Apparatus for inserting articles internally of boxes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9114894-B2
Application number	US-201213728396-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2012
Priority date	Jan 19, 2012
Publication date	Aug 25, 2015
Grant date	Aug 25, 2015

Abstract

An article inserting apparatus has a first thrust plate and a first abutting blade. A first straight guide is fixed to the frame. A first member has a second straight guide. A first linear motor moves a first rod bearing the first thrust plate in an alternating motion, with a second member slidable along the second straight guide. A second linear motor moves a second rod with the first abutting blade in an alternating motion. The apparatus has a third hinged member, a fourth hinged member, a fifth hinged member, and a sixth hinged member. The third and fifth hinged members rotate to move the first member and the second member in synchrony with the first conveyor and the second conveyor, the first thrust plate and the first abutting blade driven by the first and second linear motors to insert an article into a box.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for inserting articles ( 3 ) internally of boxes ( 7 ), which apparatus ( 1 ) comprises:
a frame ( 8 ) positionable by a side of a first conveyor ( 2 ) which moves articles ( 3 ) in an advancement direction (A) and in a horizontal advancement direction, operated in synchrony with the first conveyor ( 2 ) and with a second conveyor ( 6 ) which is arranged by a side of the first conveyor ( 2 ) and which moves boxes ( 7 ) in a same sense and advancement direction as the first conveyor ( 2 );
a first thrust plate ( 9 ) for pushing at least one article internally of a box ( 7 );
a first abutting blade ( 36 ) for at least partially entering the box ( 7 ) and providing an upper abutment for facilitating insertion of the article ( 3 ) in the box ( 7 );
a first straight guide ( 10 ) solidly constrained to the frame ( 8 ), which straight guide is parallel to the advancement direction;
a first member ( 11 ) which can slide along the first straight guide ( 10 ) and which is provided with a second straight guide ( 12 ) that is vertical and perpendicular to the advancement direction;
a first linear motor ( 13 ) which is borne by the first member ( 11 );
a first rod ( 14 ) which bears the first thrust plate ( 9 ) and which is moved by the first linear motor ( 13 ) in order to move the first thrust plate ( 9 ) in an alternating motion in a horizontal and perpendicular direction to the advancement direction;
a second member ( 15 ) which can slide along the second straight guide ( 12 );
a second linear motor ( 16 ) which is borne by the second member ( 15 );
a second rod ( 17 ) which bears the first abutting blade ( 34 ) and which is moved by the second linear motor ( 16 ) so as to move in an alternating motion in a horizontal and perpendicular direction to the advancement direction;
a third member ( 18 ) which is hinged to the frame ( 8 ) at a first hinge axis ( 19 );
a fourth member ( 20 ) which is hinged to the third member ( 18 ) at a second hinge axis ( 21 ) and which is hinged to the second member ( 15 ) at a third hinge axis ( 22 );
a fifth member ( 23 ) which is hinged to the frame ( 8 ) at the first hinge axis ( 19 );
a sixth member ( 24 ) which is hinged to the fifth member ( 23 ) at a fourth hinge axis ( 25 ) and which is hinged to the first member ( 11 ) at a fifth hinge axis ( 35 );
the first hinge axis ( 19 ), the second hinge axis ( 21 ), the third hinge axis ( 22 ), the fourth hinge axis ( 25 ) and the fifth hinge axis ( 35 ) being horizontal and perpendicular to the advancement direction;
the apparatus ( 1 ) being positionable with respect to the first conveyor ( 2 ) in such a way that the fourth member ( 20 ) is downstream of the fifth member ( 23 ) with respect to the advancement direction (A);
the third member ( 18 ) and the fifth member ( 23 ) being activatable in rotation so as to move the first member ( 11 ) and the second member ( 15 ) in synchrony with the first conveyor ( 2 ) and with the second conveyor ( 6 ) and in order to enable movement of the first thrust plate ( 9 ) and the first abutting blade ( 34 ) by action respectively of the first linear motor ( 13 ) and the second linear motor ( 16 ) in order to insert at least an article internally of a box ( 7 ).

2. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first member ( 11 ) comprises a first support structure ( 111 ) which forms a first housing ( 30 ) and the second straight guide ( 12 ); and,
a first carriage ( 112 ) which is fixed to the first support structure ( 111 ) and which can slide along the first straight guide ( 10 ).

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first housing ( 30 ) receives the first linear motor ( 13 ) and the second member ( 15 ).

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second member ( 15 ) comprises a second support structure ( 151 ) which conforms a second housing ( 31 ), and a second carriage ( 152 ) which can slide along the second straight guide ( 12 ).

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second housing ( 31 ) receives the second linear motor ( 16 ).

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second carriage ( 152 ) is hinged to the fourth member ( 20 ) at the third hinge axis ( 22 ).

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second carriage ( 152 ) is hinged to the fourth member ( 20 ) at the third hinge axis ( 22 ).

Assignees

• Marchesini Group Spa

Inventors

• Monti Giuseppe

Classifications

• B31B2217/082

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B31B2201/289

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B65B35/40

  by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers · CPC title

• B65B5/00 Primary

  Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars · CPC title

• B31B2201/027

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic