HK1142308A - Unit and method for grouping packages along a transfer path - Google Patents

Description

Unit and method for grouping packages along a transport path

Technical Field

【001】 The present invention relates to a unit and a method for grouping packages (or grouping packages) along a transport path.

【002】 In the following description and claims, the term "package" is used in its broadest sense to mean any container for packaging liquids or pourable food products, and therefore includes not only packages made of multilayer sheet material and the like, but also bottles, cans, etc. of glass or plastic, which are mentioned below purely by way of example.

Background

【003】 It is known that many pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra high temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized sheet packaging material.

【004】 A typical example of this type of package is a parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products, known as Tetra brik aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by folding and sealing a laminated web packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a layer of base material, for example paper, covered on both sides with heat-seal plastic material, for example polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. aluminium foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material and is in turn covered by another layer of heat-seal plastic material eventually forming the inner face of the package contacting the food product.

【005】 As is well known, packages of this type are produced on fully automated packaging lines, on which a continuous tube is formed from reel-fed (web-fed) packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized, for example, by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, which is subsequently removed from the surface of the packaging material, for example, by evaporation by heating; and maintaining the web of packaging material so sterilized in a closed, sterile environment, and folded and sealed longitudinally to form a vertical tube.

【006】 The tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile-processed food product, sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced cross sections to form pillow packs, which are mechanically folded to form individual (or corresponding) finished, e.g. substantially parallelepiped-shaped, packages.

【007】 Alternatively, the packaging material may be cut into blanks, the blanks formed into packages on forming mandrels, and the packages then filled with the food product and sealed. One example of this type of package is the so-called "gable-top" package known under the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trade mark).

【008】 In both cases, the finished packages are continuously fed into a grouping unit, where they are formed into a given number of individual groups, which are finally packaged in a packaging material, such as cardboard or plastic film, to form individual packages for transport to a retailer.

【009】 More specifically, packs arranged in a line parallel to the direction of travel are fed into the grouping unit and temporarily accumulated at the receiving station; the predetermined number of packages at the receiving station are then fed onto a conveyor for transfer to an output station. The packages in each group are aligned in one or more rows (or one or more columns) transverse to the direction of movement along a path defined by the conveyor, and are then pushed towards an output station where they are packed in a packaging material to form the relative packages.

【010】 An example of a known grouping unit suitable for grouping plastic bottles is illustrated in US patent US6,793,064.

【011】 More specifically, the above-mentioned unit essentially comprises a continuous belt conveyor with a straight conveying branch, onto which the bottles are fed at predetermined time intervals and in groups of a predetermined number, for transfer to a downstream packaging station where each group of the bottles thus formed is packaged for delivery to the retailer.

【012】 As the bottles are fed to the packing station, the bottles in each group are first aligned in a particular configuration and then pushed towards the packing station in that configuration. This is accomplished by two separate mechanisms, an alignment mechanism and a pushing mechanism, arranged in sequence in the direction of travel of the bottles.

【013】 The alignment means comprise a number of alignment bars extending transversely to the direction of travel of the bottles, which are fed by chain drives along an endless path having portions facing and parallel to the conveying branches of the conveyor.

【014】 Each group of bottles fed onto the conveyor rests on an associated downstream alignment bar that runs slower than the conveyor.

【015】 The alignment bars are thus arranged to slow down the speed of the bottles relative to the conveyor slightly in order to compact the bottles in the direction of travel and align them in one or more lines across the direction of travel.

【016】 The pushing mechanism is located downstream of the aligning mechanism in the direction of travel of the bottles and, like the aligning mechanism, it comprises several pushing rods extending transversely to the direction of travel of the bottles and which are fed by another chain drive along an endless path having a portion facing and parallel to the conveying branch of the conveying device.

【017】 In the case of the aligning bars releasing the bottles of the relative group, each pushing bar interacts with the upstream side of the bottles in each group to push said group to the packaging station at the same speed as the conveyor.

【018】 There is therefore a need in the art for the way in which the groups of packages are oriented for transfer from the grouping unit to the packaging unit to have the greatest flexibility.

【019】 It is particularly desirable to enable the grouping unit to interface with various types of packaging units having various orientations with respect to the grouping unit.

Disclosure of Invention

【020】 The object of the present invention is to provide a package grouping unit designed to meet the above-mentioned needs in a simple manner with respect to known units.

【021】 According to the present invention, there is provided a unit for grouping packages along a transmission path as claimed in claim 1.

【022】 The invention also relates to a method of grouping packages along a transmission path as claimed in claim 22.

Drawings

【023】 Preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

【024】 FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a package grouping unit (or grouping unit) with some parts removed for clarity in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

【025】 FIG. 2 shows a side view of the unit shown in FIG. 1;

【026】 Figures 3a to 3 show schematically the configuration of the successive operations of the rotating means of the unit shown in figure 1;

【027】 Figures 4, 5 and 6 show top views of the rotating means of the unit shown in figure 1 in the operating configuration of figures 3a, 3c and 3d, respectively; and

【028】 Fig. 7 and 8 show top views of the guide mechanism of the unit shown in fig. 1 in a first and second position, respectively, for guiding the rotating means of fig. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 4, 5 and 6 along a predetermined trajectory.

Detailed Description

【029】 With reference to fig. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a unit for grouping (or grouping) packages 2 along a transfer path T, which in the example shown is a straight transfer path, according to the invention. More specifically, unit 1 is arranged for forming (or dividing) packs 2 into groups 3 of a predetermined number and configuration for supply to packaging units 4 (only partially shown in figures 1 and 2) in which said groups 3 are wrapped in packaging material (not shown), such as cardboard or plastic film, to form the relative package(s) for transport to the retailer.

【030】 In the example shown, package 2 is defined by a parallelepiped-shaped package (or packet) made, as described in detail above, of a multilayer sheet packaging material filled with a pourable food product, such as pasteurized or UHT milk, fruit juice, wine, etc., and sealed.

【031】 Alternatively, the package 2 may be defined by several (or more) packages which are held together by a packaging material, such as a plastic film, or the package may be defined by other types of packaging containers, such as bottles, cans, etc.

【032】 The unit 1 basically comprises: an input station 5 for receiving packages 2 arranged in longitudinal columns parallel to path T; an output station 6 for groups 3, said groups 3 comprising a given number of packages 2 coming from respective columns and aligned (or arranged) in one or more columns (or one or more rows) transversely to path T; a conveyor 8 defining a moving conveying surface 9, said moving conveying surface 9 feeding a number of packages (or more) 2 equal to the number of packages in each group 3 at predetermined intervals and feeding packages 2 from input station 5 to output station 6 along path T; an alignment (or alignment) device 10 which interacts with the packages 2 on the conveyor 8 to align them in one or more lines across the path T as they travel towards the output station 6; and pushing means 11 which interact with the groups 3 of aligned packages 2 to push them out of unit 1.

【033】 More specifically, packages 2 are fed to input station 5 by means of a step-operated belt conveyor 12 and, once individual groups 3 are formed, they are fed from output station 6 to another belt conveyor 13, which forms part of packaging unit 4 and is only partially shown in the figures.

【034】 More specifically, conveyor 12 comprises a belt 14, said belt 14 forming a loop around several (or more) rollers 15, at least one of which is powered, and defining a flat horizontal upper conveying surface 16 for packages 2, said upper conveying surface 16 being coplanar with and upstream of conveying surface 9 of conveyor 8.

【035】 The conveyor 12 is driven in a known manner by a servomotor (not shown) for a certain time interval, the length of which depends on the number of packages 2 to be fed to the input station 5 to form the relative group 3 at each driving step of the conveyor 12.

【036】 That is, for each driving step of conveyor 12, a given number of packages 2 is transferred from the downstream portion of conveying surface 16 of conveyor 12 to input station 5 of said unit 1 defined by the upstream portion of conveying surface 9 of conveyor 8. As a pause follows each driving step, packages 2 accumulate during the pause in said downstream portion of conveying surface 16.

【037】 The number of packages 2 fed to the conveyor 8 is controlled in a known manner by means of a sensor, for example a light sensor, not shown in the drawings, as this is not essential for a clear understanding of the invention.

【038】 Preferably, retaining means (not shown) are provided to block the queue of packages 2 waiting to be fed to the input station 5, activated in synchronism with the pause of the conveying means 12.

【039】 The packages 2 in each group 3 are aligned while on a conveyor 8, said conveyor 8 preferably being a belt conveyor and being continuously driven at a constant or variable speed by a known servo motor (not shown).

【040】 With particular reference to figures 1 and 2, conveyor 8 substantially comprises a belt 40, said belt 40 forming a loop around a number of rollers 41, at least one of which is connected to said servomotor, and defining an upper conveying surface 9 for packages 2.

【041】 Output station 6 is defined by a decelerating surface 42, which decelerating surface 42 is coplanar with conveying surface 9 and is located downstream of conveying surface 9 and decelerates groups 3 of packages 2 before transferring to packaging units 4.

【042】 The retarding surface 42 is preferably defined by a fixed horizontal surface 43 disposed between the conveyors 8 and 13.

【043】 Alternatively, the deceleration surface 42 may be defined by a movable surface moving slower than the transport surface 9 or simply be taken by said transport surface 9 itself.

【044】 The aligning device 10 comprises one or more lever-type aligning members 45, which extend perpendicularly to the running direction of the packages 2, move cyclically from the input station 5 to the output station 6 along a path R having a working portion R1 parallel to the path T, and each of which defines an aligning surface 46, and in each cycle the packages 2 of the upstream relative group 3 come to rest on the aligning surface 46 and align one or more fleets crossing the path T.

【045】 In the example shown, the number of aligning members 45 is 8 (not all shown in fig. 2) and are fitted to the chain conveyors 47 above the conveying surface 9 of the conveyor 8 and above the retarding surface 42 at equidistant intervals.

【046】 More specifically, the conveyor 47 comprises two identical endless chains 48 extending on opposite sides of the conveying surface 9 and of the retarding surface 42 of the conveyor 8, which support the alignment members 45 therebetween and define the path R of the alignment members 45.

【047】 Each chain 48 is looped around a corresponding (or relative) number of rollers 49 to assume a substantially rectangular configuration, with two sides parallel to the conveying surface 9 and to the decelerating surface 42 of the conveyor 8 and two sides perpendicular to said surfaces 9, 42.

【048】 In exactly the same way as for the aligning device 10, the pushing means 11 comprise one or more lever-type pushing members 50, which extend perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the packages 2, move cyclically along a path S having a work portion S1 parallel to the path T from the input station 5 to the output station 6, and each define a pushing surface 51, said pushing surface 51 acting on each group 3 of packages 2 downstream of the pushing members 50 in each cycle to push said group 3 out of the unit 1.

【049】 The pushing members 50 are 8 in number (not all shown and indicated in fig. 1 and 2) and are fitted at equidistant intervals on a chain conveyor 52 identical to the conveyor 47 and located above the conveying surface 9 of the conveyor 8 and above the retarding surface 42.

【050】 More specifically, the conveyor 52 comprises two identical endless chains 53, which extend on opposite sides of the conveying surface 9 and of the decelerating surface 42 of the conveyor 8, support the pushing member 50 therebetween, and define the path S of the pushing member 45.

【051】 More specifically, the chains 48 and 53 of the conveyors 47 and 52 are positioned parallel to each other and facing each other so that the paths R and S defined by them coincide.

【052】 As shown in fig. 1, each chain 53 is looped around a respective (or related) number of rollers 54 coaxial with the respective roller 49, so as to assume the same substantially rectangular configuration as the chain 48, with two sides parallel to the conveying surface 9 and to the decelerating surface 42 of the conveyor 8 and two sides perpendicular to the surfaces 9, 42.

【053】 In other words, the chains 48 and 53 extend along each of the four sides, while they are coplanar along said sides.

【054】 In the example shown, the chains 48 are located between the more outer chains 53.

【055】 The conveyors 47 and 52 are driven by respective independent servomotors 55, 56.

【056】 As shown in fig. 1, each servomotor 55, 56 controls the relative pair of chains 48, 53 through a respective belt transmission 57, 58, said belt transmission 57, 58 connecting the output shaft of the servomotor 55, 56 to the shaft 51, 59 supporting the relative pair of rollers 49, 54; the further rollers 54, 49, which are coaxial with said rollers 49, 54 powered by servomotors 55, 56 and support the further two chains 53, 48, are fitted idle on the relative shafts 51, 59 driven by the servomotors 55, 56.

【057】 In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the chain 48, and therefore the alignment member 45, is driven intermittently by the relative servomotor 55, while the chain 53, and therefore the pushing member 50, is driven continuously by the relative servomotor 56.

【058】 In the example shown, the chain 48 and the alignment members 45 are synchronized with the conveyor 12 feeding the packages 2 to the conveyor 8.

【059】 Each alignment member 45-in a manner not shown, which is not necessary for a clear understanding of the invention-extends between the links of the chain 48 to which it is fixed; while each pushing member 50 extends between a corresponding link of chain 53 downstream of the link to which it is fixed in the running direction of chain 53, so that at output station 6 (see fig. 2) pushing member 50 protrudes in the direction of path T with respect to relative chain 53, in order to accompany group 3 of packages 2 to the upstream portion of conveyor 13 of packaging unit 4.

【060】 Unit 1 advantageously comprises rotation means 60 which can be activated to selectively rotate packages 2 in each group 3, after their interaction with alignment surface 46, by a predetermined angle about direction a transverse to the direction of path T.

【061】 More specifically, the rotating means 60 rotate the group 3 by 90 degrees anticlockwise around a vertical direction a perpendicular to the conveying surface 9 (see fig. 3c and 3 d).

【062】 The unit 1 also comprises an actuating mechanism 80 (see fig. 4 to 6) which interacts with the rotation means 60 to move the rotation means 60 between the open configuration (see fig. 3a) and the closed configuration (see fig. 3c and 3d) via the intermediate configuration (see fig. 3 b).

【063】 More specifically, the rotation means 60 are integral with each group 3 in the closed configuration and are disengaged from said group 3 in the open configuration.

【064】 The unit 1 further comprises a guide mechanism 90 which interacts with the rotating means 60 to move the rotating means 60 along a trajectory having a translation component parallel to the direction of the path T and a rotation component around the direction a.

【065】 More specifically, the guide mechanism 90 moves the rotating device 60 through a forward stroke (or stroke) (shown schematically in fig. 3a to 3e) from a starting position shown in fig. 4, 5 and 7 to an ending position shown in fig. 6 and 8.

【066】 More specifically, the rotating means 60 are in a starting position in a position adjacent to the input station 5 and in an end position in a position adjacent to the output station 6.

【067】 The rotating means 60 perform, in the closed configuration, an advancing stroke which, when they do so, rotate each group 3 by 90 degrees anticlockwise around direction a and translate said group 3 along a direction parallel to path T to the output station 6.

【068】 At the end of the forward stroke, the rotary device 60 moves to the open configuration, and the guide mechanism 90 moves the rotary device 60 back to the starting position through the return stroke.

【069】 As schematically shown in fig. 3f, during the return stroke, the rotating means 60 rotates clockwise about the direction a and translates in the opposite direction to the forward stroke.

【070】 More specifically, the rotating device 60 (see fig. 4, 5, 6) includes: two spaced apart parallel sides 64; a rectangular plate 61 parallel to the conveying surface 9 and extending between said side edges 64; and three flaps 62, 63a, 63b that can rotate (or pivot) relative to the side 64 and the panel 61.

【071】 More specifically, the side 64 has a first end connected by two pins 65, 66, and a second end opposite said first end and connected by two pins 67, 68.

【072】 The pins 65, 66 and 67, 68 extend along respective axes parallel to the conveying surface 9; and pins 66, 68 are disposed between plate 61 and pins 65, 67.

【073】 The flap 63a (see fig. 4) comprises two parallel bars 69, each hinged at one end to a pin 66, and two cross-members extending perpendicularly to the bars 69.

【074】 Similarly, the flap 63b (see fig. 4) comprises two parallel bars 69, each hinged at one end to a pin 68, and two cross-members extending perpendicularly to the bars 69.

【075】 Two projections 70 project from a middle portion of one of the side edges 64 toward a side opposite to the plate 61, and extend in respective directions perpendicular to the extending direction of the side edge 64.

【076】 The projection 70 is fitted through with two pins 71, 72 extending parallel to the side 64. More specifically, the pin 71 is disposed between the pin 72 and the side 64 from which the protruding portion 70 protrudes.

【077】 The flap 62 comprises two parallel bars 69, each hinged at one end to a pin 72, and two cross-members extending between said bars 69 and perpendicularly to said bars 69; .

【078】 When the rotating means 60 are in the open configuration (see fig. 3a, 3f, 4), the flaps 63a, 63b, 62 extend in the same plane parallel to the conveying surface 9 and coinciding with the plane of the plate 61.

【079】 When the rotating means 60 is in the intermediate configuration (see fig. 3b), the flap 62 is rotated (or pivoted) 90 degrees about the pin 72 with respect to the open configuration into a plane perpendicular to the conveying surface 9 of the conveyor 8.

【080】 When the actuator mechanism 80 moves the rotating means 60 to the closed configuration (see fig. 3c, 3d, 5, 6), the flaps 63a, 63b are also rotated 90 degrees about the pins 66, 68 relative to the open and intermediate configurations into respective planes perpendicular to the conveying surface 9 of the conveyor 8.

【081】 In the closed configuration, plate 61 cooperates with a surface 75, wherein said surface 75 defines (or determines) group 3 on the side opposite to conveying surface 9.

【082】 More specifically, surface 75 (see fig. 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f) is defined by (or determined by) the wall of the side of packages 2 in each group 3 opposite to conveying surface 9.

【083】 In the closed configuration, the flaps 62 (see fig. 2, 3c, 3d) cooperate with the end surface 76 of each group 3.

【084】 More specifically, before group 3 is rotated by rotating means 60, said surface 76 (see fig. 3a, 3b, 3c) defines the downstream end of group 3; whereas said surface 76 (see fig. 2, 3d, 3e, 3f) defines the lateral end of the group 3 with respect to the central plane of the conveying surface 9 parallel to the path T, once the group 3 has been rotated by 90 degrees anticlockwise by the rotating means.

【085】 The flaps 63a, 63b (see fig. 3c, 3d) cooperate with respective end surfaces 77, 78 of each group 3.

【086】 More specifically, said surfaces 77, 78 define each group 3 on respective opposite sides of said central plane of the conveying surface 9, before the group 3 is rotated by the rotating means 60.

【087】 Once group 3 is rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise by rotating device 60, said surfaces 77, 78 define said group 3 downstream and upstream, respectively, of path T.

【088】 Once each group 3 has been rotated 90 degrees anticlockwise, said surfaces 77 and 78 define each group 3 respectively downstream and upstream of path T, while said surface 76 defines group 3 laterally.

【089】 When the rotary means 60 is in the closed configuration, the flaps 63a, 63b lie in parallel planes perpendicular to the plane of the flap 62.

【090】 With particular reference to figures 7 and 8, guide 90 comprises a plate 91, said plate 91 being fixed to the fixed structure of unit 1 and defining a through slot 92, said through slot 92 having a shape associated with the trajectory of said rotating means 60 and therefore of each group 3.

【091】 The guide mechanism 90 further comprises a body 93 and a pin 79 (schematically indicated in fig. 1 and shown in fig. 2 to 8) arranged between the plates 61 and 91, wherein said body 93 slides parallel to the path T; .

【092】 The pin 79 comprises a first end, which in use is a tip angularly integral with a roller 97 rolling along the groove 92, and a second end axially opposite the first end; and the second end is secured to the bottom end of the plate 61 in use.

【093】 More specifically, the pin 79 extends along an axis parallel to and coincident with the direction a and is connected to said roller 97 by a rod 99 extending parallel to the conveying surface 9. More specifically, the lever 99 is connected at opposite ends to the pin 79 and the roller 97.

【094】 The plate 91 extends parallel to the conveying surface 9 and the slot 92 is elongated in a direction parallel to the path T.

【095】 The slot 92 is curved and has a first end above the upstream end of the conveying surface 9 and a second end opposite the first end; and the second end is above an intermediate portion of the conveying surface 9 between the input station 5 and the output station 6.

【096】 More specifically, said first end of the slot 92 is above a first side of the conveying surface 9, and said second end of the slot 92 is above a second side of the conveying surface 9, and said first and second sides are located on opposite sides of the conveying surface 9 parallel to the central plane of the path T.

【097】 The body 93 is functionally connected to a powered belt 98 (see figures 2, 7, 8) so as to slide parallel to the path T.

【098】 More specifically, a first end of the pin 79 (see FIG. 1) is housed within the body 93.

【099】 The pin 79 is housed in a body 93 so as to rotate about direction a.

【100】 Said pin 79 also slides integrally with the body 93 in a direction parallel to the path T.

【101】 The body 93 also comprises two walls in the shape of isosceles trapezoids lying in respective horizontal planes parallel to the conveying surface 9 and a wall 100 (see figures 7 and 8) perpendicular to the conveying surface 9 and connected to the belt 98 by means 101.

【102】 More specifically, belt 98 extends around a wheel 102 (see fig. 7 and 8) rotated by a motor 116 (see fig. 1 and 2) and around a return wheel 103, and comprises two branches 104, 105 extending between said wheels 102 and 103 and parallel to path T.

【103】 Branch 105 is connected to wall 100 by means of a member 101 and translates wall 100 and therefore body 93 in a direction parallel to path T.

【104】 Branch 104 is located on the opposite side of branch 105 from wall 100.

【105】 With particular reference to fig. 4 to 6, actuating mechanism 80 comprises a cam 82 for rotating flaps 63a, 63b about respective pins 66, 68; a cam 83 for rotating the flap 62 about the pin 72; and a motor 117 (only schematically shown in fig. 1) functionally connected to the cams 82, 83 by a belt 84.

【106】 More specifically, belt 84 extends around a drive wheel 87 driven by a motor 117; extends around a wheel 86 angularly integral with the cams 82, 83; and extends around several return wheels 85, 85a, the return wheels 85, 85a being arranged between the wheels 86 and 87 along the path of the belt 84.

【107】 In the example shown, the cams 82, 83 and the wheel 86 rotate integrally about an axis coinciding with the direction a.

【108】 More specifically, the axes of the wheels 85, 85a, 87 are parallel to the direction a.

【109】 The axes of the wheels 85, 87 are fixed, while the axes of the wheels 85a, 86 are movable parallel to the path T.

【110】 The cams 82, 83 are elongate in a direction transverse to each other and each has two working lobes (or operating lobes) 88, 89.

【111】 More specifically, the lobes 88, 89 are located at opposite longitudinal ends of the cams 82, 83 such that the lobes 88, 89 of each cam 82, 83 are 180 ° out of phase with respect to the axis of rotation of the cams 82, 83.

【112】 More specifically, cam 82 is formed with a protrusion between lobes 88 and 89, while cam 83 is formed with a recess between lobes 88 and 89.

【113】 The lobes 88, 89 of the cams 82, 83 cooperate with the cam followers 110, 111, 112 on the respective flaps 63a, 63b, 62.

【114】 More specifically, when lobes 88, 89 of cam 82 are disengaged from cam followers 110, 111 and lobes 88, 89 of cam 83 are disengaged from cam follower 112, flaps 63a, 63b, 62 (see fig. 3a, 3f, 4) lie in respective planes parallel to conveying surface 9 and rotary device 60 is in the open configuration.

【115】 Conversely, when lobes 88, 89 of cam 82 are in contact with cam followers 110, 111 and lobe 89 of cam 83 is in contact with cam follower 112, flaps 63a, 63b, 62 (see fig. 3c, 3d, 5, 6) lie in respective planes perpendicular to conveying surface 9 and rotary device 60 is in the closed configuration.

【116】 More specifically, the rotating device 60 is transitioned from the open configuration to the closed configuration by rotating the cams 82, 83 approximately 90 degrees clockwise from the position of fig. 4 to the position of fig. 5.

【117】 Cam 82 is designed such that rotation of wheel 86 causes both lobes 88, 89 thereof (see fig. 5, 6) to simultaneously contact respective cam followers 110, 111 of respective flaps 63a, 63 b.

【118】 Thus, the flaps 63a, 63b are simultaneously rotated (see fig. 3c) onto the respective surfaces 77, 78.

【119】 Lobes 88, 89 of cams 82, 83 are arranged such that rotation of wheel 86 first causes cam 83 to interact with cam follower 112 of flap 62 and then causes cam 82 to interact with cam followers 110, 111 of flaps 63a, 63 b.

【120】 As shown in fig. 3b, therefore, flaps 62 are rotated downwardly about pins 71 onto surfaces 76 before flaps 63a, 63b are rotated downwardly about respective pins 66, 68 onto respective surfaces 77, 78 of each group 3.

【121】 The wheel 86 and the cams 82, 83 are disposed between the plate 61 and the body 93 in the vertical direction.

【122】 More specifically, body 93 is, in use, located above cam 82, which cam 82 in turn is located above cam 83; and the cam 83 is located above the wheel 86 in use.

【123】 Similarly, the respective active portions of cam followers 110, 111, which cooperate with cam 82, are located higher up in use than the active portion of cam follower 112, which cooperates with cam 83.

【124】 A bore 81 extends coaxially through wheel 86 and cams 82, 83 and has an axis coincident with direction a.

【125】 The second end of the pin 79 extends radially loosely through the aperture 81 (see fig. 4, 5, 6) such that the pin 79 and cams 82, 83 are angularly disconnected.

【126】 In other words, the pin 79 extends between the plate 61 and the lever 99 and advances from the plate 61 to the lever 99 with its second end fitting through the cams 82, 83 and its first end fitting through the body 93.

【127】 The first and second ends of the pin 79 are received within the body 93 and cams 82, 83, respectively, with a small amount of radial clearance (shown in fig. 4, 5, 6) to allow angular movement of the pin 79 relative to both the cams 82, 83 and the body 93.

【128】 Thus, as the roller 97 rolls along the slot 92, the rotation of the pin 79 does not rotate the cams 82, 83, and therefore the rotary device 60 remains in the closed configuration as it moves forward.

【129】 Similarly, the rotary device 60 remains in the open configuration as it moves back.

【130】 On the other hand, once the radial gap is arrested (take up), the translation of the body 93 is drawn along the pin 79, in direct contact therewith.

【131】 Wheel 86 is also connected to body 93 and moves therewith in a direction parallel to path T.

【132】 The operation of unit 1 will be described with reference to the formation of one group 3 of packages 2 and in the initial condition of conveyor 12 at rest (see fig. 2), the packages 2 for the final formation of group 3 accumulate in the downstream portion of conveying surface 16 of conveyor 12, while the retaining means are in the retaining position, relieving the pressure of the queue of packages 2 accumulated on conveying surface 16.

【133】 When the conveyor 12 is activated, the holding means are moved to the release position so that a given number of packages 2 can be fed onto the conveyor 8.

【134】 Packages 2 transferred from conveyor 12 to conveyor 8 rest on alignment surface 46 of alignment member 45 running through input station 5.

【135】 As soon as a predetermined number of packages 2 are fed off the conveyor 12, the work is stopped and the holding means (not shown) are moved to the holding position.

【136】 On the other hand, group 3 of packages 2 fed onto conveyor 8 is fed by conveyor 8 along path T to output station 6.

【137】 During the stop of the conveyor 47 supporting the alignment member 45 and subsequent restart at a speed faster than that of the conveyor 8; the packages 2 are thus grouped together for the first time against the relative stationary alignment members 45 and aligned in a queue (or rank) across the path T — in this case, two queues (or ranks); and, when the aligning member 45 disengages from the pack 2 and starts to move again along the path R, the pack 2 is fed by the conveyor 8 to the fixed surface 43.

【138】 Further forward movement of packages 2 in group 3 brings them to rotating means 60 set in the starting position and in the open configuration (see fig. 3a, 4); in this position, the roller 97 is located at the upstream end of the slot 92, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

【139】 The motor 117 then rotates the belt 84 and, by means of the wheel 86, the cams 82 and 83.

【140】 Rotation of wheel 86 (see fig. 5) first causes lobe 89 of cam 83 to come into contact with cam follower 112 of flap 62, said flap 62 thereby rotating about pin 71 onto surface 76 of group 3 (see fig. 3 b).

【141】 Further rotation of wheel 86 causes lobes 88, 89 of cam 82 to come into contact with cam followers 110, 111 of flaps 63a, 63b, which flaps 63a, 63b thereby rotate about pins 66, 68 onto surfaces 77, 78 of pack 3 (see fig. 3c, 5).

【142】 The rotating means 60 are now in the closed configuration and in the starting position, said flaps 62, 63a, 63b gripping said group 3.

【143】 The motor 116 is now operated to move the belt 98 so as to translate the body 93 in a direction parallel to the path T and towards the output station 6.

【144】 Translation of body 93 also results in translation of wheel 85a, pin 79 and wheel 86.

【145】 By means of the lever 99, the translation of the pin 79 causes the roller 97 to roll along the groove 92 from the position of fig. 4 and 5 to the position of fig. 6.

【146】 The roller 97 rolls along a curved trajectory defined by the shape of the slot 92 and, by means of the lever 99, rotates the pin 79 about an axis coinciding with the direction a.

【147】 The pin 79 and the rotating means 60 are integral.

【148】 The roto-translational movement of pin 79 therefore causes rotary device 60 and group 3 to translate parallel to path T and rotate about direction a.

【149】 It is important to note that rotation of pin 79 about its axis does not produce rotation of cams 82, 83, and therefore of flaps 63a, 63b, 62, during the forward and return strokes.

【150】 This is because the pin 79 is loosely radially received within the bore 81 defined by the cams 82, 83 and is thereby angularly movable relative to the cams 82, 83.

【151】 Roller 97 (see FIG. 6) stops against the downstream end of slot 92; in this position, the rotating means 60 stops in the end position (see fig. 3 d).

【152】 The motor 117 is again operated to rotate the cams 82, 83 and disengage the cam followers 110, 111, 112 from the lobes 88, 89 of the cams 82, 83.

【153】 As a result, the flaps 63a, 63b, 62 disengage from the surfaces 77, 78, 76 and return to being parallel to the conveying surface 9.

【154】 The rotating means 60 is now in the end position and in the open configuration (see fig. 3 e).

【155】 The motor 116 is reversed so that the guide mechanism 90 restores the rotating device 60 to the starting position and the closed configuration.

【156】 It is important to note that translation of body 93 parallel to path T produces similar translation of axle movable wheels 86, 85 a.

【157】 To prevent translation of the wheel 86 from driving the belt 84 and thus causing undesired rotation of the cams 82, 83, the motor 117 is suitably operated to keep the belt 84 stationary and thus the cams 82, 83 angularly fixed during the forward and return strokes.

【158】 On reaching fixing surface 43, packages 2 in group 3, which are rotated 90 degrees about direction a, are first decelerated and eventually stopped by fixing surface 43. That is, at the output of the conveying device 8, the packages 2 slide to a stop on the fixed surface 43.

【159】 Next, the adjacent pushing members 50, upstream of group 3 of packages 2 resting on fixed surface 43, catch up with the downstream packages 2 and push said packages 2 out of unit 1 onto conveyor 13 of packaging unit 4.

【160】 The advantages of the unit 1 and the method according to the invention are clear from the foregoing description.

【161】 In particular, by means of rotating device 60, unit 1 achieves an effective alignment of packages 2 of group 3 in a queue across path T, while also allowing a high degree of flexibility in the way in which group 3 is oriented for transfer to packaging unit 4.

【162】 As a result, unit 1 can be docked with various types of packaging unit 4, the position of packaging unit 4 with respect to unit 1 being unlimited.

【163】 The flexibility of the unit is also achieved by the group 3 being rotated while travelling along the path T, without reducing the output rate of the group 3 to the packaging unit 4.

【164】 Furthermore, the flexibility of the unit 1 is achieved in a highly compact manner, by not involving separate spaces for the guide means 90 and the actuating means 80.

【165】 In fact, space saving and compactness are achieved by the pins 79 of the guide mechanism 90 being housed within the cams 82, 83 of the actuating mechanism 80.

【166】 It is clear that numerous variations can be made to the unit 1 and to the method described and illustrated herein, without departing from the scope defined in the annexed claims.

【167】 In particular, for low movement speeds of the transport surface 9, the alignment members 45 of the unit 1 can be removed.

【168】 In this case, packages 2 are aligned in line across path T solely by the action of flaps 62 on surface 76.

Claims (30)

1. A unit (1) for grouping packages (2) along a transmission path (T), the unit (1) comprising:

an input station (5) which receives the groups (3) of packages (2) arranged in longitudinal lines parallel to the transport path (T); and

alignment means (45, 46; 62) interacting with the packages (2) in each group (3) to align them in at least one queue across the transport path (T);

characterized in that said unit comprises rotation means (60), said rotation means (60) being selectively activated to rotate each group (3) by a predetermined angle about a direction (A) transverse to said transport path (T) after interaction of said alignment means (45, 46; 62) with said packages (2) in each group (3).

2. The unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises guide means (90) which guide said rotation means (60) along a trajectory having a translation component parallel to said transport path (T) and a rotation component around said direction (a).

3. The unit of claim 2, wherein the guide means (90) comprise:

a body (93) movable parallel to the transport path (T);

-a pin (79) integral with said rotation device (60) and angularly movable with respect to said body (93) about said direction (a); the pin (79) is connected to the body (93) so as to move integrally with the body in a direction parallel to the transport path (T);

-a support (91) having a curved slot (92), said slot (92) extending along said transport path (T) and being shaped according to said trajectory; and

a roller (97) functionally connected to the pin (79) and movable within the slot (92) along a curved path corresponding to the shape of the slot (92);

-the movement of the body (93) moves the pin (79) in a direction parallel to the transport path (T) and the roller (97) forward along the curved path within the slot (92); and the forward movement of said roller (97) causes said pin (79) and said rotating means (60) to rotate about said direction (a) and to translate along said transport path (T).

4. A unit as in claim 3, wherein said pin (79) is housed at least partially inside said body (93).

5. The unit according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said guide means (90) comprise a drive member (116) functionally connected to said body (93) by means of a belt (98); the belt (98) comprises at least one movable branch (105) extending parallel to the transport path (T) and functionally connected to the body (93).

6. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said rotating means (60) are movable between a closed configuration, in which they are integral with each of said groups (3), and an open configuration, in which they are disengaged from each of said groups (3).

7. The unit of claim 6, wherein said rotating means (60) comprise: a first flap (62) cooperating with a first surface (76), said first surface (76) defining a downstream end of each group (3) before rotation of each group (3); and two second flaps (63a, 63b) cooperating with respective second surfaces (77, 78), said second surfaces (77, 78) defining, before rotation of each group (3), opposite lateral ends of each group (3) with respect to the transmission path (T); said first and second flaps (62; 63a, 63b) cooperating with said first and second surfaces (76; 77, 78) to make said rotating means (60) and each of said groups (3) integral with each other when said groups (3) rotate.

8. The unit according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises an actuating mechanism (80) which interacts with said rotating means (60) to move said rotating means (60) between said open configuration and said closed configuration.

9. The unit of claim 8, wherein the actuation mechanism (80) comprises: -a first cam (83) having at least one first working lobe (88, 89) interacting with a first cam follower (112) functionally connected to said first folding wing (62) to make said first folding wing (62) cooperate with said first surface (76) of each of said groups (3); and a second cam (82) having two second operative lobes (88, 89) interacting with a respective second cam follower (110, 111) functionally connected to the respective second flap (63a, 63b) to make the second flap (63a, 63b) cooperate with the respective second surface (77, 78) of each said group (3).

10. The unit of claim 9, wherein the first and second cams (83, 82) are interconnected to interact with the respective first and second cam followers (112; 110, 111) at different times.

11. A unit as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said first and second cams (83, 82) are mutually connected so that, in order to move said rotating means (60) from said open configuration to said closed configuration, said first cam (83) interacts with said first cam follower (112) before said second cam (82) interacts with said second cam follower (110, 111).

12. The unit according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said first and second cams (83, 82) rotate integrally about a common direction (a).

13. A unit as claimed in claim 12, when depending on claim 3, wherein said pin (79) is angularly movable about said direction (a) with respect to said first and second cams (83, 82).

14. The unit according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that said actuating mechanism (80) comprises: a motor (117); a first wheel (86) angularly connected to said first and second cams (83, 82); and a belt (84) connecting the motor (117) to the first wheel (86).

15. A unit as in claim 14, wherein the first wheel (86) is a wheel movable on an axis.

16. A unit as claimed in claim 14 or 15, when dependent on claim 3, wherein said actuating mechanism (80) comprises a second wheel (85a) movable in axis, disposed between said first wheel (86) and said motor (117); the second wheel (85a) is connected to the body (93).

17. A unit as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said alignment means (45, 46) comprise at least one alignment surface (46), said packages (2) in each of said groups (3) upstream of said alignment surface (46) resting on said alignment surface (46) and being aligned in said queue across said transport path (T).

18. A unit as in claim 17, wherein the alignment surface (46) advances cyclically along a first path (R) having at least one working portion (R1) parallel to the transport path (T).

19. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 18, wherein said alignment surfaces are defined by said first flaps (62), when cooperating with said first surfaces (76) of each of said groups (3), aligning said packages (2) of said groups (3) in said queue across said transport path (T).

20. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a moving conveying surface (9) which is fed with a number of packages (2) equal to the number of packages in each group (3) at predetermined time intervals, and in that the moving conveying surface (9) feeds the packages (2) coming from the input station (5) along the transport path (T) to an output station (6); and wherein said direction (A) is perpendicular to said conveying surface (9).

21. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said predetermined angle is a 90 degree angle.

22. A method of grouping packages (2) along a transmission path (T), the method comprising the steps of:

-feeding groups (3) of said packages (2) arranged in longitudinal lines parallel to said transport path (T) to an input station (5) of a grouping unit (1); and

aligning the packages (2) in each group (3) in at least one queue across the transport path (T);

said method is characterized in that it comprises the further steps of: -after said alignment step, selectively rotating said packages (2) in each of said groups (3) by a predetermined angle about a direction (a) transverse to said transport path (T) by means of rotating means (60).

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein said rotating step is performed while advancing said packages (2) in each of said groups (3) along a direction parallel to said transport path (T).

24. Method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that it comprises, before said rotating step, a step of integrally connecting each of said groups (3) and said rotating means (60) to each other.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the connecting step comprises the substeps of:

-making a first flap (62) of said rotating means (60) cooperate with a first surface (76), said first surface (76) defining a downstream end of each of said groups (3) before rotation thereof; and

-making two second flaps (63a, 63b) of said rotating means (60) cooperate with respective second surfaces (77, 78), said second surfaces (77, 78) defining, before rotation of each said group (3), opposite side ends of each said group (3) with respect to said transmission path (T).

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the sub-step of bringing the first flap (62) into cooperation with the first surface (76) and the sub-step of bringing the second flap (63a, 63b) into cooperation with the respective second surface (77, 78) are performed at different times.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said sub-step of bringing said first flap (62) into cooperation with said first surface (76) is carried out before said sub-step of bringing said second flap (63a, 63b) into cooperation with said respective second surface (77, 78).

28. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein said aligning step comprises the step of placing said packages (2) of each of said groups (3) upstream of an alignment surface (46) against said alignment surface (46).

29. A method as in claim 28, comprising the step of cyclically feeding the alignment surface (46) along a first path (R) having at least one working portion (R1) parallel to the transport path (T).

30. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein said alignment step is performed by means of said first flap (62) cooperating with said first surface (76) of each of said groups (3).