, or to perform other necessary processes.

[0026] The packaging machine 1 substantially comprises a feeding line 3 and a packaging station indicated as a whole with number 6. The feeding line 3 receives rolls R from the upstream sections of the processing line, order it to form groups of sizes set by the user and feeds the groups of ordered products to the packaging station 6; here the single groups of products are wrapped, typically in sheets of heat-sealed plastic or in other manner. The features of the packaging station 6 will be described in detail only as far as it is necessary to understand the present invention, as the packaging station 6 may be configured in various manner providing that its structure is compatible with the other features described below, and different types of packaging stations are known to those skilled in the art, for instance from the patent documents cited in the introduction of the present description.

[0027] The feeding line 3 substantially comprises a series of feeding members that, starting from a random but substantially continuous flow of rolls R or of other products to be packaged, form ordered groups of rolls R that are inserted in sequence into the packaging station 6. More in particular, in the illustrated embodiment the feeding line 3 comprises, arranged in sequence along a feeding direction F: an entrance conveyor 5, a system 7 for synchronizing and ordering the groups to be packaged, and insertion members 9 for inserting the rolls or products arranged in ordered groups in a synchronized manner with respect to the operation of the packaging station.

[0028] As it is clearly apparent by comparing figures 1 and 2, when the production line is on and the packaging station 1 is working, the feeding line 3 and in particular the insertion members 9 for inserting the products into the packaging station 6 are adjacent to the packaging station 6, so that the groups of products or rolls R can be transferred by means of the insertion members 9 for instance onto an elevator 11 of the packaging station 6. The elevator moves upward and downward according to the double arrow f11 for the purposes explained below.

[0029] The feeding line 3 can be moved with respect to the packaging station 6 to form an access space indicated with S in figure 1. The access space S allows an operator O to easily access the packaging station 6, for instance to remove jammed products, to perform maintenance or for other purposes. The access space S also allows passing from one side to the other of the feeding line 3, thus allowing the operators to more easily access other parts of the production line arranged upstream or downstream of the packaging machine 1.

[0030] As described below, the feeding line 3 is configured adequately to allow the insertion members 9 (and the members and components of the feeding line 3 between the insertion members 9 and the entrance conveyor 5) to move away from the packaging station 6.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment the entrance conveyor 5 comprises at least one conveyor belt 13, onto which the products or rolls R to be packaged are fed. The conveyor belt 13 has the forward end 13A, i.e. the end facing towards the packaging station 6, defined by a return roller 15, which can translate according to the double arrow f15 to move towards or away from the packaging station 6. The return roller 15 moves according to the double arrow f15 integral with a second return roller 17, whilst a third return roller 19 is stationary with respect to a bearing structure 21, onto which the conveyor belt 13 is mounted. The movement of the end 13A of the conveyor belt 13 towards and away from the packaging station 6 is useful for the purposes described below.

[0032] Number 23 indicates a motor actuating the conveyor belt 13.

[0033] In some embodiments the system 7 for synchronizing and ordering the groups of products R comprises a so-called launcher 25. The launcher 25 can be configured in a known manner. It comprises for instance one or more lower conveyor belts 27 and two or more upper conveyor belts 29, arranged to define (see fig. 3) a plurality of feeding channels for the rolls or other products R to be packaged. In the illustrated example the rolls R are fed along five channels and the launcher 25 comprises therefore five pairs of conveyor belts 29. The launcher 25 is controlled so as to move forward the groups of rolls R synchronously towards the subsequent conveying members of the synchronizing and ordering system 7, which will be described below.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, a conveyor 31 is arranged downstream of the launchers 25; it may have a surface 33 where the rolls R slide and a pair of chains or other continuous flexible members 35, to which pushing bars 37 are fixed, which are suitably distanced and extend transversally to the feeding direction of the rolls R. Each pushing bar 37 is connected at its ends to the continuous flexible members 35. In this way, by moving the flexible members 35 the groups of rolls R are received by the conveyors 31 and pushed forward by means of the pushing bars 37 synchronously with the operation of the packaging station 6.

