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US20040163361A1 - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Packaging machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US20040163361A1
US20040163361A1 US10/483,681 US48368104A US2004163361A1 US 20040163361 A1 US20040163361 A1 US 20040163361A1 US 48368104 A US48368104 A US 48368104A US 2004163361 A1 US2004163361 A1 US 2004163361A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
product
leaflet
packaging machine
opening
stop
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/483,681
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Wolfgang Herkel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Assigned to IWK VERPACKUNGSTECHNIK GMBH reassignment IWK VERPACKUNGSTECHNIK GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HERKEL, WOLFGANG
Publication of US20040163361A1 publication Critical patent/US20040163361A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/20—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents

Definitions

  • the invention concerns a packaging machine comprising a transfer device for inserting a product into a package, and with a circulating leaflet supply device comprising a plurality of tong-like holders which are disposed in a row, for receiving one leaflet each, the leaflet supply device disposing the leaflet, in the region of the transfer device, between the product and the package, such that the leaflet can be inserted together with the product into the package, wherein an opening unit comprising at least one stop is disposed in the transport path of the holders by means of which the holders can be opened for releasing the leaflet, wherein the stop can be adjusted in dependence on an opening signal of a control device between an operative position which opens the holder and a non-operative position in which the holder passes the stop without releasing the leaflet.
  • a packaging machine of this type usually has a first circulating supply device for the package, e.g. a so-called folded box chain, and a second circulating supply device for the products, e.g. a so-called product chain.
  • the motions of these two chains are synchronized such that the product can be inserted by an insertion plunger, transversely to the direction of motion of the chains, laterally into the folded box.
  • an additional leaflet or side note must be inserted into the package.
  • one further circulating supply device is provided in the form of a so-called leaflet tong chain which supports several tong-like holders which each can receive and clamp one leaflet.
  • a leaflet to be inserted into the package is moved between the product and the folded box by the leaflet tong chain and is carried along by the product through its lateral inserting motion to be inserted into the folded box.
  • the tong-like holder must be opened to release the leaflet.
  • an opening unit is provided in the region of the transfer device, e.g. in the form of a stop or opening wedge, against which the tong-like holder abuts during its supply motion thereby opening the tong arms and releasing the leaflet.
  • a sensor detects when a folded box or a product is missing whereupon no product is inserted or the insertion plunger is not activated.
  • the opening wedge is rigidly installed in consequence of which the tong-like holder also opens when no product is being inserted into a folded box. It has turned out that the leaflet released in this case, can move randomly through the packaging machine and cause malfunction of the packaging machine as well as temporary stoppage, which requires time-consuming and expensive manual intervention.
  • DE 199 18 527 A1 proposes to bring the opening wedge out of the transport path of the tong-like holder into an inoperative position when required. In this fashion, the tong-like holder opens and releases the leaflet only when a folded box is actually present in the folded box chain and the product chain contains a product.
  • the opening wedge When no folded box or no product is present, the opening wedge is removed from the transport path of the tong-like holder such that the tong-like holder with leaflet passes the opening wedge and is not opened thereby. The opening wedge then returns into its operative position to open the following tong-like holder if the conditions required therefor are met.
  • the cycling times provided in a modern packaging machine for one working cycle are only a few milliseconds.
  • the conditions required for adjusting the opening wedge, at least with regard to the product and the package must be detected and evaluated and the operating means must be activated to adjust the stop.
  • the plunger inserting the product into the package is activated only when a product is present, when a leaflet is present which has the correct code, and when a package or folded box is present.
  • the corresponding inquiries or detections are carried out in the packaging machine and the corresponding data is stored in a so-called shift register and can be queried therefrom. This data also forms the basis for the decision whether the tong-like holder is opened to release the leaflet or remains closed.
  • the packaging machine stores one data set for each package unit, comprising the product, the folded box and the leaflet, wherein the data set contains all essential conditions and control data of the package unit. Since a plurality of package units are processed simultaneously and pass through the packaging machine, the data sets are conventionally stored in a common data storage.
  • the data storage is a shift register and the data sets within that shift register are shifted, i.e. displaced, within the shift register in time steps corresponding to the working cycle of the machine, i.e. to the changing position of the associated package unit in the packaging machine continuing up to the ejector station.
