TRANSFER DEVICE AND PROCESS

Abstract

In a device and in a process for transferring discrete elements, fed in a row with a predetermined spacing, a correspondence is ensured between a linear release segment, and a not entirely linear portion of transport path. A carousel-like transport device is provided, where receiving members move along the transport path. A receiving segment is defined, where each receiving member receives a respective discrete element. A release device is further provided, on which the discrete elements are transported along a linearly developing release path having a release segment and intersecting the transport path at the receiving segment. A timing equipment acting on the receiving members by moving them with respect to the transport device is also provided.

Claims

1.-26. (canceled)

27. A transfer device for discrete elements, fed to the inlet in a row with a predetermined spacing, comprising: a carousel-like transport device, wherein receiving members are configured to move along a closed line transport path, in which a receiving segment is defined where each receiving member receives a respective discrete element; a release device, wherein the discrete elements are configured to be transported along a release path with a linear development, the release device comprising a release segment and intersecting said closed line transport path at said receiving segment; and a timing equipment acting on the receiving members by moving the receiving members with respect to the transport device, wherein movement of the receiving members in said receiving segment is synchronized with movement of the discrete elements in the release segment.

28. The transfer device according to claim 27, wherein said receiving segment comprises one or more portions configured to be travelled by the receiving members at respective substantially constant translation speeds.

29. The transfer device according to claim 28, wherein said receiving segment comprises two or more portions configured to be travelled by the receiving members at different substantially constant translation speeds.

30. The transfer device according to claim 27, wherein the carousel-like transport device comprises a rotary drum, the receiving members being mounted on a periphery of the rotary drum, the closed line transport path being substantially circular.

31. The transfer device according to claim 27, wherein, at the receiving segment, the receiving members are aligned to each other.

32. The transfer device according to claim 27, wherein the timing equipment comprises, for each receiving member, a rotatable articulation actuated by the transport device, and connected to the receiving member, to synchronize movement of the receiving members with movement of the discrete elements in the release segment.

33. The transfer device according to claim 32, further comprising a cam configured to drive said rotatable articulation.

34. The transfer device according to claim 27, wherein said release path with a linear development is defined by a planar strip, from which the discrete elements are cut with said predetermined spacing.

35. The transfer device according to claim 34, wherein: said receiving segment comprises one or more portions configured to be travelled by the receiving members at respective substantially constant translation speeds, and said planar strip, at said release segment, is wound on a roller-like drum configured to rotate with a peripheral speed corresponding to a release speed of the discrete elements, the peripheral speed being equal to the translation speed of the receiving members.

36. The transfer device according to claim 35, wherein the release device comprises a set of roller-like drums with different diameters for discrete elements having a different format.

37. The transfer device according to claim 27, wherein each receiving member comprises a horizontal planar surface, on which the discrete elements are released.

38. A transfer process for discrete elements fed in a row with a predetermined spacing, comprising the steps of: circulating receiving members along a closed line transport path wherein a receiving segment is defined, each receiving member receiving a respective discrete element; transporting the discrete elements along a release path with a linear development, the release path comprising a release segment and intersecting said closed line transport path at said receiving segment; and moving the receiving members, wherein position of the receiving members in said receiving segment corresponds to a discrete element position in the release segment in at least one portion of the receiving segment.

39. A packaging apparatus comprising the transfer device according to claim 27.

40. A format changing process in a transfer device for discrete elements in accordance to different formats of the discrete elements, fed to the inlet in a row with a predetermined spacing, the transfer device comprising: a carousel-like transport device, wherein receiving members, each configured to receive a respective discrete element, move along a closed line transport path; a release device, on which the discrete elements are transported along a release path with a linear development, the release path intersecting said closed line transport path and having a release segment comprising release spots of discrete elements in accordance with different formats of the discrete elements; and a timing equipment of the transport device, operated to change the closed line transport path and a transit speed of the receiving members at the release segment, the format changing process comprising: selecting discrete elements for one or more formats, determining a respective release spot, a spacing and/or a release speed; and providing, in the closed line transport path, by said timing equipment, one or more transport path portions, placed at said release segment, wherein position of the one or more transport path portions and respective translation speeds of the receiving members are conformed to the release spot and the release speed of selected discrete elements.

41. The format changing process according to claim 40, wherein, in the one or more transport path portions, the respective translation speeds of the receiving members are constant.

42. The format changing process according to claim 41, wherein the one or more transport path portions are at least two transport path portions, each corresponding to discrete elements fed with different spacings.

43. The format changing process according to claim 40, wherein, in the transfer device, the timing equipment comprises, for each receiving member, a rotatable articulation driven by a cam, the rotatable articulation configured to be actuated by the transport device and connected to a respective receiving member, the process further comprising: determining a profile of the cam.

44. A format changing process in a transfer device for discrete elements according to different formats of the discrete elements, fed in a row with a predetermined spacing, the transfer device comprising: a transport device, wherein receiving members, each configured to receive a respective discrete element, move along a closed line transport path where a linear receiving segment of the discrete elements is defined; and a release device, on which said discrete elements are transported along a release path with a linear development, the release path being superimposed to said linear receiving segment, the format changing process comprising: feeding, to an inlet, discrete elements having a first format in a row with a respective predetermined spacing; and feeding, to the inlet, discrete elements having at least one other format in a row with a respective predetermined spacing, wherein a respective release spot of a discrete element is determined by said spacing on a respective receiving portion of the receiving segment.

45. The format changing process according to claim 44, wherein, when the spacing of the at least one other format is identical to the spacing of the first format, the release spot of the discrete elements of the first format and of the at least one other format falls into a same receiving portion.

46. The format changing process according to claim 44, wherein, when the spacing of the at least one other format is different from the spacing of the first format, the release spot of the discrete elements of the first format and of the at least one other format falls into different receiving portions.

47. The format changing process according to claim 44, wherein feedings of the discrete elements comprise forming the discrete elements in the release device.

Description

[0144] With reference to the accompanying FIG. 1, 100 denotes an apparatus for packaging capsules for infusion type beverages, such as coffee.

[0145] These capsules consist of a substantially rigid glass-shaped container, inside which a filter and a coffee powder preparation is placed, and then they are sealed with a lid and sent to a subsequent apparatus where they are boxed for distribution and sale.

[0146] In general, the glass-shaped containers are supplied by a feeding station 110, from which they proceed in a row with a continuous motion after being extracted from a set of glass-shaped containers provided by a supplier.

[0147] The packaging apparatus 100 comprises a release station 120 of discrete elements, which will be indicated in the following figures by 1, which in the present example comprise flat discs of a material suitable for shaping a filter for infusion type beverages.

[0148] Thus, the release station 120 comprises a release device 121 which in the present example is a device for cutting said discs from a continuous strip of filter material.

[0149] The release device 120 thus provides discrete elements 1, in the form of discs, which are fed individually, i.e. one by one after a cutting step, in a single row with a predetermined spacing between one discrete element and a subsequent discrete element.

[0150] The packaging apparatus therefore comprises a filter shaping station, indicated by 130, which comprises a carousel-like transport device 131, which will be described in greater detail later.

[0151] The transport device 131 is part of a more complex station, in which said discrete elements 1, once transferred from the release device 121 to the transport device 131, undergo a filter shaping process, which is then inserted inside a destination glass-shaped container, which will possibly contain on its bottom a spacer element inserted inside it in the feed station 110.

[0152] After the filter has been inserted into the respective container, the filter is fixed, e.g. by welding, to the inside walls of the glass-shaped container.

[0153] In this respect, the transport device 131 transfers the glass-shaped containers with filters to a first transfer wheel 132, and from this they pass to a filter fixing wheel 133 to pass to a second transfer wheel 134 which transfers the glass-shaped containers to a filling station 140, where they are filled with a predetermined dose of coffee powder.

[0154] In this regard, the filling station comprises a carousel-like filling device 145 from which the glass-shaped containers are transferred, by means of a third transfer wheel 146, to a carousel-like weighing device 147, which performs a check on the amount of powder supplied to each container.

[0155] Upon leaving the weighing device 147, the containers are transferred by a fourth transfer wheel 158 to a sealing station 150. The apparatus 100 thus comprises a cutting station 160 for lids that are formed from a continuous strip by a cutting device 162.

[0156] The lids, which have a disc shape, are transferred, by means of a fifth transfer wheel 161, to a sealing device 159, also structured as a carousel, which receives the containers to be sealed from said fourth wheel 158 and which provides for the extraction of the gases from the glass-shaped container and for its sealing by applying on its upper opening a disc-shaped lid made from continuous strip.

[0157] Note how the cutting device 162 could constitute, in an alternative version of the apparatus, an additional release device.

[0158] Once sealed, the containers are sent to an outlet station 170, equipped with a linear transport device 173.

[0159] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the transfer device described herein and indicated as a whole by 200, which embodies the present invention, comprises said release device 121 and said transport device 131, which in this example has a carousel structure.

[0160] The release device 121 comprises a first roller-like drum 122 which receives a continuous strip 123 from a feed reel, which is unrepresented and of a substantially conventional type.

[0161] A second roller-like drum 124 receives the strip 123 from the first roller-like drum 122: cutting elements 125 shaped as discs which act on the strip 123 are formed thereon.

[0162] In particular, the two roller-like drums 122, 124 are arranged side by side and rotate around parallel rotation axes; they roll, creating a contact zone through which the strip 123 is passed.

[0163] The first roller-like drum 122 acts as a contrast element for the cutting elements 125 which, in said contact zone, score the strip 123 and thus create the discrete elements 1.

[0164] They remain adhering to the second roller-like drum 124 which, for this purpose, incorporates a suction device with suction openings 126 arranged on the cylindrical surface thereof. The suction device will comprise suction ducts branching from the hub of the second roller-like drum 124 to the rotating body of the second roller-like drum 124, so as to ensure both adhesion of the strip 123, even after it has been cut, and of the discrete element 1 during cutting.

[0165] The suction ceases in the zone of the second roller-like drum 124 facing downwards:

[0166] along a release path with a linear development 127, which is part of a release path defined by a flat strip 123 from which the discrete elements 1 are cut.

[0167] Therefore, the second roller-like drum 124 acts as a cylindrical feeder which is rotated, at said release segment 127, about an axis parallel to a plane on which the discrete elements 1 are released, and which has on its surface a device for retaining and then releasing discrete laminar elements, which is realised by said suction device.

[0168] In the present embodiment example, considering that the roller-like drums rotate with a predetermined speed while carrying out the cutting operation described above, the discrete elements 1 are therefore continuously fed, and are then released at a release speed having a direction tangent to the point where the suction is made to cease, and an entity substantially corresponding to the peripheral speed of the second roller-like drum 124.

[0169] This transfer device is provided to change the format of the discrete elements, i.e. it can transfer different types of discrete elements, which may vary in size and/or shape, therefore substantially in diameter or equivalent diameter, and possibly in spacing.

[0170] One requirement that the present transfer device 200 intends to satisfy is the highest possible use of the strip 123, even when the format of the discrete elements 1 to be transferred varies.

[0171] For this reason, the spacing between adjacent circular discrete elements 1 of different format on the strip 123 will be as small as possible, and will vary according to the diameter of the discrete element 1 whose edges will be cut as close as possible to the edges of the discrete elements 1 adjacent thereto.

[0172] Note that spacing between discrete elements 1 herein means the distance between the centres of two adjacent discrete elements 1 on the flat strip 123.

[0173] Thus, a reduction in the diameter of the discrete elements 1 results in a reduction in the diameter of the respective second roller-like drum 124 and a reduction in the spacing of the discrete elements 1. Furthermore, if the speed of rotation of the second roller-like drum 124 around its axis does not change, or if it varies only slightly in order to leave the flow rate of the discrete element 1 unchanged, its peripheral speed decreases, and so does the release speed of the discrete element 1. Reducing the diameter thereof also results in a shift, in particular a retraction, of the release spot of the discrete element on release segment 127.

[0174] Similarly, all things being equal, an increase in the diameter of the discrete elements 1 results in a corresponding increase in the diameter of the respective second roller-like drum 124 and an increase in the spacing of the discrete elements 1. Furthermore, as before, if the rotation speed of the second roller-like drum 124 around its axis does not change or varies little, its peripheral speed increases, and so does the release speed of discrete element 1. The increase in its diameter also leads to a shift, in particular an advancement, of the release spot of the discrete element on the release segment 127.

[0175] In this way, the release segment 127 can be defined as the location of the spots where the release spots of discrete elements 1 of different formats fall.

[0176] The present transfer device 200 is provided for a format change of the discrete elements, and can be operated with a format change process so as to be able to ensure the transfer of discrete elements 1 of different format.

[0177] In this respect, the transfer device 200 comprises a set of roller-like drums 124 of different diameters, for discrete elements 1 of different format.

[0178] Furthermore, a process for providing a format change in the transfer device includes a step of selecting discrete elements 1 for one or more formats, for example 2 as described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which show second drum rollers 124 of different diameters, one more forward and the other more rearward on the release segment 127.

[0179] These different diameters of the discrete elements 1, which are generally formed, result, for each format, in a respective one release spot of the discrete element 1, and a different spacing between discrete elements 1 which results in a different diameter of the second roller-like drum 124 and a different release speed of the discrete element 1.

[0180] It is understood that, to meet contingent requirements, the minimum spacing condition on the flat strip 123 may be exceeded, so that it may be necessary to prepare the transfer device for different format conditions, involving a selection step as outlined above.

[0181] It is also understood that the present transfer device 200 may be prepared for any number of discrete element formats, from one onwards, preferably two or more.

[0182] The transport device 131 has a plurality of receiving elements 2, each apt to receive a respective discrete element 1, which are movable by moving along a transport path at a predetermined speed and continuously.

[0183] The transport device is of the carousel type with a rotary drum 3 on which the receiving elements 2 are mounted.

[0184] The rotary drum 3 comprises a cylindrical body 31 rotating about a vertical axis, defined by a hub 30, and supported by a base 32 fixed and integral with a fixed frame not represented but well understood, and thus the receiving elements 2 move in a substantially horizontal plane on which said transport path lies.

[0185] Each receiving element 2 comprises a horizontal flat surface, on which said discrete elements 1 are released, which has a surface knurling 4 to realise the friction between discrete element 1 and receiving surface which, in subsequent shaping operations, concur to form a surface pleat of the filter.

[0186] In order to retain the discrete element 1 in a fixed reference position, the receiving element 2 may comprise a vacuum forming suction system between the receiving surface and the discrete element 1.

[0187] In this embodiment example, the transport path of the receiving elements 2 develops along a closed line, in particular a circular line, in which said receiving elements 2 circulate on the transport path, and in particular the transport path is substantially circular because it is 2 formed on the periphery of said circular rotary drum 3.

[0188] In view of the foregoing, said discrete element release path 1, and in particular release segment 127, intersects said receiving element transport path 2 at a receiving segment thereof, located in proximity to release device 121.

[0189] In the present embodiment example, the receiving segment has a linear development, in particular it is a straight segment that connects with the circular closed path followed by the receiving elements 2 when they are distant from the release device 121.

[0190] The transport device 131 comprises an equipment for timing the position of the receiving elements 2 which acts on them by moving them with respect to the transport path determined by the mere rotation of the rotary drum 30, in order to realise said straight receiving segment.

[0191] For this purpose, the timing equipment moves the receiving elements 2 so that the position thereof, at least in said receiving segment, corresponds exactly to the release spot(s) of the discrete elements constituting the respective release segment 127.

[0192] In the present embodiment example, which describes a possible preferred but not limiting solution, the timing equipment aligns the receiving elements with each other at said receiving segment (FIG. 6).

[0193] In this way, the linear release segment 127 overlaps with the transport path at said receiving segment, which is also linear, overlapping it along its entire length.

[0194] In general terms, the timing equipment acts on the receiving elements 2 by moving them with respect to the transport device 131, so that their motion, in the receiving segment, is synchronised with that of the discrete elements 1 in the release segment 127.

[0195] Note that at the start of the straight segment the receiving elements have a lower transit speed than they do near the exit of the receiving segment.

[0196] This difference in speed is imposed so that the transit speed may be conforming, i.e. be substantially equal in direction and intensity, to the release speed at the various release spots, which, as seen above, may depend directly on the spacing of the discrete elements 1, i.e. their diameter or format.

[0197] In the segments with different speeds, the distance between two adjacent receiving elements will also vary: shorter at lower speeds and longer at higher speeds.

[0198] A change in the transit speed, which corresponds to a similar difference in the release speed, accompanied by a similar change in the distance between adjacent receiving elements 2 is implied in maintaining the same passage frequency of the discrete elements 1, which is a condition that is desirable to achieve in a transfer device with a change of format of the discrete elements 1.

[0199] Thus, the receiving elements 2 are movable and the timing equipment comprises, for each receiving element 2, a rotatable articulation which is driven by the transport device 131 because it is integral with the rotary drum 3.

[0200] Said rotatable articulation comprises a system of levers articulated among themselves, capable of moving the receiving element with three degrees of freedom, i.e., capable of raising and lowering it with respect to the rotary drum 3, of rotating it on itself around an axis perpendicular thereto, and of roto-translating it thanks to a main lever 5 movable around a fulcrum 6 which is connected to an equipment of rotation of the lever 5 around its fulcrum 6.

[0201] This rotation mechanism can be realised in many ways, for example by an electric motor adjusting the position of the lever 5 by making a so-called electronic cam.

[0202] Otherwise, it is possible to realise such an equipment with only mechanical parts. For example, the rotational mechanism comprises a cam transferor which is connected to said lever 5 at its fulcrum 6.

[0203] The aforesaid cam transferor is therefore dragged by the rotary drum but interacts with a cam, integral with the base 31, moving on it.

[0204] The shape of the cam is such as to determine a rotation of the lever 5 such that a correspondence is determined between the receiving elements 2, in said receiving segment, and said release segment 127 of the release device 121.

[0205] In general, therefore, the movement of the aforesaid rotatable articulation is controlled by a cam, which may be of a mechanical type, integral to the fixed frame, or of an electronic type; in the mechanical case, it may also be achieved by a set of cams. In this way, the motion of the rotatable articulation is synchronised with that of the discrete elements in the release segment.

[0206] Again with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, it is observed that, the timing equipment provides for modifying the transport path of the receiving elements 2 at the release segment 127 of the discrete elements 1, synchronising their motion so that the release spot of the discrete element 1 falls in the receiving segment in which the receiving elements 2 are aligned with each other, i.e. correspond with the release segment 127, although the receiving elements 2 continue to rotate continuously, dragged by the rotary drum 3.

[0207] The displacement of receiving elements 2 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 5.

[0208] In particular, the law of motion governing the movement of the receiving elements 2 in the receiving segment is altered by the timing equipment in such a way that the receiving segment comprises one or more portions of the transport path in which the receiving elements 2 translate, and in which their translation speed, relative to their transit speed in the remaining portions of the transport path, is substantially constant.

[0209] Thus, the timing equipment realizes a transfer step in which the receiving elements 2 are moved on the transport device 131 so that their position in said receiving segment corresponds to that of the discrete elements 1 in the release segment 127, i.e. in at least a portion of the receiving segment and the transport path that corresponds to a release spot of a discrete element with a predetermined format.

[0210] In those portions, the timing equipment of the transport device 131 acts to vary the transport path and the transit speed of the receiving elements 2 at said release segment 127.

[0211] Therefore, in order to carry out a format change in the transfer device 200, a phase is provided in which one or more portions of the transport path positioned at said release segment 127 and with constant translation speeds are prepared by means of the timing equipment, in which the position of said portions of the path and the respective translation speeds conform to the discrete elements 1 selected in the format change.

[0212] In addition, to adapt the transfer device 200 to this format change, as mentioned above, a phase is envisaged in which a cam profile, mechanical or electronic, is determined to be able to manage the format change of discrete elements 1 with different formats, in particular diameters.

[0213] More specifically, the receiving segment may comprise two or more such portions, two in the present example, where the aforesaid translation speed is substantially constant, but differs from portion to portion, again by appropriately determining the cam profile.

[0214] This correspondence ensures that the transfer of discrete elements 1 is successful whatever the release spot in the release segment.

[0215] From the point of view of the spacing between discrete elements 1, it is possible to identify basically two cases that stand out among others in terms of relevance.

[0216] In the first case, provision is made in the process of setting up a format change in the transfer device for the possibility of the device transferring discrete articles 1 of different formats, e.g. in terms of size, appearance, colour, material and so on.

[0217] This change could be made without changing the spacing of the discrete elements 1. In the present example, this is done by replacing the roller-like drum 124 in the release device 121 which is responsible for cutting the discrete elements 1. In this example, it is the diameter of the roller-like drums 124 that can be mounted in the release device that remains constant, and it determines the release spots that will be the same for the different formats, and therefore fall in the same receiving segment.

[0218] Otherwise, the replacement of the roller-like drums 124 can be carried out by varying the spacing, for example to obtain maximum utilisation of the strip being cut, and then varying the diameter of the roller-like drums being replaced to carry out the format change.

[0219] In this case, the variation in diameter results in a variation in spacing between discrete elements, and thus leads to different release spots falling on different portions of the receiving segment.

[0220] In both cases, it is possible to prepare the transfer device for the format change, and thus to carry out the format change without having to intervene on the transfer device again.

[0221] It should be noted that in the case of discrete elements obtained from a strip by cutting from a roller-like drum with cutting elements, the format change of the discrete elements can actually be achieved with roller-like drums 124 in the release device 121 of the same diameter.

[0222] Thus in the aforesaid process, the steps of feeding discrete elements to the inlet integrate a step in which the discrete elements are formed in the release device.

[0223] In other words, the step of obtaining, by cutting a ribbon in this example, the discrete elements to feed them into the transfer device is integrated into the release device.

[0224] It is understood that what is described above with respect to disc-shaped discrete elements can be extended to discrete elements of different shapes.

[0225] The above-described transfer device, transfer process, packaging apparatus and format change steps may be subject to numerous further modifications and variations by a skilled person in the art in order to meet additional, contingent requirements, all of which are within the scope of protection of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.