JPS5843294B2 - Container aggregation method and device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automatic packaging system, and more particularly to a machine and method for packaging articles or groups of articles with pliable sheet material in a continuous manner along the flow of a conveyor.

Techniques for wrapping articles or groups of articles with heat-shrinkable plastic sheet materials have already been proposed.

These methods use a tubular sheet material cut in the length direction or a band-shaped sheet material.

Tubular sheets present insertion problems and are not suitable for articles flowing at high speeds along conveyor systems.

In the conventional technology using sheet materials, a plurality of sheets are introduced in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of a conveyor and are packaged together.

The most common group shape that requires such packaging is 2x3
6 packs, and cylindrical cans and other cylindrical containers were used for sale, making it extremely difficult to assemble containers for such packaging.

The object of the invention is therefore to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine and method that has higher production efficiency than conventional devices and methods.

A further object, in conjunction with the above object, is to ensure that the smooth flow of closely arranged articles or groups of articles is not disrupted from the beginning to the end of the packaging.

A special purpose is to provide an automatic serial article aggregation mechanism, which collects articles into single or two 3 groups for group packaging, i.e. lX3=3 punctures, or 2X3=
Arrange them into 6 packs.

This arrangement is transverse to the flow.

The general objective is to achieve the above objectives with a mechanism that operates smoothly and continuously.

This mechanism minimizes differential movements on objects (groups of containers) and minimizes variations in object movement within the course of movement of the production line, thereby obtaining superior packaging products at low costs. be.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

Note that this drawing is only for illustrating the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to what is shown in this drawing.

In other words, the present invention provides a quick and efficient packaging apparatus and method for wrapping groups of articles, such as beverage containers, in shrinkable plastic films or sheets.

Containers are randomly guided to one end of the production line and converted into optimal batches by a packaging device.

Each group has a maximum dimension transverse to the direction of conveyor travel.

The group flows along the conveyor and is wrapped in sheets of material that are unwound in the direction of the conveyor's movement.

The final stage of the conveyor is an oven, where the sheets are glued together for packaging and contracted into a taut state depending on the outer shape of the group.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the case of shrink-wrapping six 2×3 packs.

This six-pack consists of three rows of cylindrical containers or two sets of cans.

The novelty of the present invention lies in the method and means of forming the group and the method and means of packaging the group.

The present invention will be explained below through the packaging process with reference to the drawings.

General packaging process Before explaining the aggregation method and apparatus according to the present invention, the first
A container packaging process to which the present invention can be applied will be schematically explained with reference to the drawings.

The vertical arrows at both ends of Figure 1 indicate groups A, B, and C.

・・・・・・M shows that it flows continuously from left to right along a conveyor (not shown), and at the final stage of this process, complete packaging is done as shown in A. It shows.

Each group, such as group M, has a cylindrical container 10-11-12-1.
It has two sets of 3 rows of containers like 3-1415,
They are arranged in three rows in a direction transverse to the moving direction of the conveyor.

The formation of such groups will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, and a mechanism is used to bring the containers in each group close together and to form a distance A between adjacent groups.

This spacing A and the speed of group movement are maintained during the sheet packaging condition.

The sheet packaging material 16 is supplied from a reel or magazine 17, which is suspended above the moving group by a transversely extending axis of rotation.

Extension, positioning, and other control rollers 18-112 (1
-21, the sheet material is pulled down to the end face of the group,
As shown in areas 22-23, it is extended to areas on groups H and 2, or areas on more groups.

Preferably, material 16 is a shrinkable plastic, with good results having been achieved with commonly used 1 to 2 mil gauge polyethylene film.

In this case, the periphery of each group is also wrapped using a single sheet 16 as shown in C.

At C, one sheet is overlapped at the bottom edge piece 24,25 and forms the sides 26-27 and the top surface 28.

The width of the sheet 16 is wider than the width of the group by W at both ends thereof.

In the fully wrapped state (0), the group is placed in the oven 30 with the ends overlapped, so that the container (relative to the support elements of the conveyor, not shown) holds the overlapped ends well. weight is required.

