UNIT AND METHOD FOR THE MOVEMENT AND FILLING OF A CONTAINER, APPARATUS WITH SUCH A UNIT

Abstract

A movement and filling unit of a container includes a movement and filling equipment. The equipment includes in turn: a frame, a metering member configured to release a filling product through a release opening, a movement device moveably secured to the frame, a housing with at least one seat, secured to the movement device. The movement device is configured to move the at least one seat along a movement trajectory where the following positions are defined: a removal position in which the container is housed in the at least one seat, a filling position in which the at least one seat is vertically aligned at a position under the release opening, and a release position in which the container with the product is removed from the at least one seat.

Claims

1.-22. (canceled)

23. A movement and filling unit of a container, comprising a movement and filling equipment, comprising: a frame, a metering member configured to release a predetermined dose of a filling product by a release opening, a movement device moveably secured to said frame, and a housing secured to said movement device, the housing comprising at least one seat, wherein said movement device is configured to move said at least one seat along a movement trajectory in which: a removal position in which said container is housed in said at least one seat, a filling position in which said at least one seat is vertically aligned in a position under said release opening, and a release position in which said container with said filling product is removed from said at least one seat, are defined.

24. The movement and filling unit according to claim 23, wherein: said movement device comprises a rotary kinematic mechanism rotatably secured to said frame, the rotary kinematic mechanism having a vertical rotation axis, said housing is integrally secured to said rotary kinematic mechanism, said at least one seat is positioned with a predetermined radial spacing from said rotation axis, and said housing is configured in such a manner that while said rotary kinematic mechanism rotates about said rotation axis, said at least one seat defines said movement trajectory as a curved trajectory, in which said removal position, said filling position and said release position are defined.

25. The movement and filling unit according to claim 23, wherein said movement device is configured to be movable along a circumferential arc.

26. The movement and filling unit according to claim 23, wherein said filling product is in form of powder or granules.

27. The movement and filling unit according to claim 23, wherein said metering unit comprises a feed screw.

28. The movement and filling unit according to claim 23, wherein the at least one seat is a plurality of seats.

29. The movement and filling unit according to claim 23, wherein said movement device comprises a first motor element allowing said rotary kinematic mechanism to be rotated in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.

30. The movement and filling unit according to claim 23, wherein said movement device comprises a second motor element configured for moving said housing vertically in translation to produce a movement of said at least one seat defining a first maximum vertical spacing position between said at least one seat and said release opening and a second minimum vertical spacing position between said seat and said release opening.

31. The movement and filling unit according to claim 24, wherein said movement device comprises a second motor element configured for moving said housing vertically in translation to produce a movement of said at least one seat defining a maximum vertical spacing position between said at least one seat and said release opening and a minimum vertical spacing position between said seat and said release opening.

32. The movement and filling unit according to claim 31, wherein said second motor element is configured for reversibly moving said rotary kinematic mechanism and/or said housing in translation along said rotation axis, to produce a general rotational-translational movement of said at least one seat with respect to said rotation axis, defining a maximum spacing position between said at least one seat and said release opening and a minimum spacing position between said seat and said release opening.

33. The movement and filling unit according to claim 23, comprising a rotary carousel transporter on which said movement and filling equipment is received.

34. The movement and filling unit according to claim 33, wherein said seat and said container, when housed in said seat, move through said rotary carousel transporter with continuous movement.

35. The movement and filling unit according to claim 33, wherein at least one between said removal position and said release position is defined to be radially more distal than said filling position with respect to a rotation axis of said rotary carousel.

