WO2019221594A1

WO2019221594A1 - Method and apparatus for automated packaging of elastically compressible articles

Info

Publication number: WO2019221594A1
Application number: PCT/MY2018/050096
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chester TAN; Christopher Tan
Original assignee: Afa Technologies Sdn Bhd
Current assignee: Afa Technologies Sdn Bhd
Priority date: 2018-05-18
Filing date: 2018-12-21
Publication date: 2019-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-18
Also published as: MY195848A

Abstract

An automated method for packaging at least one elastically compressible article which method comprises the sequential steps of: folding a carton blank (100), into a box like configuration with an open carton wall; loading at least one of said elastically compressible articles, into the box through the open carton wall, wherein loading of said elastically compressible articles into the box through the open carton wall is accomplished by passing each article through a substantially vertical plane during at least part of its loading path of movement while maintaining each article in a generally horizontal relationship during loading into the carton; and, closing the open carton wall to complete the packaging.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED PACKAGING OF EUASTICAUUY COMPRESSIBUE ARTICUES

TECHNICAU FIEUD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automated packaging of elastically compressible articles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automated packaging of the articles to increase production rate of the packaging box without any bulky and bulging look.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most of the gloves are usually packed in boxes. Before completing packaging process, the gloves are stacked manually and inserted into the packing box and then sealed. This technique requires more labor intensity of the workers, the efficiency of the gloves entering the box is low, and the pass rate of the packaging is low. This technique is no longer suitable for the needs of modem industrial production, and is not conducive to the expansion of production scale.

Further, the gloves are manually inserted into the packaging box through the side opening, and then manually the lid is closed at the opening. Since there is air in each glove, when dozens or hundreds of gloves are piled together, the carton box looks bulky and bulging when exceeds the volume of the carton box and requires manual air extrusion. Furthermore, the texture of the glove is soft and it is not easy to stuff it into the carton box. Therefore, this causes the packaging to fail due to misoperation occur from time to time, and are far from meeting the packaging and boxing needs of the batch glove production line.

In recent years the manual packaging of the gloves are being replaced with automatic glove packaging machines. One example is China Patent No. CN103332332A discloses a stand box device includes an installation assisting device, which in that it also includes a carton board receiving device, a carton board receiving device is connected with a lifting and driving device, and a carton board is placed on both sides of the carton board feeding device. The carton board uprights are respectively connected with the turning over mechanism, and the turning over mechanism and the lifting up and down driving device are arranged on the installation assisting device. The glove box-into-carrying device is of great significance, by placing the gloves directly in the open carton board, and then performing side-to-side and both-end sealing to improve the qualification rate and the efficiency of entering the box. The purpose of this patent is to apply to the glove boxing device for supporting the carton board and, after putting the gloves in the carton board, erecting the side edges of the carton board for bonding in the next process. The disadvantages is the process is sticky and the gloves placed directly in the open carton board then the box configuration is formed for packaging. In process the arrangement of the gloves inside the box can be messy and bulky. Due to this the final package box obtained is bulky and bulging.

Another example is China Patent No. CN202728596U discloses a device for quickly delivering a finished glove into a packaging box, which includes a glove transition box and a transition box bracket. A glove box is arranged on the transition box, and a glove transition box is installed in the transition box bracket. On the inner guide rail on the side, an end of the transition box bracket is provided with an outer guide rail, and the other end is provided with a transition box driving cylinder and a glove block driving cylinder, and a glove block drives a glove block on the cylinder to compress the glove. In the glove transition box, the transition box drives the air cylinder to push the glove transition box into the glove box. The disadvantages are: during the pushing process, the glove is easily squeezed into the surrounding gap, and the problems such as tearing of the glove occur, affecting the passing rate of the box; the loading movement is complicated and the loading speed needs to be improved.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method and an apparatus for automated packaging the articles, where the articles are loaded into the box through an opening, in such a manner that the final package box obtained is neat without any bulkiness or bulging of the box. Thereby, increasing the passing rate of the box by overcoming the above mentioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an automated method for packaging at least one elastically compressible article which method comprises the sequential steps of: folding a carton blank, into a box like configuration with an open carton wall; loading at least one of said elastically compressible articles, into the box through the open carton wall, wherein loading of said elastically compressible articles into the box through the open carton wall is accomplished by passing each article through a substantially vertical plane during at least part of its loading path of movement while maintaining each article in a generally horizontal relationship during loading into the carton; and, closing the open carton wall to complete the packaging.

