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EP-4737334-A2 - MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING SINGLE-DOSE SOLUBLE PRODUCTS IN CONTAINERS

EP4737334A2EP 4737334 A2EP4737334 A2EP 4737334A2EP-4737334-A2

Abstract

Packaging machine (10) for enclosing single-dose soluble products in containers, wherein the transfer line (20) comprises a shaking section (22) to impart a shaking movement to at least one container (C) awaiting transfer to the processing station (16).

Inventors

  • NUCCI, MARCO
  • CORDISCO, Giulio
  • LANDOLFI, Giuseppe

Assignees

  • Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251022

Claims (15)

  1. Packaging machine configured to insert single-dose soluble products into containers (C) and to perform one or more operations on the latter, comprising: - a filling station (14) configured to fill containers (C) with a plurality of single-dose soluble products, - a processing station (16) configured to perform one or more operations on containers (C) filled in said filling station (14), and - a transfer line (20) configured to transfer said filled containers (C) in a transport direction (A) from the filling station (14) to the processing station (16), wherein the transfer line (20) includes at least one shaking section (22) configured to impart a shaking movement to at least one filled container (C) awaiting transfer to the processing station (16), wherein said transfer line (20) comprises a plurality of transport units (26) configured to transport respective containers, and wherein said transport units (26) are selectively actuated with oscillatory movement to impart shaking to respective containers (C).
  2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said shaking section (22) is configured to impart successive shaking phases to at least one container (C) awaiting transfer to the processing station (16) at different sections of the transfer line (20).
  3. Machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said shaking section (22) is configured to impart a shaking movement to a plurality of containers (C) awaiting transfer to the processing station (16).
  4. Machine according to claim 3, wherein said shaking section (22) is configured to simultaneously impart a shaking movement to a predetermined number of containers (C) awaiting transfer to the processing station (16).
  5. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a sensor (24) configured to detect a product distribution geometry inside respective containers (C) located in said shaking section (22) and to identify which containers (C) to subject to a shaking movement based on the detected product distribution geometry.
  6. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said transport units (26) are independently actuated by a linear motor (30) associated with said closed-loop guide (28).
  7. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said shaking section (22) is located downstream of a curved section (32) of the transfer line (20).
  8. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said transfer line (20) is configured to transport said containers (C) with their major axes (X) parallel to the transport direction (A), and wherein said transfer line (20) is configured to impart to containers (C) a shaking movement along a direction parallel to the transport direction (A).
  9. Machine according to claim 7, wherein said transport units (26) are configured to impart a shaking movement to respective containers (C) simultaneously with the movement of the respective transport units (26) in the transport direction (A).
  10. Method for packaging single-dose soluble products in containers (C), comprising: - filling the containers (C) with a plurality of single-dose soluble products at a filling station, - transferring the filled containers (C) in a transport direction (A) from the filling station to a processing station, - performing one or more operations on the filled containers (C) at the processing station, - during transfer, performing a shaking phase (120) on at least one filled container (C) awaiting transfer to the processing station, wherein the transfer of containers (C) is carried out by a plurality of transport units transporting respective containers along a transfer line, and wherein the transport units are selectively actuated with an oscillatory movement to impart shaking to respective containers (C).
  11. Method according to claim 10, wherein said shaking phase (120) is performed in at least two distinct moments.
  12. Method according to claim 10, wherein said shaking phase (120) provides for simultaneously shaking two or more filled containers (10).
  13. Method according to claim 10, wherein said shaking phase (120) is performed on at least one of said filled containers (10) while being moved along an advancement path (PA).
  14. Method according to claim 10, comprising a verification phase (140) of the distribution state of said single-dose soluble products (12) in said containers (10) by at least one sensor (14), wherein if the distribution state detected by said sensor (14) does not conform with said predefined distribution state, said shaking phase (120) is performed.
  15. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said sensor (14) is a level sensor configured to detect the filling level of said single-dose soluble products (12) in said containers (10).

Description

Field of the invention The present invention relates to a machine and a method for enclosing single-dose soluble products in containers. However, the invention is not limited to this specific field and can be used in all cases where it is necessary to enclose single-dose soluble products from the output of a production line in containers. Prior art Machines for enclosing single-dose soluble products from a production line in containers represent a crucial element in industrial automation. These machines are designed to ensure high speed, efficiency, and precision in container filling and sealing operations. Machines for producing single-dose capsule packages require container transport systems (e.g., conveyor belts, independent cart conveyors, etc.), container filling systems, and container sealing systems. Typically, machines for producing single-dose capsule packages include a transport system connecting the following stations: a container feeding or forming station;a station for filling containers with single-dose soluble products,a container processing station, anda station for discharging sealed containers. Typically, container filling occurs by gravity-fed dropping of single-dose soluble products into the containers. During the filling phase, the empty container to be filled is separated from other containers and held stationary at a filling station, where a predetermined quantity of products is dropped into the container. Sometimes, during the filling phase, the container is shaken. This shaking helps improve the distribution of single-dose soluble products within the containers and promotes better filling. US10676257B2 describes a method that includes shaking or vibrating the container while or after it is filled with loose single-dose capsules, to reduce the volume occupied inside the container and distribute the capsules more uniformly. However, shaking the container during the filling phase has a limited effect on the uniformity of single-dose soluble product distribution, because in high-performance machines the filling phase is very brief, usually less than 500 ms, so the effect of uniform capsule distribution is very limited. After filling, the containers are transferred from the filling station to the processing station. Thus, especially in high-performance machines, after the filling phase, the containers are often subjected to sudden accelerations and direction changes that generate inertial forces which may cause localized accumulations of capsules inside the containers. Localized accumulations of capsules may protrude beyond a maximum filling level of the container. Capsules protruding beyond the maximum level may fall outside the containers during transfer to the processing station, which can lead to the production of packages containing fewer single-dose capsules than the nominal fill quantity and to the dispersion of single-dose capsules inside the machine, resulting in machine stoppages or jams. Capsules protruding beyond a maximum level may be crushed and damaged during container sealing, with risks of leaks inside the containers and consequent dissatisfaction of end consumers. Object and summary of the invention The present invention aims to provide a machine and a method for enclosing single-dose soluble products in containers that solve the problems of the prior art. According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a machine having the features forming the subject of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 10. Preferred embodiments form the subject of the dependent claims. Brief description of the drawings The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a machine according to the present invention,Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a transfer line indicated by arrow II in Figure 1,Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a shaking section of the transfer line, indicated by arrow III in Figure 1,Figures 4 and 5 are graphs showing possible position/time trends during the shaking phase,Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the sequence of steps of a possible application embodiment of the method according to the present invention, andFigure 7 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a machine for packaging single-dose soluble products in containers configured to implement a method according to the present invention. Detailed description With reference to Figure 1, 10 schematically indicates a machine for enclosing single-dose soluble products in containers. The machine 10 includes a container input station 12. The containers 12 may be made of plastic or paper material. The container input station 12 may be fed by a box forming unit 40 configured to form cardboard boxes from flat blanks. The machine 10 includes a filling station 14 configured to fill containers C from the container input station 12