Unit for the application of opening devices on sealed packages of food products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9878815-B2
Application number	US-201314437397-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2013
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A unit for the application of opening devices on respective sealed first packages of food products, comprising: at least one first gripping device configured to receive, in use, a relative opening device and movable along a first path; the first path comprising a first stretch in which the opening device is applied onto the package; a first track; a first transfer element, which is operatively connected to the first gripping device; and at least one second transfer element; the first transfer element is movable along the first track and is movable relative to and independently of second transfer element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A unit for the application of opening devices on respective sealed first packages of food products, comprising:
at least one first gripping device configured to receive, in use, a relative said opening device and movable along a first path;
said first path comprising a first stretch in which said opening device is applied onto said package by said at least one first gripping device;
a first track;
a first transfer element, which is operatively connected to said first gripping device; and
at least one second transfer element;
wherein said first transfer element is movable along said first track, and said first transfer element is movable relative to and independently of said second transfer element.

2. The unit of claim 1 , comprising:
a sensor adapted to generate a signal associated to the position of said first package; and
an electronic control unit configured for receiving, in use, said signal and for controlling, in use, the movement of said first transfer element.

3. The unit of claim 1 , wherein also said second transfer element is movable and operatively connected to said first gripping device.

4. The unit of claim 3 , wherein said first gripping device is driven, in use, by said first transfer element and said second transfer element along a first direction tangential to said path;
said unit comprising connecting means for connecting said first transfer element and said second transfer element to said first gripping device;
said connecting means being configured to transform a variation in a mutual position along said first direction between said first transfer element and second transfer element into a displacement of said first gripping device along a second direction orthogonal to said first direction.

5. The unit of claim 4 , wherein said first transfer element and said second transfer element are movable on said first track along said first direction.

6. The unit of claim 4 , wherein said connecting means comprise:
a first lever articulated on said first transfer element and on said first gripping device; and
a second lever articulated on said second transfer element and on said first lever;
said first lever and second lever converting, in use, a variation in the mutual position of said first transfer element relative to said second transfer element into a translation of said first gripping device parallel to said second direction.

7. The unit of claim 1 , comprising:
a second gripping device configured to receive, in use, a relative opening device and movable along a third path which is arranged downstream of said first path, proceeding according to an advancing direction, in use, of said packages; and
a movable third transfer element which is operatively connected to said second gripping device for conveying said second gripping device along said third path.

8. The unit of claim 7 , wherein said first gripping device is controllable for applying a first opening device onto said first package, and in that said second gripping device is controllable for applying a second opening device onto a second package which is adjacent and immediately subsequent to said first package.

9. The unit of claim 7 , comprising a second track arranged downstream of said first track, proceeding parallel to an advancing direction of said first and second package;
said third transfer element being movable on said second track.

10. The unit of claim 9 , comprising a fourth transfer element movable along said second track and operatively connected to said second gripping device; and
said third transfer element and said fourth transfer element being movable independently of each other.

11. The unit of claim 1 , comprising:
a guide arranged on an opposite side of said first gripping device relative to said first track; and
a slider which may slide on said guide and which is operatively connected to said first gripping device.

12. The unit of claim 11 , comprising conveying means for conveying said first package along a second path partially superimposed to said first stretch of said first path;
said first track and said guide comprising a respective first branch and a second branch;
said first transfer element being movable on said first branch and said slider being movable on said second branch, when said first gripping device moves along said first stretch of said first path;
said first branch and second branch defining a plane inclined relative to said first direction, so that said first gripping device is, in use, inclined relative to said first direction when the first gripping device travels along said first stretch of said path.

13. The unit of claim 12 , wherein said first gripping device is articulated on said slider.

14. The unit of claim 12 , wherein said second transfer element is movable on said first branch, when said first gripping device moves along said first stretch of said first path.

15. The unit of claim 1 , comprising a further track along which said second transfer element is movable.

16. The unit of claim 15 , comprising connecting means for connecting said first transfer element and said second transfer element to said first gripping device, said connecting means being configured to transform a variation in a mutual position along said first direction between said first transfer element and second transfer element into a displacement of said first gripping device along a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, wherein said connecting means comprise:
a third lever integral with said first gripping device and movable relative to said first transfer element; and
a fourth lever, which is articulated on said third lever and on said second transfer element.

17. The unit of claim 16 , wherein said third lever is slidable with respect to said first transfer element parallel to said second direction.

18. The unit of claim 16 , wherein said third lever and said fourth lever are hinged to each other about a first axis transversal to said first direction and second direction.

19. The unit of claim 16 , wherein said fourth lever is hinged to said second transfer element about a second axis transversal to said first direction and second direction.

20. The unit of claim 16 , wherein said first transfer element is interposed along said second direction between said first gripping device and said second transfer element.

21. The unit of claim 15 , comprising connecting means for connecting said first transfer element and said second transfer element to said first gripping device, said connecting means being configured to transform a variation in a mutual position along said first direction between said first transfer element and second transfer element into a displacement of said first gripping device along a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, wherein said connecting means comprise:
a first connecting element, which defines a slot and is connected to one of said first gripping device and said second transfer element; and
a second connecting element, which defines a body slidably engaging said slot and is connected to the other one of said first gripping device and said second transfer element;
said slot being transversal to both said first direction and said second direction.

22. The unit of claim 21 , wherein said first connecting element is connected with said first gripping device and in that said second connecting element is connected with said second transfer element.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Zuccotti Alessandro
• Canalini Pierluigi
• Montorsi Maurizio
• Zanichelli Federico

Classifications

• B65B61/186 Primary

  by applying or incorporating rigid fittings, e.g. discharge spouts · CPC title

• B65B7/28

  by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers · CPC title

• B65B57/02

  responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages · CPC title

• B65G54/02

  electrostatic, electric, or magnetic · CPC title