Stacking device for lateral loading machine

Abstract

A method of preparing confectionery products for packaging in a lateral load packaging machine, in which the confectionery products are conveyed one by one on a first pocket conveyor, and in which a pick-up robot for picking up a predetermined number of ice cream products from the first pocket conveyor and transferring the confectionery products to a bulk conveyor is arranged, the bulk conveyor has compartments adapted to accommodate a predetermined number of confectionery products in one or more layers in each compartment, and wherein the pick-up robot can be located in a first position above the one or more compartments to be filled and in a second position above the bag conveyor, a pick-up robot picks up a predetermined number of confectionery products from the pouch conveyor corresponding to the number of confectionery products in the first layer, and then positions the pick-up robot over one or more empty compartments on the bulk conveyor; b) determining, in a further step, the presence of a further predetermined number of confectionery products on the bag conveyor that are ready to be picked up, corresponding to the total number of confectionery products required to fill all consecutive layers; c) releasing the picked-up confectionery product into one or more compartments, and d) moving the pick-up robot to pick up a further predetermined number of confectionery product from the bag conveyor, and e) transferring the further predetermined number of product into the compartments to form a further layer of confectionery product, and f) repeating steps d) and e) until a desired number of layers are arranged in the compartment, and d) moving the pick-up robot to pick up the further predetermined number of confectionery product from the bag conveyor to form a further layer of confectionery product. And g) repeating steps a) to f).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of preparing a confectionery product for packaging in a side loading packaging machine. Background Art

[0002] Use side loading packaging machine to insert multiple sweet food products (such as frozen ice cream products) into carton / box.In the upstream inserted into carton / box, the sweet food products of desired quantity are assembled and positioned in so-called bulk conveyor (bulking conveyor).Bulk conveyor comprises compartment (compartment), and sweet food products are arranged in compartment with desired quantity and layout / mode, so that they can be easily inserted into carton and tightly fitted in carton.Usually, sweet food products will be arranged into one or more layers.The quantity of product can be greatly changed between for example 2 products to 10 or 16 products or more products, so that the process of downstream arrangement of products to be packaged in side loading machine must be very variable.The side loading machine that is not a part of the present invention can be dedicated to specific carton size or can be applicable to various carton sizes, so that the compartment on bulk conveyor can be suitable for accommodating various quantities of products equally.

[0003] Particularly in the ice cream industry, the production rate is very high, so that typically 200 to 300 products will be processed and packaged per minute, which requires very fast arrangement of the desired number of products in the compartments of the bulk conveyor. For this purpose, it is known that each product is arranged in one or more parallel bag conveyors, and then the (one or more) bag conveyors ensure that one product is placed in each bag. As the bag is filled and advanced, multiple robots will pick up products from the bag and place them in the compartment. Examples of such equipment are disclosed in, for example, US2010 / 0310348A1 and US2003 / 0183481A1. Typically, multiple robots will collaborate to arrange the products in the compartment, which in turn requires a very reliable counting and control mechanism so that the control mechanism always monitors how many products are placed in each layer in the compartment and instructs the robot to pick up the necessary products from the bag conveyor and place them in the compartment. These prior art arrangements are usually very complex, involving many robots, thereby requiring advanced software, and at the same time relatively expensive due to the many robots involved and the floor area required to accommodate the arrangement.

[0004] Purpose of the Invention

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simpler, faster and more reliable way of arranging products into compartments on a bulk conveyor without compromising quality. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention solves this problem by providing a method for preparing confectionery products for packaging in a side-loading packaging machine, wherein the confectionery products are conveyed one by one on a first bag conveyor, and wherein a picking robot is arranged for picking up a predetermined amount of ice cream products from said first bag conveyor and transferring the confectionery products to a bulk conveyor, said bulk conveyor having compartments suitable for accommodating a predetermined amount of confectionery products in one or more layers in each compartment, wherein the picking robot is capable of being located in a first position above the compartment or compartments to be filled and in a second position above the bag conveyor, wherein

[0007] a) in a first step, a picking robot picks up a predetermined number of confectionery products corresponding to the number of confectionery products in the first layer from the bag conveyor and then positions the picking robot over one or more empty compartments on the bulk conveyor;

[0008] b) in a further step, determining the presence on the bag conveyor of a further predetermined number of confectionery products ready to be picked up corresponding to the total number of confectionery products required to fill all consecutive layers;

[0009] c) releasing the picked confectionery product into one or more compartments, and

[0010] d) the picking robot moves to pick up a further predetermined number of confectionery products from the bag conveyor, and

[0011] e) transferring a further predetermined amount of the product to the compartment to form a further layer of the confectionery product, and

[0012] f) repeating steps d) and e) until the desired number of layers are arranged in the compartment, and then

[0013] g) Repeat steps a) to f).

[0014] It is evident from the method that the pick-up robot collects the products corresponding to the first layer and then positions itself above the empty compartment on the bulk conveyor. The robot remains in this position until it detects that there are enough products on the bag conveyor to fill the next layer or the next subsequent layers, at which point the robot releases the products into the compartment and quickly collects the additional products that make up the next layer or the next subsequent layers. In this way, it is ensured that the compartments are filled quickly and without hesitation. For example, with the devices of the prior art, there may not be products in the bag conveyor or there may not be enough products in the bag conveyor, so that the bulk conveyor with compartments must wait for one compartment to be filled with the desired amount of products, even if other compartments upstream may have been prepared to be transferred to the side loader. This is a great advantage because it is ensured that all compartments are filled once the filling process begins and at the same time only one robot is needed to perform the process.

[0015] Where it is desired to separate the product into more than two layers, the sensor will indicate that there is sufficient product in the belt conveyor to fill subsequent layers (eg, layer 2, layer 3 and layer 4) before the first layer of product is released into an empty compartment.

[0016] The ability to fill all compartments allows bulk and bag conveyors to move at constant or variable speeds, thereby providing a continuous process.

[0017] In yet another advantageous embodiment, the picking robot comprises a plurality of separate picking arms, each arm being provided with vacuum collecting members and valve mechanisms for activating a desired number of vacuum collecting members corresponding to a desired predetermined number of confectionery products in each layer.

[0018] Since the number of products required in each compartment depends on the number of products desired in the finished carton (which may vary greatly), only the appropriate number of robotic arms or product engaging devices, such as vacuum collection members, are activated during the process.

[0019] However, in another advantageous embodiment, the predetermined number of the predetermined number of confectionery products may correspond to a desired number of confectionery products in a single layer in two or more adjacent compartments, so that when the predetermined number of confectionery products is released in steps c) and e), a layer of confectionery products will be placed in two or more adjacent compartments.

[0020] Since the robot comprises a plurality of separate collecting arms, the robot can collect from the bag conveyor the products corresponding to the number of products required to fill the first layer in two or more adjacent compartments. The robot will pick up the desired number of products and reposition itself above a number of compartments corresponding to the number of products in the first layer (for all compartments) and, as described above, release the products into the two or more compartments only after the system indicates that there is available product in the bag on the bag conveyor for filling the next layer or layers. In this way, a very fast and efficient process is achieved using only a single picking robot.

[0021] Of course, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention that a plurality of bag conveyors may be arranged in parallel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the attached figure

[0023] Figure 1 a to Figure 1 f shows the method steps of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic overview of a possible layout is shown which aids in understanding the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] exist Figure 1 a to Figure 1 In the following, the method of the invention for preparing a confectionery product for packaging in a side loader will be described.

[0026] Side loaders are used in many production lines for packaging individual objects into cartons, for example. To achieve optimal packaging, the objects to be packaged are pre-stacked so that the complete stack of products can be slid sideways into the carton (i.e. without further processing). The stack can include a number of layers, where each layer includes a predetermined number of objects. For example, each layer can include four objects, and by creating three layers, 12 products are prepared for introduction into the package in the side loader.

[0027] Figure 1 a to Figure 1 The schematic steps shown in f are simplified sketches of the actual process. In order to illustrate the concept, many details related to (one or more) robots, conveyors, machines, etc. are omitted.

[0028] exist Figure 1 In a, compartments 10 arranged in a bulk conveyor 1 are shown. Bags 20 arranged in a bag conveyor 2 are arranged beside the bulk conveyor 1. A plurality of parallel bag conveyors 2 may be arranged. In order to illustrate the principle of the invention, only a single bag conveyor 2 is shown.

[0029] In the bag 20 a product 30 is arranged. The product 30 may in principle be any type of product, but typically this method is used with frozen ice cream products or other confectionery products.

[0030] A picking robot is shown above the bay 10 , illustrated by the robot's engagement pad 40 .

[0031] Furthermore, the sensor 50 is arranged such that it can detect the presence or absence of a product 30 in the bag 20. Typically, the sensor 50 will be arranged such that it detects the presence or absence of a plurality of products 30.

[0032] In a first method step, the sensor detects the presence of a predetermined number of confectionery products 30 on the bag conveyor 2 corresponding to the number of confectionery products in the first layer. The robot 40 picks up the predetermined number of products 30 and then positions the products 30 over one or more empty compartments 10 on the bulk conveyor 1.

[0033] Depending on the number of products in each layer, the robot may pick up a number of products corresponding to filling the first layer in more than one compartment.

[0034] This is Figure 1 In b is shown, a robot 40 with a product 30 is waiting above an empty compartment 10. The bag 20 is empty.

[0035] exist Figure 1 c, the sensor 50 detects the presence of products 30 corresponding to the predetermined number of confectionery products 30 for one layer on the bag conveyor 2. The robot 40 then releases the collected first product 30 so that Figure 1 d, the products 30 are placed into the compartment 10 as the first layer of products 30'. The robot 40 then continues to move to collect the next layer of products 30 from the bag conveyor. These products 30" are then placed on top of the previous layer of products 30' in the compartment 10, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown in e. The bag 20 on the bag conveyor is empty.

[0036] In the next step, if Figure 1 f, the sensor detects the presence of products 30 on the bag conveyor corresponding to the number of products in a layer, and as described above with reference to Figure 1 a, so that the robot 40 is ready to collect the product and place the robot over the empty compartment (see Figure 1 b). At this point, the full cycle of filling two layers in the compartment is complete. At this point, the compartment 10 can proceed to the side loader.

[0037] For some products or applications, it is desirable to stack more than two layers. In these cases, the corresponding Figure 1 The sensor 50 in method step c must ensure that there are products on the bag conveyor corresponding to the total number of products required to complete the additional layer. For example, if four layers are to be packaged, each layer comprising four products, the robot will pick up the first four products and wait above the empty compartment until the sensor indicates that there are twelve products on the bag conveyor. When twelve products are indicated, the robot releases the first four products into the empty compartment. The robot will then pick up the next layer, place it on top of the first layer, pick up the third layer and place it on top of the second layer, and finally pick up the fourth layer and place it on top of the third layer. At this point, four products of the four layers are placed in the compartment. The compartment can then advance to the side loader for packaging. Once the compartment is filled with the required layers, the robot will return to the method described above with reference to Figure 1 aThe position described.

[0038] exist Figure 2 Schematically shown in FIG. 1 is a portion of a production line 100 , which includes a bulk conveyor 110 , a bag conveyor 120 , a picking robot 140 and a sensor 150 .

[0039] The products 30 are loaded onto the bag conveyor upstream (not shown) in such a way that one product 30 is placed in each bag 20. Some bags 20' may be empty due to failure to fill them correctly upstream. In practice, only a very small number of bags are empty.

[0040] If the array of filled bags 20 does not correspond to the number of products to fill the layer in the compartment 10, the robot lets the products pass. These products 30 are recovered and refilled into the upstream bag. In embodiments where an additional layer on top of the first layer is to be placed on top of the first layer, the robot 140 will only be activated when the sensor 150 detects that there are enough products on the bag conveyor corresponding to the total number of products required to fill all the layers in the compartment.

Claims

1. A method for preparing confectionery products for packaging in a side-loading packaging machine, wherein the confectionery products are conveyed one by one on a first bag conveyor, and wherein a picking robot is arranged for picking up a predetermined amount of ice cream products from the first bag conveyor and transferring the confectionery products to a bulk conveyor, the bulk conveyor having compartments suitable for accommodating a predetermined amount of confectionery products in one or more layers in each compartment, wherein the picking robot is capable of being positioned in a first position above the compartment or compartments to be filled and in a second position above the bag conveyor, wherein a) in a first step, the picking robot picks up a predetermined number of confectionery products corresponding to the number of confectionery products in the first layer from the bag conveyor and then positions the picking robot over one or more empty compartments on the bulk conveyor; b) in a further step, determining the presence on the bag conveyor of a further predetermined number of confectionery products ready to be picked up corresponding to the total number of confectionery products required to fill all consecutive layers; c) releasing the picked confectionery product into the one or more compartments, and d) the picking robot moves to pick up the further predetermined number of confectionery products from the bag conveyor, and e) transferring the further predetermined amount of product to the compartment to form a further layer of confectionery product, and f) repeating steps d) and e) until the desired number of layers are arranged in the compartment, and then g) Repeat steps a) to f).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the confectionery product is a frozen ice cream product.

3. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the bulk conveyor and / or the bag conveyor moves at a constant or variable speed.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined number of confectionery products is between 3 and 24 confectionery products.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the picking robot comprises a plurality of separate picking arms, each arm being provided with vacuum collecting members and valve mechanisms for activating a desired number of vacuum collecting members corresponding to a desired predetermined number of confectionery products in each layer.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined number of confectionery products is capable of corresponding to a desired number of confectionery products in a single layer in two or more adjacent compartments, so that when the predetermined number of confectionery products is released in steps c) and e), a layer of confectionery products will be placed in two or more adjacent compartments.

Images