Machine for forming and filling box-like bodies of different types

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10710754-B2
Application number	US-201615762984-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2016
Priority date	Oct 8, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

A machine for forming and filling box-like bodies of different types having a magazine for sheets to be subjected to forming, at least one handling element for at least one sheet at a time, and a conveyor belt for products, clustered in bundles constituted by at least one product each. The machine includes a station for picking up and delivering shaped sheets, in which the magazine accommodates aligned and juxtaposed sheets and at least one handling element having an end bracket provided with at least one grip element and at least one assembly with arms which are articulated with respect to the bracket and are independently movable with respect to a fixed-frame.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for forming and filling boxes of different types, of a type comprising a magazine for sheets to be subjected to forming, at least one handling element for handling at least one sheet at a time, and a conveyor belt for products, clustered in bundles constituted by at least one product each, further comprising:
a station for picking up and delivering shaped sheets, in which said magazine is configured to accommodates a plurality of aligned and juxtaposed sheets and said at least one handling element comprises an end bracket provided with at least one grip means and at least one assembly with arms which are articulated with respect to said bracket and are independently movable with respect to a fixed frame;
a line for conveying and forming boxes, which is constituted by at least one suction belt closed in a loop and arranged at least in an initial portion of said line, at least one strap closed in a loop and provided with a plurality of protruding teeth, which is parallel to said suction belt, is arranged at least in an end portion of said line, and has a front substantially juxtaposed with respect to an end portion of said suction belt, and at least one band closed in a loop and provided with a plurality of protruding tabs; and
a movement apparatus for a bar provided with at least one functional unit configured to abuts against at least one respective bundle, said bar being movable according to at least two degrees of freedom, by way of an action of said movement apparatus,
wherein said at least one band closed in a loop is controlled by a respective actuation system for movement of said at least one band between a first level of alignment of an upper face of said at least one band with an upper face of said at least one suction belt and of the at least one strap, and a second level, in which the upper face of said at least one band is separated from the upper face of said at least one suction belt and of the at least one strap by a distance at least equal to a height of said protruding tabs.

2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said bracket is controlled by a respective actuation system for its movement between a first configuration of alignment with an end sheet accommodated inside said magazine, in a condition where said at least one grip means is in contact with said end sheet, and a second configuration of alignment with a conveyance line of said sheets which corresponds to a delivery region.

3. The machine according to claim 2 , wherein said arms which are independently movable with respect to a fixed frame are three in number, two first arms being pivotable with respect to respective linkages, both having an end pivotable with respect to said bracket according to a same first rotation axis, a third arm being pivotable with respect to a rod a free end of which is engaged rotatably with said bracket with respect to a second rotation axis.

4. The machine according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one grip means is of a suction type chosen from among a sucker and a belt with suction holes.

5. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one suction belt comprises a plurality of suction holes for locking in place a flat sheet to be subjected to forming.

6. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein a spacing between said protruding teeth of the at least one strap closed in a loop is greater than a width of an at least partially formed box to be conveyed and a spacing between said protruding tabs of said at least one band closed in a loop is greater than the width of the at least partially formed box to be conveyed.

7. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said line comprises folding means for forming the boxes starting from the respective shaped sheets.

8. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said movement apparatus comprises a third degree of freedom, controlled by specific actuation systems, for a translation of said bar along an advancement direction of the boxes on said line and of the bundles on said conveyor belt, said third degree of freedom and the corresponding actuation systems being adapted to follow said boxes for continuous operation.

9. The machine according to claim 8 , wherein said functional unit is of a type chosen between a fixed tab configured to abut against a face of at least one respective bundle in order to impose a translation of said tab on said at least one respective bundle from said conveyor belt to said line, into a respective box body, and a grip element that abuts, in at least one operating configuration, against said at least one respective bundle for its locking in place, said grip element comprising a retention sucker for said at least one respective bundle.

Assignees

• Gima Spa
• Ima Spa

Inventors

• Sassi Fabio

Classifications

• B65B43/185

  specially adapted for carton blanks · CPC title

• B65B2210/02

  Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility · CPC title

• B65B43/52

  using roller-ways or endless conveyors · CPC title

• B65B35/405

  linked to endless conveyors · CPC title

• B65B5/06

  Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles · CPC title