A PACKING APPARATUS FOR LOADING COMPRESSIBLE ARTICLES

Abstract

The present invention discloses a packing apparatus for loading compressible articles, the apparatus comprising loading means (1, 2) for loading a stack of compressible articles into an open ended carton sleeve (3), compressing means (5) to compress the ends of the stack of articles when loaded into the sleeve (3), and folding means (6, 7, 8) to close the ends of the sleeve (3), wherein the loading means (1, 2) comprises a first clamping arm (1) adapted to clamp one end of the stack of articles sufficiently so that the first clamping arm (1) can load the compressed stack through one end of the sleeve (3), a second clamping arm (2) adapted to enter the opposite end of the sleeve (3) to clamp the opposite end of the stack while the first clamping arm (1) is released from the stack and withdrawn from the sleeve (3), the second clamping arm (2) also being adapted to release and withdraw from the sleeve (3), and wherein the compressing means (5) comprises pushers to press into the sleeve (3) onto the opposed ends of the loaded stack, and wherein the folding means (6, 7, 8) comprises folding elements to fold end closure panels of the sleeve (3) to close said sleeve.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A packing apparatus for loading compressible articles, comprising: loading means for loading a stack of compressible articles into an open ended carton sleeve; compressing means to compress ends of the stack of articles when loaded into the carton sleeve; and folding means to close the ends of the carton sleeve; wherein the loading means comprises a first clamping arm adapted to clamp one end of the stack of articles sufficiently so that the first clamping arm can load the compressed stack through one end of the carton sleeve, a second clamping arm adapted to enter an opposite end of the carton sleeve to clamp the opposite end of the stack while the first clamping arm is released from the stack and withdrawn from the carton sleeve, the second clamping arm also being adapted to release and withdraw from the carton sleeve, and wherein the compressing means comprises pushers to press into the carton sleeve onto opposed ends of the loaded stack, and wherein the folding means comprises folding elements to fold end closure panels of the carton sleeve to close the carton.

10. The packing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a package feeder for feeding the open ended carton sleeves into a conveyor line.

11. The packing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the folding elements include a first folding element, a second folding element and a third folding element.

12. The packing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first folding element is a pair of downwardly angled elongate members.

13. The packing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first folding element is configured to fold opposing lateral sides of a bottom flap of each end closure panels of the carton sleeve.

14. The packing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second folding element is configured to push the bottom flap of the end closure panels of the carton sleeve upwards in a vertical direction.

15. The packing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the third folding element is configured to push the end closure panels of the carton sleeve and holds the panels in place for a predetermined period.

16. A method of loading compressible articles into a carton sleeve using a packing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: loading a stack of compressible articles into an open ended carton sleeve by loading means; compressing ends of the stack of articles when loaded into the carton sleeve by compressing means; and closing ends of the carton sleeve by folding means; wherein the loading means comprises a first clamping arm adapted to clamp one end of the stack of articles sufficiently so that the first clamping arm can load the compressed stack through one end of the carton sleeve, a second clamping arm adapted to enter the opposite end of the carton sleeve to clamp the opposite end of the stack while the first clamping arm is released from the stack and withdrawn from the carton sleeve, the second clamping arm also being adapted to release and withdraw from the carton sleeve, and wherein the compressing means comprises pushers to press into the carton sleeve onto the opposed ends of the loaded stack, and wherein the folding means comprises folding elements to fold end closure panels of the carton sleeve to close the carton sleeve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of a packing apparatus for loading compressible articles.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a top view of the packing apparatus.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another isometric view of the packing apparatus.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for loading a stack of compressible articles into an open ended carton sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, the invention shall be described according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and by referring to the accompanying description and drawings. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a packing apparatus for loading compressible articles, the apparatus comprising a loading means 1, 2, a compressing means 5, and a folding means 6, 7, 8, all of which are disposed one after the other along a conveyor 9 or production line where the compressible articles are manufactured. The compressible articles are preferably gloves, which may include, but not limited to, surgical gloves, nitrile gloves, latex gloves or any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the loading means 1, 2 is configured for loading a stack of compressible articles into an open ended carton sleeve 3, in which the sleeve 3 may be a box made from any suitable material such as paper, cardboard, plastic or the likes. Preferably, the sleeve 3 has a first open end and a second open end, whereby each end comprises at least one end enclosure panel having a top flap and a bottom flap that are foldable between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

[0023] Referring to any one of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the sleeve 3 may be fed into the conveyor 9, either or both manually and automatically, via a packaging feeder 4 disposed at a starting end of the conveyor 9. The sleeve 3 may be preloaded before operation so the feeding of the sleeve 3 onto the conveyor 9 may be automated. Additionally, the conveyor includes a plurality of moveable protrusions 10 evenly spaced apart from each other, preferably similar to the sleeve 3 width, whereby the protrusions 10 secures the sleeve 3 in position during operation, and also being able to move in both horizontal and vertical directions, such that the moveable protrusions 10 may displace the sleeve 3 along the conveyor 9, stopping at each stage of operation which will be discussed further herein.

