Unit for transferring and up-ending sealed packages containing a pourable food product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527678-B2
Application number	US-201414771163-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2014
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

There is described a unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food products, comprising: a rotary member which may rotate about a first axis; and at least one push member which is articulated onto rotary member and cooperates with a respective package to feed it along a first path, which extends from an infeed station to an out-feed station; push member comprising a push surface elongated along a first direction transversal to first axis and adapted to contact, in use, respective package in order to convey it along a first path; the orthogonal projection of first direction on a plane orthogonal to first axis being elongated along a second direction; direction is distinct with respect to a third direction, which is radial relative to first axis, at least at input station.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food product, comprising:
a rotary member which may rotate about a first axis;
at least one push member which is articulated onto said rotary member and cooperates with a respective said package to feed it along a first path, which extends from an infeed station to an out-feed station;
said push member comprising a push surface elongated along a first direction transversal to said first axis and adapted to contact, in use, said respective package in order to convey it along the first path;
a support member comprising a first portion which extends radially outward from said first axis and a second portion which extends transversally to said first portion and to which said push member is directly connected;
an orthogonal projection of said first direction on a plane orthogonal to said first axis being elongated along a second direction; and
said second direction being distinct with respect to a third direction, which extends radially outwardly from said first axis, at least at said infeed station.

2. The unit of claim 1 , wherein said second direction is parallel to a corresponding said third direction, at least at said infeed station.

3. The unit of claim 2 , wherein the distance between said second direction and said third direction equals a half of the width of said package to be conveyed, at least at said infeed station; said width being measured orthogonally to said push surface at said infeed station.

4. The unit of claim 1 , comprising:
a cam, which is fixed with respect to said first axis; and
said first portion carries a cam follower which interacts with said cam, so as to vary the position of said push member relative to said rotary member.

5. The unit of claim 4 , wherein said second portion extends orthogonally to said first portion.

6. The unit of claim 4 , wherein said second portion is hinged to said rotary member about a second axis, which is transversal to said first axis.

7. The unit of claim 6 , wherein said second axis is radially interposed between said cam follower and said second portion with reference to said first axis.

8. The unit of claim 4 , wherein said first portion and said second portion are integral to each other.

9. The unit of claim 4 , wherein said cam is shaped in such a way to prevent any relative movement between said push surface and said respective package, at least at said infeed station.

10. The unit of claim 1 , comprising guide means which cooperate with said package to up-end it from an infeed position assumed at said infeed station to an out-feed position assumed at an output station of said first path.

11. The packaging machine of claim 1 , comprising a second conveyor for conveying said package off the packaging machine, said second conveyor being straight and supplied directly by said unit with said package in said outfeed position.

12. A packaging machine for producing at least one sealed package of a food product, comprising:
a unit comprising:
a rotary member which may rotate about a first axis; and
at least one push member which is articulated onto said rotary member and cooperates with a respective said package to feed it along a first path, which extends from an infeed station to an out-feed station;
said push member comprising a push surface elongated along a first direction transversal to said first axis and adapted to contact, in use, said respective package in order to convey it along a first path;
the orthogonal projection of said first direction on a plane orthogonal to said first axis being elongated along a second direction;
said second direction being distinct with respect to a third direction, which is radial relative to said first axis, at least at said infeed station; and

a conveyor comprising at least one paddle which contacts said respective package to feed it to said unit along a second path and towards said infeed station of said first path;
said second path comprising:
a straight first portion; and
a curved second portion incident with said first path at said infeed station;

said paddle having a centreline orthogonal to said second path and which, in use, is aligned with a symmetry plane of said package parallel to said second path and to a third axis of said package;
said centreline being movable along a fourth direction, when said conveyor moves along said first portion;
said fourth direction being incident to and radial with respect to said first axis of said rotary member.

13. The packaging machine of claim 12 , wherein said corresponding third direction is aligned and coincident with said fourth direction, at said infeed station.

14. A transfer unit for transferring at least one package containing a pourable food product, the transfer unit comprising:
a rotary member configured to rotate in a circumferential direction about a first axis;
at least one push member connected to the rotary member, the push member configured to convey the package along a first path which extends from an infeed station to an out-feed station;
the push member comprising a push surface and an opposite surface, the push member possessing a thickness between the push surface and the opposite surface, and the push member being configured to contact the package to convey it along the first path;
the push member extending along a second axis, the second axis being at a midpoint of the thickness of the push member; and
the second axis being spaced apart from the first axis, such that the second axis avoids intersection with the first axis.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Santi Franco

Classifications

• B65G2201/0235

  Containers · CPC title

• B65G47/846

  Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements · CPC title

• B65B61/28 Primary

  for discharging completed packages from machines · CPC title

• B65G47/248 Primary

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