The speed at which the devices are fed into the furnace 30 is greater than the speed at which they are moved during the packaging process.

A reciprocating shuttle plate 31 serves to transport the packaged batches from one location to the next.

In the furnace, the overlapping end pieces 24-25 are melted and the portions that protrude from the group of sheet material shrink to conform to the shape of the group.

Further increasing the rate at which the packaged groups are fed into the furnace 30 can increase the spacing as shown.

The final product is then quickly cooled down to room temperature and is tightly glued and packaged taut, as shown in Package A.

The present invention, according to which single sheet packaging is characterized by displacing loop-forming means such as laterally extending rods and suitably adjusting the vertical and horizontal components of the displacement. -It is done.

The rod is one of a series of rods 3334-35 moved by an endless link system not shown in FIG.

Each rod 33-34-35 is joined together to form an endless system, with rods 33'-3 for spacing each group.
4'-35' are each pivot-coupled.

This is shown by the dotted line at 36 for the 35-35' bar.

In a period of synchronized cooperative movement between each pair of bar members and successive groups, the loop-forming rods 35 are first perpendicular to the spacing J between the regions 22-23 of sheet material and the adjacent groups (H). When the rod 35 is lowered into the spacing A by making contact at a position consistent with the direction, a region 22 spreads out on the top surface of the group H in front.

As the rod 35 descends, a new sheet is pulled and the distance J
, forming a taut loop extending beyond the vertical ends of spacing J.

As the rod 35 is lowered, the corresponding spacing rod 35' is also lowered.

Since this spacing rod 35' has a diameter of substantially J, the spacing A is ensured.

Once passing interval J, the loop-forming rods
It is biased forward to extend the bottom end piece under the bottom of the container (13-1415).

In FIG. 1, this condition is illustrated by a pair of bars 34-34' acting on adjacent groups GH.

When both rods 34-34' match the direction and speed of movement of the group, rod 34 pulls out the looped sheet to its maximum extent, with the bottom end piece sandwiched between it and the bottom of the container. Support containers 13-14-15.

At its lowest point, the spacing bar 34' is connected to the adjacent group G-
Maintain a constant spacing J at the bottom of H).

At the same time, the spacing rods 34' keep the two half-loops taut on and against the sides of the adjacent groups, defining the back panel 26 of the group G in front and the front panel of the group H following.

While wrapping two adjacent groups by stretching or pulling the sheet loop, the loop is cut at its center.

This moment is illustrated by way of example of rods 33-33' operating with adjacent groups FG in FIG.

The cutting operation of the rotating element 37 is schematically shown.

This rotating element 37 extends transversely to the direction of movement of the conveyor and is driven in synchronization with the movement of the conveyor to cut the sheet at the groove 38.

Such a groove 38 is formed in each loop-forming rod;
When the loop-forming rod is in its most forward position, as shown by rod 33 in FIG. 1, the opening is directed downward.

When the sheet is cut, the front group F separates from the unreeled sheet material, and the directional air blower 39 operates to blow the rear end piece 25 of the cut sheet onto the bottom of the group.

FIG. 1 shows the state at the start of the operation in which the blowing device 39 blows the cut sheet end pieces downwards in the group E, and the sheet end piece is held properly when the sheet end piece is flattened. The member holds its position.

FIG. 1 shows that the sheet edge holding member 40 performs this holding operation on a group.

Member 40 may be considered part of a conveyor system.

The remaining wrapping operation is to fold back the bottom end piece 24 and overlap the sheet pieces at the bottom, which is done in front of the conveyor that advances the groups, as shown between groups C in FIG. This is done by provided stationary means (not shown).

During this overlapping, the retaining member 40 is removed by suitable means (not shown).

The above continuous packaging process is carried out without any interruption or change in speed throughout the areas indicated by groups J to C in FIG.

