AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR FORMING FILTER BAGS CONTAINING INFUSION PRODUCTS

Abstract

An automatic machine includes a load-bearing frame having a base, a vertical side wall, a horizontal wall facing the base, a vertical front wall, defining a machine front with a protruding motor-driven shaft supporting a respective reel of wound material. A plurality of operating stations positioned on the front wall through which a processing path extends along which said material proceeds whilst it is unwound from the reel. A storage unit houses replacement reels is positioned directly associated with the frame close to the shaft. A device picks up reels and positions them on the shaft. The device is positioned directly associated with the frame close to the storage unit. A control unit activates the device in response to a run out signal of the reel present on the shaft.

Claims

1. An automatic machine comprising: a load-bearing frame comprising a base, at least one vertical side wall, a horizontal wall facing the base, a vertical front wall, defining a machine front, from which protrudes at least one motor-driven supporting shaft which supports a respective reel of wound material; a plurality of operating stations positioned on the front wall through which a processing path extends along which said material proceeds while it is unwound from the reel; a first storage unit configured to house replacement reels and positioned directly associated with the load-bearing frame of the machine and located close to the shaft supporting the reel; a device for picking up and releasing replacement reels configured for picking up one of the replacement reels from the first storage unit and positioning it on the supporting shaft, said pick-up and release device being positioned directly associated with the load-bearing frame and located close to the first storage unit; and a control unit configured for activating the device for picking up and releasing reels in response to a run out signal of the reel present on the supporting shaft.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit is associated with at least one vertical side wall of the machine positioned close to the shaft for supporting the reel; the first storage unit protruding towards the outside of the frame of the machine.

3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the device for picking up and releasing replacement reels is associated with the vertical front wall of the machine, and positioned close to the shaft supporting the reel and the first storage unit; the pick-up and release device protruding towards the outside of the frame of the machine.

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the pick-up and release device comprises a robotic arm having, at a relative free end, a gripper for picking up and releasing the replacement reel configured to engage/disengage in/from a central hole or core of the replacement reel.

5. The machine according to claim 1, comprising a reel pressing element configured to stabilise the replacement reel on the supporting shaft; the reel pressing element being carried by a supporting element associated outside the frame of the machine, close to the first storage unit and the pick-up and release device; the supporting element being equipped with means for quick coupling and detachment of the reel pressing element in such a way as to allow it to be picked up and repositioned by the pick-up and release device.

6. The machine according to claim 5, wherein the supporting element is associated with the horizontal wall of the frame of the machine, in such a way as to position the reel pressing element close to and above the pick-up and release device.

7. The machine according to claim 5, wherein the reel pressing element comprises a cylindrical body with a diameter greater than a diameter of the reel supporting shaft and configured, in use, for being coupled with the robotic arm.

8. The machine according to claim 5, wherein the reel pressing element comprises a rigid ring having a diameter greater than the diameter of the reel supporting shaft and configured, in use, to be placed in contact with a flat surface of the replacement reel in such a way as to allow, under the action of the pick-up and release device, a stable positioning, by axial sliding, of the replacement reel on the supporting shaft.

9. The machine according to claim 1, comprising a second storage unit for housing replacement reels associated with the at least one vertical side wall of the frame of the machine and positioned close to the first storage unit.

10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein the device for picking up and releasing the replacement reel is associated with the frame of the machine at an intermediate position between the first storage unit and the second storage unit.

11. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit comprises a rigid structure having a cradle portion for supporting a plurality of replacement reels, a side portion fixed to the at least one vertical side wall of the frame of the machine and a rigid disc-shaped base, supported by the cradle portion, for supporting the replacement reels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of an automatic machine, in particular for forming filter bags for infusion products according to the invention;

[0029] FIGS. 2 to 5 are partial schematic perspective views of a series of steps of a reel change from a first storage unit present on the automatic machine of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a partial schematic perspective view of the machine of the previous drawings with a robotic arm in a step of picking up a replacement reel from a second storage unit;

[0031] FIGS. 7 and 8 are side views partly in cross section of two steps of changing the replacement reel on a supporting shaft referred to FIGS. 3 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0032] With reference to the accompanying drawings and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the automatic machine according to the invention, denoted in its entirety by the numeral 100, is used, in particular, for forming filter bags containing infusion products (such as tea, coffee, camomile and the like).

