Method and apparatus for aggregating products to case pack them

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for grouping together products that arrive in line and are spaced apart from each other on an infeed conveyor (2), consisting of: collecting the products on the fly by means of a pair of collectors (4) that move transversely relative to the products on said conveyor (2); moving the products collected by collector (4A) to a removal station (11) and, at the same time, replacing said collector (4A) with the second collector (4B) that, in turn, collects the products; and dropping off the products from collector (4A) to the removal station (11) and bringing said collector (4A) back to a collecting position while intersecting collector (4B). The equipment includes a pair of carriages (7), each of which has a collector (4), said carriages being moved transversely and said collectors (4) being mounted on actuators (12) that move the collectors so as to transfer the latter from the removal position to a retracted position that makes it possible for said collectors (4) to intersect one other.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a method, for example, for grouping products in order to pack them in boxes; the invention also relates to a device allowing the implementation of such a method, i.e. for grouping products, such as vials or bottles, in order to pack them in boxes machine. Background technique [0002] Aggregation of the product can be done in different ways depending on the type and nature of the product and the speed required. [0003] In document FR 2 918 359 a form of aggregation is described in particular: the products arrive in a straight line on the infeed conveyor belt and are picked up immediately by a collecting device called a collector, which has the form of a comb and is relatively Arranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the arrival of the above products. [0004] The collector moves in a loop comprising a first section for collecting the products and then transferring them to a removal station, and a second section...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] However, the movement of the infeed conveyor and the movement of the collector are very different: the infeed conveyor is a continuous movement, while the collector is a continuous movement with a more complex movement that can generate accelerations and high speed

[0009] The movement before returning the collector to the first product to be collected takes place while it is empty; this thus constitutes a dead time that limits the speed of the product collection device

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