Preferably, loading at least one of the elastically compressible articles into the carton through the open carton wall includes the step of compressing the articles so as to reduce the volume of air in and/or between the article or articles within the carton.

Preferably, a continuous series of open cartons are conveyed in an in-line procession and a continuous series of articles or discrete stacks of articles are conveyed in an in-line procession the movement of each continuous series being coordinated so that the open cartons are conveyed in registry with individual articles or discrete stacks of articles.

Preferably, the loading of the articles into the open cartons takes place while both in-line processions are in coordinated movement.

Preferably, the folding of the carton blank into the box like configuration comprises the steps of: loading each carton blank, having top, bottom, side and end walls onto a pre erect station and folding the carton side and end walls relative to the bottom wall to form an open topped box, and wherein the articles are loaded through the open top of the carton. Preferably, the loading of the articles into the carton includes the step of weighing the discrete stack of articles on a weighing scale to confirm the quantity of articles in the stacks for loading into the cartons.

Preferably, the loading of the articles into the carton includes the steps of: transporting the weighed discrete stack of articles to a loading station where each article is maintained in generally horizontal relationship on a conveying means; and, picking up the weighed discrete stack of articles through the vertical plane while maintaining each article in the horizontal relationship.

Preferably, the closing of the top wall further comprises the steps of: edge folding at an edge on one of side wall at foldable edges; applying glue on the edge folded region; and, folding the top wall foldable at the side wall, to enclose the top opening.

Preferably, the articles are gloves or a condoms.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for the automated packaging of a sequential series of at least one elastically compressible article into a sequential series of cartons which apparatus comprises means for folding sequential: carton blanks (100), each into a box like configuration with an open carton wall; means for loading at least one of said elastically compressible articles, into the carton through the open carton wall, wherein the means for loading said elastically compressible articles through the open carton wall accomplishes the loading by passing each article through a substantially vertical plane during at least part of its loading path of movement while maintaining each article in a generally horizontal relationship during loading; and, means for closing the open carton wall to complete the packaging.

Preferably, means for compressing the articles or each article so as to reduce the volume of air in the article and/or between the articles, within the carton.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes means for conveying a continuous series of open cartons in an in-line procession and a means for conveying a continuous series of articles or discrete stacks of articles in an in-line procession, the movement of each continuous series being coordinated so that the open cartons are conveyed in registry with individual articles or discrete stacks of articles.

Preferably, the means for folding of the carton blank into the box like configuration comprises: means for loading each carton blank, having top, bottom, side and end walls onto a pre-erect station; and, means for folding the carton side and end walls relative to the bottom wall to form an open topped box configuration, wherein said means for loading loads through the open top of the carton.

Preferably, the means for loading of the articles into the carton includes; a means for weighing the discrete stack of articles on a weighing scale to confirm the quantity of articles in the stacks for loading into the cartons.

Preferably, the means for loading of the articles into the carton includes: a means for transporting the weighed discrete stack of articles to a loading station where each articles are maintained in generally horizontal relationship on the conveying means; and, a means for picking up the weighed discrete stack through the vertical plane while maintaining each article in the horizontal relationship.

Preferably, the means for closing of the open top wall further comprises: means for edge folding at an edge on one of side wall at foldable edges; means for applying glue on the edge folded region; and, means for folding the top wall foldable at the side wall, to enclose the top opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood, when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a loading station of a cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a pre-erect station of the cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of an erect station of the cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a weighing station of the cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a glove loading station of the cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a flattener and edge fold station of the cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a glue station of the cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a tucking station of the cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of an unloading station of the cartooning machine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automated packaging of at least one elastically compressible article, where the apparatus can be an automated cartoning machine. The elastically compressible article is preferably a glove or condom or any other suitable elastically compressible articles.

The term“carton blank” used in this document can be a dispenser sheet.