  • the shift register is timed via a shift frequency strobe which is usually extracted from the product chain drive.
  • a packaging machine must be able to process products and packages of different formats and also different leaflet formats.
  • the individual components of the transfer station of the packaging machine must be adjusted relative to each other in dependence on the product sizes, the package sizes and the leaflet sizes.
  • the leaflet tong chain with the wedge opening the tongs is usually adjusted relative to the product chain and/or the folded box chain when the format is changed. In consequence thereof, the point in time when the opening wedge is optionally brought from its inoperative position into its operative position (opening wedge time) is also adjusted relative to the shift timing of the shift register, which defines the start of a processing cycle of the packaging machine.
  • the invention is based on the principal idea that initiation of the opening motion of the tong-like holder is not directly based on the above-mentioned data of the shift register, rather indirectly, in that a first detector device detects the insertion motion of the product into the package and emits a corresponding insertion signal to the control device when the product is inserted.
  • the control device generates an opening signal only when an insertion signal is present, i.e. when the product has actually been inserted, in response to which, the opening wedge is brought into its operative position in which it opens the tong-like holder.
  • An insertion motion of the product occurs only when the insertion plunger is initiated, which, in turn, depends on satisfying the above-mentioned conditions (leaflet present? Product present? Folded box present? Leaflet code correct?).
  • the first detector device determines that the insertion plunger is moved or the product is inserted, the above-mentioned conditions must all be met.
  • the insertion signal then indicates whether or not the leaflet is to be released through opening the associated tong-like holder.
  • the first detector device can directly detect the insertion motion of the product. Alternatively, it is also possible that the first detector device detects the insertion motion of the insertion plunger abutting the product.
  • the first detector device comprises a first initiator, which can be initiated by any passing insertion plunger, and a second initiator which can be initiated only by an insertion plunger inserting the product.
  • the first initiator is preferably disposed upstream of the second initiator with respect to the transport direction and is crossed and triggered by every insertion plunger i.e. independently of whether the insertion plunger actually carries out an insertion motion to insert the product or if the insertion motion is suppressed through disablement of the insertion plunger.
  • the insertion plunger crossing the first initiator resets an intermediate storage or mark to a value 0.
  • the insertion plunger When the insertion plunger subsequently starts an insertion motion of the product, it crosses the second initiator and triggers it thereby setting the intermediate storage to the value 1. Only when the intermediate storage has the value 1 is an insertion signal transmitted to the control device. The next insertion plunger resets the intermediate storage to 0 when the first initiator is triggered.
  • the initiators can be triggered by the insertion plunger without contact, which is the case, in particular, when the initiators are metal detectors, magnetic switches or light barriers which are triggered or switched by the insertion plunger.
  • the first detector device and the opening unit can be adjusted together as a unit in the transport direction of the leaflet supply device.
  • the above-mentioned components are disposed on a common adjustable frame.
  • This embodiment is advantageous in that adjustment of the opening unit for changing the format, e.g. when the product size is changed, simultaneously also displaces the first detector device with the two above-mentioned initiators by the same amount and the temporal association between the first detector device and the opening unit is maintained.
  • a further development of the invention may have an additional second detector device for detecting the position of the next holder to be opened and transmitting a corresponding holder signal to the control device.
  • the second detector device determines that a holder has reached a predetermined position.
  • the control device also evaluates whether the tong-like holder is to be opened or shall remain closed due to the received insertion signal and whether the holder to be opened is properly aligned.
  • the stop or the opening wedge can be brought or held in the operative position through triggering of an actuating device to open the holder as determined by the second detector device.
  • the actuating device of the opening wedge is not activated, the tong-like holder passes the opening unit or the opening wedge without being opened.
  • the leaflet is then removed from the holder and discharged or dispatched in a suitable manner at another position of the leaflet supply device, e.g. by means of a further stop.
  • the second detector device is adjusted in the transport direction of the leaflet supply device, preferably as a unit together with the first detector device and the opening unit. In this fashion, the spatial and therefore temporal relationship among the components is also maintained after displacement.
  • the stop is pretensioned by a spring into its inoperative position such that the controllable actuating device must be activated against the spring pretension to bring or keep the stop in the operative position when the conditions required for opening the tong-like holder and releasing the leaflet are met.
  • the actuating device may be a pneumatic or hydraulic adjustment cylinder.