36. A method for moving and filling a container, comprising: (i) providing a movement and filling unit with a movement and filling equipment comprising: a frame, a metering member configured to release a predetermined dose of a filling product by a release opening, a movement device moveably secured to said frame, a housing secured to said movement device, the housing comprising at least one seat, wherein said movement device is configured to move said at least one seat along a movement trajectory in which: a removal position in which said container is housed in said at least one seat, a filling position in which said at least one seat is vertically aligned in a position under said release opening, and a release position in which said container with said filling product is removed from said at least one seat, are defined; (ii) moving said housing to the removal position for each of said at least one seat, (iii) moving said housing to bring each of said at least one seat into the filling position, (iv) releasing a desired dose quantity of a product inside said container by said metering member, and (v) moving said at least one seat along said movement trajectory into the release position.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein: said movement device comprises a rotary kinematic mechanism rotatably secured to said frame, the rotary kinematic mechanism having a vertical rotation axis, said housing is integrally secured to said rotary kinematic mechanism, said at least one seat is positioned with a predetermined radial spacing from said rotation axis, said housing is configured in such a manner that while said rotary kinematic mechanism rotates about said rotation axis, said at least one seat defines said movement trajectory as a curved trajectory, in which said removal position, said filling position and said release position are defined, said movement of said housing at said removal position is performed by rotating said housing through said rotary kinematic mechanism, said movement of said at least one seat into said filling position is performed by rotating said at least one seat about said rotation axis of said rotary kinematic mechanism, and said movement of said at least one seat into said release position is performed by rotating said at least one seat about said rotation axis of said rotary kinematic mechanism.

38. The method according to claim 36, comprising moving in translation said at least one seat upwards along said rotation axis, thus compressing said filling product dispensed in said container.

39. The method according to claim 36, wherein said movement and filling unit comprises a transporter on which said movement and filling equipment is received.

40. The method according to claim 36, wherein said housing (comprises a plurality of seats.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein said rotary kinematic mechanism rotates in a first direction to bring said plurality of seats into said removal position, further rotates in the first direction to bring a first seat into said filling position, then rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction to bring a second seat into said filling position, and further rotates in the second direction to bring said plurality of seats into respective release positions.

42. An article production apparatus comprising at least one movement and filling unit according to claim 23.

Description

[0135] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of an embodiment shown, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

[0136] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a movement and filling unit made in accordance with the present invention;

[0137] FIGS. 2 to 6 are schematic perspective views of the movement and filling unit of FIG. 1 in different operating positions;

[0138] FIG. 7 represents a schematic perspective view of the movement and filling unit of FIG. 1 comprising a plurality of movement and filling equipments;

[0139] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a container used by the movement and filling unit of FIG. 1;

[0140] FIG. 9 is a schematic view from above of an article production apparatus comprising the movement and filling unit of FIG. 1.

[0141] With initial reference to FIG. 9, 800 refers to an article production apparatus which is provided to form and fill a container with a desired product, so as to obtain a finished container, ready to be packaged or used.

[0142] The embodiment example that will be described below refers to containers 10 in the form of capsules which are filled with a desired product.

[0143] In the specific case described herein, the containers 10 are capsule type elements for the preparation of beverages for infusion, in particular coffee capsules. More specifically, the filling product placed inside the capsule is coffee powder.

[0144] In the present example and as depicted in FIG. 8, the capsule 10 has a substantially upturned truncated conical shape presenting a base 11 of substantially flat and circular shape from which a lateral wall 12 is transversely projected.

[0145] This lateral wall 12 is inclined with respect to the vertical line having the smaller diameter thereof at the base 11 and the larger diameter thereof at an upper opening 13.

[0146] Again with reference to FIG. 8, it can be noted how the capsule 10 comprises inside it a filter 20 that is integrally secured thereto.

[0147] In the examples given herein, the filling product will be positioned inside the capsule 10 and more precisely inside the filter 20.

[0148] The apparatus 800 comprises, in its most general lines, a feeding unit 801 for the capsules 10, at empty state, a shaping unit 802 for shaping the filter 20 to be coupled to the capsule 10, a coupling unit 803 for coupling the filter 20 to the capsule 10, a movement and filling unit 100 for moving and filling the capsules 10 and, finally, a closing unit 804 for closing the capsule 10 with a closing membrane.

[0149] The movement and filling unit 100 of the container 10, shown in detail in FIGS. 1 to 7, comprises a movement and filling equipment 1, in turn comprising a frame 2 and a metering member 50 which is configured to release a predetermined dose 59 of the filling product by means of a release opening 51.

[0150] Such a metering member 50 preferably comprises a feed screw (not shown in the figures) which allows by means of its predetermined rotation to release a desired quantity of filling product. By way of non-limiting example, it is reported that the dose 59 of coffee powder is between 5 and 18 grams.

[0151] The feed screw is positioned integral with the rotation unit and does not perform relative movements in order to minimise unwanted and unnecessary vibrations that could produce an unexpected release of the filling product.

