Packaging system for assembling a package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12459759-B2
Application number	US-202118000733-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2021
Priority date	Jun 4, 2020
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A packaging system has a system for assembling a package, a method for assembling a package, and a machine for assembling a package. The packaging system comprises at least one main transportation unit and at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit, where the at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit moves three-dimensionally with respect to the at least one main transportation unit for providing the packaging material components to the main transportation unit and/or performing packaging process operations to a package in assembly present at the main transportation unit. The at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit includes a number of tools mounted on independently motion-controlled movers for providing the packaging material components to the package in assembly and/or providing the packaging operations to the packaging in assembly. In addition to assembling packages, the systems, methods, and machines may also be used for assembly of any other article.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising three moveable closed loop transportation units and a main transportation unit,
wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units envelop the main transportation unit from three sides, wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units are adapted for providing one or more packaging material components to a main transportation unit and/or performing packaging process operations to a given package in assembly present at the main transportation unit, wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units are independently and 3-dimensionally moveable relative to the main transportation unit, and wherein a control system enables the control of 3-dimensional movement of the three moveable closed loop transportation units for simultaneously providing one or more packaging material components to the given package in assembly and/or simultaneously providing packaging process operations to the given packaging in assembly.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the three moveable transportation units comprises a number of tools mounted on independently motion controlled movers, the number of tools providing the one or more packaging material components to the given package in assembly and/or providing the packaging process operations to the given packaging in assembly.

3 . The system according to claim 2 wherein the number of tools are wirelessly controllable and/or wireless powered.

4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to enable synchronization of a pace and pitch of a number of tools with the transportation of the package in assembly on the main transportation unit.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to enable the control of the 3-dimensional movement of the three moveable transportation units relative to the package in assembly.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the main transportation unit comprises a number of tools on individually motion controlled movers providing packaging process operations to the given packaging in assembly, and wherein the control unit enables the control of the 3-dimensional movement of one or more of the three moveable closed loop transportation units, and the main transportation unit, and its respective number of tools on individually motion-controlled movers for simultaneously providing one or more packaging material components to said given package in assembly and/or simultaneously providing packaging process operations to said given packaging in assembly.

7 . A packaging machine for assembling a packaging comprising a system, wherein the system comprises three moveable closed loop transportation units and a main transportation unit,
wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units envelop the main transportation unit from three sides, wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units are adapted for providing one or more packaging material components to a main transportation unit and/or performing packaging process operations to a given package in assembly present at the main transportation unit, wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units are independently and 3-dimensionally moveable relative to the main transportation unit, and wherein a control system enables the control of the 3-dimensional movement of the three moveable closed loop transportation units for simultaneously providing one or more packaging material components to the given package in assembly and/or simultaneously providing packaging process operations to the given packaging in assembly.

8 . A method for assembling a package comprising providing one or more packaging material components onto three 3-dimensionally moveable closed loop transportation unit, transporting the component to a main transportation unit by the three moveable closed loop transportation units, and moving the three moveable closed loop transportation units independently and in a 3-dimensional way relative to the main transportation unit,
wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units envelop the main transportation unit from three sides, and wherein a control system enables the control of 3-dimensional movement of the three moveable closed loop transportation units for simultaneously providing one or more packaging material components to a given package in assembly and/or simultaneously providing packaging process operations to the given packaging in assembly.

9 . A method for assembling a package comprising providing a given package in assembly onto a main transportation unit, performing packaging process operations to the given package in assembly by three moveable closed loop transportation units, and moving the three moveable closed loop transportation units independently and in a 3-dimensional way relative to the main transportation unit,
wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units envelop the main transportation unit from three sides, and wherein a control system enables the control of 3-dimensional movement of the moveable closed loop transportation units for simultaneously providing one or more packaging material components to the given package in assembly and/or simultaneously providing packaging process operations to the given packaging in assembly.

10 . The method for assembling a package in accordance with claim 8 wherein providing one or more packaging material components or the step of performing packaging process operations comprises (i) supplying and/or assembling a packaging material component such as a partition, a handle, a panel, a lid, (ii) supplying and/or loading one or more primary articles into a secondary packaging, or supplying and/or loading one or more secondary packages into a tertiary packaging, (iii) moving one or more of the packaging material components or part of it into a given direction, (iv) fixing one or more of the packaging material components to the given package in assembly, (v) rotating the package in assembly or a final assembled package, (vi) inspecting and or coding a package, (vii) accelerating, decelerating, cutting, stretching, compressing, collapsing, folding, erecting, gluing, decorating the material component of a package in assembly, and all combinations thereof.

11 . A system comprising three moveable closed loop transportation units and a main transportation unit,
wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units envelop the main transportation unit from three sides, wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units are adapted for providing one or more article component to the main transportation unit and/or performing process operations to a given article in assembly present at the main transportation unit, wherein the moveable closed loop transportation units are independently and 3-dimensionally moveable relative to the main transportation unit, wherein a control system enables the control of 3-dimensional movement of the three moveable closed loop transportation units for simultaneously providing one or more packaging material components to the given package in assembly and/or simultaneously providing packaging process operations to the given packaging in assembly.

12 . A machine for assembling an article comprising at least a system, wherein the system comprises three moveable closed loop transportation units and a main transportation unit,
wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units envelop the main transportation unit from three sides, wherein the three moveable closed loop transportation units are adapted for providing one or more article component t

Assignees

• Anheuser Busch Inbev Sa

Inventors

• Dekocker Wim
• Narducci Annalisa
• Thompson Keenan
• Ferreira Glenn
• Duperray Philippe Jean Marie

Classifications

• B65B65/003

  Packaging lines, e.g. general layout · CPC title

• B65B59/005

  Adjustable conveying means · CPC title

• B65B43/00 Primary

  Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging (forming pockets in sheets, blanks or webs, by pressing the material into forming dies or moving it through folding dies B65B47/00) · CPC title

• B65B59/003

  Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material · CPC title

• B65G54/02 Primary

  electrostatic, electric, or magnetic · CPC title