Transfer device and process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12338026-B2
Application number	US-202118006491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2021
Priority date	Aug 5, 2020
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

In a device and in a process for transferring discrete elements, fed in a row with a predetermined spacing, a correspondence is ensured between a linear release segment, and a not entirely linear portion of transport path. A carousel-like transport device is provided, where receiving members move along the transport path. A receiving segment is defined, where each receiving member receives a respective discrete element. A release device is further provided, on which the discrete elements are transported along a linearly developing release path having a release segment and intersecting the transport path at the receiving segment. A timing equipment acting on the receiving members by moving them with respect to the transport device is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transfer device for discrete elements, the transfer device having an inlet, wherein discrete elements are fed to the inlet in a row with a predetermined spacing, the transfer device comprising:
a carousel-like transport device comprising receiving members, wherein the receiving members are configured to move position within the carousel-like transport device and to move along a closed line transport path, the closed line transport path comprising a receiving segment defined where each receiving member receives a respective discrete element; and
a release device, wherein the discrete elements are configured to be transported along a release path with a linear development, the release device comprising a release segment and intersecting said closed line transport path at said receiving segment;
wherein, in said receiving segment, movement of the receiving members within the carousel-like transport device is synchronized with movement of the discrete elements in the release segment of the releasing device, allowing the discrete elements to be released to a respective receiving member.

2. The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein said receiving segment comprises one or more portions configured to be travelled by the receiving members at respective substantially constant translation speeds.

3. The transfer device according to claim 2 , wherein said receiving segment comprises two or more portions configured to be travelled by the receiving members at different substantially constant translation speeds.

4. The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the carousel-like transport device comprises a rotary drum, the receiving members being mounted on a periphery of the rotary drum, the closed line transport path being substantially circular.

5. The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein, at the receiving segment, the receiving members are aligned to each other.

6. The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the carousel-like transport device comprises, for each receiving member, a rotatable articulation actuated by the carousel-like transport device to synchronize a movement of the respective receiving member with the movement of the discrete elements in the release segment.

7. The transfer device according to claim 6 , further comprising a cam configured to drive said rotatable articulation.

8. The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein said release path with a linear development is defined by a planar strip, from which the discrete elements are cut with said predetermined spacing.

9. The transfer device according to claim 8 , wherein:
said receiving segment comprises one or more portions configured to be travelled by the receiving members at respective substantially constant translation speeds, and
said planar strip, at said release segment, is wound on a roller-like drum configured to rotate with a peripheral speed corresponding to a release speed of the discrete elements, the peripheral speed being equal to the translation speed of the receiving members.

10. The transfer device according to claim 9 , wherein the release device comprises a set of roller-like drums with different diameters for discrete elements having a different format.

11. The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein each receiving member comprises a horizontal planar surface, on which the discrete elements are released.

12. A packaging apparatus comprising the transfer device according to claim 1 .

13. A format changing process in a transfer device for discrete elements in accordance to different formats of the discrete elements, said discrete elements being fed in a row to an inlet of the transfer device with a predetermined spacing, the transfer device comprising:
a carousel-like transport device, wherein receiving members, each configured to receive a respective discrete element, move at a transit speed along a closed line transport path; and
a release device, on which the discrete elements are transported along a release path with a linear development, the release path intersecting said closed line transport path and having a release segment comprising release spots of discrete elements in accordance with different formats of the discrete elements;
wherein, in said receiving segment, the closed line transport path and the transit speed of the receiving members are changed at said release segment of the release device,

the format changing process comprising:
selecting discrete elements for one or more formats, determining a respective release spot, a spacing and/or a release speed; and
providing, in the closed line transport path, one or more transport path portions, placed at said release segment, wherein position of the one or more transport path portions and respective translation speeds of the receiving members are conformed to the release spot and the release speed of selected discrete elements.

14. The format changing process according to claim 13 , wherein, in the one or more transport path portions, the respective translation speeds of the receiving members are constant.

15. The format changing process according to claim 14 , wherein the one or more transport path portions are at least two transport path portions, each corresponding to discrete elements fed with different spacings.

16. The format changing process according to claim 13 ,
wherein the transfer device comprises, for each receiving member, a rotatable articulation driven by a cam, the rotatable articulation configured to be actuated by the transport device and connected to a respective receiving member,

the process further comprising:
determining a profile of the cam.

17. A format changing process in a transfer device for discrete elements according to different formats of the discrete elements, fed in a row with a predetermined spacing, the transfer device comprising:
a transport device, wherein receiving members, each configured to receive a respective discrete element, move along a closed line transport path where a linear receiving segment of the discrete elements is defined; and
a release device, on which said discrete elements are transported along a release path with a linear development, the release path being superimposed to said linear receiving segment, the format changing process comprising:
feeding, to an inlet, discrete elements having a first format in a row with a respective predetermined spacing; and
feeding, to the inlet, discrete elements having at least one other format in a row with a respective predetermined spacing,
wherein a respective release spot of a discrete element is determined by said spacing on a respective receiving portion of the receiving segment.

18. The format changing process according to claim 17 , wherein, when the spacing of the at least one other format is identical to the spacing of the first format, the release spot of the discrete elements of the first format and of the at least one other format falls into a same receiving portion.

19. The format changing process according to claim 17 , wherein, when the spacing of the at least one other format is different from the spacing of the first format, the release spot of the discrete elements of the first format and of the at least one other format falls into different receiving portions.

20. The format changing process according to claim 17 , wherein feedings of the discrete elements comprise forming the discrete elements in the release device.

Assignees

• Gd Spa

Inventors

• Biondi Andrea
• Cavazza Luca
• Zanetti Umberto
• Campagnoli Enrico
• Gigante Antonio

Classifications

• B65B7/01

  Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the closures before applying · CPC title

• B65B29/022 Primary

  packaging infusion material into capsules · CPC title

• B65B61/08

  using rotary cutters · CPC title

• B65B61/065

  by punching out · CPC title

• B65B7/2807 Primary

  Feeding closures · CPC title