[0035] The conveyor 31 transfers the groups of rolls R to a further conveyor 39 that is part of the system 7 for synchronizing and ordering the groups of products R. The conveyor 39 has an oscillating movement according to the double arrow f39 to distribute single groups or layers of products R in the insertion members 9.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment the insertion members 9 for inserting the groups of products into the packaging station 6 are configured to receive the products R on two superposed layers; it is however also possible to arrange the products on more than two layers or also on one single layer, according to the type of packaging station 6.

[0037] For each layer the insertion members 9 comprise members for pushing the groups or layers of products R towards the elevator 11 of the packaging station 6. In the illustrated embodiment the insertion members 9 comprise two superposed pairs of continuous flexible members 9A and 9B, for instance chains or belts, provided with pushing bars 9C, 9D or other equivalent members for pushing the layers of rolls or products on the elevator 11 of the packaging station 6 in a synchronous manner. Each pair of continuous flexible members 9A, 9B is associated with a sliding surface 10A, 10B, onto which the products R rest and slide, pushed by the respective pushing bars 9C, 9D.

[0038] This particular arrangement of the entrance conveyor 5, of the synchronizing and ordering system 7 and of the insertion members 9 is given just by way of nonlimiting example. Configurations other than that illustrated may be used.

[0039] The launchers 25. the conveyor 31 and the conveyor 39, as well as the insertion members 9 are supported by a movable unit 43, indicated below as slide 43. The slide 43 moves according to the double arrow f43 along fixed guides 45, for instance resting on a ground through feet 47. Number 49 indicates a motor controlling the movement of the slide 43. For example, in some embodiments the motor 49 drives into rotation a threaded bar 51 with which a nut 53, integral with the slide 43, engages. The rotation of the threaded bar 51 in one direction or in the other causes the movement of the slide 43 according to the double arrow f43 from a working position (figures 2 and 3) to an idle position (figure 1) wherein the slide 43 is distanced from the packaging station 6, forming the access space S.

[0040] As it is clear by comparing figures 1 and 2, wherein figure 1 shows the position of the slide 43 distanced from the packaging station 6 and figure 2 shows the position near the packaging station 6, the movement according to the double arrow f43 of the slide 43 and of the insertion members 9 supported thereby does not change the arrangement of the groups or layers of products R already positioned in the synchronizing and ordering system 7 and in the insertion members 9 of the feeding line 3.

[0041] In this way it is possible to move the insertion members 9 (and the other components of the feeding line between the insertion members 9 and the entrance conveyor 5) towards and away from the packaging station 6 to open and close the space S, without altering the already performed synchronization of the first rolls R that must be then inserted in the packaging station 6 when the feeding line 3 will be moved again from the idle position (Fig. 1) to the working position (Fig. 2).

[0042] To allow the slide 43 to move away from the packaging station 6 without changing the position taken by the rolls or products R in the synchronizing and ordering system 7 and in the insertion members 9, it is provided that the end 13A of the conveyor belt 13 moves towards and away from the packaging station 6.

