This invention relates to a unit and a method for feeding information leaflets to a packaging machine; more specifically, this invention relates to a unit and a method for feeding information leaflets to a packaging machines designed for packaging products inside packs. Advantageously, this invention may be applied to machines for packaging filter bags containing infusion and/or extraction products for food safe and/or pharmaceutical products in boxes.

In the case of filter bags containing infusion and/or extraction products for pharmaceutical use, by law an information leaflet must be provided in the package relative to the product contained in the filter bags.

For this reason, the machines for packaging filter bags comprise, near a zone for packaging the filter bags in a box, a magazine in which are placed and fed a plurality of information leaflets (pre-folded paper-based sheets) which, individually, are picked up and inserted in the package.

For ease of handling and transport, the information leaflets are normally supplied in groups or packs comprising a predetermined number of leaflets held by a clip. For this reason, before introducing the leaflets in the magazine an operator must remove the clip and insert the information leaflets, loose, in the magazine.

Depending on the productivity of the machine, and therefore the number of information leaflets processed by the machine per unit of time, a single operator can operate or more machines, but as the productivity of the machine increases a single operator might not being able to operate more than one machine, so that it is necessary to assign an operator to each machine with a consequent increase in the production costs.

Documents JP H08 282642 A, JP H04 31230 A, EP 0 395 807 A1 and GB 2 076 355 A disclose the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 11.

The aim of this invention is to provide a unit and a method for feeding information leaflets to a packaging machine which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a unit and a method for feeding information leaflets which are able to preparing and guarantee a constant and precise flow of leaflets to the packaging machine irrespective of the productivity per unit of time of the machine. Advantageously, the invention applies to packaging machines designed for packaging filter bags with infusion and/or extraction products into boxes, each box having to contain an information leaflet.

These aims are fully achieved by a unit and a method for feeding information leaflets according to claims 1 and 11 respectively.

According to the invention, the unit for feeding information leaflets comprises a surface for feeding information leaflets in succession, subdivided into groups or packs held by a clip, according to a feed line having a feed direction directed to the packaging machine.

The unit also comprises a retaining station configured to retain, temporarily, a single pack of leaflets, and positioned in a first position along the feed surface.

The retaining station is equipped with pushing means movable transversely to the feed line between a non-operating position, wherein the pushing means are spaced away from the pack of leaflets, and an operating position, wherein the pushing means push a first lateral face of the pack for moving at least one information leaflet of the pack transversally to the feed line and define a gap between the at least one information leaflet and a stretch of clip positioned at the first lateral face. Moreover, the unit comprises an extractor configured for extracting the clip of the single pack of leaflets, which is movable, in synchrony with the pushing means, between a non-operating position, wherein the extractor is moved away from the clip, and an operating position, wherein the extractor is positioned at a height above the feed surface to intercept the clip and remove partially the clip from the single pack of leaflets. Thanks to this unit, a plurality of packs of leaflets may be placed along the feed surface without the need to remove the clip, which is automatically removed along the path.

Preferably, the preparation unit also comprises a magazine of packs of leaflets comprising a track supporting the packs of leaflets. Advantageously, the magazine has a helical extension, descending about a vertical axis Z, so with a reduced overall size in plan.

In light of this, the track has a lower end connected to the feed surface for feeding the packs of leaflets to the feed surface.

The addition of a magazine with a vertical extension increases the operating capacity of the unit, through a buffer which is able to keep fed the packaging machine without the need for continuous checks by an operator.

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a schematic side view, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of a unit for feeding information leaflets;
• Figures 2 and 3 show a front view and a schematic top plan view, respectively, of a detail P of the unit of Figure 1, in a first operating step;
• Figures 4 and 5 show a front view and a schematic top plan view, respectively, of a detail P of the unit of Figure 1, in a second operating step;
• Figures 6 and 7 show a front view and a schematic top plan view, respectively, of a detail P of the unit of Figure 1, in a third operating step;
• Figures 8 and 9 show a front view and a schematic top plan view, respectively, of a detail P of the unit of Figure 1, in a fourth operating step;
• Figures 10 and 11 show a front view and a schematic top plan view, respectively, of a detail P of the unit of Figure 1, in a fifth operating step;
• Figures 12 and 13 show a front view and a schematic top plan view, respectively, of a detail P of the unit of Figure 1, in a sixth operating step;
• Figures 14 and 15 show a front view and a schematic top plan view, respectively, of a detail P of the unit of Figure 1, in a seventh operating step;
• Figures 16 and 17 show schematic front views of a first solution of an element for removing a clip forming part of the unit according to the preceding drawings in two different operating configurations;
• Figures 18 and 19 show a front view and a schematic top plan view, respectively, of a second solution of an element for removing a clip forming part of the preceding drawings from 1 to 15.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular Figure 1, the feed unit according to this invention, labelled 100 in its entirety, is used for feeding information leaflets 1 to a packaging machine M. Advantageously, this packaging machine M (illustrated in Figure 1 with a block) is designed for packaging filter bags with infusion and/or extraction products in boxes. The filter bags can, for example, contain products for pharmaceutical use. The feed unit 100, in particular, is designed to feed the information leaflets 1 individually to the packaging machine M.

