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EP-4735364-A1 - A SINGULARIZED BLISTER UNLOADING SYSTEM

EP4735364A1EP 4735364 A1EP4735364 A1EP 4735364A1EP-4735364-A1

Abstract

The invention is an unloading system (1) suitable for performing a singularized unloading operation of a blister (90) comprising: i) a blister storage column (2) that extends along a vertical axis (V-V) in which a column of vertically stacked blisters (900), each parallel to a respective imaginary plane, is housable, wherein the blister storage column (2) comprises a bottom region (20) in which the column of blisters (900) comprises a last blister (90a) and a second- last blister (90b); ID a pair of unloading assemblies (3) that extend and operate transversely opposed with respect to the vertical axis (V-V), wherein each unloading assembly (3) comprises: - a blade group (41, 42) transversely movable along a transverse axis (X-X) suitable for engaging the last blister (90a) comprising a movement device (412, 422) and a blade element (411, 421) suitable for engaging a blister and engaged with an end of the respective movement device (412, 422); - control group (5) operatively connected to an end of the movement device (412, 422), which transversely moves the movement device (412, 422) so as to position the blade element (411, 421) in a position in which the blister is disengaged and thus free to fall vertically, and a position in which the blister pack is engaged and held in a respective vertical axial position; - a safety group (6) suitable for disengaging the blade group (4) from the control group (5) by positioning the blade element (411, 421) in a transverse position in which it engages with the blister.

Inventors

  • NANNETTI, Simone

Assignees

  • Marchesini Group S.p.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240214

Claims (14)

  1. 1. An unloading system (1) suitable for performing a singularized unloading operation of a blister (90) , for example onto a conveyor belt, comprising: i) a blister storage column (2) extending along a vertical axis (V-V) in which a column of blisters (900) is housable comprising a plurality of vertically stacked blisters (90) , each parallel to a respective imaginary plane, is housable, wherein the blister storage column (2) comprises a bottom region (20) in which the column of blisters (900) comprises a last blister (90a) and a second-last blister (90b) ; ii) a pair of unloading assemblies (3) extending and operating transversely opposed with respect to the vertical axis (V-V) , wherein each unloading assembly (3) comprises : - a blade group (41, 42) transversely movable along a transverse axis (X-X) suitable for engaging the last blister (90a) , comprising a movement device (412, 422) and a blade element (411, 421) suitable for engaging a blister and engaged with an end of the respective movement device (412, 422) ; - a control group (5) operatively connected to an end of the movement device (412, 422) , which transversely moves the movement device (412, 422) so as to position the blade element (411, 421) in a position in which the blister is disengaged and thus free to fall vertically, and a position in which the blister pack is engaged and held in a respective vertical axial position; - a safety group (6) suitable for disengaging the blade group (4) from the control group (5) by positioning the blade element (411, 421) in a transverse position in which it engages the blister.
  2. 2. Unloading system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control group (5) comprises a cam device (50) engaged with the movement device (412, 422) , wherein the cam device (50) is controlled in a continuous rotary movement.
  3. 3. Unloading system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each unloading assembly (3) comprises a plurality of blade groups (4) , preferably two blade groups (41, 42) , movable transversely along a transverse axis (X-X) , each suitable for engaging a respective blister (90) starting from the last blister (90a) and the second-last blister (90b) , wherein the control group (5) is operatively connected to the ends of the respective movement devices (412, 422) , transversely moving each movement device (412, 422) so as to position the respective blade elements (411, 421) in a position in which the blister is disengaged and thus free to fall vertically, and a position in which the blister is engaged and held in a respective vertical axial position.
  4. 4. Unloading system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pair of unloading assemblies (3) is configurable in a blister unloading configuration, in which the last blister (90a) is free to fall while the second-last blister (90b) is held in a respective vertical axial position, and a blister holding configuration, wherein the last blister (90a) is held in a respective vertical axial position while the second-last blister (90b) is free to fall.
  5. 5. Unloading system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement device (412, 422) comprises a rod element (4121, 4221) comprising a first end integrally connected to the respective blade element (411, 421) and a second end being engageable with the control group (5) to receive the transverse thrust action, and an elastically yielding element (4125, 4225) suitable for performing a transverse thrust action on the rod element (4121, 4221) to keep it engaged with the cam device (50) .
  6. 6. Unloading system (1) according to claim 5 in combination with claim 2, wherein the rod element (4121, 4221) comprises a wheel member ( 4121 ’ , 4221' ) suitable for engaging the cam device (50) .
  7. 7. Unloading system (1) according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the safety group (6) comprises a lever element (60) placeable in a safety position in which the action of the elastically yielding element (4125, 4225) is overcome so as to transversely move the rod element (4121, 4221) to a distal position from the control group (5) .
  8. 8. Unloading system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the lever element (60) is pneumatically movable and, in the absence of pneumatic supply, is placeable in said safety position .
  9. 9. unloading system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claims 2 and 3, wherein the cam device (50) comprises at least one cam member rotatable about a rotation axis (R-R) operatively connected to the movement devices (412, 422) .
  10. 10. unloading system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the cam device (50) comprises a plurality of cam members (51, 52) operatively connected to the respective movement device (412, 422) , wherein the cam members (51, 52) are rotatable with respect to the same axis of rotation (R-R) , wherein the respective cam profiles are suitable for alternately moving the movement devices (412, 422) .
  11. 11. Uni oading system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two control groups (5) , each of a respective unloading assembly (3) , operate synchronously on the respective blade groups (4) by means of a drive element suitable for connecting them, such as a belt or chain, for example.
  12. 12. A blister packaging machine comprising a conveyor belt and an unloading system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, suitable for performing a singularized unloading operation of a blister (90) onto said conveyor belt .
  13. 13. Blist er packaging machine according to claim 12, comprising a plurality of conveyor belts suitable for operating in parallel and a plurality of unloading systems (1) , wherein each unloading system (1) is suitable for performing a singularized unloading operation of a blister (90) onto a respective conveyor belt.
  14. 14. Blist er packaging machine according to claim 13, comprising system control means engaging the control groups (5) of the respective unloading systems (1) to control them to move in unison.

Description

"A SINGULARIZED BLISTER UNLOADING SYSTEM" DESCRIPTION [0001] The present invention is in relation to an unloading system suitable for performing a singularized unloading operation of a blister. Additionally, the present invention is in relation to a blister packaging machine that comprises said unloading system. [0002] Known in the state of the art are blister packaging machines that are suitable for performing a series of operations and possibly enclosing and/or boxing blisters in cartons or boxes. Specifically, "blisters" are those packages that, within special alveoli, contain specific products, for example pharmaceutical type products such as capsules, tablets or similar products. The definition "blister" in this discussion is not limited to the type of products contained within the respective alveoli which may, for example, contain syringes, vials etc . [0003] Specifically, known blister packaging machines comprise a station comprising an unloading system that is suitable for unloading a singularized blister onto a conveyor belt. [0004] Preferably, in known unloading systems, there is included an accumulation system and specific discharge assemblies that are suitable for controlling the movement, or for enabling the movement , of a blister towards the conveyor belt . [ 0005 ] Unloading systems are known using rotating unloading assemblies , wherein the blister is unloaded at a speci fic angle , whilst at other angular positions the blister is held in position . [ 0006 ] Such unloading systems present various issues : they require the correct positioning of the blister, which instead may not always be ensured, which may result in being, for example , inclined or bent , occasionally causing the unloading system to become blocked; these are systems of limited versatility that are suitable for operating with speci fic types of blister and not with a multiplicity of blisters of varying shapes and dimensions . [ 0007 ] Furthermore , unloading systems are known with unloading assemblies comprising pneumatic manipulators that are suitable for picking up a blister and unloading it to a preferred location and in a preferred way . These solutions are more versatile but are extremely complex both as regards the implementation and management thereof . [ 0008 ] The obj ect of the present invention is that of ef fectively resolving the aforesaid situation in proposing an unloading system that is suitable for performing a singulari zed unloading operation of a blister in avoiding the aforesaid issues . In other words , the obj ect of the present invention is that of providing an unloading system with a simple geometry, simple management and elevated flexibility that is suitable for performing singulari zed unloading operations of a blister that are reliable and saf e . [ 0009 ] Such obj ect is achieved by mean of the unloading system claimed in claim 1 . Additionally, such obj ect is achieved by the blister packaging machine according to claim 12 . The claims dependent on these request protection for further features and entail further technical benefits . [ 00010 ] In addition, further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description provided below of the preferred embodiments thereof given as non-limiting examples in reference to the attached figures , wherein : [ 00011 ] - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an unloading system according to the present invention, in accordance with a first embodiment ; [ 00012 ] - Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 1 ; [ 00013 ] - Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show, respectively, front views of the unloading system of Figure 1 , representing the steps of a blister unloading cycle ; [ 00014 ] - Figure 4 shows a portion of a blister packaging machine that comprises a plurality of unloading systems in parallel . [00015] In the accompanying figures the reference numeral 1 shows an unloading system according to the present invention. [00016] The unloading system 1 is suitable for performing a singularized unloading operation of a blister 90, for example onto a conveyor belt. The unloading system 1 is suitable for performing a multiplicity of singularized unloading operations of a blister 90, for example onto a conveyor belt continuously. [00017] As a matter of fact, the unloading system 1 comprises a blister storage column 2 and a pair of unloading assemblies 3 operating with a bottom region of said blister storage column 2. [00018] The blister storage column 2 extends along a vertical axis V-V and houses a column of blisters 900 comprising a plurality of vertically stacked blisters 90, each parallel to a respective imaginary plane. [00019] As mentioned, the blister storage column 2 comprises a bottom region 20 that is substantially open and within the column of blisters 900 there is a last blister 90a and a second-last blister 90b at said bottom region 20. [00020] Preferably, therefore, the column of blisters 900 is suitable for bein