[0043] As shown in figure 1, when the feeding line 3 is distanced from the packaging station 6 to form the access space S, the end 13A of the conveyor belt 13 is moved backwards and the rolls R on the entrance conveyor 5 have been moved backwards. In this movement the rolls R may be moved towards one another until they are adjacent to one another. When the slide 43 moves again to the working position of figure 2 adjacent to the packaging station 6 to start feeding the rolls or products R again, the reciprocal position of the rolls R in the synchronizing and ordering system 7 and in the insertion members 9 does not change, whilst the end 13A of the conveyor belt 13 is moved forwards towards the packaging station 6. In doing this, the rolls R, or a part thereof, on the entrance conveyor are distanced with respect to one another, as it is clear from figure 2. However, this change in the reciprocal position of the rolls R on the entrance conveyor 5 does not change the synchronization and the reciprocal positioning of the products already obtained in the synchronizing and ordering system 7 and in the insertion members 9. In fact, the entrance conveyor 5 serves only to push and move towards one another the products from the upstream line, while the reciprocal synchronization between products to be packaged is performed downstream of the entrance conveyor 5. The change in the length of the entrance conveyor 5, which may be a simple flat conveyor belt, does not alter the synchronization and the phase of the products in the downstream area, between the entrance conveyor 5 and the packaging station 6. The phase between the products to be packaged is maintained also when the entrance conveyor 5 is shortened and elongated, because the area comprised between the launchers and the exit of the feeding line is not altered when the entrance conveyor 5 is displaced.

[0044] This configuration substantially allows to open and close the access space S without altering the flow of products or rolls R and allowing the packaging station 5 to start working again in a correct manner as the access space S is closed, for instance after an intervention by the operator, thanks to the fact that in the end portion of the feeding line 3 (areas 7 and 9) the rolls R have kept their reciprocal synchronized position, obtained before opening the access space S.

[0045] The opportunity of moving the feeding line 3 by translating the slide 43 according to the double arrow f43 through the motor 49 allows not only to open and close the access space S, but also to adjust the position of the insertion members 9 for inserting the products in the packaging station 6 according to the size of the groups of rolls or other products R that must be processed and packaged.

[0046] To better understand this further function, reference should be made to figures 4, 5, and 6. Figure 4 shows a simplified front view according to IV-IV of figure 1. Figure 4 shows the main components of the packaging station 6 in a possible embodiment.

[0047] In this embodiment, the packaging station 6 comprises the already mentioned elevator 11, whose movement according to the double arrow f11 may be controlled by a motor 55 through a rod-crank mechanism 56. The elevator 11 lifts the groups G of products R from the height at which they are inserted by the insertion members 9 to a feeding plane 57 above, at a greater height with respect to the height at which the rolls are inserted by the insertion members 9. Groups of ordered rolls R are sequentially transferred on the elevator 11 and then this elevator lifts them up to the level of the plane 57. Each single group of rolls enters a seat 59 defined by combs 61 mounted on flexible members 62, which move the single seats 59 according to the arrow f59 to transfer each single group of rolls R from the area of insertion by means of the elevator 11 towards the actual packaging members, not shown.

[0048] In order to correctly position each group of rolls R in a centered manner on the elevator 11 and therefore with respect to the drawing system formed by the flexible members 62 and the combs 61 defining the seats 59, at opposite side with respect to the position of the insertion members 9 in the packaging station 6 a stop 63 is provided, which is adjustable according to the double arrow f63 (figures 1 and 2) and whose position is set according to the dimension of the groups of rolls R to be packaged.

[0049] Figures 5 and 6 schematically show just by way of example a minimum and a maximum dimension of two groups of rolls indicated as a whole with G1 in figure 5 and G2 in figure 6. The group G1 of rolls R of figure 5 has a lower transverse dimension D1, while the group G2 of rolls R of figure 6 has a greater transverse dimension D2.

[0050] So that the groups G1 and G2 are always positioned in a centered manner with respect to the elevator 11 (that may have an interchangeable plane to adapt to the dimensions of the groups G1, G2 of products R), the stop 63 is adjusted according to the double arrow f63 so as to be each time at a distance from the median plane P of the elevator 11 equal to half of the cross dimension (D1 or D2) of the group G1 or G2 of products. The distance of the stop 63 from the median plane P is therefore equal to ½(D1) in the case of Fig. 5 and to ½(D2) in the case of Fig. 6.

[0051] The adjusting movement according to the double arrow f63 is imparted to the stop 63 by a motor 69, advantageously different than the motor 49 moving the slide 43. In the illustrated embodiment the motor 69 drives into rotation a threaded bar 71 with which a nut 73, integral with the stop 63, engages. The motor 69, rotating the threaded bar 71 in one direction or in the other, moves the stop 63 towards or away from the median plane P according to the cross dimension (D1, D2) of the groups G1, G2 of products R.

[0052] Advantageously, the motors 49 and 69 are interfaced with a control unit 75, schematically represented in the drawing, and may be associated with respective encoders informing the electronic control unit 75 about the position of the slide 43 and the stop 63. It is therefore possible, by means of the electronic control unit 75, to move the slide 43 through the only motor 49 (to open or close the access space S), or to control in a mirror-like coordinated manner the motors 49 and 69 to position correctly the insertion members 9 and the stop 63 with respect to the median plane P, according to the cross dimension of the groups G1, G2 of products to be packaged.

Claims

1. A machine for packaging products (R) arranged in ordered groups, comprising a packaging station (6) and a feeding line (3) configured and controlled for feeding ordered groups of products (R) to said packaging station (6); wherein said feeding line (3) comprises a movable unit (43) which is movable with respect to said packaging station (6) by means of an actuator (49) of said machine, to form an access space (S) between the packaging station (6) and the feeding line (3); and wherein guides (45) are provided to guide the movable unit (43) with respect to the packaging station (6); characterized in that said access space (S) is sized to allow an operator to pass and easily access the packaging station (6).

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: said feeding line (3) comprises, arranged in sequence: an entrance conveyor (5) for the products (R), a synchronizing and ordering system (7) for groups of products (R) to be packaged, insertion members (9) for inserting the groups of products (R) into the packaging station (6); and in that at least said insertion members are movable so as to move towards and away from the packaging station (6) forming said access space (S).

3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized by a backward moving device for moving back the products (R) along said feeding line (3), designed and arranged to move back the products (5) upwards of the product-groups synchronizing and ordering system (7), when said movable unit (43) of the feeding line (3) is distanced from the packaging station (6) forming said access space.

4. Machine according to claim 3, wherein sad product-groups synchronizing and ordering system (7) moves together with the insertion members (9), during the movement towards and away from the packaging station (6).

5. Machine according to claim 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that said entrance conveyor (5) has a variable length and is made shorter when said movable unit (43) of the feeding line (3) is displaced with respect to the packaging station (6) forming said access space (S).

6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said entrance conveyor (5) comprises at least one conveyor belt (13) with an exit end facing the packaging station (6), wherein said exit end is movable backwards with respect to the product feeding direction (F) along said feeding line (3), so as to move away from the packaging station (6) when said access space (S) is formed.

7. Machine according to one or more of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said synchronizing and ordering system (7) and said insertion members (9) are carried by said movable unit (43) to move towards and away from the packaging station (6), without altering the arrangement of the product groups or layers already arranged in the synchronizing and ordering system (7) and in the insertion members (9).

8. Machine according to one or more of claims 2 to 7,, characterized in that said synchronizing and ordering system (7) comprises one or more launchers (25) that, in phase synchronization, insert products (R) or groups of products in a conveying unit.

9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said conveying unit comprises at least one oscillating conveyor (39) to distribute groups of products (R) on at least two different levels in said insertion members (9) for inserting the groups of products (R) in the packaging station (6).

10. Machine according to one or more of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the insertion members (9) are configured and controlled for registering the distance of said insertion members (9) from a reference point of the packaging station (6), according to the dimension of said product groups.

11. Machine according to claim 10, characterized in that in said packaging station (6) an abutment (63) is provided for positioning the products, said abutment (63) having an adjustable position according to the dimension of the groups of products (R) to be packaged.

12. Machine according to claim 11, characterized by comprising a first motor (49) for adjusting the distance of said insertion members (9) with respect to the reference point of the packaging station (6), and a second motor (69) for adjusting the position of said abutment (63), said first motor (49) and said second motor (69) being controlled in a reciprocally coordinated manner to position the insertion members (9) and the abutment (63) in a defined position with respect to said reference point.