  • the stop or the opening wedge can be adjusted, preferably displaced, substantially perpendicular to the transport supply device.
  • the single FIGURE shows a schematic representation of a transfer device in a packaging machine.
  • the FIGURE schematically shows a transfer device 10 of a packaging machine which comprises a folded box chain 28 (only schematically shown) extending in the direction of the arrow FK for receiving folded boxes or packages V, and a product chain 29 extending parallel thereto in the direction of the arrow PK with products P to be packaged.
  • the FIGURE shows only one package V and one product P.
  • the motions of the folded box chain 28 and the product chain 29 are synchronized such that the product P can be inserted into the open package V via an insertion plunger 11 of the transfer device 10 acting transverse to the direction of motion of the chains 28 and 29 .
  • the insertion plunger 11 thereby follows an insertion curve EK.
  • a circulating leaflet tong chain 27 extends between (below and parallel to) the folded box chain 28 and the product chain 29 , and carries a plurality of tong-like holders 15 , 16 at regular intervals between the jaws of which one leaflet (not shown) can be clamped with upright alignment.
  • the leaflet is guided such that it is positioned between the package V and the product in the region of the transfer device 10 .
  • the product P is transversely inserted into the package V
  • the leaflet is carried along thereby and inserted into the package V.
  • the holder 15 , 16 which clamps the leaflet must be opened.
  • the transfer device 10 has an opening unit 12 .
  • the opening unit comprises an adjustable stop or opening wedge 13 which extends parallel to the transport path PZK of the leaflet tong chain 27 or the tong-like holders 15 , 16 .
  • the opening wedge 13 has an associated actuating device 24 by means of which the opening wedge 13 can be adjusted substantially perpendicularly to the transport path PZK of the tong-like holders 15 , 16 between an operative position and a withdrawn, inoperative position.
  • the opening wedge 13 is thereby pretensioned into its inoperative position by a spring (not shown).
  • the tong-like holders 15 , 16 disposed on the leaflet tong chain 27 conventionally have clamping jaws or tongs for clamping the leaflet.
  • Each holder moreover has an axis extending transverse to the transport path PZK on which rollers 17 or 18 are rotatably disposed to form a stop part of the holder 15 or 16 .
  • the stop part with rollers 17 or 18 is oriented such that the latter abut the opening wedge 13 when it is in its operative position.
  • the FIGURE shows that the insertion plunger 11 has an associated first detector device 19 for detecting whether the insertion plunger is displaced to insert the product P.
  • the first detector device 19 comprises a first initiator 19 a which is triggered by each passing insertion plunger 11 and a second initiator 19 b disposed behind the first initiator 19 a in the transport direction PZK which is only triggered by an insertion plunger 11 which inserts the product P.
  • the first initiator 19 a resets an intermediate storage or mark to the value 0 as soon as an insertion plunger 11 passes or crosses it.
  • the insertion plunger 11 When the insertion plunger 11 follows the insertion curve EK via points set by the shift register to thereby insert the product P, it also passes the second initiator 19 b as a result of which, the intermediate storage or mark is set to the value 1.
  • the first detector device 19 with the two initiators 19 a and 19 b is disposed on a plate 14 which is structurally connected to the opening unit 12 .
  • the intermediate storage When the intermediate storage has the value 1, the first detector device 19 transmits a corresponding insertion signal to the control device 26 via a data line L.
  • a second detector device 20 is provided close to the leaflet tong chain 27 in front of the opening unit 12 , for detecting that the next tong-like holder to be opened has reached a predetermined position.
  • the second detector device 20 transmits a corresponding holder signal to the control device 26 and the signals are processed in the control device 26 .
  • the control device 26 controls the actuating means 24 of the opening wedge 13 such that it is brought into its operative position.
  • the holder 15 abuts against the opening wedge 13 and is opened to release the leaflet which is then carried along by the product P during its insertion motion and is inserted into the package V.
  • the first detector device 19 determines that the product P is not inserted, all conditions which are required for correct transfer of the product P are not met.
  • the second initiator 19 b is not triggered and does not set the intermediate storage to the value 1 and no insertion signal is generated for the control device 26 .
  • the control device 26 detects that the opening wedge for the next tong-like holder should be brought into the inoperative position to ensure that the holder does not abut the opening wedge and is accordingly not opened.
  • the leaflet remains in the tong-like holder and is removed and diverted at another point of the leaflet tong chain.
  • the first detector device 19 , the second detector device 20 , and the opening unit 12 are commonly adjusted as a unit in the transport direction PZK of the transport supply device 27 , while maintaining their mutual relative locations and orientations.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
US10/483,681 2002-05-24 2003-04-10 Packaging machine Abandoned US20040163361A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10223064.1 2002-05-24
DE10223064A DE10223064A1 (de) 2002-05-24 2002-05-24 Verpackungsmaschine
PCT/EP2003/003372 WO2003099661A1 (de) 2002-05-24 2003-04-01 Verpackungsmaschine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20040163361A1 true US20040163361A1 (en) 2004-08-26

Family

ID=29432271

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/483,681 Abandoned US20040163361A1 (en) 2002-05-24 2003-04-10 Packaging machine

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US20040163361A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1461253B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE312020T1 (de)
AU (1) AU2003233951A1 (de)
CA (1) CA2450593A1 (de)
DE (2) DE10223064A1 (de)
MX (1) MXPA04000578A (de)
WO (1) WO2003099661A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050115199A1 (en) * 2002-05-24 2005-06-02 Dieter Pluschow Machine for packaging a product with a pamphlet

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101224280B1 (ko) * 2005-10-19 2013-01-18 가부시키가이샤 유신 전동 조향 로크 장치
CN113104317A (zh) * 2021-04-15 2021-07-13 益阳市鹏程科技发展有限公司 一种老化、外观、点数一体机

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2934869A (en) * 1957-11-08 1960-05-03 Redington Co F B Article detecting mechanism
US3821874A (en) * 1972-10-10 1974-07-02 Jones & Co Inc R A Cartoning machine for cartons having liners
US3841054A (en) * 1973-02-28 1974-10-15 Phillips Petroleum Co Method and apparatus for automatically capping carton with lids
US3982382A (en) * 1975-05-22 1976-09-28 Crompton & Knowles Corporation Article bucket with circular clamp
US4059264A (en) * 1976-05-03 1977-11-22 Redington, Incorporated Method of feeding a leaflet and the apparatus therefor
US4578927A (en) * 1982-11-12 1986-04-01 R. A. Jones & Co. Inc. Pusher head diverter for a carton loader
US4982556A (en) * 1989-05-09 1991-01-08 Tisma Machine Corporation Modularly constructed automatic packaging machine
US5079901A (en) * 1989-05-08 1992-01-14 Carol J. Witt Coupon inserting apparatus and method
US5081816A (en) * 1990-06-07 1992-01-21 I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. Apparatus for receiving blister packs from a product packaging line and for inserting these blister packs into cartons
US5375722A (en) * 1992-03-11 1994-12-27 W. H. Leary Co., Inc. Carton monitoring system
US5481848A (en) * 1992-09-16 1996-01-09 I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. Method for feeding and preparing information leaflets on a product packaging line and a system for implementing this method
US5551217A (en) * 1994-09-20 1996-09-03 R. A. Jones & Company, Inc. Leaflet inserter and integrated product bucket loader
US5930978A (en) * 1997-04-15 1999-08-03 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Apparatus for packing products and method for controlling the same
US6354060B1 (en) * 1999-04-23 2002-03-12 Iwk Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Packaging machine
US20050115199A1 (en) * 2002-05-24 2005-06-02 Dieter Pluschow Machine for packaging a product with a pamphlet