[0152] Again with reference to FIGS. 1-7, the movement and filling equipment 1 comprises a movement device 30 which is secured with an ability to move with respect to said frame 2 and a housing 40 comprising at least one seat 41 and which is secured to the movement device 30.

[0153] This seat 41 preferably has the form of a hollow with a circular cross-section and a diameter which is intermediate between the minimum diameter of the base 11 of the capsule and the maximum diameter of the upper opening 13 so as to be able to house inside it at least partially said capsule 10, securing it in a stable manner at least according to movements which take place along a substantially horizontal plane.

[0154] With reference to FIG. 6, the movement device 30 is configured to move the at least one seat 41 along a movement trajectory in which there can be defined: [0155] A removal position Pp (see FIG. 7) in which said container 10 is housed in said at least one seat 41, [0156] A filling position Pr (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 7) in which said seat 41 is vertically aligned in a position under said release opening 51 of the metering member 50, [0157] A release position Pri (see FIG. 7) in which said container 10 with said product is removed from said at least one seat 41.

[0158] As shown in FIG. 5, the movement device 30 comprises a rotary kinematic mechanism 31 which is secured with permitted rotation with respect to the frame 2 and having a vertical rotation axis Z.

[0159] Preferably, this rotary kinematic mechanism 31 is a pin or a bearing or a cam type mechanism.

[0160] Alternatively, such a movement device 30 can be a slide sliding on a rail.

[0161] In this sense, therefore, the movement device 30 can be moved either along a straight line or along a curved line passing through the aforementioned three process positions Pp, Pr, Pri.

[0162] More specifically, if the movement device 30 is moved along a straight line, it can move in both directions and thus reach the desired positions, whereas in the case of a curved line, this movement can be performed by means of simple rotation (therefore, for example, according to a circumferential arc) or complex rotation (for example, by means of levers or cams producing an elliptical movement or similar).

[0163] Again with reference to FIG. 5, the housing 40 is shown integrally secured to the pin 31.

[0164] Furthermore, it is noted that the at least one seat 41 is positioned with a predetermined radial spacing Dr from said rotation axis Z.

[0165] Preferably, the housing 40 is configured in such a manner that while said pin 31 rotates about the rotation axis Z the at least one housing 41 defines the movement trajectory as a curved trajectory, in which there can be defined said removal position Pp, said filling position Pr and said release position Pri.

[0166] Thanks to this arrangement, the capsule 10 can be rotated around the rotation axis Z, minimising the possibility of spilling out the powdered coffee deposited therein.

[0167] Considering FIGS. 1 to 7, it can be noted that the movement and filling unit 100 comprises a transporter 200 having the shape of a rotary carousel.

[0168] In particular, with reference to FIG. 7, it can be noted that the removal position Pp, and the release position Pri are radially more distal with respect to the filling position Pr and external with respect to the rotary carousel. Such a configuration is made possible thanks to the studied shape of the housing 40 having the radial spacing Dr which is defined so as to bring the at least one seat 41 outside the vertical projection of the base of the movement and filling unit 100 thus facilitating the exchange of the capsule with further interacting devices.

[0169] In fact, it is clearly noted that it is sufficient to rotate the pin 31 to have the capsule 10 cover the desired process positions.

[0170] Again with reference to FIG. 5, it is noted that the housing 40 comprises a body 45 having a substantially box-shaped development including the at least one seat 41 and a laminar extent 46 which is connected to the body 45 and rigidly secured to the pin 31.

[0171] This laminar extent 46 is connected at a first end 46a thereof to said body 45 by means of a transversal portion 45a thereof which is inclined with respect to a vertical plane so as to position a base 45b of the body 45 at a level higher than the level at which a second end 46b, opposite to said first end 46a, of the laminar extent 46 ends.

[0172] In this way, when there is provided a plurality of movement and filling equipments 1, it is possible to position them very close together as the base 45b of the box-shaped body 45 of a first equipment 1 passes above the second end 46b placed on the pin 31 of a second, adjacent and following equipment 1. This solution makes it possible to optimise the spaces occupied by the various devices and to minimise the overall space required.

[0173] As specifically shown in FIG. 7 the movement and filling equipment 1 comprises a plurality of seats 41. In the case shown as an example for each movement and filling equipment 1 the seats are equal to two 41a, 41b.

[0174] Thanks to this solution both seats 41a, 41b will follow the movement trajectory each thus reaching the removal positions Pp, filling positions Pr and release positions Pri.

[0175] In particular, according to one embodiment, the pin 31 will be rotated in such a manner that it first rotates at the removal position Pp in which the two capsules 10 will be removed simultaneously, then it will bring a first seat 41a into a position which is aligned under the metering member 50 into the filling position Pr to receive the filling product, then it will bring a second seat 41b into a position which is aligned under the metering member 50 into the filling position Pr to further receive the filling product and finally it will bring both seats 41a, 41b at the release position Pri.

[0176] In more detail and with reference to FIG. 7, it can be noted that the seat 41b is the one placed radially more distal than the seat 41a when the equipment 1 is tangentially aligned with the rotary carousel 200.

[0177] In FIG. 7, only one metering member 50 is shown, but it is alternatively also possible to provide for a plurality of metering members 50 which are also arranged according to the movement trajectory so that all the capsules 10 can be filled with filling product at the same time.

[0178] Even more advantageously, the movement device 30 comprises a first motor element, not shown in the Figures, which allows the pin 31 to be rotated in the clockwise and/or anti-clockwise direction.

[0179] This first motor element is, for example, an electric motor or similar technical solutions.

[0180] According to one embodiment and again with reference to FIG. 7, the movement and filling equipment 1 starting from the removal position Pp in which it has removed the two capsules 10, rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (seen from above) bringing the seat 41b under the release opening 51 in order to fill it with the predetermined dose of coffee at the filling position Pr.

[0181] Thereafter, the movement and filling equipment 1 reverses the direction of rotation and by rotating in the clockwise direction it brings the seat 41a under the release opening 51 in order to fill it with the predetermined dose of coffee at the filling position Pr. At this point the movement and filling equipment 1 continues the rotation in the clockwise direction bringing the seats 41a, 41b at the release position Pri.

[0182] Again, the movement and filling equipment 1 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction until it returns to the removal position Pp. At this point, having removed the two capsules 10, it reverses the rotation direction by starting to move in the anticlockwise direction again towards the filling position Pr and proceeding iteratively in this direction.

[0183] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, the movement device 30 comprises a second motor element (not shown in the Figure) which is suitable for vertically moving in translation the housing 40 so that there is produced a movement of the at least one seat 41, which defines a first maximum vertical spacing position between the at least one seat 41 and the release opening 51 and a second minimum vertical spacing position between the seat 41 and the release opening 51.

[0184] In more detail, the second motor element is suitable for reversibly moving along the rotation axis Z the pin 31 and/or the housing 40 so that there is produced a general rotational-translational movement of the at least one seat 41 with respect to the rotation axis Z.

[0185] This type of complex rotational-translational movement is a helical-turn.

[0186] In this way, it is possible both to bring the base 11 of the capsule 10 closer to the opening of the metering member 51 during the step of release of the filling product, reducing the possibility of the powder exiting of the capsule, and to exert a slight pressure by the metering member 50 on the powder poured into the capsule 10 so as to make it more compact and more effectively transportable in the following process steps.

[0187] This second motor element is a piston which is secured to a lower portion of said pin 31 so as to be able to raise it reversibly upwards according to desired needs.

[0188] Again with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, the movement and filling unit moves with a continuous movement, which means that although the movement device 30 stops at the filling position Pr, the movement of the transporter 200 never stops and proceeds in a constant manner so that the capsule 10 and the unit itself are never stationary with respect to a reference point that is external to the movement and filling unit 100.

[0189] The embodiment which provides for the presence of at least two seats 41a, 41b for housing 40 ensures that the rotation of the rotary carousel 200 is limited, while guaranteeing in any case a processability of up to about 1500 capsules per minute. In the example shown in FIG. 7 the plurality of movement and filling equipments 1 for a movement and filling unit 100 is equal to 32.

[0190] In fact, thanks to such a solution, the Applicant has found that it is possible to rotate the movement and filling unit 100 by carrying out a number of rotations per minute between 15 and 30, preferably between 20 and 25, thus giving a centrifugal force acting on the capsule lower than 0.9 G, more preferably between 0.3 and 0.8 G (e.g. 0.45 G), ideally reducing the movement of the powder outside the capsule 10.