System for feeding blanks from wrappings to a packaging line

Abstract

Installation for feeding blanks (100) of wrappings made of substantially rectangular sheet material to a packaging line, the installation comprising: - a structure (20) provided for supporting a stack (110) of the blanks (100) in an orientation such that the blanks (100) have a lying plane arranged parallel to a reference direction (X2) and defines a removal position for the blanks (100) at one end of the stack (110); - one or more gripping members (32) for gripping one or more lateral wings (102) of the blank (100) in the removal position and for moving them to a position remote from the other blanks in the stack (110); - a device for cyclically removing the blank (100) in the removal position from the stack and for moving it to a transfer position for the blank (100), the installation being characterized in that the removal device comprises one or more members (24) for moving the blank (100) to the removal position in a rectilinear movement along the reference direction (X2), so that the blank is separated from the other blanks in the stack (110) in a sliding movement on the same plane in which the blank lies.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for feeding blanks of wrappings made of sheet material to a packaging line.

[0002] Of particular interest is the area of ​​packaging of tobacco products, especially cigarettes.

[0003] The solution described here has been developed specifically for a forming line for packaging ordered groups of cigarette packs (also called “cartons”).

[0004] In any case, the system described here can be generally applied to any packaging line for products starting from blanks made of sheet material.

[0005] Patent DE 699 18 613 T2 describes a device for feeding blanks into a packaging machine. The device comprises a storage unit for receiving the blanks, which has a horizontal axis and an input station and a receiving station at opposite ends of the storage unit; a feed device for feeding the blanks to the input station, which are positioned normal to the axis of the storage unit; conveyor means for feeding the blanks along the storage unit and to the receiving station to pack the blanks one against the other; and a receiving device for individually removing the blanks from the receiving station. German Patent Application DE 10 2011 114 240 A1 describes a device for handling blanks, comprising a magazine for receiving a stack of blanks and a removal device for removing individual blanks from a removal opening of the magazine.The removal member is designed as a toothed belt which is arranged running in the region of the removal opening and which has openings for applying a negative pressure to blanks in the region of the removal opening of the magazine for the individual removal of the same from the magazine and for the further transport of the same from the area of ​​the magazine.

[0006] The patent application DE 12 36 921 A describes a device for removing vertically stacked folding box blanks from a magazine with two independently operating suction cups which grip the blanks in their upper and lower halves, wherein the upper suction cup which causes the gripped blank to be detached from the following blank is pivotable about a fixed axis and the lower suction cup which is arranged on a pivotable axis in a known manner for pulling the blank from the magazine and depositing it on a folding shaft.

[0007] The facility described here is of the type that includes: - a structure arranged to support a stack of blanks in an orientation such that the blanks are arranged parallel to a reference plane and defining a removal position for the blanks at one end of the stack; - a device for cyclically removing the blank located in the removal position from the stack and for moving it to a transfer position of the blank.

[0008] With particular reference to the field of packaging tobacco products, in the known installations of the type in question, the stack of blanks is usually arranged in an elevated position and is oriented vertically or slightly inclined with respect to the vertical.

[0009] At the bottom, the stack of blanks is supported by teeth that only engage the outer area of ​​the last blank to allow the blanks to be pulled out from the bottom of the stack.

[0010] In such known plants, the removal device consists of a movable arm or a suction zone (with reciprocating movement) or of a roller with suction seats (with continuous movement) and is intended to carry out such a removal movement that each individual blank being removed separates from the adjacent blank of the stack in a progressive manner along its main direction, substantially without strips between the removed blank and the adjacent blank.

[0011] These known systems have a number of disadvantages.

[0012] First of all, the stack of blanks that can be loaded onto the machine must have a limited size, since its vertical support is only provided by the teeth mentioned above.

[0013] Secondly, the same teeth can score or cut the blanks, thereby compromising the quality of the final packaging. Furthermore, the removal device of these known systems has a relatively complex feeding system for removing the blanks from the stack according to the compound movement described above. In this context, the present invention aims to create a new system for feeding blanks that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0014] This object is achieved by a system having the features claimed in claim 1. The solution described here further comprises a method according to claim 10.

[0015] The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching given here in connection with the invention.

[0016] Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given purely by way of example and not limiting, in which: - Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the system described here in an axonometric view; - Fig. 2 an enlarged view of the system from Fig. 1 represents; - Fig. 3 a detail of the system of Fig. 1 represents; - Fig. 4 another detail of the system of Fig. 1 represents.

[0017] In the following description, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with different methods, components, or materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or methods are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiment.

[0018] The references used herein are for convenience only and therefore do not define the scope or extent of the embodiments.

[0019] The system described here operates to feed blanks of wrappings made of sheet material to a packaging line.

[0020] As stated above, the system described here has been specifically designed for use in the packaging of tobacco products.

[0021] In this field, packaging lines are known which produce closed wrappers containing products such as cigarettes or cigarette packs, starting from blanks made of sheet material, usually paper or cardboard, in a substantially rectangular flat shape.

[0022] These blanks have a given contour and predefined fold lines, allowing them to be formed into the final wrapper simply by folding the various parts of the individual blank and joining them together (usually with adhesive). Specifically, the blanks comprise several panels separated by weakening lines in the paper material and several pairs of lateral wings, each hinged to the opposite sides of some of the panels.

[0023] The system described here can be used to feed these blanks to a line for forming cigarette packs or for packaging cigarette packs (or cartons).

[0024] As stated above, the system described herein can in any case be used in any field of product packaging. Referring to the figures, the system described herein, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, comprises a structure 20 for receiving and supporting a stack of blanks.

[0025] For clarity, a single assembly 100 is shown in the figures, while the entire stack - indicated by the reference number 110 - is shown in Fig. 1 is shown schematically with dashed lines, which are simply suitable to represent the space required by the stack.

[0026] The structure 20 comprises two sections: a support section 20A for the stack 110 and a removal section 20B for the individual blanks 100.

[0027] The removal section 20B comprises a first pair of supports 23 aligned along a direction X2, and the support section 20A comprises a second pair of supports 21 aligned along a direction X1, which is preferably perpendicular to the direction X2. In general, the supports 21 and 23 represent frame elements of the structure 20.

[0028] In the accompanying figures, the blank 100 with its flat profile is arranged substantially vertically and rests with a lower end edge 101B on the support section 20B.

[0029] In various preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, two conveyor belts 22 are attached to the supports 21, each running along a closed annular path having at least one section parallel to the direction X1. Along this section, the two conveyor belts 22 have respective parts 22A extending along the direction X1 and directed towards the same side of the installation on which the supports 23 are located. In a similar way, two conveyor belts 24 are attached to the supports 23, each running along a closed annular path having at least one section parallel to the direction X2. Along this section, the two belts 24 have respective parts 24A extending along the direction X2 and directed towards the same side of the installation on which the supports 21 and the belts 22 are located.

[0030] The two belts 22, and in the same way the two belts 24, must be controlled synchronously for correct operation, as will be seen below.

[0031] For this purpose, in various preferred embodiments, such as the one shown, the system 10 comprises a respective actuator 25 or 25' which controls the drive of both belts 22 or 24.

[0032] In various preferred embodiments, such as the one shown, this actuator 25 or 25' is connected to a shaft 26 or 26' on which two discs 27 or 27' are mounted, around each of which one of the two bands 22 or 24 engages.

[0033] The discs 27, 27' drive the movement of the two belts 22 or 24 through the common shaft 26, 26', which in turn is controlled by the actuator 25, 25'.

[0034] Returning to the supports 21 and 23, these determine the orientation of the stack of blanks 110 in space.

[0035] The stack 110 is intended to be positioned on the supports 21 and 23 in an arrangement in which the blanks 100 rest with the respective lateral edges 101B on the belts 22 carried by supports 21 and directed towards the supports 23.

[0036] Therefore, the stack 110 is oriented with its longitudinal direction along the direction X1, and the individual blanks 100 are substantially parallel to the direction X2, i.e., they have a lying plane parallel to the direction X2. For reasons that will become clear below, in various preferred embodiments of the support section, such as the one illustrated, the direction X1 is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, so that the stack 110 of the blanks 100 is substantially "stretched out," i.e., lying on one side and sloping toward the removal section.

[0037] Preferably, the angle β between the direction X1 and the horizontal direction is equal to a value between 10° and 30° ( Fig. 4). Therefore, the operator responsible for filling the blanks 100 into the structure 20 always stacks them leaning against the removal section 20B to prevent the stack 110 from falling apart.

[0038] The conveyor belts 22 perform the function of advancing the stack 110 of blanks 100 along the direction X1, holding it in abutment against the belts 24. To perform this function, the belts 22 may also be non-motorized in cases where the inclination given by the angle β is sufficient for the stack 110 to be held against the removal section 20B due to the sole effect of gravity.

[0039] The Fig. The blank 100 shown in Figure 1 represents the blank located at the bottom of the stack 110 in direct contact with the parts 24A of the two conveyor belts 24.

[0040] The two belts 24 perform the function of extracting the blank 100 from the stack 110 and bringing it to a transfer position (not shown) to the packaging line supplied by the system described here. Specifically, the two belts 24 are designed to move the blank 100 in a rectilinear motion along direction X2, separating it from the other blanks by a movement in the same plane in which it lies.

[0041] Preferably, the bands 24 are provided with holes (not shown) along their entire extension and are also associated with air suction means suitable for creating a state of negative pressure in the holes, thereby causing the blank to adhere to the surfaces of the two bands.

[0042] The supports 23 may be provided with support surfaces or points along the direction X2 to support the blank being removed during its transfer to the transfer position, together with the belts 24. Returning to the previous explanations, the substantially extended position of the stack 110 arranged on the supports 21 and 23 allows the reduction of the weight exerted by the stack on the blank 100 to be removed and, therefore, the reduction of the friction forces generated during removal by the contact of this blank with the adjacent blank.

[0043] Therefore, in order to prevent the blank 100 from dragging the adjacent blank and possibly also the other closer blanks due to the effect of these frictional forces, the structure 20 is provided with one or more retaining members 28 suitable for engaging a given number of blanks immediately adjacent to the blank 100 in order to prevent their movement along the direction X2.

[0044] These retaining members are positioned immediately at the removal position in which the blank 100 is located and may consist of simple stop members rigidly connected to the supports 21 and 23.

[0045] The size of these parts may vary depending on the number of blanks 100 they must support. It should be noted that, thanks to the reduction in frictional forces resulting from the extended, i.e., resting, position of the stack 110 arranged on the supports 21 and 23, this number may correspond to only a few units or even to a single blank.

[0046] Therefore, the number and arrangement of these retaining elements depend on the shape and dimensions of the blanks to be fed to the various applications.

[0047] With reference to the example shown in the figures, the blank 100 has a central main region 101 from which several pairs of opposite wings 102 project laterally, which are connected to the central region 101 by corresponding fold lines 100A.

[0048] In the illustrated application, the structure 20 is designed to receive the stack of blanks in an orientation such that the central region 101 of each blank extends along the direction X2 and the respective wings 102 protrude on the opposite sides of the two bands 24. Accordingly, the fold lines 100A are parallel to the direction X2.

[0049] The assembly 20 comprises two retaining members 28 positioned outside the two bands 24 on opposite sides to engage the upper edges 102A of a pair of wings 102 (in the figures, the edges 102A are indicated on the blank 100 to be extracted, which is the only one shown in detail, but it is of course the edges 102A of the adjacent blanks that the members 28 engage).

[0050] For applications involving blanks equipped with lateral wings, such as the blank shown in the figures, the installation described here may further provide means suitable for acting on the wings of the blank to be extracted, so as to avoid possible interference between these wings and the wings of the other blanks in the stack during extraction of the blank to be extracted and, consequently, possible blockages of the installation.

[0051] In this context, it should be noted that the blanks of the stack 110, being made of flexible material, may have slightly curved or bent parts, particularly along the edge regions, on which the above-mentioned wings are positioned.

[0052] Under this circumstance, the wings of the blank being removed could therefore hook with the wings of an adjacent blank during the movement along the direction X2 and also pull the latter into the movement controlled by the belts 24.

[0053] To avoid this drawback, the installation described here preferably comprises one or more members for gripping at least some of the wings of the blank to be extracted and for bringing them into a position set back with respect to the other blanks of the stack before starting the extraction of the blank along the direction X2.

[0054] With specific reference to the application shown in the figures, the system 10 comprises a total of four gripping members 32 ( Fig. 4) suitable for gripping the first four wings 102 of the blank 100, which meet each other from its lower edge.

[0055] In various preferred embodiments, the gripping members 32, as in the illustrated embodiment, consist of suction cups connected to an air intake circuit (not shown) activated according to predefined modalities, as shown below.

[0056] The gripping members 32 are carried by two holders which are rotatable about an axis I parallel to the direction X2, so that the wings 102 are subjected to a rotational movement about the respective folding lines 100A.

[0057] The holders 34 are controlled by respective actuators (not shown). Once the rotational movement around axis I is completed, the gripping members 32 release the wings 102 so that they do not interfere with the subsequent feeding of the blank 100 along the direction X2 controlled by the belts 24.

[0058] To avoid an elastic return movement of the wings 102, which could bring them into a state of overlap with the wings of the other blanks, the structure 20 is provided with locking parts 36 to hold the wings 102 in the achieved retracted position.

[0059] These locking parts 36 are firmly connected to the supports 21 and 23 and are suitable for intercepting and blocking the wings 102 when they have already been released by the gripping members 32.

[0060] In various preferred embodiments, the structure 20, as in the one shown, comprises two profile elements 38 which are positioned on opposite sides of the two straps 24 and define both the retaining parts 28 and the locking parts 36 described above.

[0061] With particular reference to the locking parts 36, these are in the form of rectilinear edges parallel to the direction X2, positioned on a plane recessed with respect to the support plane defined by the parts 24A of the two bands 24. The retaining parts 28 are oriented perpendicularly with respect to the edges of the locking parts 36.

[0062] The positioning of the edges of the locking parts 36 is determined with regard to the position of the gripping elements 32 and their rotation axis I, so that the edges of the locking parts 36 can only intercept a very limited part of the distal regions of the wings 102.

[0063] In this way, the edges of the locking parts 36 can be easily overcome by the wings 102 when they are moved by the gripping members 32, and are, on the other hand, able to stop them when, already released by the gripping members 32, they move against the edges of the locking parts 36 due to the effect of their elastic return movement.

[0064] During the extraction of the blank 100, the wings 102, which engage the edges of the locking parts 36, slide on them in a plane that is completely free from the presence of the other blanks.

[0065] As can be seen, the described method can only be performed on some of the wings 102, taking into account their dimensions and / or their position on the blank.

[0066] With reference to the application shown, it can be noted in this context that the wings 102 into which the gripping members 32 do not engage are those which are positioned further forward in the direction of movement and which therefore do not encounter any wings of other blanks on their path.

[0067] Clearly, the system 10 also includes a control unit (not shown) to control the operations of the devices described.

[0068] With reference to the operation of the described system, the stack 110 of blanks is loaded onto the belts 22 and moved against the two belts 24 by driving the same.

[0069] As can be seen above, the blank 100 is found at the bottom of the stack in contact with the bands 24 and with any other support surfaces / points provided on the supports 23.

[0070] It should be noted in passing that in the system described here, the stack of blanks is firmly supported by both the belts 22 and the belts 24, which is why the disadvantages of the prior art discussed at the beginning, which are due to the teeth used in these solutions for the vertical support of the blanks, are completely absent.

[0071] In particular, in the plant described here, the stack of blanks can have significantly larger dimensions compared to the stacks that can be loaded onto the state-of-the-art plants, thus making it possible to reduce the number of refills of the plant and improve its operating efficiency.

[0072] To withdraw the blank 100, the gripping members 32 first grasp the wings 102 and rotate them about the respective fold lines 100A to move them to a recessed position beyond the edges of the locking members 36. The wings 102 are then released by the gripping members 32 and move independently until they abut against the edges of the locking members 36.

[0073] At this point, the two belts 24 are actuated: the suction means associated with their parts 24A are activated to make the blank adhere to the surfaces of the parts 24A, and the two belts 24 are set in motion.

[0074] The blank 100 thus retained on the parts 24A begins to move with the belts 24 along the direction X2, sliding with respect to the other blanks of the stack, which, however, are retained by the retaining parts 28.

[0075] Once they have overcome the edges of the locking parts 36, the wings 102 of the blank 100 move into a configuration substantially coplanar with the central part 101, and the blank 100 is moved in its normal extended state to the transfer position.

[0076] While maintaining the principle of the invention, the details of execution and the embodiments may of course vary significantly compared to the purely exemplary, non-limiting representation, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0077] It should be noted in particular that the belts 24 are one of the possible embodiments of the feed members provided in the solution described here. Alternative implementations may, for example, instead of the belts 24, provide a carriage movable in a reciprocating motion along the direction X2 and provided with means for gripping the blanks.

Claims

[1] Installation for feeding blanks (100) of wrappings made of substantially rectangular-shaped sheet material to a packaging line, the installation comprising: - a structure (20) provided for supporting a stack (110) of the blanks (100) in an orientation such that the blanks (100) have a lying plane arranged parallel to a reference direction (X2) and defines a removal position for the blanks (100) at one end of the stack (110); - one or more gripping members (32) for gripping one or more lateral wings (102) of the blank (100) in the removal position and for bringing them into a position remote from the other blanks of the stack (110); - a device for cyclically removing the blank (100) in the removal position from the stack and for moving it to a transfer position of the blank (100), wherein the installation characterized byis that the removal device comprises one or more members (24) for bringing the blank (100) into the removal position in a rectilinear movement along the reference direction (X2), so that the blank is separated from the other blanks of the stack (110) in a sliding movement on the same plane in which the blank lies. [2] Plant according to claim 1, in which one or more feeding members (24) each consist of a conveyor belt (24) running around a closed annular path comprising a section along the reference direction (X2) and defining along this section a part (24A) intended to hold the blank (100) in the removal position and to bring it to the transfer position. [3] Plant according to claim 2, in which the conveyor belt (24) has a plurality of holes, and in which the plant comprises an air suction system associated with the part (24A) of the belt (24) for creating a state of negative pressure in the holes of the part (24A) so as to cause the blank to adhere to the same part (24A). [4] Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the structure (20) comprises a section (20B) for removing the blank (100) in the removal position, which section extends along the reference direction (X2) and is provided with the at least one feeding member (24), and a section (20A) for supporting the stack (110) which extends along a further reference direction (X1) which is transverse to the reference direction (X2). [5] Plant according to claim 4, wherein the removal section (20B) comprises at least a first frame element (23) oriented along the reference direction (X2), and wherein the support section (20A) comprises at least a second frame element (21) oriented in a further reference direction (X1), wherein the first frame element (23) is provided to form a support for one end of the stack (110) of blanks, and the second frame element (21) is provided to form a lateral support for the blanks of the stack (110), and wherein the at least one feeding member (24) is mounted on the first frame element (23). [6] Plant according to claim 5, comprising one or more members (22) for feeding a stack (110) of blanks loaded onto the second frame element (21) along the further reference direction (X1), in order to keep the stack of blanks arranged in abutment against the at least one feeding member (24) and / or the first frame element (23) and to feed the individual blanks (100) into the removal position. [7] Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the structure (20) comprises one or more retaining elements (28) suitable for engaging one or more blanks from the stack (110) positioned in the immediate vicinity of the blank (100) in the removal position, in order to prevent the blanks from any possible movement along the reference direction (X2), pulled by the blank (100) in the removal position, which is moved by one or more feed members (24). [8] Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which gripping members (32) are rotatable about respective axes of rotation (I) parallel to the reference direction (X2). [9] A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure (20) comprises one or more locking members (38) provided to hold the lateral wings (102) in the removed position. [10] A method for feeding blanks of wrappings made of sheet material to a packaging line, in which the blanks each have a central part (101) to which a plurality of lateral wings (102) are connected by respective folding lines (100A), the method comprising the following phases: - positioning a stack (110) of blanks in such a way that the blanks (100) of the stack are parallel to a reference direction (X2) and a blank (100) located at the end of the stack (110) is in a removal position; - before feeding the blank (100), folding one or more lateral wings (102) with respect to the central part (101) so as to distance them from the other blanks of the stack (110); - Moving the blank (100) into the removal position in a rectilinear movement along the reference direction (X2) so that the blank (100) is separated from the other blanks of the stack (110) in a sliding movement on the same plane in which the blank (100) lies. [11] Method according to claim 10, comprising the step of retaining one or more blanks of the stack (110) positioned in the immediate vicinity of the blank (100) in the removal position, in order to prevent the blanks from any possible movement along the reference direction (X2), pulled along by the blank (100) in the removal position which is moved along the reference direction (X2). [12] Method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the positioning of the stack of blanks (110) comprises orienting the blanks in such a way that the fold lines (100A) connecting the wings (102) to the central part (101) of the blanks are parallel to the reference direction (X2).

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