At the same time, by synchronously displacing the tension rolls 19 according to the amount temporarily required by the loop pull-out rods for each successive group, the unwinding of the sheets from the supply source 17 is achieved in a smooth and continuous manner. It can be done at any time.

FIG. 1 also shows an additional packaging method of the present invention.

That is, additional materials such as display panels and coupons can be packaged together under the sheet of top surface 28, if desired.

For this purpose, suitable means 41 reciprocate synchronously with the conveyor advancing successive groups.

A cardboard panel 42 is then placed on top of the container.

A new top panel 42 is placed in this position and applied to each subsequent group.

In Figure 1, this panel has been applied to group KJ and is about to be attached to the group.

Collecting Containers The present invention converts a steady stream of containers into a required group of containers, for example a flow with a constant interval A as shown in groups ML in FIG.

This mechanism is schematically shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

The left end of FIG. 3 (best shown) receives a steady stream of containers through a row of conveyors.

This conveyor is a chain-like element (hereinafter referred to as a link element).
It has an endless loop 45 cut out from the top, forming a plane supporting a container 46 on its upper region 4T.

Sprockets 48 spaced on shaft 49 drive conveyor 45 at a rate appropriate to the capabilities of the machine.

This drive is effected by a motor 50 coupled to shaft 49 with a suitable gear 49'.

Fixed side rails 51-51' guide the container body in order to move the container in line.

Containers fed in a row are placed in the wide area 5 of the conveyor system.
2, where it is arranged laterally by the capacity of region 52.

In this region, the other part 53 of the conveyor system supports the container and propels it forward, ie to the right in the orientation of FIGS. 2-4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conveyor system in area 52 comprises two similar conveyors 5:3-53'.

The conveyors 53-53' are disposed on either side of a flat chiffle or conveyor plate 54 and share a common shaft 55 and a gear 5.
5/ is similarly driven by a motor 50 coupled to n and n.

Wide region 52 is defined by side walls or rails 57-57') which converge into narrow region 58.

Sidewalls 57-57' are connected to rails 5159/58 in region 58.
are continuously connected.

In region 58, the containers are arranged in a honeycomb or diamond shape.

Preferably, the spacing between the rails 5159' of the narrow region 58 is greater than two times and less than three times the diameter of the container.

Of course, the density of containers packed into narrow region 58 depends on the spacing within said range of side rails 59-59'.

Preferably, the density is such that it can be accommodated in the area limited by the rails 59-59' to 2.5 to 2.8 times the container diameter, and more specifically, a conventional 12 oz or 16 oz cylindrical container. In this case, it has been found that the aforementioned region is preferably in the range of 2.7 and 2.75.

Through the narrow region 58, the container support conveyor 60 is in constant motion, thereby controlling the arrangement of containers within this region 58 in a preferred honeycomb manner.

The drive of the conveyor 60 is provided by a shaft 61 provided with a plurality of drive sprockets, and the shaft 61 is driven by the motor 50 via a suitable gearing 62'.

In the illustrated case, three separate conveyors operate in area 58.

All these conveyors are driven by a common shaft 61.

The first of these conveyors is shown at 61' in FIG. 4 and comprises two spaced sprockets 62 and an idler sprocket 63 which is free to rotate on a forward shaft 64. There is.

The linked endless chain 65 has a spacing less than or equal to the diameter of the container and has a sprocket system 62- located symmetrically on either side of the center of a series of centrally arranged container rows 66' within the narrow region 58. 63.

The spaced apart protrusions align with each other in the respective chains, and these chain systems 65
forming a part of each.

In FIG. 4, these positions are indicated by small circles between the dash-dotted lines indicating the alignment of the chains 65.

These projections are shown as 67 in FIG. 3 immediately behind each centrally arranged container 66.

The protrusions 67 then appear to be symmetrically arranged in an arcuate region of the rear surface of each central container.

The conveyor system in the narrow area 581 includes a pair of chain systems 61'', which are shown at 6 in FIG.
Align outer containers such as containers 8-68', 69-69'.