The cartoning machine, performs automated packaging of a sequential series of at least one elastically compressible article into a sequential series of cartons carries out following steps: load an open carton blank (100), erect to form open top box, load the gloves into the box through top opening, close the top opening, side seaming and seal the carton box to complete packaging. The automated method can be implemented using horizontal cartoning machine or vertical cartoning machine. During the packaging process, the carton blank (100) passes through the various stations in the cartoning machine to form a carton box loaded with the elastically compressible articles.

The automated method for packaging the elastically compressible article comprises the sequential steps to: fold a carton blank (100) in an open configuration, into a box like configuration with an open carton wall. Preferably, a continuous series of open carton blank (100) are conveyed in an in-line procession and a continuous series of articles or discrete stacks of articles are conveyed in an in-line procession the movement of each continuous series being coordinated so that the open cartons are conveyed in registry with individual articles or discrete stacks of articles. Next, load at least one of the elastically compressible articles, into the box through the open carton wall. The elastically compressible articles are loaded into the box through the open carton wall in such a way by passing each article through a substantially vertical plane during at least part of its loading path of movement while maintaining each article in a generally horizontal relationship during loading into the carton. Then, close the open carton wall to complete the packaging.

In a preferred embodiment, the folding of the carton blank into the box like configuration comprises the steps to: load each carton blank (100) onto a pre-erect station, where each carton blank (100) has top wall (110), bottom wall (120), side walls (l30a & l30b) and end walls provided on either sides of the side walls (l30a & l30b) which are foldable on foldable traces formed on the carton blank (100). Then, fold the side walls (l30a & l30b) and end walls relative to the bottom wall (120) to form an open topped box, and wherein the articles are loaded through the open top of the carton (100).

In a preferred embodiment, during loading the elastically compressible articles into the carton through the open top of the carton includes the steps to: weigh the discrete stack of articles on a weighing scale to confirm the quantity of articles in the stacks for loading into the cartons. Then, transport the weighed discrete stack of articles to a loading station of the automated cartoning machine. Each article is maintained in generally horizontal relationship on a conveying means. Where palmer region of the glove or the dorsal plane of the glove is parallel to the horizontal axis of the conveying means or the carton. Then, pick up the weighed discrete stack of articles along the vertical plane while maintaining each article in the horizontal relationship and load the stacked articles into the carton through the open carton wall. Next, compress the articles so as to reduce the volume of air in and/or between the article or articles within the carton. The loading of the articles into the open cartons takes place while both in-line processions are in coordinated movement.

In a preferred embodiment, the closing of the top wall (100) further comprises the steps of: edge fold at an edge on one of side wall (l30b) at foldable edges. Then, apply glue on the edge folded region; and, fold the top wall (110) foldable at the side wall (l30a), to enclose the top opening.

The cartoning machine for the automated packaging of a sequential series of the elastically compressible article into a sequential series of cartons which apparatus comprises means to fold sequential carton blanks (100), each into a box like configuration with an open carton wall. A means to load at least one of the elastically compressible articles, into the carton through the open carton wall; and, a means to close the open carton wall to complete the packaging. The cartoning machine comprises of various stations such as a loading station, pre-erect station, erect station, weighing station, loading station, flattener & edge fold station, glue station, tucking station and unloading station. The carton blank (100) passes through each station to undergo complete packaging process of the articles. The process can be indexing process or a continuous process or any other suitable process applicable in the cartoning machine. Each station in the cartoning machine are provided with a robotic means to perform respective task at the respective station. Further, a conveying means is provided connecting all the stations of the cartoning machine to transport the carton blank (100) from one station to the other station during the packaging process.

Referring to Fig. 1, illustrates a perspective view of a loading station of the cartoning machine. The loading station is provided with a means preferably a robotic means having a pair of arms to load at least one carton blank (100). Each carton blank (100) has top wall (110), bottom wall (120), side walls (l30a & l30b) and end walls provided on the either sides of the side wall (l30a & l30b). The top wall (110), bottom wall (120), side walls (l30a & l30b) and end walls are foldable at the foldable traces provided on the carton blank (100). Further, the top wall (110) and bottom wall (120) each include a pair of side sleeves foldable on either side. The side sleeves can be foldable in both same direction or in opposite direction. In an embodiment, the carton blank (100) can be plain without any foldable traces on it.

Referring to Fig. 2 & 3, illustrates a perspective view of a pre-erect station and erect station of the cartoning machine. The pre-erect station and the erect station are preferably provided with a folding means to form open top carton box. At least one carton blank (100) is picked by the means from the loading station and placed on the pre-erect station. Fold the carton side walls (l30a & l30b) and end walls relative to the bottom wall (120) to form the open topped box configuration. Preferably, in the pre-erect station, the end walls of the carton blank (100) are folded and sent to erect station. Next, the side walls (l30a & l30b) are folded on the erect station to form the open top box configuration. In this stage, the top wall (110) is not folded and the open top box is transported to the loading station. In an embodiment, for the carton blank (100) without any foldable traces on it, the pre-erect station and the erect station can automatically detect the edges to be folded on the carton blank (100) to form open top carton box. Referring to Fig. 4, illustrates a perspective view of a weighing station of the cartoning machine. The articles from the manufacturing unit are collected and layered to one above another to stack the articles. The weighing station includes a means to weigh the discrete stack of articles on a weighing scale to confirm the quantity of articles in the stacks for loading into the cartons so as to prevent the bulking or bulging of the articles in the carton. Then, the stacked articles are inserted into a holder box and placed on the conveying means to be transported to the loading station. The weighing station is arranged along with the loading station. Each article or stack of articles are maintained in the horizontal relationship to the conveying means.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a means for conveying a continuous series of open cartons in an in-line procession and a means for conveying a continuous series of articles or discrete stacks of articles in an in-line procession, the movement of each continuous series being coordinated so that the open cartons are conveyed in registry with individual articles or discrete stacks of articles.

Referring to Fig. 5, illustrates a perspective view of the loading station of the cartoning machine. The loading station is provided with a means to pick up the weighed discrete stack articles and to load the articles through the open carton wall accomplishes the loading by passing each article through a substantially vertical plane during at least part of its loading path of movement while maintaining each article in a generally horizontal relationship during loading. In this stage, the stack articles are placed into the carton through the top opening. The side walls (l30a & l30b) holds the stack articles in the position and prevents from the collapsing of the stack articles. For an example: if the article is a glove, then the frontal or palmer plane of the glove or the dorsal plane of the glove is parallel to the horizontal axis of the conveying means or the box. This method of loading the gloves through the top opening of the carton eliminates the need for stuffing of the gloves from side opening into the box. The open top carton loaded with the articles is transported to the flattener & edge fold station.

Referring to Fig, 6, illustrates a perspective view of the flattener & edge fold station of the cartoning machine. The flattener & edge fold station is preferably provided with a means to perform edge folding. In this stage, the side wall (l30a) has the unfolded top wall (110) and the other side panel (l30b) has a foldable edge of a pre-determined length. This foldable edge is folded and flattened towards the inward so as to indicate the level for the stacking the gloves.

Referring to Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the glue station of the cartoning machine. The glue station is provided with an air extrusion means and a glue applying means. The air extrusion means, for compressing the articles so as to reduce the volume of air in and/or between the articles, within the carton. So as to avoid bulky or messy articles inside the carton box. Further, the air extrusion means controls the height of the stack articles to remain below the flattened edge. Then, the glue applying means applies a glue on the folded & flattened edge of the side wall (l30b). Then, the top wall (110) is folded to close the top opening of the carton box to stick with the glue applied on the edge folded end of the side wall (l30b) to from a partial enclosed box. The partial enclosed box with the side opening is transported to the tucking station.

Referring to Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the tucking station of the cartoning machine. The tucking station is provided with a tucking means. In this stage, the side sleeves on the either sides of the top wall (110) are folded downward on its folded edge and tucked into the end walls of the side panel (l30a & l30b). Preferably, the side sleeves of the top panel (110) are provided with a locking slot and, the side sleeves of the bottom panel (120) are provided with a locking edge. Then, the side sleeves of the bottom panel (120) are folded upward to be tucked in where the locking edge slots into the locking slot to close & lock the side opening of the box.

Referring to Figure 9, illustrates a perspective view of an unloading station of the cartoning machine. In this station a means for unloading the box is provided. A picker move forward to grip the carton box from the cartoning station and places it on the conveyor for dispatch.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An automated method for packaging at least one elastically compressible article which method comprises the sequential steps of:

folding a carton blank (100), into a box like configuration with an open carton wall; loading at least one of said elastically compressible articles, into the box through the open carton wall, wherein loading of said elastically compressible articles into the box through the open carton wall is accomplished by passing each article through a substantially vertical plane during at least part of its loading path of movement while maintaining each article in a generally horizontal relationship during loading into the carton; and,

closing the open carton wall to complete the packaging.

2. The automated method according to claim 1, wherein loading at least one of the elastically compressible articles into the carton through the open carton wall includes the step of compressing the articles so as to reduce the volume of air in and/or between the article or articles within the carton.

3. The automated method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein a continuous series of open cartons are conveyed in an in-line procession and a continuous series of articles or discrete stacks of articles are conveyed in an in-line procession the movement of each continuous series being coordinated so that the open cartons are conveyed in registry with individual articles or discrete stacks of articles.

4. The automated method according to claim 3, wherein the loading of the articles into the open cartons takes place while both in-line processions are in coordinated movement.

5. The automated method according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the folding of the carton blank into the box like configuration comprises the steps of:

loading each carton blank, having top (110), bottom (120), side (l30a & l30b) and end walls onto a pre-erect station and folding the carton side and end walls relative to the bottom wall to form an open topped box, and wherein the articles are loaded through the open top of the carton.

6. The automated method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading of the articles into the carton includes the step of weighing the discrete stack of articles on a weighing scale to confirm the quantity of articles in the stacks for loading into the cartons.

7. The automated method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading of the articles into the carton includes the steps of: transporting the weighed discrete stack of articles to a loading station where each article is maintained in generally horizontal relationship on a conveying means; and, picking up the weighed discrete stack of articles through the vertical plane while maintaining each article in the horizontal relationship.

8. The automated method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing of the top wall further comprises the steps of:

edge folding at an edge on one of side wall (l30b) at foldable edges;

applying glue on the edge folded region; and,

folding the top wall (110) foldable at the side wall (l30a), to enclose the top opening.

9. The automated method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the articles are gloves or a condoms.

10. An apparatus for the automated packaging of a sequential series of at least one elastically compressible article into a sequential series of cartons which apparatus comprises means for folding sequential

carton blanks (100), each into a box like configuration with an open carton wall; means for loading at least one of said elastically compressible articles, into the carton through the open carton wall, wherein the means for loading said elastically compressible articles through the open carton wall accomplishes the loading by passing each article through a substantially vertical plane during at least part of its loading path of movement while maintaining each article in a generally horizontal relationship during loading; and,

means for closing the open carton wall to complete the packaging.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, including means for compressing the or each articles so as to reduce the volume of air in and/or between the article or articles, within the carton.

12. The apparatus according to any one of preceding claims, further including means for conveying a continuous series of open cartons in an in-line procession and a means for conveying a continuous series of articles or discrete stacks of articles in an in-line procession, the movement of each continuous series being coordinated so that the open cartons are conveyed in registry with individual articles or discrete stacks of articles.

13. The apparatus according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the means for folding of the carton blank into the box like configuration comprises:

means for loading each carton blank, having top, bottom, side and end walls onto a pre-erect station; and,

means for folding the carton side and end walls relative to the bottom wall to form an open topped box configuration, wherein said means for loading loads through the open top of the carton.

14. The apparatus according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the means for loading of the articles into the carton includes; a means for weighing the discrete stack of articles on a weighing scale to confirm the quantity of articles in the stacks for loading into the cartons.

15. The apparatus according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the loading of the articles into the carton includes: a means for transporting the weighed discrete stack of articles to a loading station where each articles are maintained in generally horizontal relationship on the conveying means; and, a means for picking up the weighed discrete stack through the vertical plane while maintaining each article in the horizontal relationship.

16. The apparatus according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the means for closing of the open top wall further comprises:

means for edge folding at an edge on one of side wall (l30b) at foldable edges; means for applying glue on the edge folded region; and,

means for folding the top wall (110) foldable at the side wall (l30a), to enclose the top opening.