13. Machine according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said packaging station comprises an elevator (11), onto which said ordered groups of products (R) are deposited, said elevator transferring the groups of products towards a packaging area.

14. Machine according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said packaging station (6) comprises a conveyor unit (59, 61, 62) to move said groups of products (R), the conveyor unit comprising seats (59) for housing and translating said groups of products (R).

15. Machine according to claim 14, characterized in that said conveyor unit (59, 61, 62) has a movement direction oriented approximately perpendicular to the direction of said feeding line (3).

Ansprüche

1. Maschine zum Verpacken von in sortierten Gruppen angeordneten Produkten (R), die eine Verpackungsstation (6) umfasst, sowie eine Zuführlinie (3), die zum Zuführen von sortierten Gruppen von Produkten (R) zu der Verpackungsstation (6) konfiguriert ist und gesteuert wird, wobei die Zuführlinie (3) eine bewegbare Einheit (43) umfasst, die mittels eines Stellantriebs (49) der Maschine in Bezug auf die Verpackungsstation (6) bewegbar ist, um einen Zugangsraum (S) zwischen der Verpackungsstation (6) und der Zuführlinie (3) zu schaffen, und wobei Führungen (45) vorgesehen sind, um die bewegbare Einheit (43) in Bezug auf die Verpackungsstation (6) zu führen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Zugangsraum (S) derart bemessen ist, dass eine Bedienperson passieren kann und leichten Zugang zu der Verpackungsstation (6) hat.

2. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zuführlinie (3) nacheinander angeordnet folgendes umfasst: einen Eintrittsförderer (5) für die Produkte (R), ein Synchronisier- und Sortiersystem (7) für zu verpackende Gruppen von Produkten (R), Einführelemente (9) zum Einführen der Gruppen von Produkten (R) in die Verpackungsstation (6), und dass zumindest die Einführelemente bewegbar sind, um zu der Verpackungsstation (6) hin und von dieser weg bewegt zu werden, wobei der Zugangsraum (S) geschaffen wird.

3. Maschine nach Anspruch 2, gekennzeichnet durch eine Rückbewegungseinrichtung zum Zurückbewegen der Produkte (R) entlang der Zuführlinie (3), die derart gestaltet und angeordnet ist, dass sie die Produkte (5) aufwärts des Synchronisier- und Sortiersystems (7) für Gruppen von Produkten (R) rückwärts bewegt, wenn die bewegbare Einheit (43) der Zuführlinie (3) von der Verpackungsstation (6) entfernt wird, wobei der Zugangsraum geschaffen wird.

4. Maschine nach Anspruch 3, wobei sich das Synchronisier- und Sortiersystems (7) für Gruppen von Produkten (R) während der Bewegung zu der Verpackungsstation (6) hin und von dieser weg zusammen mit den Einführelementen (9) bewegt.

5. Maschine nach Anspruch 2 oder 3 oder 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Eintrittsförderer (5) eine variable Länge aufweist und verkürzt wird, wenn die bewegbare Einheit (43) der Zuführlinie (3) in Bezug auf die Verpackungsstation (6) verschoben wird, wobei der Zugangsraum geschaffen wird.

6. Maschine nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Eintrittsförderer (5) mindestens ein Förderband (13) mit einem der Verpackungsstation (6) zugewandten Austrittsende umfasst, wobei das Austrittsende in Bezug auf die Produktvorschubrichtung (F) entlang der Zuführlinie (3) rückwärts bewegbar ist, um von der Verpackungsstation (6) weg bewegt zu werden, wenn der Zugangsraum (S) geschaffen wird.

7. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 2 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Synchronisier- und Sortiersystem (7) und die Einführelemente (9) von der bewegbaren Einheit (43) getragen werden, um zu der Verpackungsstation (6) hin und von dieser weg bewegt zu werden, ohne die Anordnung der Gruppen oder Schichten von bereits in dem Synchronisier- und Sortiersystem (7) und in den Einführelementen (9) angeordneten Produkten zu verändern.

8. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 2 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Synchronisier- und Sortiersystem (7) eine oder mehrere Startschleusen (25) umfasst, die mit Phasensynchronisation Produkte (R) oder Gruppen von Produkten in eine Fördereinheit einfügen.

9. Maschine nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Fördereinheit mindestens einen Schwingförderer (39) umfasst, um Gruppen von Produkten (R) auf mindestens zwei verschiedene Ebenen in den Einführelementen (9) zu verteilen, um die Gruppen von Produkten (R) in die Verpackungsstation (6) einzuführen.

10. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 2 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einführelemente (9) derart konfiguriert sind und gesteuert werden, dass der Abstand der Einführelemente (9) von einem Bezugspunkt der Verpackungsstation (6) entsprechend der Abmessung der Gruppen von Produkten ausgerichtet wird.

11. Maschine nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in der Verpackungsstation (6) ein Anschlag (63) zum Positionieren der Produkte vorgesehen ist, wobei der Anschlag (63) eine einstellbare Position entsprechend der Abmessung der zu verpackenden Gruppen von Produkten (R) aufweist.

12. Maschine nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass diese einen ersten Motor (49) zum Einstellen des Abstands der Einführelemente (9) in Bezug auf den Bezugspunkt der Verpackungsstation (6) umfasst, sowie einen zweiten Motor (69) zum Einstellen der Position des Anschlags (63), wobei der erste Motor (49) und der zweite Motor (69) in zueinander koordinierter Weise gesteuert werden, um die Einführelemente (9) und den Anschlag (63) an einer definierten Position in Bezug auf den Bezugspunkt zu positionieren.

13. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verpackungsstation eine Hebeeinrichtung (11) umfasst, auf der die sortierten Gruppen von Produkten (R) angeordnet werden, wobei die Hebeeinrichtung die Gruppen von Produkten zu einem Verpackungsbereich befördert.

14. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verpackungsstation (6) eine Fördereinheit (59, 61, 62) zum Bewegen der Gruppen von Produkten (R) umfasst, wobei die Fördereinheit Aufnahmen (59) zum Aufnehmen und Transportieren der Gruppen von Produkten (R) umfasst.

15. Maschine nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Fördereinheit (59, 61, 62) eine Bewegungsrichtung aufweist, die in etwa senkrecht zu der Richtung der Zuführlinie (3) ausgerichtet ist.

Revendications

1. Une machine d'emballage d'articles (R) agencés par groupes ordonnés, comprenant une station d'emballage (6) et une ligne d'amenée (3) configurée et commandée pour amener des groupes ordonnés d'articles (R) à ladite station d'emballage (6) ; dans laquelle ladite ligne d'amenée (3) comprend une unité déplaçable (43) qui est déplaçable par rapport à ladite station d'emballage (6) au moyen d'un organe d'actionnement (49) de ladite machine, pour former un espace d'accès (S) entre la station d'emballage (6) et la ligne d'amenée (3) ; et dans laquelle des guides (45) sont prévus pour guider l'unité déplaçable (43) par rapport à la station d'emballage (6) ; caractérisée en ce que ledit espace d'accès (S) est dimensionné pour permettre à un opérateur de passer et d'accéder facilement à la station d'emballage (6).

2. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que : ladite ligne d'amenée (3) comprend, agencés en série : un transporteur d'entrée (5) pour les articles (R), un système de synchronisation et d'ordonnancement (7) pour des groupes d'articles (R) à emballer, des organes d'introduction (9) pour introduire les groupes d'articles (R) dans la station d'emballage (6) ; et en ce que lesdits organes d'introduction sont déplaçables de manière à se rapprocher et à s'éloigner de la station d'emballage (6) formant ledit espace d'accès (S).