The feed unit 100 comprises a feed surface 2 for feeding designed to feed the information leaflets 1 in succession, subdivided into groups or packs B (of predetermined number) held by a clip 3, according to a feed line A having a feed direction VA directed to the packaging machine M.

The feed surface 2 is designed to receive and feed the information leaflets 1 positioned vertically and perpendicular to the feed line A.

The unit 100 also comprises a retaining station 4 configured to retain, temporarily, a single pack B of leaflets, positioned in a first position of the feed surface 2.

The retaining the station 4 is equipped with pushing means 5 movable transversally relative to the feed line A between a non-operating position, wherein the pushing means 5 are spaced away from the pack B of leaflets, and an operating position, wherein the pushing means 5 are in contact with a first lateral face B1 of the pack B to obtain a curvature in the profile of the first lateral face B1 of the pack B of leaflets to define a loop between the curvature of the first lateral face B1 and a stretch of the clip, rectilinear, positioned at the first lateral face B1 (see Figures 2 to 7). In other words, the pushing means push the first lateral face B1 of the pack B for moving at least one information leaflet 1 of the pack B transversely to the feed line A and define a gap between the at least one information leaflet 1 and the stretch of clip positioned at the first lateral face B1.

The unit 100 also comprises an extractor 6 configured for extracting the clip 3 of the single pack B of leaflets, which is movable in synchrony with the pushing means 5 between a non-operating position, wherein the extractor 6 is moved away from the clip 3, and an operating position, wherein the extractor 6 is positioned at a height above the feed surface 2 to intercept the clip 3 and remove partially the clip 3 from the single pack B of leaflets (see Figures 8 to 14).

The unit 100 comprises a removal element 7 configured to remove the partially moved away clip 3 from the pack B of leaflets. In light of this, the removal element 7 is positioned downstream of the retaining station 4, relative to the feed direction VA.

Preferably, the unit 100 comprises a magazine 8 of packs B of leaflets comprising a track 9 supporting the packs B of leaflets. Advantageously, the supporting track 9 has a helical extension, descending about a vertical axis Z.

In light of this, the track 9 has a lower end connected to the feed surface 2 for feeding the packs B of leaflets to the feed surface 2.

Preferably, the magazine 8 comprises a vibrating unit 25 connected to the frame 26 for supporting the helical track 9 to facilitate a feed movement of the packs B of leaflets towards the feed surface 2.

It should be noted that the retaining station 4 comprises a contact body 10 positioned laterally to the feed surface 2, which is movable transversally relative to the feed line A between a non-operating position away from the packs B of leaflets (Figures 2 and 3), and an operating position in which it comes into contact with and contacts a single pack B of leaflets at the first lateral face B1 (Figures 4 to 7).

Preferably the contact body 10 enters into contact with a part of the first lateral face B1 of the pack not affected by the clip 3. Alternatively, the contact member 10 comes into contact only with the clip 3, or both with the first lateral face B1 of the pack B and with the clip 3.

In light of this, the contact member 10 has a pair of heads 10a, 10b for contact with the pack B of leaflets positioned on both sides relative to the pushing means 5.

Moreover, the retaining station 4 comprises a contact surface 11, or rear guide, positioned to the side of the feed surface 2 and on the opposite side to the position of the contact body 10.

In light of this, the contact surface 11 has a profile 11a of contact with a second lateral face B2 of the pack B of leaflets, opposite the first lateral face B1, configured to allow a transversal movement, relative to the feed line A, of a part (at least one) of the leaflets 1 at the operating position of the pushing means 5.

In other words, the retaining station 4 comprises a series of components which allow a temporary block of the single pack B of leaflets on two lateral faces B1, B2 facing each other in such a way as to allow, subsequently, the pushing means 5 to modify the profile of the first and the second lateral face in order to create a space which can then be used by the extractor to remove the clip.

Preferably, the contact surface 11 comprises at least one rigid wall equipped with a curved profile to define a loop 11a extending transversally relative to the feed line A, and away from the feed surface 2 in such a way as to generate a space for receiving the leaflets 1 of the pack B translated laterally by the pushing means 5.

In other words, the contact surface 11 has a contact profile 11a designed to allow a transversal movement, relative to the feed line A, of the at least one information leaflet 1 at the operating position of the pushing means 5.

Advantageously, the rigid wall of the contact surface 11 is part of the walls for lateral constraint of the packs B and of the leaflets 1 (loose) with which the feed surface 2 is provided.

