Packaging apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12110141-B2
Application number	US-202017631314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2020
Priority date	Jul 30, 2019
Publication date	Oct 8, 2024
Grant date	Oct 8, 2024

Abstract

The present invention provides a packaging apparatus for picking up a set of articles from a first conveying line and releasing into a package at a second conveying line, simultaneously.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging apparatus for articles comprising:
a central packaging frame extending between a first end and a second end, the frame comprising:
a pair of spaced apart generally parallel transversal central tracks, each track having a top rail vertically spaced apart and connected to a bottom rail through a central body portion; and
a plurality of outer rails, at least one outer rail configured at each end of the pair of central tracks, the outer rails adapted to move up and down so as to optionally connect to one of the top rails and/or the bottom rails of the central track and define respectively a top path and a bottom path there through;
one or more support means, each extending generally longitudinally between the pair of central tracks, and adapted to support one of more gripper sets; each of the gripper sets comprising a plurality of individual gripping heads arranged in a predetermined configuration;
a vertical moving mechanism for enabling a vertically upward and/or downward movement of each of the outer rails independently between a top and bottom position of each of the outer rails;
a horizontal moving mechanism for moving the one or more support means through at least one of the top and/or bottom path;

wherein
the upward and/or the downward movement of each of the outer rail between the top and bottom position of each of the outer rails and the horizontal movement of each of the support means is synchronized in such a way that the gripper sets on at least one of the support means is adapted to pick up a set of articles from a first conveying line at the first end and the gripper sets on at least one other support means is adapted to release already picked up articles into a package at a second conveying line at the second end, simultaneously.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support means comprising a plurality of support rails configured to carry the gripper sets.

3. The packaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal movement mechanism comprising one of more pair of support movers, each pair of the support movers adapted to engage one of the support rails at its opposite ends and movingly configured onto one of the pair of central tracks and the corresponding connected outer rails, thereby enabling a horizontal movement of the support rails along the corresponding top path and/or bottom path between the first end and the second end.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vertical movement mechanism comprising a rail moving slot at each end of the pair of central tracks throughout its central body portion such that the corresponding outer rail is slidably movable there through between its top position and the bottom position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprising a pair of outer support platforms, each configured generally perpendicularly and between the central tracks, and adapted to support each of the outer rails and corresponding support means to go beyond its bottom position such that each of the gripper set is at a height sufficient to perform the pickup and/or the release operation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a gripper moving mechanism for longitudinally moving the one or more gripper sets towards and/or away from each other, onto the corresponding support means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the gripper moving mechanism comprising a plurality of gripping movers movingly configured onto the support means, each of the movers adapted to movingly engage one of the gripping head therewith.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more support rails are movable in a widthwise direction and each of the gripper head is movable within a length wise direction such that such that the gripper set having a desired configuration of the gripper heads may be achieved.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the gripper-set of the plurality of gripper sets has a varying adjustable pitch there between.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gripper head comprises a gripper body extended towards a downwardly protruding head, adapted to selectively perform a pick up and release operation of beverage containers.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein first conveying line comprising an output of beverage container manufacturing unit having one or more means for grouping and/arranging the beverage containers in the predetermined configuration.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second conveying line comprising an output of a carton forming unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a guiding unit adapted to keep the package at the second conveying line opened during the release of already picked up beverage containers therein.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vertical movement mechanism of the one or more outer rails comprises a vertical closed loop transportation unit, and wherein the horizontal movement mechanism comprises motors configured onto the support means.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gripper sets and/or the gripping heads are wirelessly powered and/or wirelessly controlled.

Assignees

• Anheuser Busch Inbev Sa

Inventors

• Duperray Philippe Jean Marie
• Dekocker Wim

Classifications

• B65G47/32

  Applications of transfer devices {(such devices per se B65G47/74)} · CPC title

• B65B35/36

  by grippers · CPC title

• B65B59/001

  Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged · CPC title

• B65B21/20 Primary

  with means for varying spacing of bottles · CPC title

• B65B21/18 Primary

  using grippers engaging bottles, e.g. bottle necks · CPC title