3. Machine selon la revendication (2), caractérisée par un dispositif se déplaçant vers l'arrière pour déplacer vers l'arrière les articles (R) le long de ladite ligne d'amenée (3), conçu et agencé pour déplacer vers l'arrière les produits (5) vers le haut du système de synchronisation et d'ordonnancement des groupes d'articles (7), lorsque ladite unité déplaçable (43) de la ligne d'amenée (3) est éloignée de la station d'emballage (6) en formant ledit espace d'accès.

4. Machine selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle ledit système de synchronisation et d'ordonnancement des groupes d'articles (7) se déplace avec les organes d'introduction (9) durant le mouvement de rapprochement et d'éloignement de la station d'emballage (6).

5. Machine selon la revendication 2, 3 ou 4, caractérisée en ce que ledit transporteur d'entrée (5) a une longueur variable et est réalisé plus court lorsque ladite unité déplaçable (43) de la ligne d'amenée (3) est déplacée par rapport à la station d'emballage (6) en formant ledit espace d'accès (S).

6. Machine selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que ledit transporteur d'entrée (5) comprend au moins une bande transporteuse (13) avec une extrémité de sortie faisant face à la station d'emballage (6), ladite extrémité de sortie étant déplaçable vers l'arrière par rapport à la direction d'amenée de produit (F) le long de ladite ligne d'amenée (3), de manière à s'éloigner de la station d'emballage (6) lorsque ledit espace d'accès (S) est formé.

7. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 2 à 6, caractérisée en ce que ledit système de synchronisation et d'ordonnancement (7) et lesdits organes d'introduction (9) sont portés par ladite unité déplaçable (43) afin de se rapprocher et de s'éloigner de la station d'emballage (6), sans altérer l'agencement des groupes d'articles ou des couches déjà agencés dans le système de synchronisation et d'ordonnancement (7) et dans les organes d'introduction (9).

8. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 2 à 7, caractérisée en ce que ledit système de synchronisation et d'ordonnancement (7) comprend un ou plusieurs lanceurs (25) qui, dans la phase de synchronisation, introduisent des articles (R) ou des groupes d'articles dans une unité de transport.

9. Machine selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de transport comprend au moins un transporteur oscillant (39) pour distribuer des groupes d'articles (R) sur au moins deux niveaux différents dans lesdits organes d'introduction (9) pour introduire les groupes d'articles (R) dans la station d'emballage (6).

10. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 2 à 9, caractérisée en ce que les organes d'introduction (9) sont configurés et commandés pour enregistrer la distance desdits organes d'introduction (9) à partir d'un point de référence de la station d'emballage (6), selon la dimension desdits groupes d'articles.

11. Machine selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que dans ladite station d'emballage (6), une butée (63) est prévue pour positionner les articles, ladite butée (63) ayant une position ajustable selon la dimension des groupes d'articles (R) à emballer.

12. Machine selon la revendication 11, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un premier moteur (49) pour régler la distance desdits organes d'introduction (9) par rapport au point de référence de la station d'emballage (6), et un second moteur (69) pour régler la position de ladite butée (63), ledit premier moteur (49) et ledit second moteur (69) étant commandés de manière coordonnée l'un par rapport à l'autre pour positionner les organes d'introduction (9) et la butée (63) dans une position définie par rapport audit point de référence.

13. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite station d'emballage comprend un ascenseur (11) sur lequel lesdits groupes ordonnées d'articles (R) sont déposés, ledit ascenseur transférant les groupes d'articles vers une zone d'emballage.

14. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite station d'emballage (6) comprend une unité de transport (59, 61, 62) pour déplacer lesdits groupes d'articles (R), l'unité de transport comprenant des logements (59) pour loger et déplacer lesdits groupes d'articles (R).

15. Machine selon la revendication 14, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de transport (59, 61, 62) a une direction de déplacement orientée à peu près perpendiculairement à la direction de ladite ligne d'amenée (3).

Drawing