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EP-3201111-B1 - PACKAGING MACHINE, METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

EP3201111B1EP 3201111 B1EP3201111 B1EP 3201111B1EP-3201111-B1

Inventors

  • MARTINI, PASCAL
  • BONNAIN, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20150925

Claims (16)

  1. An apparatus (10; 110) for a packaging machine (1; 10) comprising: a first conveyor (12; 112) configured to convey an input stream of articles (A); a second conveyor (14; 114) configured to convey an output stream of articles (A); a guide path (32; 132) configured as a loop; one or more tools (20; 120) coupled to the guide path; wherein each tool (20; 120) comprises: a tool head (26a, 26b; 126) for engaging with one or more articles (A) in the input stream; the tool head (26a, 26b; 126) being operable to transfer the one or more articles (A) from the first conveyor (12; 112) to the second conveyor (14; 114), the apparatus (10; 110) comprising two modes of operation: a first mode in which the one or more tools (20; 120) comprise tool heads (26a, 26b; 126) to transfer the one or more articles (A) from the first conveyor (12; 112) to the second conveyor (14; 114) and configured to place a metered group of articles (A) in a single tier on the second conveyor (14; 114); a second mode in which the one or more tools (20; 120) comprise: first tool heads (26a, 26b; 126) to transfer the one or more articles (A) from the first conveyor (12; 112) to the second conveyor (14; 114) and configured to place a metered group of articles (A) in a first tier on the second conveyor (14; 114) , and second tool heads (26a, 26b; 126) to transfer the one or more articles (A) from the first conveyor (12; 112) to the second conveyor (14; 114) and configured to place a metered group of articles (A) in a second tier upon the first tier; characterised in that the first conveyor (12; 112) is either arranged so as to converge towards the second conveyor (14; 114) or is arranged at a different elevation relative to the second conveyor (14; 114).
  2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to transfer articles such that, the one or more articles are placed on the second conveyor in discrete groups wherein the discrete groups (G) are metered at a predefined pitch.
  3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to transfer articles such that the one or more articles are placed on the second conveyor in discrete groups wherein in the first mode the discrete groups (G) are metered at a predefined first pitch.
  4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to transfer articles such that, the one or more articles are placed on the second conveyor in discrete groups wherein in the second mode the discrete groups (G) are metered at a predefined second pitch.
  5. The apparatus according to any of claims 1, wherein each tool (20; 120) is independently driven about the guide path (32; 132) by a drive motor.
  6. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide path (32; 132) is mounted over a portion of the first conveyor (12; 112) and a portion of the second conveyor (14; 114).
  7. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide path (32; 132) comprises a first working reach and a second working reach, the first working reach disposed in part over the first conveyor (12; 112), the second working reach disposed in part over the second conveyor (14; 114).
  8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conveyor (12; 112) is arranged so as to be co-linear with the second conveyor (14; 114) and the guide path comprises a working reach and a return reach, the working reach being disposed in part over and collinear with the first conveyor (12; 112) and in part over the second conveyor (14; 114).
  9. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the apparatus (10; 110) comprises a third conveyor (18; 118) for conveying carton inserts (I).
  10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the one or more tools (20; 120) are configured to simultaneously transfer an insert (I) from the third conveyor (18) and a metered group of articles (A) from the first conveyor (12; 112) to the second conveyor (14; 114).
  11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the tools (20; 120) having the second tool heads (26b) are arranged in alternating arrangement with the tools (20; 120) having the first tool heads (26a).
  12. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein two or more tools (20; 120) are consecutively arranged to form first tool groups and two or more tools (20; 120) are consecutively arranged to form second tool groups, and wherein the first tool groups are arranged in alternating arrangement with the second tool groups.
  13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conveyor (12; 112) is at a different elevation to the second conveyor (14; 114) and the guide path (32; 132) includes a working reach and a return reach, the working reach being disposed in part over and collinear with the first conveyor (12; 112) and in part over the second conveyor (14; 114).
  14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide path (32; 132) comprises a working reach and a return reach, the working reach being disposed in part over the first conveyor (12; 112) and in part over the second conveyor (14; 114).
  15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each tool (20; 120) comprises an actuator for adjusting the elevation of each tool head with respect to the first and second conveyors (12, 14; 112; 114) as the tool (20; 120) is driven about the guide path (32; 132).
  16. A method of configuring articles (A) to be packaged, the method comprising: providing first conveyor (12; 112); providing a second conveyor (14; 114) at a different elevation relative to the first conveyor (12; 112); providing a guide path (32; 132) configured as a loop; providing a plurality of tools (20; 120) coupled to the guide path (32; 132), wherein each tool (20; 120) comprises a tool head(26a, 26b; 126); conveying an input stream of articles (A) upon the first conveyor (12; 112); engaging one or more articles (A) in the input stream with the tool head (26a, 26b; 126) of each one of the plurality of tools (20; 120); and placing the one or more articles (A) upon the second conveyor (14; 114) to form discrete groups (G) of articles (A) having two or more tiers, wherein the guide path (32; 132) includes a working reach and a return reach, the working reach being disposed in part over and collinear with the first conveyor (12; 112) and in part over the second conveyor (14; 114).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a packaging machine and an apparatus therefor more specifically, but not exclusively, to an apparatus which groups an input stream of articles and is capable of stacking discrete groups of articles in one or more layers. BACKGROUND In the field of packaging it is often required to provide consumers with a package comprising a plurality of primary product containers such as cans, bottles and the like, grouped together in a carton. Such packages are desirable for shipping and distribution, for customer use, and for the display of promotional information. For cost and environmental considerations, the cartons or carriers used in such packages need to be formed from as little material as possible and cause as little wastage in the materials from which they are formed as possible. Another consideration is the strength of the package and its suitability for holding and transporting large weights of articles. WO 2011/127367 to Poutot et al discloses an apparatus comprising a tool and a track with which the tool slidably engaged. The tool comprises: a drive means that is operable to drive the tool along the track in a first direction; metering protrusions for engaging an article, or a group of articles; and an actuator operable to displace the metering protrusions in a second direction. At least a component of the second direction is transverse to the first direction. It is desirable to provide a packaging machine to automatically package a plurality of primary product containers in a carton; it also desirable that the packaging machine makes efficient use of space within a conversion plant or other premises. It also desirable for the packaging machine to be readily adapted to package the primary product containers into a plurality of different cartons, wherein the number of primary product containers, and their respective arrangement, is dependent upon the configuration of the desired carton or carrier. SUMMARY The various embodiments of the present disclosure seek to overcome or at least mitigate against the shortcomings of the prior art and/or provide an improvement in the field of packaging. According to a first aspect of the disclosure for which protection is sought, there is provided an apparatus for a packaging machine comprising: a first conveyor configured to convey an input stream of articles; a second conveyor configured to convey an output stream of articles; a guide path configured as a loop; one or more tools coupled to the guide path; wherein each tool comprises: a tool head for engaging with one or more articles in the input stream; the tool head being operable to transfer the one or more articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the apparatus comprising two modes of operation: a first mode in which the one or more tools comprise tool heads to transfer the one or more articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor and configured to place a metered group of articles in a single tier on the second conveyor; a second mode in which the one or more tools comprise: first tool heads to transfer the one or more articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor and configured to place a metered group of articles in a first tier on the second conveyor, and second tool heads to transfer the one or more articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor and configured to place a metered group of articles in a second tier upon the first tier; characterised in that the first conveyor is either arranged so as to converge towards the second conveyor or is arranged at a different elevation relative to the second conveyor. Optionally, the apparatus is adapted to transfer articles such that, the one or more articles are placed on the second conveyor in discrete groups wherein the discrete groups are metered at a predefined pitch. Optionally, the apparatus is adapted to transfer articles such that the one or more articles are placed on the second conveyor in discrete groups wherein in the first mode the discrete groups (G) are metered at a predefined first pitch. Optionally, the apparatus is adapted to transfer articles such that, the one or more articles are placed on the second conveyor in discrete groups wherein in the second mode the discrete groups are metered at a predefined second pitch. Optionally, each tool is independently driven about the guide path by a drive motor. Optionally, the guide path is mounted over a portion of the first conveyor and a portion of the second conveyor. Optionally, the guide path comprises a first working reach and a second working reach, the first working reach disposed in part over the first conveyor, the second working reach disposed in part over the second conveyor. Optionally, the first conveyor is arranged so as to be co-linear with the second conveyor and the guide path comprises a working reach and a return reach, the working reach being disposed in part over and collinear with the first conv