POUCH MAGAZINE AND A METHOD TO SEQUENTIALLY SUPPLY EMPTY POUCHES TO A PACKAGING MACHINE

Abstract

A pouch magazine that comprises a rack to accommodate a stack of empty pouches and a pouch pick up area having a positioning stopper, the magazine having a pouch separating means configured to separate the first pouch from the stack enabling sending it to the pouch pick up area, wherein the pouch magazine is equipped with a pouch conveyor to convey the separated pouch of the stack up to the positioning stopper of the pick up area, the said pouch conveyor having means for supplying a stream of pressurized fluid upon which the conveyed separated pouch lies, said means for supplying a stream being configured to applying sufficient Coanda effect forces to said stream to propel the separated pouch to the pick up area and to maintain the separated pouch against the positioning stopper of the pick up area.

Claims

1. A pouch magazine to sequentially supply empty pouches to a packaging machine, the magazine comprising a rack to accommodate a stack of empty pouches and a pouch pick up area having a positioning stopper, the magazine having a pouch separating means configured to separate the first pouch from the stack enabling sending it to the pouch pick up area, the magazine is equipped with a pouch conveyor to convey the separated pouch of the stack up to the positioning stopper of the pick up area, the said pouch conveyor having means for supplying a stream of pressurized fluid upon which the conveyed separated pouch lies, said means for supplying a stream being configured to applying sufficient Coanda effect forces to said stream to propel the separated pouch to the pick up area and to maintain the separated pouch against the positioning stopper of the pick up area.

2. The pouch magazine according to claim 1, wherein the pouch conveyor comprises a first and a second spaced apart elongated plates defining respective slip surfaces with jet nozzles to project the pressurized fluid that propels the separated pouch from respective areas of the pouch next to or including opposite lateral edges of the same.

3. The pouch magazine according to claim 2, wherein that the first and a second elongated plates determine a track of adjustable width.

4. The pouch magazine according to claim 3, wherein the pouch conveyor is supported in a chassis and at least one of the first or the second plate is mounted on the chassis, in fluid communication with a source of the pressurized fluid, with movement capacity with respect to the other of the first or the second plate without losing parallelism with the aforementioned other of the first or the second plate.

5. The pouch magazine according to the claim 2, wherein the means for supplying a stream of pressurized fluid upon which the conveyed separated pouch lies are configured to supply the stream in a continuous fashion all along the length dimension of the first and the second plates.

6. The pouch magazine according to claim 5, wherein each first and second elongated plates has or is joined to a lateral, essentially vertical, wing dimensioned to guide the separated pouch during the conveying of the same, and wherein between at least one of the first or the second plate and the lateral wing adjacent thereto there is formed or determined a channel, intended to receive or to house, at least partially, a spout of a conveyed pouch provided with a corner spout.

7. The pouch magazine according to claim 1, wherein the pick up area has a pouch detection means having a central rib with a plural number of sensors, the rib being arranged in the direction of a height dimension of the pouch as defined when the pouch properly rests against the positioning stopper of the pick up area, and wherein the sensors are distributed along the rib.

8. The pouch magazine according to claim 7, wherein at least one sensor is one of a photoelectric sensor or of a fiber-optic sensor.

9. The pouch magazine according to claim 1, wherein the positioning stopper is a moveable positioning stopper, moveable between a pouch retention position and a pouch release position able to produce the pouch to be propelled out of the pouch conveyor by the same stream of pressurized fluid that maintained the separated pouch against the positioning stopper when the positioning stopper adopted the retention position.

10. The pouch magazine according to the claim 7, wherein the moveable positioning stopper is driven as a function of the signals generated by the sensors of the pouch detection means.

11. The pouch magazine according to claim 1, wherein the pick up area is longitudinally aligned with the rack.

12. The pouch magazine according to claim 1, wherein the pick up area is not longitudinally aligned with the rack, so that the separated pouch is conveyed to the pick up area following a path not entirely straight.

13. The pouch magazine according to claim 1, wherein the pouch conveyor extends all along the pick up area.

14. A method to feed a pick up area of a pouch magazine with a pouch separated from a stack of pouches employing the Coanda effect to propel the separated pouch towards the said pick up area and to maintain the conveyed pouch against a positioning stopper provided in the said pick up area, the Coanda effect acting over areas of the pouch next to or including opposite edges of the pouch.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the opposite edges are opposite lateral edges of the pouch flatter than other areas and stiffened by the effect of a welding joint along said edges by fusion of the materials that make up the pouch.

16. The method according to claim 14, comprising the supplying of a stream of pressurized fluid upon which the pouches fed to the pick up area lies, said means for supplying a stream being configured to applying sufficient Coanda effect forces to said stream to propel the pouches to the pick up area and to maintain the pouches against a positioning stopper of the pick up area, wherein the supplying of the stream is a continuous supplying.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1, is a perspective view of a part of a pouch magazine according to the invention;

[0047] FIG. 2, shows the pick up area of the pouch magazine of FIG. 1 devoid of some components to facilitate the comprehension of the drawing; and

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a simplified frontal view of the pick up area of a pouch magazine according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] The invention is exemplified by the pouch magazine 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0050] In this specific example, the pouch magazine 100 comprises a set of two racks 20, 20 to accommodate respective stacks (not visible) of empty pre-made containers, particularly, but not exclusively, in the form of empty pouches.

[0051] Naturally, the invention envisages a pouch magazine 100 with a number of racks different of two, including one rack.

[0052] The two racks 20, 20 of the pouch magazine 100 that exemplifies the invention are themself known. They comprise each a conveyor belt and lateral guide plates installed on the left and right sides of the conveyor belt. Over each conveyor belt a stack of pouches are accommodated so that their mouths look down and forward, this is, the pouches in the stack are slightly tilted backwards.

[0053] The lateral edges of the bags are guided by the lateral guide plates, and the pouches are conveyed forward (toward left side in FIG. 1) so that a pouch separating means 21, 21, that acts on the free part of the first pouch, that is not overlapped behind by the pouch that follows it, separate the first pouch from the stack and quickly feeds it forward, sending it to a pouch pick up area 30, 30.

[0054] In the example, the separating means 21, 21 each comprises of a set of two jointly driven drag belts 21a, 21b; 21a, 21b, actuated in motion so that the belts of a same set, by friction with the cited free part of the first pouch, pushes the first pouch to feed it forward.

[0055] In the drawings, a separated first pouch 10 is illustrated, particularly arranged in the pick up area 30.

[0056] The pouch magazine 100 comprises movable transfer means 70 configured to, following a reciprocating motion, take separated pouches waiting in the pick up area 30, 30, transport and deliver them to the packaging machine (not represented) and move back to take a new pair of pouches to be delivered to the packaging machine in a subsequent stroke of the packaging machine.

[0057] In conventional way, the movable transfer means 70 in the example of FIG. 1 comprises a set of parallel rotating arms between which extends a tool-carrying bridge, in the example carrying a number of two tools in correspondence with the number of two pick up areas. The aforementioned tool-carrying bridge is rotatable around its longitudinal axis and with respect to the arms, so that the picked-up pouches can be translated along the axes of rotation of the arms and rotated around the longitudinal axis of the tool-carrying bridge while they are being moved to the packaging machine.

[0058] In the example of FIG. 1, the pick up areas 30, 30 are longitudinally aligned with an associated rack 20, 20. The invention envisages, however, other embodiments.

[0059] The pouch pick up areas 30, 30 are better showed in the FIG. 2.

[0060] According to the present invention, a pouch pick up area 30, 30 is equipped with a pouch conveyor to convey the separated first pouch 10 of the stack up to a positioning stopper with which the said pick up area 30, 30 is provided with.

[0061] In the specific example of FIG. 2, the two pick up areas 30, 30 are each equipped with a corresponding conveyor 40, 40 to convey the separated first pouch 10 of a stack up to a positioning stopper 31, 31 with which the said pick up areas 30, 30 are provided with.

[0062] The positioning stoppers 31, 31 will be described later in more detail. However, it is worth noticing that although in the example of FIG. 2 they are similar, it is envisaged that when a pouch magazine 100 has more than one pick up area 30, 30, the stoppers 31, 31 for each pick up area 30, 30 can be different, each according to the peculiarities of the pouch and/or the target position at which the pouch has to remain in the pick up area 30, 30.

[0063] With regards to the pouch conveyors 40, 40, in the example of FIG. 2, each pouch conveyor 40, 40 has means for supplying a stream of pressurized fluid upon which the conveyed first pouch 100 will lay, said means for supplying a stream being configured to apply sufficient Coanda effect forces to said stream to propel the separated first pouch 100 to the distal end of the pick up area 30, 30 and to maintain the separated pouch against the positioning stopper 31, 31 attenuating or avoiding rebound.

[0064] The supply of the stream can be a continuous supply. This is to say, it is not necessary to interrupt the blowing each time a new pouch is conveyed or between pouches to be conveyed.

[0065] In the example of FIG. 2, each pouch conveyor 40, 40 extends all along the pick up area 30, 30.

[0066] In the example of FIG. 2, each pouch conveyor 40, 40 comprises a first and a second elongated plates 41, 42; 41, 42 defining respective slip surfaces 41a, 42a, flat, with jet nozzles 43 to project the pressurized fluid that propels the separated pouch.

[0067] The nozzles 43 are configured to inject air tangentially on the slip surfaces 41a, 42a producing a laminar flow along the said slip surfaces 41a, 42a to produce the Coanda effect.

[0068] The nozzles 43 are connected to a source of a compressed fluid, for example to a common source of compressed fluid. The fluid in question can be air.

[0069] For example, the first and the second elongated plates 41, 42; 41, 42 can determine respective cavities in communication with source of pressurized fluid.

[0070] The nozzles 43 can be equidistant. However, other distributions are possible. The number of nozzles 43 can vary depending on the dimensions of the pick up area 30, 30 or the distance between the pick up area 30, 30 and the separating means 21, 21.

[0071] In any case, the example of FIGS. 2, each pair of first and the second elongated plates 41, 42; 41, 42 determine a track of adjustable width.

[0072] For example, being a pouch conveyor supported in a chassis, at least one of the first or the second plate 41, 42; 41, 42 is mounted on the chassis, in fluid communication with a source of the pressurized fluid, with movement capacity with respect to the other of the first or the second plate 41, 42; 41, 42 without losing parallelism with the said other of the first or the second plate 41, 42; 41, 42.

[0073] In the example of FIG. 2, the elongated first and second plates 41, 42; 41, 42 are straight, determining a straight path, aligned with the longitudinal dimension of the racks 20, 20.

[0074] In other embodiments, a first and second elongated plates 41, 42; 41, 42 can determine a curved track or a track with curved sections so that a pick up area 30, 30 is not necessarily longitudinally aligned with an associated rack 20, 20.

[0075] In either case, the plates are meant to propel the pouch from their opposite side edges.

[0076] In the example of FIG. 2, each first and second elongated plates 41, 42; 41, 42 are completed with a lateral, essentially vertical, wing 44a, 44b; 44a, 44b. These wings 44a, 44b; 44a, 44b serve to accommodate and guide the separated pouch, the lateral edges of which are guided by the said lateral wings. In this sense and in reference to the FIG. 2, the lateral edges of the pouch 10 are guided by the lateral wings 44a, 44b.

[0077] The invention envisages that a lateral wing 44a, 44b; 44a, 44b be removably coupled to a plate.

[0078] The invention also envisages that a lateral wing 44a, 44b; 44a, 44b be moveable coupled with respect to a plate.

[0079] Although not shown, the invention also envisages that at least a further plate, arranged between the first and the second elongated plates meant to propel the pouch from their opposite side edges, be arranged to propel a pouch also from a central area thereof.

[0080] FIG. 3 serves to better understand the advantages of these embodiments of the invention.

[0081] Specifically, FIG. 3 shows an embodiment wherein the right-hand wing 44b is attached to the second plate 42 (the right-hand plate) determining a sort of a channel 45, to accommodate a spout 10a of the pouch 10, being the pouch of the type provided with a corner spout. In this way, the presence of a spout 10a does not impede the pouch 10 to slide properly along the first and the second plates 41, 42 over the slip surfaces 41a, 42a with jet nozzles 43. This embodiment is practiced in the right-hand pick up area 30 of the pouch magazine 100 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0082] In this same pouch magazine 100, the right-hand wing 44b corresponding to the pouch conveyor 40 has a different profile or configuration, specifically intended to convey a pouch (not illustrated) devoid of corner spout. Therefore, in this case there is not a channel intended to accommodate a spout.

