METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TIPPING STACKS OF PRODUCTS IN A STACKING MACHINE

Description

MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GENERAL DIRECTORATE FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST COUNTERFEITING ITALIAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Section Class Subclass Group Subgroup B 65 B APPLICATION NUMBER 102002901014173 Filing Date 03 / 05 / 2002 Publication Date 03 / 11 / 2003 Title Method and device for tipping stacks of products in a STACKING machine. DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled: ''Method and device for tipping stacks of products in a cartoning machine. on behalf of GD SpA, of Italian nationality, with registered office at 40133 BOLOGNA, Via Battindamo, 91. Designated inventors: Ivanoe BERTUZZI, Alver TACCHI, Simone SCAGLIARINI, Fiorenzo DRAGHETTI. Filed on P $ .Question No....β·02ϋΟ2Αΰ'^'Ο2'§'§ The present invention relates to a method for tipping stacks of products in a cartoning machine, i.e. a machine suitable for packaging one or more stacks of products inside a single package. The present invention, which can be used for the conditioning of any type of “stackable” product, finds particularly advantageous application in the field of cigarette pack packing machines, to which the following discussion will make explicit reference without thereby losing its generality. In the tobacco industry, it is common to feed a cartoning machine with a succession of cigarette packets, which are laid out flat and stacked on top of each other to form a succession of stacks, each containing a specific number of packets. The stacks are grouped together to form ordered groups, each of which (GD SDCETA' PER AZIONI \§ERVfclO BREVETTI (Ing. Alberto Manservigi) comprises a specific number of stacks arranged side by side and constitutes the contents of a carton, which is obtained through a wrapping operation consisting of folding a sheet or a blank of wrapping around the corresponding group. Before carrying out the aforementioned wrapping operation, it is often necessary or convenient to flip the aforementioned stacks 90° to obtain groups in which the packets are arranged side by side. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for tipping stacks of products which is simple and easy to implement. A further aim of the present invention is to provide a method for tipping stacks of products, which is capable of reducing processing downtime to a minimum. According to the present invention, a method is provided for tipping stacks of products in a cartoning machine as set forth in claim 1 and, preferably, in ima any of the claims dependent directly and / or indirectly on claim 1. The present invention also relates to a device for tipping stacks of products in a cartoning machine. According to the present invention, a device is also provided for tipping stacks of products in a cartoning machine as set forth in claim 9 and, preferably, in any of the claims dependent directly and / or indirectly on claim 9. The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate in perspective view and with parts removed for clarity a preferred embodiment of the tipping device of the present invention in two distinct operating positions. In the attached figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a cigarette packing machine comprising a device 2 for tipping groups 3 of cigarette packets 4 arranged in stacks 5. In the illustrated example, the tipping device 2 is capable of tipping by 90° around a substantially horizontal axis 6 a succession of groups 3, each of which is originally made up of two stacks 5 of five packets arranged side by side and with the packets 4 arranged in a horizontal and flat position. The tipping device 2 comprises a tipping station 7, to which the groups 3 are fed, in their original configuration and by means of a pushing device 8, in a direction 9 which is horizontal and parallel to the axis 6, from which the groups 3 are extracted, in a second direction 10 which is substantially horizontal and orthogonal to the axis 6 and by means of a further pushing device 11, in their configuration tipped by 90°, in which the packets 4 are arranged on their edge. The tipping station 7 is defined by a box 12 in the shape of a rectangular prism and sized in such a way as to be able to accommodate a group 3 inside it. In particular, the box 12 comprises two larger side walls 13 parallel to each other and to the axis 6, which are connected to each other, at one of their lateral ends opposite to the one facing the pushing device 8, by a smaller side wall 14, to whose external surface is integrally connected a shaft 15 coaxial to the axis 6 and keyed carrying a crank 16 coupled to the output of an actuator device 17 suitable for imparting to the box 12 oscillations of amplitude of 90° around the axis 6 between a loading position, in which the larger side walls 13 are arranged in a vertical position, and a tilted unloading position, in which the larger side walls 13 are arranged in a horizontal position. The ends of the two larger side walls 13 arranged below when the larger side walls 13 themselves are arranged in the aforementioned vertical position are connected to each other by a bottom wall 18, while the ends of the larger side walls 13 opposite the smaller side wall 14 and the bottom wall 18 delimit respective openings 19 and 20 for the passage of the group 3 in the direction 9 and, respectively, in the direction 10. The pusher device 11 comprises an L-shaped pusher element 21 which in turn comprises a pusher arm 22 parallel to the axis 6 and movable through the tipping station 7 and through the box 12, and an actuation arm 23 parallel to the direction 10 and movable, with forward and reverse movements. SOC!®A\PER AZIONI SERVÌZI^ PATENTS (Eng. Aibarto Manservigi) return, along a path P parallel to the direction 10 and extending outside the end of the box 12 facing the pusher device 8. In order to allow the pusher arm 22 to pass through the box 12, two passages 24 and 25 are made in the box 12 itself, of which the passage 24 is made through the bottom wall 18 and is defined by a slot parallel to the axis 6 and communicating with the opening 19 at its end facing the pusher device 8; while the passage 25 is defined by two slots 26 made, in positions facing each other, through the larger side walls 13 and aligned with the direction 10 when the box 12 is placed in its loading position with the bottom wall 18 placed in a horizontal position. Each of the slots 26 is substantially equal to the slot defining the passage 24, is parallel to the axis 6 and communicates with the opening 19 at its end facing the pusher device 8. In use, the initially empty box 12 is arranged in a loading position with its opening 20 facing upwards (figure 1), and receives (figure 2) a group 3, whose packets 4 are arranged flat, pushed by the pusher device 8 in the direction 9 and loaded into the box 12 through the opening 19. At this point, the actuator device 17 is activated to rotate the box 12 by 90° (figure 3) (counterclockwise in the figures) so as to arrange the packets 4 on their edge, the bottom wall 18 in a vertical position and GD JOINT STOCK COMPANY BREVETTI service (Eng. Alberto Manservigi) the opening 20 facing in the direction 10; and the pusher element 21 of the pusher device 11 is moved (figure 4) in the direction 10 starting from a rest position outside the box 12 so as to bring the pusher arm 22 to engage the slot of the passage 24 and to act on the group 3 so as to push it in the direction 10 out of the box 12 through the opening 20. When the pusher arm 22 has left the box 12 in the direction 10, the box 12 itself, being completely free (the drive arm 23 is, in fact, arranged laterally outside the box 12), can be brought back (figure 5) to its initial loading position ready to receive a subsequent group. 3. Only at this point is the pusher arm 22 returned Qxg (figure 6) to its initial rest position by passing through the slots 26 of the passage 25. From the above it can be noted that, if the passage 25 did not exist, the box 12 could be rotated back into its loading position only after the end of the return stroke of the pusher arm 22, and not, as in the case described, while the pusher arm 22 finishes its forward stroke and begins its return stroke, with a significant increase in the processing downtime.

Claims

1) A method for tipping stacks of products in a cartoning machine, the method comprising a first feeding stage, wherein a group (3) of products (4), arranged in at least one stack (5), is fed to a tipping station (7); a tipping stage, wherein said group (3) is tipped 90° at said tipping station (7) by rotating about an axis (6); and a second feeding stage, wherein said tipped group (3) is extracted from said tipping station (7) by means of pusher means (11) movable with a forward and backward motion through said tipping station (7);the tipping of the group (3) in the tipping station (7) being performed by tipping around the said axis (6), and between a first loading position and a second tipped unloading position (SER AZIONI PATENTS ÌVIanservigi) disposed at 90° with respect to the said first position, a container (12), inside which the said group (3) is fed; and the container (12) having a first and a second passage (24, 25) suitable to allow the said pushing means (11) to pass through the said container (12) when the container (12) itself is in the said second position and, respectively, in the said first position.; 2) Method according to claim 1, wherein said group (3) is fed to said container (12) in a first direction (9) and with the container (12) in said first position, and is extracted from said container (12) in a second direction (10) and when the container (12) is in said second position; the container (12) having a first passage opening (19) for said group (3) facing the first direction (9), a second passage opening (20) for said group (3) arranged facing said first passage (24) and facing in said second direction (10) when the container (12) is arranged in said second position;the said pushing means (11) being movable through the said container (12) starting from a rest position external to the said container (12) and engaging, during the said forward motion, the said first passage (24) and the said second opening (20), and engaging, during the said return motion, the said second passage (25), which is obtained in the said container (12) in a position, which is aligned with the said second direction (10) when the container (12) is placed in the said first position.; 3) Method according to claim 2, wherein said extraction step comprises, in order, the sub-steps of placing said container (12) in said second position; imparting to said pushing means (11) said forward motion to move said pushing means (11) through and beyond said container (12) in said second direction (10) engaging said first passage (24) and, therefore, said second opening (20); rotating said container (12) around said axis (6) until it is placed in said first position; and imparting to said pushing means (11) said return motion to bring said pushing means (11) back to said rest position engaging said second passage (25). 4) Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said container (12) comprises a plurality of walls (13, 14, 18); said second passage (25) comprising two slits (26) facing each other and obtained in two respective said walls (13) facing each other and transversal to said second direction (10) when said container (12) itself is placed in said first position. 5) Method according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein said axis (6) is parallel to said first direction (9). 6) Method according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said first and second directions (9, 10) are orthogonal to each other. 7) Method according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said directions (9,10) are both horizontal. 8) Method according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein said first and second passages (24, 25) communicate laterally with said first opening (19), and said pushing means (11) comprise a pushing element (21) shaped like an L and in turn comprising a pushing arm (22) movable through said first and second passages (24, 25) and transversal to said second direction (10), and an actuating arm (23) parallel to said second direction (10) and movable, during said forward and return movements, along a path (P) parallel to said second direction (10) and external to said container (12). SOC^A' per azioni KbÌMÌP BREVETTI g. AiWvto Manservlgl) 9) Device for tipping stacks of products in a cartoning machine, the device (2) comprising a tipping station (7) for tipping at least one group (3) of products (4) arranged in at least one stack (5) by 90° around an axis (6); feed means (8) for feeding said group (3) to said tipping station (7) in a first direction (9); and pusher means (11) for extracting said tipped group (3) to said tipping station (7) in a second direction (10); said pusher means (11) being movable, with a forward and return motion in said second direction (10), through said tipping station (7); said tipping station (7) comprising a container (12) adapted to receive at least one said group (3) and mounted to rotate around said axis (6) between a first loading position and a second unloading position tipped by 90° with respect to said first position;and the container (12) presenting a first and a second passage (24, 25) suitable for allowing the said pushing means (11) to pass through the said container (12) when the container (12) itself is in the said second position and, respectively, in the said first position.; 10) Device according to claim 9, wherein said feeding means (8) are movable in a first direction (9) and said pushing means (11) are movable in a second direction (10); the container (12) having a first passage opening (19) for said group (3) facing the first direction (9), a second passage opening (20) for said group (3) arranged SOSfETA' PER AZIONI SERVIZIO PAVETTI (Eng.AJopftQ^ Manservigi) facing the said first passage (24) and facing the said second direction (10) when the container (12) is placed in the said second position; and the said pushing means (11) being movable through the said container (12) starting from a rest position external to the said container (12) and being able to engage, during the said forward motion, the said first passage (24) and the said second opening (20), and to engage, during the said return motion, the said second passage (25), which is obtained in the said container (12) in a position, which is aligned with the said second direction (10) when the container (12) is in the said first position. 11) Device according to claim 10, wherein said container (12) comprises a plurality of walls (13, 14, 18); said second passage (25) comprising two slits (26) facing each other and obtained in two respective said walls (13) facing each other and transversal to said second direction (10) when said container (12) itself is placed in said first position. 12) Device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said container (12) is a box (12) in the shape of a rectangular prism having two first side walls (13) parallel to said first direction (9); a second side wall (14) orthogonal to said first side walls (13) and facing said first opening (19); and an end wall (18) facing said second opening (20); said first passage (24) being obtained through said end wall (18), and said second passage (25) SOCIE1XRER AZIONI SERVmOQBREVETTI (Ing. Albertp Manservigi) comprising two slits (26), each of which is obtained in a respective said first side wall (13). 13) Device according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein said axis (6) is parallel to said first direction (9). 14) Device according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein said first and second directions (9, 10) are orthogonal to each other. 15) Device according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein said directions (9,10) are both horizontal. 16) Device according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein said first and second passages (24, 25) communicate laterally with said first opening (19), and said pushing means (11) comprise an L-shaped pushing element (21) in turn comprising a pushing arm (22) movable through said first and second passages (24, 25) and transverse to said second direction (10), and an actuating arm (23) parallel to said second direction (10) and movable, during said forward and return movements, along a path (P) parallel to said second direction (10) and external to said container (12).