Chain system 61'' is identical to system 61' in all respects except that it is on the outside and is longer than 61' in the direction of movement of the conveyor.

The system 61'' is suspended on an idler sprocket 70 supported by an axle 71.

The system 61 is driven by a sprocket that meshes with the drive sprocket 62 and the same shaft 61.

The chain of system 61'' may support a pair of spaced apart projections.

One of the protrusions is protrusion 1 for the outer container row 69-69'.
2 (FIG. 3), and the other is a similar projection 7272' for the other outer container rows 68-68'.

The lateral rows of protrusions 72-72' for corresponding containers of the outer container rows (6B-68', 69-69') are aligned with the protrusions 67 advancing the central row of containers (66-66') and of the conveyor. They are staggered in the direction of movement.

This offset is such that each container in the region 58 between the axes 61 and 64 can be positively pushed out.

Beyond the position of the axis 64, the central drive system 61
' is terminating.

However, the central container 71-73' continues to advance in contact with the adjacent containers 74-74', 75-75' of the outer row at their symmetrical rear ends.

The narrow region 58 essentially ends at the shaft 71, where a new pair of central endless conveyor chains 76 provide progress control.

Chain 76 is driven by spaced sprockets 76' which engage shaft 71 driven by motor 50 through suitable gearing 71'.

The other end of the chain system 76 rests on an idler sprocket 77 on a shaft 78, the position on which the conveyored containers are discharged into the packaging area of the machine.

The gearing 71' driving the chain system 76 operates at a higher speed than the gearing controlling the conveyor moving through the narrow area 58.

This increases the spacing A between the groups, as explained below.

As the spacing J increases, the outer containers lag behind the centrally arranged containers, resulting in the 3-row lateral alignment required for the final group configuration.

This process takes place in the expansion region 79, the active drive on the outer container is stopped and the outer container 80-80'-
80'' and 81-81'-81〃 are merely slid or dragged over the supporting shoes or platens 82-82', and the outer The container is pushed outward to the limit rail 8414' of wide area 79.

Chain system 76 (in which the container-engaging projections 85 are arranged at a wider distance in the direction of movement than the projections of chain systems 61'-61'').

This large spacing is the sum of the spacing between rows of containers plus the diameter of the containers corresponding to the number of rows to be packaged as a group.

In the figure, two rows (2×3 6 packs) are packaged as shown.

Therefore, the spacing between the projections 85 of the chain system 76 is twice the container diameter plus the spacing A.

The operation in wide area 79 is as follows.

The outer containers 80'-80〃 and 81'-81'' slide due to the fast drive of their corresponding central containers 683-83' and are thereby retracted relative to the advancement of the central containers 83-83'; These three containers, for example, two rows of containers 80'-83-81', 80"-83'
-81" are all aligned horizontally.

This operation occurs when the spacing between the side rails 84-84' increases to three times the diameter of the container.

From this point, the outer container is actively driven forward to keep this alignment intact.

In FIG. 3, an additional outer container advancing chain system 86-86' (with container advancing projections 87-88) is aligned from its drive shaft 89 position.

And in order to synchronize the drive of the chain system 76-86-86', the shafts 71-89 are connected to the same gear device 71.
' is coupled to the motor 50 via '.

In the transition area between the slow conveyor 65 and the high speed conveyor, the central container is supported by a fixed plate or shoe (not shown) or by a short central auxiliary chain system 90.

The chain system 90 rests on sprockets on the axles 64-89 and is not provided with a projection to engage the container.

This chain system 90 includes a gear arrangement 64' and a shaft 64.
and is aligned with gearing 62' to avoid speed fluctuations to the central container.

The supporting sliding shoe or plate 82-82' is attached to the shaft 64-8.
It may also be replaced by an auxiliary chain system 90/ that spans between the sprockets on 9 and is driven by the shaft 64.

As with chain system 90, this auxiliary system 90' has no container-engaging projections and is positioned between pairs of conveyor chains that provide container alignment.

Axis 78 connects all chain systems 75-8 in the area in which completely grouped 2x3 groups are carried with spacing A.
Helps support the idler sprocket for 6-86'O.

In this region, spaced side rails are unnecessary since the projections 85-87-88 provide complete control over the rows of groups.

However, side rails are preferred to maintain lateral alignment as the container is advanced, as shown at 92-92'.

The spacing between the rails 92-92' is preferably three times the diameter of the container plus a certain margin.

As long as the containers 46 are properly fed to the wide region, i.e. the region 52 converging to the narrow region, the mechanism described above will automatically group groups of two rows with three container widths, which is preferred. You can get results.

As long as a suitable and sufficient supply of containers is provided to the wide area 52, the wide area 52 serves to distribute subsequent containers from side to side, rather than positioning the containers in line precisely on the center line. .

Some containers entering the narrow area have a density of side rails 59-59
' depends on the specifically chosen interval between.

And, of course, the paired drive projections 67 of the central chain system 61' (also the outer chain system 6
The longitudinal spacing between the pairs of protrusions 72-72' is selected to be commensurate with the compressive force created by the spacing between the rails 5159'.

In FIG. 3, the center container advancing projection 67 is replaced by each corresponding projection 72-72' of the outer conveyor system 61''.
, the position is shifted by 1/2 of the interval between them.

The above system appropriately separates and arranges the groups as described above, but the formation and arrangement of the groups is performed by an upper chain system synchronized with one chain system placed below the support plane of the container passing through. It is also desirable to have control.

The upper chain system is shown schematically in the lower half of FIG. 4 and is driven in common with the chain system below the container as described above.

For example, in the narrow region 58, two spaced chains 94-94/ are driven by a sprocket 95 engaged with an upper drive shaft 96.

In the figure, for convenience of explanation, the upper drive shaft 96 is replaced by the lower drive shaft 6.
1 and a state in which it is combined with 97 is shown.

Chain system 94-94' terminates at idler sprockets 99-99I of upper shaft 100 directly above shaft 89.

The protrusions 98-98' on the chain system 94-94' have a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the protrusions 72 and the protrusions 72, respectively.

As such, protrusion 9898' engages a portion of the outer container within narrow region 58.

Even if the chain system 94-94' overlaps the expansion area 79 where the outer container is laterally expanded,
Movement of the outer container is not a problem in this region because the engagement with protrusion 9818' is in the direction of separation.

Of course, an upper lug support conveyor chain could be added to further ensure support of the container, but it has been found that this is rarely necessary.

A pair of centrally mounted upper chain drive systems 101 are also provided on the expansion region 79 and are driven by sprockets engaged on an axle 107 that is synchronously coupled to the axle 71 .

The downstream end of this chain system 101 rests on an idler sprocket 102 on an upper shaft 103 above shaft 78.

The protrusions 104 of the chain system 101 have a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the protrusions 85 on the corresponding lower chain system 75.

Finally, the outer chain system 105105' is coincident in position with the outer system 86-86';
It has a protrusion 106i06' that is laterally aligned with the protrusion 104 and the lower protrusions 85-87-88.

Chain system 105-105' (7) Drive is provided by a sprocket (not shown) on an upper drive shaft 107, which is synchronized with a corresponding drive shaft 89 below the support plane of the container. These chain systems use idler sprockets 108-108' on the last upper shaft 103.

In the group forming system described above, the containers are formed into three rows of groups by advancing the central container quickly and pulling or sliding the outer containers relatively backward.

This is then done with a flow or passage in the expansion region 79.

Figure 3A shows how to form the desired group by accelerating the advancement of the outer containers and retracting the central container.

Thus, in FIG. 3A, the phantom lines 110-110' are somewhat diffused as shown and synchronized with the container advancement chain systems in the expansion region, each one of which is located outside the expansion region 79. It has appropriately spaced container advancement protrusions (111-111') for positively advancing and arranging containers at the correct speed and in the correct direction.

In this region, the central container may additionally be slip driven, such as the slip drive mechanism 90-90' of FIG. 4 described above.

Alternatively, the support shoe plate 112 may retract the central container relative to the advancement of the outer conveyors 110-110'(7).

Upon discharge from the expansion region 79, the lateral rows of grouped containers are aligned and the projections 85 of the central chain system 75 are disengaged.

All containers are then accelerated at the same speed, as described above, so as to have the required spacing A between each group.

As described above, according to the present invention, containers can be aggregated without interrupting or slowing down the flow of containers.

Furthermore, the method and apparatus according to the present invention are economical and extremely reliable compared to conventional apparatus for collecting and separating containers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the process of packaging a group of containers assembled by the aggregation method and device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view showing a device for carrying out the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a A plan view taken along line 3-3 in the figure, FIG. 3A is a plan view similar to FIG. 3 showing another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a plan view 4a-4a in FIG.
and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram with the connection relationship of the lower and upper drives shown along the 4-bib plane. Explanation of symbols, 45: Endless loop, 46: Container, 4
7: Upper area, 48: Sprocket, 49: Axis, 50:
Motor, 51-51': Side rail, 52: Wide area,
53-53': Conveyor, 54: Shoe plate, 55
: Common axis, 57-57': Rail, 58: Narrow width area, 5
159': Rail, 60: Conveyor, 61: Axis, 61'
, 61": Conveyor system, 62': Gear, 62:
Sprocket, 63: Idler sprocket, 64: Shaft, 65: Chain, 6 row 66': Center position container, 67
:Protrusion, 6168', 69-69':Outer container, 70
Near idler brocket, 71: shaft, 7272': protrusion, 73-73': central container, 74-74'. 75-75': Outer container, 76: Chain, 76': Sprocket, 71: Sprocket, 78: Axis, 79: Expansion area, 80-80'-80", 81-81'11":
Outer container, 82-82': Supporting shoe, 8:) 83'
: Central container, 84-84': Rail, 85: Projection, 86
-86': Chain system 89: Axis, 90: Auxiliary chain system, 92-92': Rail, 94-94':
Chain, 95 Nisproget, 98-98': protrusion,
99-99': Idler sprocket, 100: Upper shaft, 101: Chain system, 102: Idler sprocket, 103: Upper shaft, 104: Projection, 105-10
5': Chain system, 106-106': Protrusion, 1
07: Drive shaft, 108i08': Idler sprocket, 110110': Conveyor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a method of collecting cylindrical containers, etc. that are supplied while being placed on a conveyor while continuously and automatically moving them in the direction of movement, the conveyor is moved in a lateral direction transverse to the direction of movement. defining a path for the container along the conveyor, and connecting the path to a narrow region having a width greater than two times and less than three times the diameter of the container; a wide region wider than the narrow region, and in the narrow region, a group of three adjacent containers is limited to each other by the narrow region boundary, and a container at the center is separated from the outer two containers by the narrow region boundary. After displacing the three containers in the moving direction to bring them into symmetrical contact with the outer two containers, in the wide area, the width of the three container groups is increased to at least three times the diameter of the containers. expanding, and increasing the moving speed of the container at the center position so that the outer container and the container at the center position are aligned linearly in the lateral direction;
A container aggregation method characterized in that the containers aligned laterally are then simultaneously delivered. 2. A container aggregation device comprising an elongated conveyor and a means for feeding containers along the conveyor that have a cylindrical shape and can be seated on the conveyor with the cylindrical shaft upright. a convergence region spaced apart to laterally limit said conveyor and having a width of more than two times and less than three times the diameter of said container; a rail means defining an expansion region having a width at least three times the container diameter; and a centrally located container symmetrically contacts an adjacent outer container; a first moving means for continuously moving the centrally located container through the converging region in a manner relatively delayed from the container; and a first moving means operating in the expanding region and feeding the centrally located container to a corresponding adjacent outer container. a second moving means for moving at a faster speed to substantially linearly align said centrally located container laterally with a corresponding adjacent outer container; 1. A container aggregation device comprising a third moving means for moving the containers at high speed.