System for inserting cans in a filling machine with air flow thruster device

Abstract

A system (1) for inserting cans in a carousel (101) of a filling machine (10) is described, said system comprising:- a conveyor (2) for conveying the cans (L) and outputting them so that they are released to the carousel (101), said conveyor (2) comprising a star-wheel (21) which rotates about 5 an axis (X) so as to convey the cans with a rotating movement; - a gas thruster device (3) which comprises a nozzle (31) and a gas supply (32) and is configured so that the nozzle (31) receives the gas from the supply (32) and emits a flow of the gas received (F) sequentially towards each of the conveyed cans (L), in the same direction as the conveying direction, so 10 as to cause a thrusting action on the can in the same direction as the conveying direction.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] System for inserting cans in a filling machine with air flow thruster device

[0003] The present invention relates to a system for inserting cans in a filling machine, a nozzle for such a system and a filling machine comprising said system.

[0004] In the sector relating to the packaging of pourable products in cans it is known there exists the need to insert the cans in the filling machine by means of star-wheel conveyor which guides the cans and a radially external guide which supports the cans during the conveying movement.

[0005] In particular during the end part of the conveying movement by the starwheel, the contact and / or impact of the can against the guide may cause damage to the can. This problem increases with a reduction in the rigidity of the can, which typically decreases with a reduction in the quantity of material used for the production of the can. In particular, it is desirable to reduce the quantity of material for sustainability reasons.

[0006] A system according to the present description and / or according to any one of the attached system claims is able to reduce and / or eliminate said problem.

[0007] A system according to the present description and / or according to one or more of the attached system claims comprises a nozzle according to the present description and / or according to any one of the attached nozzle claims.

[0008] A filling machine according to the present description and / or according to one or more of the attached machine claims comprises a system according to the present description and / or according to any one of the attached system claims.

[0009] The characteristic features of a system, a nozzle and a machine according to the present description will be clarified in the following detailed description relating to respective possible embodiments of such a system, nozzle and machine according to the present description. Below, the term “system” will be understood as meaning such an embodiment of the system, “nozzle” as meaning such an embodiment of the nozzle and “machine” as meaning such an embodiment of the machine.

[0010] The following detailed description relates to the attached drawings in which:

[0011] - Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine comprising the system;

[0012] - Figure 2 is a close-up view of the system;

[0013] - Figure 3 is close-up view of the system with a component removed so that the nozzle is visible;

[0014] - Figures 4 and 5 are two perspective views of the nozzle and a fixing element for fixing the nozzle;

[0015] - Figure 6 shows a longitudinally sectioned view of a duct defined by the nozzle.

[0016] The filling machine 10 is configured to fill cans with a pourable product. The machine comprises the system 1 .

[0017] The machine 10 comprises a carousel 101 which carries a plurality of filling devices.

[0018] The system 1 is configured to perform the insertion of cans into the carousel 101 .

[0019] The system 1 comprises a conveyor 2 for conveying the cans L and outputting them so as to release them to the carousel 101.

[0020] The system 1 comprises a gas thruster device 3. The device 3 comprises a nozzle 31 and a gas supply 32. The device 3 is configured so that the nozzle 31 receives the gas from the supply 32 and emits a flow of the received gas sequentially towards each of the conveyed cans L, according to the conveying direction, so as to cause a thrusting action on the can according to the conveying direction. The thrusting force is exerted during conveying of the can.

[0021] This flow is indicated in Figure 3 by the arrows F.

[0022] The conveyor 2 comprises a star-wheel 21. The star-wheel may be of the type rotating about an axis X so as to convey the cans with a rotating movement. This rotating movement takes place in a plane which may be regarded as being the plane of Figures 1 to 3. The axis X is indicated in Figure 3 and is perpendicular to the plane of the figures. The cans L are conveyed preferably with their respective longitudinal axes perpendicular to the conveying plane defined by the star-wheel 21 .

[0023] The device 3 is configured so that the nozzle 31 emits the flow F with at least one positive radial component directed towards said axis X.

[0024] The direction of the radial component is approximately parallel to the direction of the arrow R in Figure 3.

[0025] The nozzle 31 is configured to receive said gas from said supply 32 and to emit it, with respect to said rotating movement, also with at least one tangential component in accordance with the conveying direction.

[0026] The direction of the tangential component is approximately parallel to the direction of the arrow T in Figure 3. Said radial and tangential components are to be regarded as being the radial and tangential components of the movement of the can caused by the rotating movement of the star-wheel.

[0027] The nozzle 31 is configured to receive said gas from said supply 32 and to emit it, with respect to said rotating movement, also with at least one tangential component in accordance with the conveying direction.

[0028] The nozzle 31 is configured to receive said gas from said supply 32 and to emit it also with at least one horizontal component which lies in the conveying plane defined by the rotating star-wheel 21. In particular, said radial and tangential components define said horizontal component.

[0029] Preferably, the flow F output by the nozzle lies completely in this plane, in the sense that it does not have any component along the axis X. The horizontal component may be regarded as being represented by the arrows F in Figure 3.

[0030] The conveyor 2 comprises an external guide 22 positioned along the radial periphery of the star-wheel 21 so that the cans are conveyed between the star-wheel 21 and the guide 22.

[0031] Owing to the thrust exerted by the flow F in accordance with the conveying direction, the contact between each can and the guide 22 is reduced, so as to reduce and / or eliminate the damage to the can.

[0032] In particular, this occurs owing to the radial component and / or the tangential component.

[0033] The can indicated by L1 in Figure 3 is that which is struck by the flow F in the situation shown in Figure 3.

[0034] The nozzle 31 is supported by the guide 22. In this way the nozzle 31 may be in an optimum position for generating a flow F which has a radial component directed towards the inside of the star-wheel 21 and a tangential component in accordance with the conveying direction.

[0035] The guide 22 may comprise a section 221 situated at the top and a section 222 situated at the bottom, with respect to an axial direction parallel to the axis X. In Figure 3 the top section 221 , which is visible in Figure 2, has been removed so that the nozzle 31 can be seen.

[0036] The nozzle 31 is positioned in the proximity of the exit point of the cans from the star-wheel 21 , where the cans are released to the carousel 101. In this way, the beneficial effect of the thrust exerted by the flow F is present along the end section of the conveying path of the can, where the risk of impact and / or excessive contact between can and guide 22 is greater. The exit point is indicated by U in Figure 3.

[0037] The nozzle 31 comprises a duct 311 for receiving the gas and emitting it. The duct flattens out gradually flatter towards an output slot 311 a for emitting the gas. The duct 311 and the output slot 311 a are shown along a longitudinally sectioned plane in Figure 6. Therefore, said nozzle 31 defines substantially a jet nozzle.

[0038] The duct 311 flattens out gradually in the conveying plane defined by the rotating star-wheel 21. In this way the nozzle 31 may emit a flow F in the form of an air blade, said air blade lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the can L1 so as to optimize the movement of the can L1 and further reduce the impact and / or the contact. Said air blade is preferably parallel to the conveying plane of the star-wheel in which the can is conveyed and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the can.

[0039] Said gas is preferably air, so that said nozzle 31 defines an air comb.

[0040] The nozzle 31 is produced by means of 3D printing.

[0041] The device 3 comprises a fixing element 33 which is integral with the nozzle 31. The fixing element 33 is configured to allow mounting of the nozzle 31 and adjustment of the angular direction of the nozzle 31 with respect to the conveying plane, so as to adjust the intensity of the radial component depending on the specific circumstances.

[0042] The nozzle 31 also comprises a connector 312 for connection to the supply 32. The supply 32 may comprise a tube, as for example shown in Figure 3.

Claims

CLAIMS1. System (1 ) for inserting cans in a carousel (101 ) of a filling machine (10), comprising:- a conveyor (2) for conveying the cans (L) and outputting them so that they are released to the carousel (101 ), said conveyor (2) comprising a star-wheel (21 ) which rotates about an axis (X) so as to convey the cans with a rotating movement;- a gas thruster device (3) which comprises a nozzle (31 ) and a gas supply (32) and is configured so that the nozzle (31 ) receives the gas from the supply (32) and emits a flow of the received gas (F) sequentially towards each of the conveyed cans (L), according to the conveying direction, so as to cause a thrusting action on the can according to the conveying direction.

2. System (1 ) according to Claim 1 , wherein the device (3) is configured so that the nozzle (31 ) receives the gas from the supply (32) and emits the flow (F), with respect to said rotating movement, with at least a positive radial component directed towards said axis (X).

3. System (1 ) according to Claim 2, wherein the device (3) is configured so that the nozzle (31 ) receives the gas from the supply (32) and emits the flow (F), with respect to said rotating movement, also with at least one tangential component in accordance with said conveying direction.

4. System (1 ) according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the device (3) is configured so that the nozzle (31 ) receives the gas from the supply (32) and emits the flow (F), with respect to said rotating movement, also with at least one component parallel to the conveying plane defined by the rotating star-wheel (21 ).

5. System (1 ) according to any one of the claims, wherein said conveyor (2) comprises an external guide (22) positioned along the radial periphery of the star-wheel (21 ), so that the cans (L) are conveyed between the starwheel (21 ) and the guide (22).

6. System (1 ) according to Claim 5, said nozzle (31 ) being supported bysaid guide (22).

7. System (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nozzle (31 ) is positioned in the proximity of the exit point (U) of the cans from the star-wheel (21 ), where the cans (L) are released to the carousel (101 ).

8. System (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nozzle (31 ) comprises a duct (311 ) for receiving the gas and emitting it, said duct (311 ) flattening out gradually towards an output slot (311a) for emitting the gas.

9. System (1 ) according to Claim 8, wherein said duct (311 ) flattens out gradually in the conveying plane defined by the rotating star-wheel (21 ).

10. System (1 ) according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein said gas is air, so that said nozzle defines an air comb.

11. System (1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said nozzle (31 ) is produced by means of 3D printing.

12. Nozzle (31 ) for a system (1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims.

13. Filling machine (10) for filling cans with a pourable product, comprising:- a system (1 ) according to one of more of Claims 1 to 12;- a carousel (101 ).

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