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3040866A1 (de) * 1980-10-30 1982-06-03 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Verfahren und vorrichtung zum zufuehren und bereitstellen von gefalzten prospekten
IT1300035B1 (it) * 1998-05-14 2000-04-04 Marchesini Group Spa Metodo per confezionare articoli all'interno di relativi astucci.
DE19933413B4 (de) * 1999-07-16 2004-02-26 Weber Marking Systems Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Einbringen eines flächigen Informationsträgers in einen zumindest bereichsweise oberseitig offenen Kasten

Patent Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2934869A (en) * 1957-11-08 1960-05-03 Redington Co F B Article detecting mechanism
US3821874A (en) * 1972-10-10 1974-07-02 Jones & Co Inc R A Cartoning machine for cartons having liners
US3841054A (en) * 1973-02-28 1974-10-15 Phillips Petroleum Co Method and apparatus for automatically capping carton with lids
US3982382A (en) * 1975-05-22 1976-09-28 Crompton & Knowles Corporation Article bucket with circular clamp
US4059264A (en) * 1976-05-03 1977-11-22 Redington, Incorporated Method of feeding a leaflet and the apparatus therefor
US4578927A (en) * 1982-11-12 1986-04-01 R. A. Jones & Co. Inc. Pusher head diverter for a carton loader
US5079901A (en) * 1989-05-08 1992-01-14 Carol J. Witt Coupon inserting apparatus and method
US4982556A (en) * 1989-05-09 1991-01-08 Tisma Machine Corporation Modularly constructed automatic packaging machine
US5081816A (en) * 1990-06-07 1992-01-21 I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. Apparatus for receiving blister packs from a product packaging line and for inserting these blister packs into cartons
US5375722A (en) * 1992-03-11 1994-12-27 W. H. Leary Co., Inc. Carton monitoring system
US5481848A (en) * 1992-09-16 1996-01-09 I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. Method for feeding and preparing information leaflets on a product packaging line and a system for implementing this method
US5551217A (en) * 1994-09-20 1996-09-03 R. A. Jones & Company, Inc. Leaflet inserter and integrated product bucket loader
US5930978A (en) * 1997-04-15 1999-08-03 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Apparatus for packing products and method for controlling the same
US6354060B1 (en) * 1999-04-23 2002-03-12 Iwk Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Packaging machine
US20050115199A1 (en) * 2002-05-24 2005-06-02 Dieter Pluschow Machine for packaging a product with a pamphlet

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050115199A1 (en) * 2002-05-24 2005-06-02 Dieter Pluschow Machine for packaging a product with a pamphlet
US6931815B2 (en) * 2002-05-24 2005-08-23 Iwk Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Machine for packaging a product with a pamphlet

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MXPA04000578A (es) 2004-04-20
ATE312020T1 (de) 2005-12-15
DE50301853D1 (de) 2006-01-12
EP1461253B1 (de) 2005-12-07
CA2450593A1 (en) 2003-12-04
EP1461253A1 (de) 2004-09-29
WO2003099661A1 (de) 2003-12-04
AU2003233951A1 (en) 2003-12-12
DE10223064A1 (de) 2003-12-11

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: IWK VERPACKUNGSTECHNIK GMBH, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HERKEL, WOLFGANG;REEL/FRAME:015306/0216

Effective date: 20031028

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION