Tube filling machine and method for simultaneously filling empty tubes of different types
By introducing grouping, transfer and filling devices into the pipe filling machine, flexible, correct order and classified filling of various types of empty pipes are realized, and the flexibility and efficiency problems when filling different types of empty pipes in the prior art are solved. , simplifies the packaging process and improves filling accuracy.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202080082170.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2019-11-28
- Filing Date
- 2020-11-27
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-11-27
AI Technical Summary
When filling different types of empty pipes, existing pipe filling machines lack flexibility, making them difficult to fill in the correct order and classification at the same time, and the use efficiency of multiple filling heads is inefficient.
A tube filling machine is designed including a grouping device, a transfer device and a filling device. Through the grouping device, a variety of types of empty pipes are assembled in a predetermined order in the receiving pallet, and the transfer device transfers the assembled air pipes to the filling conveyor. The filling device uses multiple filling nozzles to fill different types of empty tubes with different contents.
Achieves the flexibility and efficiency of filling different types of empty pipes simultaneously, simplifies the packaging process, allows for more types of empty pipes, and ensures that each empty pipe is filled with the correct content, suitable for two, three or Four different types of air traffic.
Smart Images
Figure CN114945518B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a tube filling machine suitable for filling different empty tubes with contents at the same time. The tube filling machine is suitable for filling two, three or four different types of empty tubes with contents at the same time. For different tubes, the contents can be the same or different. Background Art
[0002] Tube filling machines with different filling capacities are known. Filling capacities from 20 tubes per minute to 1000 tubes per minute are known. In tube filling machines with high capacities, the machine comprises more than one filling head, so that several tubes can be filled simultaneously. Depending on the required capacity, from two to twelve filling heads are known. The filling heads can be supplied by the same paste tank, or separate filling heads can be supplied by separate paste tanks.
[0003] An advantage of separate filling heads is that it is easier to repair and replace the separate filling heads. It is also possible to use different pastes in different filling heads so that different tubes receive different contents at the same time. In this way, it is not necessary to replace all the pastes at the same time.
[0004] When different contents are filled in different tubes with separate filling heads arranged side by side, a problem is that the different tubes must be arranged in the correct order so that each tube receives the correct paste. In conventional tube filling machines with higher capacity, empty tubes are picked up by a pick-up head. The pick-up head will pick up, for example, eight, ten or more empty tubes at the same time and place these tubes in the tube holder of the tube conveyor. When different tubes are to be filled, the tubes must be packed in the correct order. But for empty tubes packed in a specific order, it is impossible to change the order or quantity of different tubes. This solution is very inflexible.
[0005] While this solution works well for certain purposes, there is still room for improvement. Summary of the invention
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tube filling machine.Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for filling different empty tubes simultaneously.
[0007] The solution to the problem according to the invention is described in the main aspects of the application. Subsidiary aspects of the application contain advantageous further developments of the tube filling machine and the method.
[0008] In a tube filling machine suitable for filling empty tubes of different types at the same time, wherein the filling machine comprises a grouping device, a transferring device, a conveyor and a filling device comprising a plurality of filling nozzles, wherein the grouping device comprises a first supply tray with tubes of a first type, a second supply tray with tubes of a second type, a receiving tray and a picking head, wherein the transferring device is suitable for transferring the empty tubes from the receiving tray to the conveyor, the object of the present invention is achieved in the following way: the grouping device is suitable for placing a plurality of empty tube groups adjacent to each other in the receiving tray, wherein a group comprises a row of tubes of the first type and a row of tubes of the second type, the transferring device is suitable for transferring a row of grouped empty tubes from the receiving tray to the conveyor, and wherein the filling nozzles are suitable for filling the row of grouped empty tubes with different contents.
[0009] By this first embodiment of the tube filling machine according to the present invention, a machine is provided that can fill different types of empty tubes simultaneously, so that different types of empty tubes in a predetermined order can be filled simultaneously. In one example, the tube filling machine is suitable for filling two, three or four different types of empty tubes with different contents simultaneously: in this way, different types of tubes are filled and sorted in a predetermined order simultaneously, so that a group of filled tubes can be directly packaged at a packaging station without being grouped in an additional grouping device. According to the number of the independent filling heads of the tube filling machine, more different types of empty tubes can be used. However, the tube filling machine is particularly suitable for tube filling machines with four independent filling heads. According to the number of different types of empty tubes, the tube filling machine can fill all the empty tubes in different empty tubes with different contents, or can fill two or more empty tubes with different contents.
[0010] One advantage of simultaneously filling different types of tubes with different contents with the tubes grouped in a predetermined order is that the packaging of different types of filled tubes in one package is simplified. In a promotional offer, two or three different tubes can, for example, be packed in one package, or three tubes of one type and a fourth tube of another type can be packed in one package. Grouping the filled tubes in the correct order simplifies the packaging of the tubes and common packaging machines can be used without any modification.
[0011] In one example, the receiving tray comprises a separation device which provides a separate position for each tube, wherein the tube is supported by the separation device. In this way, not all positions in the receiving tray can be filled. This is advantageous, for example, when three different types of tubes are used for a tube filling machine comprising four separate filling heads. In this case, one row in the receiving tray remains empty and one filling head of the tube filling machine is not used.
[0012] It is also possible to insert the empty tubes into a common open receiving tray which is slightly tilted so that the tubes support each other and do not fall over. In this case, when groups of empty tubes are transferred from the receiving tray, the tray must be tilted in a vertical manner so that the order of the empty tubes is maintained and the tubes do not fall over.
[0013] The grouping device is adapted to pick up multiple rows of empty tubes from a supply tray holding different types of empty tubes and place these empty tubes in groups in a receiving tray. The empty tubes are arranged in multiple groups of empty tubes, wherein a group of empty tubes contains, for example, two, three or four rows of empty tubes of different types. Each row of empty tubes is picked up from a supply tray holding one type of empty tubes.
[0014] In one refinement of the invention, the grouping device will pick up a row of empty tubes from two different supply trays, each supply tray holding one type of empty tubes. Multiple rows of empty tubes of different types will be placed in the first and second rows of the receiving tray and will constitute a first group of empty tubes in the receiving tray. Another group of empty tubes will be placed in the receiving tray adjacent to the first group. The grouping device will continue to place multiple groups of empty tubes in the receiving tray until the receiving tray is filled with multiple groups of empty tubes, so that every other row contains empty tubes of the first type and every other row contains empty tubes of the other type.
[0015] In a modification of the present invention, the grouping device will pick up a row of empty tubes from three different supply trays, each supply tray holding one type of empty tube. Multiple rows of different types of empty tubes will be placed in the first three rows of the receiving tray and included in the first group of empty tubes in the receiving tray. Another group of empty tubes will be inserted into the receiving tray adjacent to the first group. In this case, in the case where a group includes three different tubes, the group of empty tubes will include the first row of empty tubes of the first type, the second row of empty tubes of the second type, the third row of empty tubes of the third type, and the fourth row without any tubes. The grouping device will continue to place multiple groups of empty tubes in the receiving tray until the receiving tray is filled with multiple groups of empty tubes.
[0016] In a modification of the present invention, the grouping device will pick up a row of empty tubes from four different supply trays, each supply tray holding one type of empty tubes. Multiple rows of different types of empty tubes will be placed in the first four rows of the receiving tray and will constitute the first group of empty tubes in the receiving tray. Another group of empty tubes will be placed in the receiving tray adjacent to the first group. In this case, in the case where a group includes four different tubes, the group of empty tubes includes the first row of empty tubes of the first type, the second row of empty tubes of the second type, the third row of empty tubes of the third type, and the fourth row of empty tubes of the fourth type. The grouping device will continue to place multiple groups of empty tubes in the receiving tray until the receiving tray is filled with multiple groups of empty tubes.
[0017] For a tube filling machine having, for example, 10 individual filling heads, five different types of empty tubes may be used, wherein a group of empty tubes comprises the five different types of empty tubes.
[0018] When the receiving tray has been filled with multiple groups of empty tubes, the receiving tray will contain multiple rows of different types of empty tubes arranged adjacent to each other in a predetermined order. When the transfer device transfers a row of grouped empty tubes from a column of the receiving tray, the row will contain different types of empty tubes grouped in a predetermined order. Depending on the type of transfer device used, the receiving tray may be advanced to position the grouped row of empty tubes next to the filling conveyor. In one example, before the transfer device transfers the grouped row of empty tubes to the filling conveyor, the receiving tray is rotated 90 degrees so that the grouped row of empty tubes is positioned parallel to the filling conveyor. The pick-up head of the transfer device may also be rotated when the empty tubes are transferred to the filling conveyor.
[0019] In a method for simultaneously filling different types of empty tubes with contents, the steps include: placing a group of empty tubes in a receiving tray, wherein the group of empty tubes includes at least two rows of empty tubes of different types; placing another group of empty tubes adjacent to the first group of empty tubes in the receiving tray; repeatedly placing multiple groups of empty tubes in the receiving tray until the receiving tray is filled with multiple groups of empty tubes, transferring a row of grouped empty tubes to a filling conveyor by a transfer device, and filling the grouped empty tubes with contents through a separate filling nozzle.
[0020] By means of the method of the invention, different types of empty tubes can be filled with different contents simultaneously in the same tube filling machine. In this case, each filling head is provided with a different content, and the content is filled in the corresponding empty tube. Since the tubes are grouped in a receiving tray and a row of grouped tubes is transferred from the receiving tray, it is ensured that the correct content is filled in the correct tube.
[0021] The method is suitable for filling two, three, four or more different types of empty tubes at the same time. The receiving tray is provided with a separation device so that each empty tube is supported individually. This allows the tube filling machine to use all or some of the individual filling heads to fill the empty tubes. In the case of filling three different tubes, one filling head is not used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0023] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a tube filling machine according to the invention,
[0024] Figure 2 A view showing a grouping device,
[0025] Figure 3 shows an empty receiving tray,
[0026] Figure 4 A receiving tray is shown holding two different types of empty tubes,
[0027] Figure 5 A receiving tray is shown holding three different types of empty tubes, and
[0028] Figure 6 A receiving tray is shown holding four different types of empty tubes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The embodiments of the invention with further improvements described below are to be regarded as examples only and in no way limit the scope of protection offered by the patent claims.
[0030] The tube filling machine according to the invention is suitable for filling different types of empty tubes with contents simultaneously, wherein the empty tubes are grouped in a predetermined manner. The tube filling machine is suitable for filling two, three, four or more different tubes simultaneously. It is advantageous if the tubes have the same size, i.e. the same height and the same diameter, but some variations in size, especially in height, are also possible. The tubes may also have different covers and, of course, different prints. If the tube filling machine is provided with a separate sealing device, tubes of different materials may also be used.
[0031] exist Figure 1 , a schematic diagram of a tube filling machine 1 is shown. The tube filling machine 1 comprises a grouping device 11, a transfer device 9, a conveyor 7 and a filling device 2, which comprises a plurality of filling nozzles: a first filling nozzle 3, a second filling nozzle 4, a third filling nozzle 5 and a fourth filling nozzle 6. Figure 2 The grouping device 11 shown in FIG. 1 comprises at least two supply trays holding empty tubes of different types. The grouping device further comprises a receiving tray 17 and a picking head 12. The transfer device 9 is adapted to transfer the empty tubes 18 from the receiving tray 17 to the filling conveyor 7.
[0032] The pick-up head 12 is a conventional pick-up head used in a tube filling machine. The pick-up head can pick up the empty tube, for example, by a vacuum cup holding the empty tube on the outer side wall, or can pick up the empty tube by holding the empty tube on the inner side wall. The pick-up head is suitable for picking up a row of empty tubes 18 from a supply tray. A row can, for example, contain between 8 and 20 empty tubes. The pick-up head can be a conventional pick-up head arranged in a tube filling machine that places the empty tube on the tube filling conveyor, or it can be an additional pick-up head. The pick-up head can, for example, be mounted on an industrial robot. The transfer device 9 can also include a similar pick-up head, or a row of empty tubes in groups can be transferred to the filling conveyor with a different type of pick-up head.
[0033] In the example shown, the tube filling machine is provided with four individual filling heads, each of which has a filling nozzle. In the example shown, the grouping device comprises four supply trays: a first supply tray 13 with a first type of tube, a second supply tray 14 with a second type of tube, a third supply tray 15 with a third type of tube and a fourth supply tray 16 with a fourth type of tube. The number of rows in the receiving tray 17 must be divisible by the number of individual filling nozzles of the filling device 2 in order to be able to provide a row of grouped empty tubes. The receiving tray 17 may, for example, comprise 8 rows, 12 rows or 16 rows.
[0034] In the example shown, the pick-up head is suitable for picking up empty tubes from two, three or four different supply trays. The grouping device also includes Figure 3 17, each empty tube is placed in the receiving tray 17. The receiving tray includes a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, 16 rows and 15 columns in the example shown. The receiving tray is provided with a separation device, which separates the rows and columns so that each empty tube can be supported individually. In the example shown, the receiving tray is provided with a partition wall 19 that separates the rows from each other. Each partition wall is provided with a position protrusion 20, which separates each position of the tubes in the row so that the columns are also separated from each other. In the first supply tray 13, the second supply tray 14, the third supply tray 15, and the fourth supply tray 16, the first row 27 and the second row 28 are arranged along the x-axis. In the receiving tray 17, the first row 22, the second row 23, the third row 24, and the fourth row 25 are arranged along the x-axis, and the columns, such as the first column 26, are arranged along the y-axis.
[0035] The pick-up head 12 of the grouping device 11 is suitable for picking up multiple rows of empty tubes 18 from the supply tray that keeps different types of empty tubes to be used. In the example, the number of different tubes that can be used is two, three or four. Therefore, the pick-up head is suitable for picking up empty tubes from two, three or four different supply trays. Empty tubes 18 are arranged into multiple groups of empty tubes in the receiving tray, wherein one group of empty tubes contains two rows, three rows or four rows of different types of empty tubes. In one example, the pick-up head will pick up a whole row of empty tubes from the supply tray that keeps one type of empty tubes. For example, if one group of empty tubes contains two empty tubes of the first type arranged adjacent to each other and two empty tubes of the second type arranged adjacent to each other, the pick-up head can also pick up two rows at the same time. In one example, the pick-up head will start from the first row of 27 empty tubes, and then pick up the second row of 28 empty tubes, etc. The supply tray is slightly tilted so that the first row of empty tubes is the top row of empty tubes. The pick-up head will place a row of empty tubes in the receiving tray.
[0036] In a modification of the invention, the grouping device 1 will pick up a row of empty tubes 18 from two different first supply trays 13 and second supply trays 14, each supply tray holding one type of empty tubes. In the example shown, the first supply tray 13 holds type A empty tubes, and the second supply tray 14 holds type B empty tubes. Empty tube groups 21, i.e., multiple rows of empty tubes of different types, will be placed in the first two rows of the receiving tray 17. In this example, the first group is placed in the first row 22 and the second row 23. Another group of empty tubes will be placed in the receiving tray adjacent to the first group of empty tubes, in the example shown, the third row 24 and the fourth row 25. The grouping device will continue to place multiple groups of empty tubes in the receiving tray until the receiving tray is filled with multiple groups of empty tubes, so that every other row contains type A empty tubes and every other row contains type B empty tubes.
[0037] Figure 4 An example of a receiving tray 17 filled with type A and type B empty tubes is shown. The tubes are now grouped so that the tube filling machine will be able to fill every other tube with a content different from that of the other tubes, such as a paste. In this example, the first filling head and the fourth filling head of the tube filling machine are filled with the first paste, and the second filling head and the third filling head are filled with the second paste. The group of empty tubes can also be arranged so that the group of empty tubes contains two type A empty tubes arranged adjacent to each other and two type B empty tubes arranged adjacent to each other. Therefore, the group of empty tubes will contain the type A empty tubes of the first and second rows and the type B empty tubes of the third and fourth rows.
[0038] In an improved solution of the present invention, the grouping device 11 will pick up a row of empty tubes 18 from three different first supply trays 13, second supply trays 14, and third supply trays 15, each supply tray holding a type of empty tube. In this example, the first supply tray 13 holds type A empty tubes, the second supply tray 14 holds type B empty tubes, and the third supply tray 15 holds type C empty tubes. Empty tube groups 21, i.e., multiple rows of different types of empty tubes will be placed in the first three rows in the receiving tray 17. In this example, the first group is placed in the first row 22, the second row 23, the third row 24, and the fourth row 25. In this case, in the case of using three different types of tubes A, B, and C, the group of empty tubes contains the first row of type A empty tubes, the second row of type B empty tubes, the third row of type C empty tubes, and the fourth row without any tubes. The second group of empty tubes will be placed in the receiving tray adjacent to the first group of empty tubes. The grouping device will continue to insert multiple groups of empty tubes in the receiving tray until the receiving tray is filled with multiple groups of empty tubes.
[0039] Figure 5An example of a receiving tray 17 filled with type A, type B and type C empty tubes is shown. The receiving tray contains three different types of empty tubes, which are arranged in rows adjacent to each other, wherein every fourth row is empty. In this way, the transfer device will be able to transfer a row of grouped empty tubes to the filling conveyor by picking up a column from the receiving tray. Depending on the type of the transfer device, the receiving tray can be rotated 90 degrees so that the column of the receiving tray is parallel to the filling conveyor. In this example, the transfer device can pick up multiple rows of empty tubes including three different types of groups. The tubes are now grouped so that the tube filling machine will be able to fill three different types of empty tubes with three different contents, such as pastes. In this example, the first filling nozzle 3 of the tube filling machine will be filled with the first paste, the fourth filling nozzle 6 will be filled with the second paste, and the third filling nozzle 5 will be filled with the third paste. The second filling nozzle 4 is not used in this example.
[0040] In an improved solution of the present invention, the grouping device 1 will pick up a row of empty tubes 18 from four different first supply trays 13, second supply trays 14, third supply trays 15, and fourth supply trays 16, each supply tray holding one type of empty tube. In the example shown, the first supply tray 13 holds type A empty tubes, the second supply tray 14 holds type B empty tubes, the third supply tray 15 holds type C empty tubes, and the fourth supply tray 16 holds type D empty tubes. The empty tube group 21 will be placed in the first four rows of the receiving tray 17. In this example, the first group is placed in the first row 22, the second row 23, the third row 24, and the fourth row 25. In this case, in the case of using four different types of tubes A, B, C, D, the group of empty tubes contains the first row of type A empty tubes, the second row of type B empty tubes, the third row of type C empty tubes, and the fourth row of type D empty tubes. The second group of empty tubes will be placed in the receiving tray adjacent to the first group of empty tubes. The grouping device will continue to insert multiple groups of empty tubes in the receiving tray until the receiving tray is filled with multiple groups of empty tubes.
[0041] Figure 6 An example of a receiving tray 17 filled with empty tubes of type A, type B, type C and type D is shown. The receiving tray will now contain four different types of empty tubes arranged in rows adjacent to each other. The transfer device will now be able to transfer a row of grouped tubes to the filling conveyor by picking up a column of the receiving tray. The receiving tray can be rotated 90 degrees so that the column of the receiving tray is parallel to the filling conveyor. The transfer device of the tube filling machine will be able to pick up multiple rows of empty tubes in groups with four different types of empty tubes. The tubes are now grouped so that the tube filling machine will be able to fill four different types of empty tubes with different pastes. In this example, the first filling nozzle 3 of the tube filling machine will be filled with the first paste, the fourth filling nozzle 6 will be filled with the second paste, the third filling nozzle 5 will be filled with the third paste, and the second filling nozzle 4 will be filled with the fourth paste.
[0042] When the receiving tray has been filled with multiple groups of empty tubes, the receiving tray will contain multiple groups of different types of empty tubes arranged next to each other in a predetermined order. When the picking head picks up a group of rows of empty tubes from a column, such as the first column 26, of the receiving tray, the group of rows of empty tubes will contain different types of empty tubes arranged in a predetermined order. This can be achieved, for example, by rotating the receiving tray 90 degrees so that the picking head can pick up the group of rows of empty tubes from the receiving tray, or by rotating the picking head 90 degrees when picking up the group of rows of empty tubes from the receiving tray.
[0043] If necessary, empty tubes may also be arranged in other ways. In one example, the empty tube group 21 includes three rows of empty tubes of the same type and a fourth row of empty tubes of another type. This may be used, for example, for promotional purposes, where a fourth tube with different contents is given as a gift when a pack of three tubes is purchased. In this case, the pick-up head will pick up three rows from the first supply tray 13 and place them in the first row 22, the second row 23, and the third row 24 of the receiving tray 17, and then pick up a row of empty tubes from the second supply tray 14 and place them in the fourth row 25. The pick-up head will continue to continuously pick up three rows of empty tubes from the first supply tray and a row of empty tubes from the second supply tray, and place them in alternating rows in the receiving tray, where every fourth row is a tube of a different type.
[0044] The receiving tray will now contain two types of empty tubes, arranged with three tubes of the same type next to each other, where every fourth row is a different type of tube. The transfer device will now be able to pick up groups of multiple rows of empty tubes, where every fourth tube is a different type of tube. The tubes are now grouped so that the tube filling machine can fill three empty tubes with one paste and the fourth empty tube with a different paste. In this example, the first, third and fourth filling nozzles of the tube filling machine will fill the first paste, and the second filling head will fill the second paste.
[0045] Before the transfer device transfers the grouped rows to the filling conveyor, the receiving tray can be rotated 90 degrees. This can facilitate the pick-up head of the transfer device to pick up the grouped rows with different empty tubes, which are classified in the desired mode. The tube filling machine will be used to fill different empty tubes at the same time, which provides a flexible way to use the tube filling machine when the full capacity of the tube filling machine is not needed for a single type of empty tube. The tube filling machine is preferably provided with a medium tube filling capacity, for example in the range between 200 tubes and 500 tubes per minute, but a higher capacity machine can also be used. The machine with a lower capacity does not have a pick-up head that picks up such a large number of rows of empty tubes at the same time, and is usually not provided with several separate filling heads. The tube filling machine with a larger capacity is used for a large number of tubes of the same type and it is usually unnecessary to separate the tube flow.
[0046] Figure 1 The following example is shown: wherein a row of empty tubes, comprising four different tubes A, B, C, D, is filled by four different filling nozzles 3, 4, 5, 6. In the example shown, the filling nozzles are slightly offset. In the example shown, tube A is filled by filling nozzle 3, tube B is filled by filling nozzle 6, tube C is filled by filling nozzle 5, and tube D is filled by filling nozzle 4. The filling nozzles are spaced apart so that all the different empty tubes are filled at the same time. The container 8 of the filling device 2 is preferably provided with different compartments to hold different contents, such as paste, depending on how many different tubes are to be filled. In this case, for each filling operation, the filling conveyor advances four steps.
[0047] In the method of the present invention for filling tubes into receiving trays, multiple groups of empty tubes containing multiple rows of different types of empty tubes are picked up from different supporting trays and inserted into multiple rows in receiving trays in a predetermined order. The method comprises two, three, four or more different types of empty tubes. The size of the row of receiving tray corresponds to the size of the row of supply tray, and can be, for example, in the range between 9 empty tubes and 15 empty tubes. The size of the row of receiving tray corresponds to the picking head used, but in order to provide a flexible solution that can be used for different numbers of empty tube types, each row of the receiving tray in the illustrated example should keep 8 tubes, 12 tubes or 16 tubes. For a tube filling machine with, for example, ten separate filling heads, the number of rows is suitably 10, 15 or 20.
[0048] In this method, the pick-up head first picks up a row of empty tubes from the first supply tray. The tubes are placed in the first row of the receiving tray. Then, the pick-up head will pick up a row of empty tubes from the second supply tray and insert these empty tubes into the second row of the receiving tray.
[0049] If only two different types of tubes are used, one group of empty tubes has already been placed in the receiving tray and the picking head will continue to pick up empty tubes from the first supply tray and the second supply tray and place the empty tubes in other groups in the receiving tray so that every other empty tube is an empty tube of the first type and every other empty tube is an empty tube of the second type.
[0050] If a group of empty tubes includes three different types of empty tubes, after the first and second rows are filled with tubes from the first supply tray and the second supply tray, the picking head picks up a row of empty tubes from the third supply tray and places the empty tubes in the third row of the receiving tray. The fourth row will not be placed with tubes, and this row remains empty. The picking head will then continue to pick up empty tubes from the first supply tray and place these empty tubes in the fifth row of the receiving tray. Thereafter, the sixth and seventh rows are filled with empty tubes from the second and third supply trays, respectively, wherein the eighth row remains empty. For a receiving tray with eight rows, the tray is now filled. For a receiving tray with 12 or 16 rows, this placement of empty tubes is repeated until the receiving tray is filled.
[0051] If a group of empty tubes includes four different types of empty tubes, after the first, second and third rows are filled with tubes from the first supply tray, the second supply tray and the third supply tray, the pick-up head will pick up a row of empty tubes from the fourth supply tray and insert the empty tubes into the fourth row of the receiving tray. The pick-up head will then continue to pick up empty tubes from the first supply tray and place them in the fifth row of the receiving tray. Thereafter, the sixth, seventh and eighth rows are filled with empty tubes from the second, third and fourth supply trays, respectively. For a receiving tray with eight rows, the tray is now full. For a receiving tray with 12 or 16 rows, this positioning of empty tubes is repeated until the receiving tray is full.
[0052] In a modification of the method, empty tubes can also be placed in a receiving tray one type at a time. In an example where a group of empty tubes includes two different types of empty tubes, the pick-up head will first place the empty tubes of the first type from the first supply tray in the first row, the third row, the fifth row, etc., until every other row is filled with the empty tubes of the first type. Then, the pick-up head will fill the remaining rows with the empty tubes of the second type from the second supply tray, so that every other row is filled with the empty tubes from the second supply tray. This is possible because the receiving tray is provided with a separation device so that each tube position is supported individually. When using three, four or more different types of empty tubes, this method can also be used. This can further reduce the time of packaging the receiving tray, and can further simplify the replacement of the supply tray.
[0053] In another example of the method, the tube filling machine is provided with two picking heads. In this case, for a group of empty tubes including two different types of empty tubes, each picking head can each pick up only one type of empty tube, so that the first picking head picks up only empty tubes from the first supply tray and the second picking head picks up only empty tubes from the second supply tray. This will further simplify the packaging of the receiving tray.
[0054] The invention should not be seen as limited to the embodiments described above, but many further variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended patent claims.
[0055] Reference numerals
[0056] 1: Tube filling machine
[0057] 2: Filling device
[0058] 3: First filling nozzle
[0059] 4: Second filling nozzle
[0060] 5: Third filling nozzle
[0061] 6: Fourth filling nozzle
[0062] 7: Conveyor
[0063] 8: Container
[0064] 9: Transfer device
[0065] 11: Grouping Devices
[0066] 12: Pickup head
[0067] 13: First supply tray
[0068] 14: Second supply tray
[0069] 15: The third supply tray
[0070] 16: Fourth supply tray
[0071] 17: Receiving tray
[0072] 18: Air Traffic Control
[0073] 19: Partition wall
[0074] 20: Position protrusion
[0075] 21: Air Traffic Control Group
[0076] 22: First row
[0077] 23: Second row
[0078] 24: Third row
[0079] 25: Fourth row
[0080] 26: First row of receiving trays
[0081] 27: First row of supply trays
[0082] 28: Second row of supply trays
Claims
1. A tube filling machine (1) suitable for simultaneously filling empty tubes (18) of different types, wherein: The tube filling machine (1) comprises a grouping device (11), a transfer device (9), a conveyor (7) and a filling device (2) comprising a plurality of filling nozzles, wherein the grouping device (11) comprises a first supply tray (13) having tubes of a first type, a second supply tray (14) having tubes of a second type, a receiving tray (17) and a picking head (12), wherein the transfer device (9) is suitable for transferring empty tubes (18) from the receiving tray (17) to the conveyor (7), characterized in that the grouping device (11) is suitable for placing a plurality of empty tube groups (21) adjacent to each other in the receiving tray (17), wherein the empty tube groups (21) comprise a row of tubes of a first type and a row of tubes of a second type, the transfer device (9) is suitable for transferring a row of grouped empty tubes from the receiving tray (17) to the conveyor (7), and wherein the filling nozzles are suitable for filling the row of grouped empty tubes with different contents.
2. The tube filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The rows and columns of receiving trays (17) are separated by separating means.
3. Tube filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The group (21) of empty tubes placed adjacent to each other in the receiving tray (17) by the grouping device (11) comprises a row of tubes of a first type, a row of tubes of a second type and a row of tubes of a third type.
4. Tube filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The group (21) of empty tubes placed adjacent to each other in the receiving tray (17) by the grouping device (11) comprises a row of tubes of a first type, a row of tubes of a second type, a row of tubes of a third type and a row of tubes of a fourth type.
5. Tube filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that When the empty tube group (21) has been placed in the receiving tray (17), the grouping device (11) is adapted to rotate the receiving tray (17) by 90 degrees.
6. A tube filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that The number of rows in the receiving tray (17) is divisible by the number of individual filling nozzles of the filling device (2).
7. A tube filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that The receiving tray (17) comprises 8 rows, 12 rows or 16 rows.
8. A method for simultaneously filling different types of empty tubes with contents, the method comprising the steps of: - Place a group of empty tubes in a receiving tray, where The group of empty tubes comprises at least two rows of empty tubes of different types, - placing another group of empty tubes adjacent to the first group of empty tubes in the receiving tray until the receiving tray is filled with multiple groups of empty tubes, - transferring a row of groups of empty tubes from a column of said receiving trays to a filling conveyor by means of a transfer device, and - Filling a row of empty tubes in groups with the contents via individual filling nozzles.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that All tubes in a group of empty tubes are placed in the receiving tray before the next group of empty tubes is placed in the receiving tray.
10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that All empty tubes of a first type are placed in the receiving tray before all empty tubes of another type are placed in the receiving tray.
11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that A group of empty tubes includes a first row of empty tubes of a first type and a second row of empty tubes of a second type.
12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that A group of empty tubes includes a first row of empty tubes of a first type, a second row of empty tubes of a second type, a third row of empty tubes of a third type, and a fourth row containing no empty tubes.
13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that A group of empty tubes includes a first row of empty tubes of a first type, a second row of empty tubes of a second type, a third row of empty tubes of a third type, and a fourth row of empty tubes of a fourth type.
14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that The method comprises the additional step of rotating the receiving tray by 90 degrees so that a transfer device can pick up groups of rows comprising empty tubes of different types from a column of the receiving tray.