FEEDING GROUP AND METHOD FOR FEEDING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES IN DISCRETE ROWS

Abstract

A feeding group includes a tray to retain articles arranged in discrete rows, an inlet station to receive the tray, a transfer device to move the tray, and a retaining device to retain the tray during movement of the tray between the inlet station and an unloading station. The retaining device is to further release the tray at an outlet station. The feeding group also includes an unloading device to unload the articles from the tray at the unloading station. The unloading station includes a conveyor device to receive the discrete rows unloaded from the tray.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. A feeding group for feeding articles in discrete rows, said feeding group comprising: a tray configured to contain articles arranged in discrete rows; an inlet station configured to receive said tray containing the articles arranged in said discrete rows; a transfer device configured to move the tray between the inlet station, an unloading station and an outlet station, the transfer device comprising a retaining device configured to retain the tray during movement of the tray between the inlet station and the unloading station, said retaining device being further configured to release the tray at the outlet station; and an unloading device configured to unload the articles from said tray at said unloading station, wherein said unloading station comprises a conveyor device configured to receive the discrete rows unloaded from the tray.

26. The feeding group according to claim 25, wherein: said transfer device comprises an inverting device for said tray, and said inverting device is configured to rotate said tray about an inverting axis transverse relative to a vertical axis.

27. The feeding group according to claim 26, wherein said inverting device comprises a rotary support rotatable about said inverting axis and linearly moveable in translation along said inverting axis.

28. The feeding group according to claim 26, wherein said retaining device is connected to said inverting device.

29. The feeding group according to claim 26, wherein said conveyor device defines an advance direction substantially parallel with said inverting axis.

30. The feeding group according to claim 26, wherein said inlet station and said outlet station are aligned along said inverting axis, said unloading station being arranged in a position axially opposite said inlet station and/or said outlet station with respect to said inverting axis.

31. The feeding group according to claim 25, wherein: said retaining device comprises movable arms configured to retain said tray at opposite sides; and said movable arms and said opposite sides of said tray comprise respective coupling elements comprising in turn a male element and a female element formed on said tray and on said movable arms, and capable of mutual engagement.

32. The feeding group according to claim 25, wherein said unloading device comprises at least one movable wall selectively positionable in a first operating position, where the at least one movable wall faces said tray and retains said discrete rows of articles in said tray, and a second operating position, where the at least one movable wall is moved away from said tray and said discrete rows of articles are freely accessible inside said tray.

33. The feeding group according to claim 32, wherein said unloading device comprises a pair of movable walls capable of moving towards and away from each other between said first operating position and said second operating position.

34. The feeding group according to claim 25, wherein: said tray comprises depressions separated by a relative projection, said depressions being configured to receive a respective discrete row of articles; and said tray is axially symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry perpendicular to said depressions.

35. The feeding group according to claim 34, wherein said unloading device comprises at least one movable wall selectively positionable in a first operating position, where the at least one movable wall faces said tray and retains said discrete rows of articles in said tray, and a second operating position, where the at least one movable wall is moved away from said tray and said discrete rows of articles are freely accessible inside said tray, and said retaining device, said tray and said movable wall are configured so that, when the at least one movable wall is in the first operating position, each discrete row of articles arranged in the tray is at a distance from said at least one movable wall less than a depth of said depressions.

36. The feeding group according to claim 25, wherein said outlet station is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis, said outlet station being configured to carry out a rotation of 180° about said substantially vertical axis after the release of said tray at said outlet station.

37. The feeding group according to claim 25, wherein said outlet station is configured to support a plurality of trays and is movable in translation in a vertical direction to be lowered with respect to an initial position according to a total number of trays supported.

38. The feeding group according to claim 25, wherein said inlet station is configured to support a plurality of trays and is movable in translation in a vertical direction to be lifted with respect to an initial position according to a total number of trays supported.

39. The feeding group according to claim 25, wherein: said conveyor device comprises support elements configured to retain respective discrete rows of articles; said support elements define a respective seat for receiving one of said discrete rows, said support elements comprising a base wall configured to receive in a supporting manner one of said discrete rows, and said seat is defined by said base wall and by lateral walls.

40. An article packaging machine comprising at least one feeding group according to claim 25, the at least one feeding group being configured to transport discrete rows of articles by the conveyor device of said at least one feeding group to other article processing and packaging stations.

41. A method for feeding a articles in discrete rows in a packaging machine, comprising: grouping articles according to discrete rows; arranging the discrete rows of articles in a tray; moving the tray towards an unloading station for the discrete rows of articles, retaining in said tray the discrete rows of articles contained therein; positioning the tray at said unloading station; releasing, after the tray has been positioned at said unloading station, the discrete rows of articles; transferring the discrete rows of articles to a conveyor device of the unloading station, while maintaining a grouping of the articles in discrete rows; and transferring the tray, after the discrete rows have been transferred to the conveyor device, to an outlet station.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the positioning the tray at said unloading station comprises rotating said tray about an inverting axis, said inverting axis being transverse relative to a vertical axis.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein the positioning the tray at said unloading station comprises moving the tray linearly in translation along said inverting axis.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein: the discrete rows of articles are transferred to the conveyor device of the unloading station by falling as a result of gravitational force; and falling as a result of gravitational force is prevented, during movement of the tray, by a movable wall facing the tray, the movable wall being moved away from the tray to allow the discrete rows of articles to fall.

Description

[0118] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description below of an embodiment illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

[0119] FIG. 1 is a schematic view in side perspective of a feeding group made in accordance with the present invention;

[0120] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the feeding group of FIG. 1, from a different side perspective, during an operation to unload the plurality of discrete rows of articles from the tray;

[0121] FIG. 3 is a schematic view in side perspective of the feeding group of FIG. 1 in a different operating position;

[0122] FIG. 4 is a schematic view, in detail, of the feeding group in FIG. 1 illustrating a tray retaining device, in a step of approach to the tray;

[0123] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the retaining device in FIG. 4 while it is retaining the tray during the movement;

[0124] FIG. 6 is a schematic view, in detail, of the feeding group as shown in FIG. 3, during the unloading of the discrete rows of articles onto a conveyor device; and

[0125] FIG. 7 is a schematic view, in detail, of the feeding group as illustrated in FIG. 3, with the discrete rows of articles unloaded onto the conveyor device.

[0126] With reference initially to FIG. 1, 100 is collectively referred to as a feeding group for a packaging machine made in accordance with the present invention.

[0127] The packaging machine, not shown in the figure, may for example be of a type suitable for packaging coffee in capsules. It will therefore be appreciated that, in this example, the articles I correspond to the capsules and, the feeding group can be used to feed empty capsules, prior to filling and closing them.

[0128] However, the feeding group 100 of the present application may also find application in different packaging areas and the articles fed therefrom may include a variety of products, as illustrated above.

[0129] As is visible in the example embodiment of FIG. 1, in preferred embodiments, the feeding group 100 comprises a conveyor device 5 which is configured to advance the articles I, preferably grouped into discrete rows L, towards one or more processing and/or packaging stations, not illustrated in the Figure, of the packaging machine.

[0130] Preferably, the conveyor device 5 comprises a plurality of support elements 51, illustrated in greater detail below, capable of advancing along an advance direction A, for example by means of a catenary system 56, schematically illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0131] With reference again to FIG. 1, the articles I are fed into the feeding group 100 arranged in a tray T, in which a plurality of discrete rows L of said articles I may be located.

[0132] The tray T or, preferably, a plurality of overlapping trays T, is initially located at an inlet station 11 which is configured to receive said tray T containing the plurality of articles I.

[0133] As better shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments the trays T comprise a plurality of depressions T1 which are separated by a relative projection T2. The depressions are configured to receive a respective discrete row L of articles I and define a relative housing seat. Preferably, the projection T2 defines an underlying space which, as will be seen below, is advantageously suitable to receive a portion of the discrete row of articles I of the underlying tray.

[0134] As can be observed in the Figure, the trays T can be advantageously stacked staggered, so that the depression of one tray is superimposed on the projection of the tray superimposed thereon. In this way, the space defined below the projection T2 is used to receive the portion of the discrete row of articles I of the underlying tray, as previously mentioned.

[0135] It will also be appreciated that in tray T side edges T4 are defined as parallel to depressions T1. In some embodiments, the tray T comprises an end projection T3 separating a depression of said plurality of depressions T1 adjacent to one of said side edges T4. The other side edge T4 is directly adjacent to a depression T1.

[0136] As visible in the Figure, thanks to this formation it is possible to stack the trays that are aligned along the side edges T4, by staggering the depressions between two adjacent trays and, consequently, the position of the discrete rows L of articles I.

[0137] In preferred embodiments, the tray T is also axially symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry perpendicular to the depressions T1. Consequently, by rotating the tray by 180°, the alignment of depressions and projections can be achieved again.

[0138] With reference again to FIG. 1, the feeding group further comprises a transfer device 2 which is configured to move the tray T between an inlet station 11, an unloading station 12 and an outlet station 13.

[0139] As will be illustrated in greater detail below with reference to preferred forms of embodiment, in the unloading station 12 the discrete rows L of articles I are advantageously unloaded onto support elements 51 of the conveyor device 5 in order to be transported to the other stations of the packaging machine.

[0140] On the other hand, the outlet station 13 is advantageously provided to receive T the trays, once the rows L of articles I have been unloaded.

[0141] The outlet station 13 can therefore be a storage station, in which the empty trays are stowed.

[0142] At the outlet station 13 the trays can be positioned in such a way that, when stacked, the depressions and projections of one tray are aligned with those of the underlying tray. This allows more trays to be grouped at the outlet station, optimising the overall stack dimensions.

[0143] In order to achieve the positioning described above, the outlet station 13 is in some embodiments configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. Preferably, the outlet station 13 rotates 180° around the substantially vertical axis after each tray T has been released at the outlet station 13. In this way, when the next tray is placed, which in the inlet station was staggered with respect to the other tray, the depressions and the projections of the trays can be aligned.

[0144] In some embodiments, the outlet station 13 can also be moved in translation in a vertical direction so as to be lowered from an initial position according to the total number of trays supported. In other words, as the trays are placed on the outlet station 13, the station will be lowered so that the last tray stacked is essentially always at the same distance from the ground or other reference surface.

[0145] Preferably, the same feature can also be applied to inlet station 11.

[0146] In fact, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, in which the outlet station 13 may also present different characteristics with respect to the aforesaid, the inlet station 11 can be moved in translation in a vertical direction in such so as to be lifted with respect to an initial position according to the total number of trays supported. In other words, as the trays are removed from the inlet station 11, the station will be lifted in such a way as to keep the first useful tray in the stack essentially always at the same distance from the ground or other reference surface.

[0147] The movement of the tray T between the inlet station 11, the unloading station 12 and the outlet station 13 by means of the transfer device 2 is schematically represented, in some movement steps, in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0148] The transfer device 2 is preferably initially placed at the inlet station 11 where it can collect and retain a tray T containing a plurality of discrete rows L of articles I.

[0149] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1, the transfer device 2, together with the tray it retains, is moved and inverted so as to be placed, arranged upturned, at the unloading station 12, where the unloading of the articles I takes place. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment example of the feeding group in this latter operating position.

[0150] After unloading, the tray T is again inverted and moved in order to be positioned at the outlet station 13, where the tray T, which is now empty, is released and collected at that station, as for example shown in FIG. 3.

[0151] It will be appreciated that in such a handling the translation and inverting movements can take place in any order, i.e. first the translation and then inversion or vice versa, or they can take place entirely or partially simultaneously.

[0152] As can be observed from the figures, in order to realise the movement described above, the transfer device 2 advantageously comprises an inverting device 6 of the tray T.

[0153] Preferably, the inverting device 6 is configured to rotate the tray T about an inverting axis X transverse relative to a vertical axis. This inverting axis X is preferably substantially horizontal.

[0154] In some embodiments, the inverting device 6 comprises a rotating support 61, which is rotatable about said inverting axis X and which can be linearly moved in translation along said inverting axis X.

[0155] It will therefore be appreciated that the rotating support advantageously allows the tray T to be inverted and the translation thereof allows the linear movement of the tray.

[0156] In some embodiments, the inverting axis also defines the relative position of the inlet 11, unloading 12 and outlet 13 stations.

[0157] Preferably, the inlet station 11 and the outlet station 13 are aligned along the inverting axis X. In preferred embodiments, moreover, the unloading station 12 may be placed axially opposite to the inlet station 11 and/or the outlet station 13 with respect to the inverting axis X.

[0158] In order to keep the tray T in position during the movement between the stations 11, 12 and 13, the feeding group 100 may advantageously comprise a retaining device 3. Preferably, the retaining device 3 is also configured to release the tray T when necessary, for example at the outlet station 13 as previously illustrated.

[0159] The retaining device 3 is illustrated, in detail, in a preferred embodiment thereof, in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0160] Preferably, the retaining device 3 is connected to said inverting device 6.

[0161] As can be observed from the figures, in preferred embodiments, the retaining device 3 comprises movable arms 31 which are configured to retain said tray T on opposite sides. These sides may correspond, in some embodiments, to those defined by the edges T4. Preferably, the retention of the tray T may take place by engaging each edge of the tray T by means of a respective coupling element 32.

[0162] In some embodiments, the coupling element 32 comprises a U- or V-shaped profile, on which a corresponding flat element may be engaged.

[0163] Preferably, the U- or V-profile can be made on or connected to the movable arms 31. The flat element can be placed on the tray T, preferably defined by the edge T4 of the tray itself.

[0164] More generally, in preferred embodiments the coupling elements 32 may comprise a male element T5 and a female element 33 which are formed respectively on said tray T and said movable arms 31 or vice versa, and is capable of mutual engagement.

[0165] In order to achieve the aforesaid engagement between male and female elements, the movable arms 31 can be advantageously moved towards the tray T.

[0166] Accordingly, when the transfer device 2 places the retaining device 3 in such a position that the tray T on top of the stack placed on the inlet station 11 is interposed between the two movable arms 31, the latter can be moved close to each other, thus retaining the tray T.

[0167] In some embodiments, the retaining device 3 is connected to the rotating support 61 so as to make it integral with the transfer device 2.

[0168] In some embodiments, the retaining device 3 further comprises support rods 35 connected to the rotating support 61 and to which said movable arms 31 are translatably connected. It will be appreciated that, if the support rods 35 are present, the movable arms 31 can perform the aforesaid retaining action by translating with respect to the support rods 35 in a direction substantially parallel to the inverting axis X.

[0169] The movable arms 31 are preferably moved by means of a quadrilateral mechanism. In some embodiments, each of the movable arms 31 is connected to a corresponding support rod 35 by a pair of connecting rods 36, which together with the respective movable arm 31 and the respective rod 35 form the quadrilateral mechanism.

[0170] In preferred embodiments, the feeding group 100 is configured to retain the discrete rows L of articles I in the tray T during movement of the latter.

[0171] In this respect, an unloading device 4 may be provided which is configured to unload the articles I from said tray T at the conveyor device 5 of the unloading station 12.

[0172] With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, in preferred embodiments, the unloading device 4 comprises at least one movable wall 41 which can be positioned selectively in a first operating position, in which it faces said tray T and retains discrete rows L of articles I in said tray T and a second operating position in which it is moved away from the tray T. Preferably, the unloading device comprises two movable walls 41 and, thereafter, the description will refer to the embodiment in which two movable walls 41 are provided, it being understood that the same concepts may also be applied to embodiments in which only one movable wall 41 is provided.

[0173] It will also be appreciated that in the second operating position the discrete rows L are free to fall from the tray T, preferably by gravitational force, when it is inverted.

[0174] More generally, in the second operating position the discrete rows L of articles I are freely accessible within said tray T. Consequently, as an alternative to the fall by gravitational force, different solutions may also be envisaged for picking up the discrete rows L and releasing them onto the conveyor device 5.

[0175] As can be observed from FIGS. 5 and 6, when the tray T is moved between the inlet station 11 and the unloading station 12, in particular during inverting, the movable walls 41 prevent the articles from falling by gravitational force as the movable walls 41 face, and are integral with, the tray T.

[0176] In fact, during the movement, the possible action of the gravitational force will bring the articles I to rest on the movable walls 41 preventing them from falling from the tray.

[0177] For this purpose, where the tray has the previously described depressions T1, the retaining device 3, the tray T and the movable wall 41 may be configured such that when the wall 41 is in the first operating position, each discrete row L of articles I arranged in the tray is at a distance from the movable wall 41 that is less than the depth of said depressions T1. This prevents the articles from falling completely out of the housing seats defined by the depressions T1.

[0178] At the unloading station 12, the movable wall 41 is advantageously moved away from the tray T to allow the discrete rows L of articles I to fall.

[0179] In some embodiments, the movable walls 41 are movable between the first and the second operating position by means of lateral translation. Preferably, the movable walls 41 are capable of movement in mutual approach and distancing so that they move between the first and the second operating position.

[0180] Preferably, the translation movement of the movable walls 41 occurs along a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by the tray T itself. The translation of the movable walls 41 may take place by means of a special movement equipment, not illustrated in the Figure, preferably connected to the transfer device 2. More generally, the movable wall 41 can be supported on the transfer device 2.

[0181] As previously described, when the tray T is placed at the unloading station 12, the discrete rows L of articles I are preferably aligned with the support elements 51 of the conveyor device 5 that are arranged below, as illustrated in the example embodiment of FIG. 6.

[0182] In order to facilitate the maintenance of the same order of the articles I according to the discrete rows L placed in the tray T, the articles I are dropped into the support elements 51 of the conveyor device 5.

[0183] In preferred embodiments, the support elements 51 comprise lateral walls 52 apt to retain a discrete row L.

[0184] The unloading device 4 is advantageously configured to unload the discrete rows L of articles I parallel to a longitudinal direction of the support elements 51.

[0185] This longitudinal direction can be defined by the lateral walls 52. More generally, the support elements 51 may define a respective seat 53 for receiving one of said discrete rows L and defining the longitudinal direction thereof.

[0186] In some embodiments, the seat 53 may be defined by a base wall 55, which is configured to receive in a supporting manner one of said discrete rows L, and by the lateral walls 52.

[0187] Preferably, the support elements 51 are oriented substantially perpendicular, or more generally transverse, to the advance direction A defined by the conveyor device. In some embodiments, this advance direction A is parallel with the inverting axis X.

[0188] Preferably, the support elements 51 have an open end 54 at opposite ends defined by the lateral walls 52. This end 54 advantageously allows the passage of a discrete row L of articles I simply by sliding in the respective longitudinal direction. This feature can be particularly advantageous in the subsequent steps of packaging where, for example, the discrete rows are aligned in a single continuous row.

[0189] It goes without saying that a person skilled in the art may, in order to meet specific and contingent application requirements, make further modifications and variants of the above-described invention within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.