[0024] In a particular embodiment, the loading means 1, 2 comprises a first clamping arm 1 adapted to clamp one end of the stack of articles sufficiently so that the first clamping arm 1 can load the stack of articles through one end of the sleeve 3. Preferably, the stack of articles is received by the first clamping arm 1 from a first end effector 11 disposed adjacent to the packaging feeder 4. A second clamping arm 2 is adapted to enter the second open end of the sleeve 3 prior to the first clamping arm 1 entering the sleeve 3 from the first open end of said sleeve 3. Upon loading the stack of articles into the sleeve 3, the second clamping arm 2 may clamp the opposite end of the stack while the first clamping arm 1 is released from the stack, subsequently being withdrawn from the sleeve 3, and wherein the second clamping arm 2 is also adapted to release the stack and withdraw from the sleeve 3 shortly thereafter. The sleeve 3 may then be displaced down the conveyor 9 to the compressing means 5.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the compressing means 5 operate by compressing ends of the stack of articles which were loaded into the sleeve 3, in which the compressing means comprises pushers to press into the sleeve 3 from opposite ends of the loaded stack of articles for discharging air from said stack of articles. Preferably, the pushers may engage the loaded stack of articles and hold said stack in position for a predetermined period, preferably for one or two seconds before disengaging from said loaded stack. This, in turn, ensures that there are no articles that overhang past end closure panels of the sleeve 3 at each opposing ends, in addition to potentially remove any air pressure built up within the sleeve 3. Once the compressing means 5 have fully withdrawn from the stack of articles, the sleeve 3 may then be displaced down the conveyor 9.

[0026] In a particular embodiment, the folding means 6, 7, 8 of the packing apparatus are configured to close the ends of the sleeve 3 which has the end closure panels comprising the top flap and the bottom flap, wherein the folding means 6, 7, 8 comprises folding elements which include, but not limited to, a first folding element 6, a second folding element 7, and a third folding element 8. The first folding element 6 comprises of at least one pair of downwardly angled elongate members disposed at opposite ends of the sleeve 3, the first folding element 6 is configured to fold opposing lateral sides of the bottom flap of the end closure panels, in a pinching manner, upon the compressing means 5 disengaging from the stack of articles. Concurrently, the second folding element 7 is configured to push the bottom flap upwards for a predetermined distance before reverting to its original position. Subsequently, the sleeve 3 which is partially closed, is moved further down the conveyor 9 to where the third folding element 8 is located, such that the third folding element 8, similar to the compressing means 5, comprises a pusher which pushes the bottom flap into the sleeve 3 and holds the flap for a predetermined period before the sleeve 3 is moved to the next station. The top flap which has not been folded in may then be folded into the bottom flap manually by the operator before the closed sleeve 3 is transported away for further packing and storage.

[0027] In a further aspect of the invention, the packing apparatus may be used for executing a series of steps to load the stack of compressible articles into the open ended carton sleeve 3. With reference to FIG. 4, the loading means 1, 2 loads the stack of compressible articles into the opened ended carton sleeve 3 by initially having the first clamping arm 1 clamp one end of the stack at Step 101 and inserting said stack into the sleeve 3 at Step 102. At Step 103, the second clamping arm 2 is actuated to enter the sleeve 3 and clamp onto the opposite end of the stack. At Step 104, the first clamping arm 1 releases its clamp onto the stack and is withdrawn from the sleeve 3. At Step 105, the second clamping arm 2 is then withdrawn from the sleeve 3 as well and the sleeve 3 moves down the conveyor 9. At Step 106, the compressing means 5 compresses the ends of the stack of articles by having pushers pushing inwards from both opposite ends of the stack. At Step 107, the first folding element 6 folds the bottom flap of the end closure panels of the sleeve 3, whilst the second folding element 7 concurrently pushes the bottom flap upwards in a vertical direction at Step 108. At Step 109, the third folding element 8 pushes the folded bottom flap longitudinally inwards to the sleeve 3 and holds the bottom flap for a predetermined period. At Step 110, the top flap of the end closure panels is folded into the bottom flap and transported to be packaged, stored or distributed.

[0028] The present disclosure includes as contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a degree of particularly, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.