It should be noted that the pushing means 5 comprise a pushing head 12, located between the pair of contact heads 10a and 10b with the single pack B of leaflets.

The pushing head 12 is configured to make contact, in an operating position, with the first lateral face B1 of the pack B of leaflets.

Preferably, the retaining station 4 also comprises a further retaining head 20, movable above the feed surface 2 between a non-operating position, wherein the retaining head 20 is away from the pack B of leaflets (see Figures 2 to 7), and an operating position, wherein the retaining head 20 is in contact with an upper face B3 of the pack B of leaflets. The further retaining head 20 is in an operating position in order to stabilise the pack B at least when the extractor 6 is in an operating position and the clip 3 is, at least partly, removed from the pack B of leaflets (see Figures 8 to 13).

Preferably, the extractor 6 comprises an arm 13 having a head 14 shaped like a fork to intercept and remove the stretch of clip 3 at least from the first lateral face (B1). Advantageously, the stretch of the clip 3 is lifted and separated from the first lateral face B1.

In light of this, the extractor 6 comprises an actuator 15 for moving the arm 13 along a direction perpendicular to the feed surface 2 between the non-operating position, wherein the arm 13 is moved away from the clip 3 and positioned beneath the feed surface 2 (Figures 2 to 9), and an operating position, wherein at least the head 14 of the arm 13 is positioned at a height greater than an upper face B3 of the pack B of leaflets, after the interception of the stretch of the clip 3 (Figure 10).

In a first embodiment, the removal element 7 comprises at least one gripper unit 17 positioned above the feed surface 2.

In light of this, the removal element 7 comprises actuators 18 and 19 designed to move the at least one gripper unit 17 between a first operating position, wherein the gripper unit 17 is positioned away from the clip 3 (Figure 16), and a second operating position, wherein the gripper unit 17 is close to the stretch of the clip 3 partly removed and in such a way as to grip the same stretch of clip 3 and, subsequently, move the clip 3 away from the pack B of leaflets (Figure 17).

Advantageously, the second operating position is lower than the first operating position.

In light of this, the gripper unit 17 is equipped with a nozzle 22 located in the proximity of the first operating position which is able to generate a jet of air designed to evacuate the clip 3 which has been picked up by the gripper unit 17.

In practice, the gripper unit 17, having reached the first operating position with the clip 3 removed, is struck by a jet of air which determines, at the release of the clip 3 by the gripper unit 17, a moving away from the feed surface 2.

In a second embodiment (see Figures 18 and 19), the removal element 7 comprises a laminar wall 16 positioned above the feed surface 2, parallel to the upper face B3 of the pack B of leaflets, in such a way as to intercept and remove the clip 3, already partly moved away from the pack B of leaflets, at the feeding of the pack B of leaflets.

The profile of the laminar wall 16 is configured in such a way as to separate the clip 3 from the pack B being fed and, subsequently, to remove the same from the feed surface 2.

The unit 10 also comprises a sensor 23 (for example, of the optical type) positioned laterally to the feed surface 2.

The sensor 23 is designed to check for the presence of the clip 3 on the packs B being feed and send a corresponding signal, for detecting the presence or absence of the clip 3, to a control unit 24 designed to control, either activating or blocking, the components of the retaining station 4, the extractor 6 and the element 7 for removing the clip.

The invention also provides a method for feeding information leaflets 1 to a packaging machine M comprising the following steps:

• feeding to a feed surface 2 a plurality of information leaflets 1 subdivided into groups or packs B held by a clip 3,
• moving the packs B on the feed surface 2 according to a feed direction A having a feed direction VA directed to the packaging machine M;
• stopping a pack B feeding on the feed surface 2;
• creating a gap between a first lateral face B1 of the pack B and a stretch of the clip 3 positioned at the first lateral face B1 of the pack B;
• removing the clip 3 from the pack B.

The gap is created in a first position along the feed surface 2 and comprises pushing, transversally relative to the feed direction A, at least one information leaflet 1 of the pack B, in such a way that the at least one information leaflet 1 of the pack B translates relative to an adjacent information leaflet 1 of the same pack B.

In other words, the method according to the invention modifies a profile of the first lateral face B1 of the pack B, moving at least one information leaflet 1 of a pack B. Advantageously, at least one central information leaflet 1 the pack B is moved. On the other hand, the stretch of the clip 3 positioned at the first lateral face B1 remains straight, so as to form a gap between it and the information leaflets 1 which have been moved.

The step of removing the clip comprises a first sub-step for partial removal of the clip 3 and a second sub-step for complete removal of the clip 3.

Advantageously, the first sub-step of partial removal is carried out in a second position along the feed surface 2 and the second sub-step of total removal is carried out in a third position along the feed surface 2, the third position being located downstream of the second position relative to the feed direction (VA).

Advantageously, the first position coincides with the second position.