[0033] The automatic machine 100 comprises a load-bearing frame 1 having a base 2, a vertical wall 3, a horizontal wall 4 facing the base 2 and a vertical front wall 5, defining a machine front, from which protrudes at least one motor-driven supporting shaft 6 which supports a respective reel 7 of wound material (in this case filter paper).

[0034] As illustrated, the automatic machine 100 comprises a plurality of operating stations 8 positioned along the front wall 5 through which a processing path extends along which the material present on the reel 7 is unwound from the reel 7.

[0035] The operating stations 8 are schematically illustrated by way of example only and represent all devices which are able to form, along an operating path, the filter bags containing infusion products.

[0036] It should be noted that the automatic machine 100 preferably comprises a second shaft 22 supporting a further reel 23 with wound material defining, for example, pickup tags to be applied to the filter bags to be formed.

[0037] This second shaft 22 protrudes from the front wall 5 and parallel to the first supporting shaft 6.

[0038] As illustrated, (see also FIGS. 2 to 6) the automatic machine 100 comprises a first storage unit 9 configured to house replacement reels 7a and positioned directly associated with the load-bearing frame 1 of the machine 100 and located close to the shaft 6 supporting the reel 7 (nearly empty and to be replaced).

[0039] In the drawings, by way of example, the first storage unit 9 may be associated with one of the vertical 3 or horizontal 4 walls of the load-bearing frame 1 of the machine again close to the shaft 6 supporting the reel 7.

[0040] The automatic machine 100 also comprises a device 10 for picking and releasing replacement reels 7a (having, preferably, a motor-driven axis X10) configured for picking up a replacement reel 7a from the first storage unit 9 and positioning it on the supporting shaft 6.

[0041] The pick-up and release device 10 is positioned directly associated with the load-bearing frame 1 close to the first storage unit 9.

[0042] By way of a construction example, the picking up device may be associated with one of the vertical 3 or horizontal 4 walls of the load-bearing frame 1 of the automatic machine 100.

[0043] Moreover, the automatic machine 100 comprises a control unit 11 positioned on the automatic machine 100 and configured to activate the device 10 for picking up and releasing replacement reels 7a in the presence of a run out signal of the reel 7 present on the supporting shaft 6.

[0044] In other words, the automatic machine 100 has a storage unit integrated for replacement reels and a device which is able to replace the reels which are gradually used up without the need for external intervention.

[0045] The first storage unit 9 may be filled at the start of the operating activity of the automatic machine in such a way as to make the machine independent for a long operating period without the need for checks at predetermined times.

[0046] The machine in its entirety does not have a considerable increase in the overall size compared with prior art solutions and allows lines to be created alongside each other in automatic machines in reduced spaces.

[0047] As illustrated, the first storage unit 9 is associated with the at least one vertical side wall 3 of the machine 100 positioned close to the reel supporting shaft 6.

[0048] It should be noted that the first storage unit 9 projects outwards from the frame 1 of the machine 100.

[0049] Again as illustrated, the device 10 for picking up and releasing the replacement reels 7a is associated with the vertical front wall 5 of the machine and positioned close to the reel supporting shaft 6 and the first storage unit 9.

[0050] In light of this, the pick-up and release device 10 projects outwards from the frame 1 of the machine 100.

[0051] The unit comprising the first storage unit 9 and the pick-up and release device 10 are close together in a compact structure projecting laterally and frontally from the machine frame.

[0052] It should be noted that the pick-up and release device 10 comprises a robotic arm 12 (with two or more axes of movement) having, at a relative free end, a gripper 13 for picking up and releasing the replacement reel 7a configured to engage/disengage in/from a central hole 14 or core of the replacement reel 7a.

[0053] The robotic arm 12 comprises the first motor-driven axis X10 protruding relative to the machine front and parallel to the axis of extension of the first shaft 6 supporting the reel and can therefore, with the remaining axes, have a 360? operation in such a way as to easily reach the first storage unit 9 and the shaft 6 in a fast and precise fashion.

[0054] The arm 12 has, for example, a gripper 13 with three claws configured to enter into the core of the reel, for a certain depth (see also FIG. 7) and, by means of a movement of the claws radially away from each other, locking the reel for its handling and movement from the storage unit to the supporting shaft.

[0055] The machine 100 also comprises a reel pressing element 15 configured to stabilise the replacement reel 7a on the supporting shaft 6.

[0056] In light of this, the reel pressing element 15 is carried by a tubular element 16 (shaft) associated outside the frame 1 of the machine and close to the first storage unit 9 and the device 10 for picking up and releasing the replacement reel 7a.