[0083] As previously mentioned, it is envisaged that the operator can have a set of wings to choose the appropriate one to be fixed to a plate; or to provide for a mechanical coupling between the lateral wing to the plate such that the relative position between them can be changed, to name two possible alternatives.

[0084] According to an embodiment, a pick up area can be provided also with detection means, to ensure that a pouch is correctly arranged or placed in the pick up area.

[0085] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, each pick up area 30, 30 of the pouch magazine 100 has a pouch detection means 60, 60.

[0086] A detection means is implemented, in the examples, per via of a central rib 61, 61 with a plural number of sensors 62, at least one being a positioning sensor adjacent the positioning stopper.

[0087] The rib 61, 61 is therefore, preferably, arranged in the direction of the height dimension of a pouch, this is, so that it extends essentially longitudinal with respect to a pouch when the pouch is in a pick up area 30, 30 and against the respective positioning stopper 31, 31.

[0088] The sensors 62 can be distributed along the rib 61, 61.

[0089] The sensors 62 can be, for example, equidistantly distributed.

[0090] A sensor may be arranged moveable along the associated rib, so that its relative position with regards to the rib can be changed.

[0091] A sensor 62 can be, for example, a photoelectric sensor or a fiber-optic sensor.

[0092] When a pouch is to be correctly arranged against a positioning stopper 31, 31 of a pick up area 30, 30, the positioning sensor adjacent or next to the positioning stopper 31, 31 will be covered by the pouch.

[0093] In an embodiment of the invention, apart from the positioning sensor there are a plural number of other sensors 62. The number of sensors 62 that must be covered will be dictated by the format of the pouch, in this exemplary case based on the height dimension of the pouch. Consequently, for each pouch the number of sensors 62 that should be covered will be known in advance. The non-correspondence between the number of sensors 62 that theoretically should be covered with the actual number of sensors 62 that are covered, in this case that generate or return the signal corresponding to being covered, can trigger an alert signal and/or can trigger other actions.

[0094] A possible action can be one that operates the positioning stopper 30, 30 against which a pouch should be resting.

[0095] Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention the positioning or positioning stoppers 31, 31 can be moveable positioning stoppers, driven in function of a signal generated by the detection means.

[0096] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the positioning stoppers 31, 31 are moveable between a retention position and a release position. A retention position is one that impedes a pouch to move further, the pouch resting against the positioning stopper 31, 31; and a release position is one that does not prevent a pouch, subjected to the Coanda effect, to keep being pushed forward. In this second case the pouch can end up in a reject tray.

[0097] An action of operating a positioning stopper 31 or 31 towards its release position can be accompanied or complemented by the action of temporarily increasing the fluid flow pressure of the pouch conveyor, to more quickly spit the rejected pouch out of a pick up area.

[0098] This increase, for example, can be of the order of more than 500%, preferably more than 600%.

[0099] This means that, if in an embodiment of the invention the fluid pressure used to convey the pouches is close to, without reaching, 1 bar, the rejection pressure can be of around 6 bar.

[0100] In another embodiment of the invention, apart from the positioning sensor there is another sensor 62, in a rib 61 or 61, and a feeding sensor, arranged next to the pouch separating means 21 or 21 and supported in a fixed part of the magazine so that its detection window focuses on the free face of the first pouch in the stack.

[0101] In this case, the returned signals of these sensors can trigger further actions, apart from operating the positioning stopper 30, 30, such as actions related to the operating of the separating means 21 or 21.

[0102] In a further embodiment, a spot detection sensor can be arranged in a distal area of the channel 45, with a detection window covering either the space a spout is deemed to occupy or the empty space a pouch with a corner spout is deemed to leave uncovered.

[0103] In an embodiment, a sensor, such as the positioning sensor or a spout detection sensor, can be or comprise an image capturing device. The captured image can then be compared with a digitally stored image to proceed accordingly as a function of the comparison. In this case, it can be detected not only a lack of precision in the feeding positioning of a pouch in the pick up area, but also that the stack of pouches has been loaded incorrectly in the rack, for example, in reverse (with the spouts on the wrong side).