Grouping device and method for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304748-B2
Application number	US-202118018749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2021
Priority date	Aug 7, 2020
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A grouping device includes a feeding device with a plurality of elongated transport elements to support at least one of discrete rows of articles to be grouped and defining a respective seat in which an open or openable longitudinal end is defined. The grouping device further includes a pusher device to contact a discrete row of articles so that the discrete row slides out of one of the elongated transport elements, and an unloading device to receive, through an interchange zone, the discrete row unloaded through a longitudinal end. The feeding device is configured to position, in sequence, each elongated transport element at the interchange zone.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A grouping device for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, comprising:
a feeding device including a plurality of elongated transport elements configured to support at least one of discrete rows of articles, wherein each elongated transport element defines a respective seat mainly extending along a longitudinal axis, in which seat an open or openable longitudinal end is defined;
a pusher device configured to abut against the at least one discrete row of articles so that the at least one discrete row slide out of one of said elongated transport elements through a respective longitudinal end;
an unloading device configured to receive, through an interchange zone, the at least one discrete row discharged through the respective longitudinal end, and
a control device configured to control one or more characteristics of the discrete rows in said feeding device, wherein said one or more characteristics comprise a direction of alignment of said discrete row of articles with respect to said longitudinal axis, wherein said control device is configured to temporarily inhibit operation of said pusher device if one or more of the one or more characteristics of the discrete row controlled by the control device do not correspond to an expected value,

the feeding device being configured to position, in sequence, each elongated transport element at said interchange zone.

2. The grouping device according to claim 1 , wherein each said elongated transport element defines a sliding direction of said discrete row of articles toward said open or openable longitudinal end.

3. The grouping device according to claim 1 , wherein said pusher device comprises at least one pusher element movable in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.

4. The grouping device according to claim 3 , wherein said pusher device comprises a movement device for said pusher element, said movement device being configured to transport said pusher element along a closed path, said closed path comprising a straight portion parallel to said longitudinal axis.

5. The grouping device according to claim 4 , wherein said closed path is defined by a strip-like element wound on a pair of pulleys.

6. The grouping device according to claim 4 , wherein the pusher device comprises a pair of pusher elements placed in different positions along said closed path so that, when a first pusher element of said pair of pusher elements travels along said straight portion, a second pusher element of said pair of pusher elements travels along another segment of said closed path, opposite to said straight segment.

7. The grouping device according to claim 1 , wherein said unloading device comprises a support element configured to receive a plurality of discrete rows discharged from said feeding device and to form said continuous row.

8. A grouping device for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, comprising:
a feeding device including a plurality of elongated transport elements configured to support at least one of discrete rows of articles, wherein each elongated transport element defines a respective seat mainly extending along a longitudinal axis, in which seat an open or openable longitudinal end is defined;
a pusher device configured to abut against the at least one discrete row of articles so that the at least one discrete row slide out of one of said elongated transport elements through a respective longitudinal end;
an unloading device configured to receive, through an interchange zone, the at least one discrete row discharged through the respective longitudinal end;
a control device configured to control one or more characteristics of the discrete rows in said feeding device, wherein said one or more characteristics comprise a direction of alignment of said discrete row of articles with respect to said longitudinal axis, and
a discarding zone, said feeding device being configured to transport the discrete row to said discarding zone when one or more of the one or more characteristics of the discrete row controlled by the control device do not correspond to an expected value,

the feeding device being configured to position, in sequence, each elongated transport element at said interchange zone.

9. The grouping device according to claim 8 , wherein said discarding zone comprises a waste container placed at an end of a vertical descending segment.

10. A grouping device for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, comprising:
a feeding device including a plurality of elongated transport elements configured to support at least one of discrete rows of articles, wherein each elongated transport element defines a respective seat mainly extending along a longitudinal axis, in which seat an open or openable longitudinal end is defined;
a pusher device configured to abut against the at least one discrete row of articles so that the at least one discrete row slide out of one of said elongated transport elements through a respective longitudinal end; and
an unloading device configured to receive, through an interchange zone, the at least one discrete row discharged through the respective longitudinal end, wherein said unloading device comprises a rotation device configured to reverse a direction of alignment of said discrete row, wherein said rotation device comprises a rotating support configured to rotate 180° with respect to an axis perpendicular to an axis of alignment of said discrete row,

the feeding device being configured to position, in sequence, each elongated transport element at said interchange zone.

11. The grouping device according to claim 10 , wherein said rotating support is translatable with respect to a position of alignment with the longitudinal axis of the elongated transport element on which said pusher device is configured to act, said rotating support being translatable in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

12. A grouping method for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, each discrete row defining a respective axis of alignment, said grouping method comprising:
arranging a plurality of discrete rows of articles on a feeding device so that each discrete stack of articles defines a respective axis of alignment;
pushing a discrete row of said plurality of discrete rows so that the discrete row slides along said respective axis of alignment;
unloading the discrete row from said feeding device by passing the discrete row, unloaded through a longitudinal end, through an interchange zone;
moving the plurality of discrete rows of articles by said feeding device to position, in sequence, each discrete stack of articles in said interchange zone;
monitoring one or more characteristics of the plurality of discrete rows of articles prior to said pushing said discrete row, and
transporting said discrete row to a discarding zone when one or more of the monitored one or more characteristics of the discrete row do not correspond to an expected value.

13. The grouping method according to claim 12 , comprising unloading, by falling, from the feeding device, said discrete row transported to the discarding zone.

14. The grouping method according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more characteristics comprise a direction of alignment of said discrete row with respect to said respective axis of alignment.

15. A grouping method for grouping discrete rows of articles into a continuous row of articles, each discrete row defining a respective axis of alignment, said grouping method

Assignees

• Gd Spa

Inventors

• Borderi Luca
• Parisini Gianluca
• Gigante Antonio

Classifications

• B65G47/248

  by turning over or inverting them (B65G47/244 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G47/82

  Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)} · CPC title

• B65G47/34

  Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  (B65G47/256 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G47/519

  collecting tables or bins as end-station · CPC title

• B65G47/256

  removing incorrectly orientated articles · CPC title