[0057] It should be noted that the tubular element or shaft 16 is provided with means 17 for quick coupling and detachment of the reel pressing element 15 in such a way as to allow the picking up and repositioning by the pick-up and release device 10.

[0058] According to an embodiment, the quick coupling and detachment means 17 comprise an annular plate having magnetic properties for retaining, in suspension, the reel pressing element 15.

[0059] It should be noted that the tubular supporting shaft 16 is associated with the horizontal wall 4 of the frame 1 of the machine, in such a way as to position the reel pressing element 15 close to and above the pick-up and release device 10.

[0060] As illustrated and in an example embodiment, the reel pressing element 15 comprises a tubular cylinder body 15a (open at the two ends) with a diameter greater than a diameter of the shaft 6 supporting the reel and configured, in use, for being coupled with (the gripper 13) the robotic arm 12 and carried to the supporting shaft 6 (see FIG. 8).

[0061] The reel pressing element 15 (at one end of the tubular cylinder 15a) comprises a rigid ring 15b having a diameter greater than the diameter of the reel supporting shaft 6 and configured, in use, to be placed in contact with a flat surface 7a of the replacement reel in such a way as to allow, under the action of the robotic arm 12 of the pick-up and release device 10, a stable positioning, by axial sliding, of the replacement reel 7a on the supporting shaft 6 (see FIG. 8).

[0062] In other words, the replacement reel 7a is picked up from the gripper 13 in the first storage unit 9 (see FIG. 2) and the robotic arm positions it at the shaft 6 where it is partly inserted (FIGS. 3 and 7).

[0063] Subsequently, the gripper 13 releases the replacement reel 7a and the robotic arm 12 moves to the reel pressing element 15, where the gripper 13 couples with the central tubular element 15a (FIG. 4).

[0064] At this point, the robotic arm 12 detaches the reel pressing element 15 and transports it to the replacement reel 7a just inserted, partly, in the supporting shaft 6 (see FIG. 5).

[0065] In this position, the robotic arm 12 presses on the reel pressing element 15 having the rigid ring 15b in contact with the flat outer surface of the reel 7a in such a way as to make it slide axially along the supporting shaft 6 until it is completely housed (FIG. 8).

[0066] The automatic machine 100 comprises a second storage unit 18 for housing replacement reels (in this case, for example, reels 23 having strips of wound tags) associated with the at least one vertical side wall 3 of the frame 1 of the machine and positioned close to the first storage unit 9.

[0067] In short, the second storage unit 18 is located under the first storage unit 9 using the vertical surface of the wall 3.

[0068] In light of this, the device 10 for picking up and releasing the replacement reel is associated with the frame 1 at an intermediate position between the first storage unit 9 and the second storage unit 18.

[0069] In this way, the robotic arm 12 can operate without distinction quickly and rapidly on both the storage units present on the automatic machine.

[0070] By way of a construction example, the first storage unit 9 comprises a rigid structure having a cradle portion 19 for supporting a plurality of replacement reels 7a, a side portion 20 for associating with the vertical side wall 3 of the frame 1 of the machine and a rigid disc-shaped base 21, supported by the cradle portion 19, for supporting the replacement reels 7a.

[0071] The second storage unit 18 also has a substantially similar structure.

[0072] The device 10 for picking up and releasing the replacement reel also comprises a box-shaped body 24 associated with the vertical side wall 3 of the frame 1 of the machine 10 configured to support the robotic arm 12 (which protrudes from one side or surface of the box-shaped body 24 coplanar with the vertical front wall 5) and house the mechanical and electronic structures of the pick-up and release device 10.

[0073] The preset aims are achieved with an automatic machine structured in this way thanks to the synergic combination between the traditional machine combined with a group of storage units with robotic arms integrated in the machine.

[0074] This architecture makes it possible to obtain a compact system wherein the machine is substantially self-sufficient for many operating hours without the intervention of external robotic systems for reel changing, keeping the complex machine compact.

[0075] This type of structure creates a compact machine which only needs a single loading of a plurality of reels at the start of operation in such a way as to allow a long operating duration without the need for further constant checks or supplies.

[0076] Moreover, thanks to this system a layout out of the machine(s) is created with reduced overall dimensions and without the need to provide operating spaces around the machines occupied by reel storage units or by a large number of transit zones for carriages for transporting the reels from the storage units to the machines.