SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PACKET ORIENTATION

Abstract

A system for grouping and rotating packages (101) includes a first conveyor (102) configured to drive a stream of packages from a first end (102A) to a second end (102B) at a predefined first speed, a drive section (104) located at the second end (102B) of the first conveyor (102) configured to receive the flow of packages from the first conveyor (102) and drive the flow of packages towards an orientation section (108) at a predefined second speed, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed, and a plurality of lugs (106) adjacent to the drive section (104) configured to drive front packages in the package stream forming groups (105) of two or more packages (101).

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PACKET ORIENTATION Cross-reference with related application This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 985,013 filed on March 4, 2020, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background of the Invention The present description concerns in particular, though not exclusively, the field of machinery for grouping articles before they are oriented and more particularly, though not exclusively, the field of machinery comprising tools, each of which is driven independently around a fixed track by an independent drive means. Description of the Related Technique In the packaging industry, it is common to require that items within a flow be oriented and reoriented before being packed or labeled. It is also common to require that items be separated from each other by a predetermined amount to match, for example, the spacing of corresponding packages. Various solutions to these requirements are known in the art, and they typically involve placing each item or package individually. However, the systems mentioned normally MA / t / ZUZZ / U í Ί OOO require a central drive means and also a large number of rotating mechanisms. These common design characteristics lead to relatively high stresses on the drive means and corresponding mechanical linkages, especially at high production speeds, and reduce the versatility of the system as a whole. One possible solution is to provide multiple drive chains, each of which is attached to a selection of tools; each drive chain is controlled in concert with the others to provide an overall drive system. However, this solution results in an overly complex system since it requires the provision of numerous drive chains that must be carefully aligned to operate at high speed.Furthermore, unless a transmission chain is provided for each tool, of which there are usually a considerable number, this solution still suffers from the problem that each tool is mechanically linked to at least one other tool and, therefore, it is impossible to control each tool completely independently. Another problem with the prior art concerns the supply and subsequent maintenance of the chains and belts on which the tools are mounted. The chains are required to be strong and flexible and are subject to wear from continuous high-speed use. Therefore, there is a need for ML / í 1000 drive and rotation systems that do not require belts or chains necessary to rotate at high speeds. Therefore, the present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art related to the provision of a system by which each tool can be controlled independently of the other tools and whose system can be obtained without undue complexity and cost and suffer from reduced maintenance requirements. The technical advantages of such a system will become evident in the following description; however, briefly, they concern an increase in the system's performance speed, an increase in the system's flexibility, and the ability to adapt to variable item and / or cardboard box requirements, while the overall system maintains continuous use. Brief Description of the Invention A system for grouping packages includes a first conveyor configured to conduct a flow of packages from a first end to a second end at a predefined first speed, a drive section located at the second end of the first conveyor, configured to receive the flow of packages from the first conveyor and drive the flow of packages to an orientation section at a predefined second speed, wherein the second The speed is less than the first speed, and a plurality of lugs adjacent to the drive section are configured to activate leading packages in the package stream, forming groups of two or more packages. Each of the multiple lugs is mounted on and can follow a path along a single fixed track and can be individually controlled, such that at least one of the lugs serves to increase the speed of the packages while actuating the package, while one or more other lugs travel at a different speed. Each of the lugs can pass over the drive section. The track is configured to guide each of the lugs to make contact with the packages before the orientation section and to move each of the lugs away from the packages within the orientation section.Each of the lugs can be configured to trigger one out of every two or every third packet of the packet flow. A guidance section may be located downstream of the drive section and include a plurality of chain-driven rotation mechanisms configured to rotate the bundle groups. The rotation mechanisms can rotate the bundle groups by approximately 90 degrees. A second conveyor section can be placed downstream of the orientation section. A section of ML / t / ZUZZ / U / 1000 division may be downstream of the second conveyor. One method for rotating groups of packages involves guiding a stream of packages along a first conveyor where each package is separated from the others, forming groups of packages by propelling one or more packages from the stream at a different speed than that of the first conveyor, separating the groups of packages from each other, and rotating the groups of packages by approximately 90 degrees to prepare them for subsequent packaging processes. Every second or every third package (or another predetermined number) in the flow of packages can be triggered by a lug during the grouping step. Each of the packages in the downstream stream of the first conveyor can be slowed down relative to the first conveyor. Subsequent packaging processes may include conveying each of the groups of packages onto a second conveyor and dividing each of the previously formed groups of packages into individual package streams or a single package stream. These and other features of the systems and methods described herein will become more evident to those experienced in the technique from the following detailed description of the preferred modalities taken in conjunction with the drawings. ML / í Ί OOO Brief Description of the Drawings To enable those experienced in the art to which the present invention belongs to easily understand how to manufacture and use the devices and methods of the present invention without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail below with reference to certain figures, where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a general packaging and separation system; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the grouping section of Figure 1, showing individual packages being grouped together and each of the groups rotated; Figure 3 is a side view of grouping and orientation sections of Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the end of the orientation section of Figure 1 and the second protractor section. Detailed Description Reference will now be made to drawings with similar reference numbers that identify similar structural features or aspects of the present invention. For explanatory and illustrative purposes, and not for the purpose of limitation, Figure 1 shows a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a conveyor system according to embodiments of the The invention is generally designated by the reference character 100. Other views of the system according to embodiments of the invention or aspects thereof are provided in Figures 24, as described below. The methods and systems of the invention can be used to group, rotate, and reorient groups of packages at once instead of rotating each package individually. Each package may comprise a plurality of articles or the like. Figure 1 shows a system 100 for taking a single flow 101 of packages, grouping the packages, reorienting the groups by approximately 90 degrees, and then dividing the groups again to form three parallel flows 103 of packages, wherein the packages in each of the latter three flows 103 include packages oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the original single flow 101. The system 100 includes a first conveyor 102 for propelling a single flow 101 of packages from a first end 102a to a second end 102b. The first conveyor 102 moves the single flow 101 at a first speed. Each of the packages in the single flow 101 is separated from the others. When the single flow 101 reaches the second end 102b of the first conveyor 102, the packages can be slowed down, thereby eliminating the space or separation between each of the packages.For example, when a front pack 101a brakes or stops in drive section 104, a rear pack 101b catches up to it and the. The space between the two is reduced, thus forming groups of packages 105. Furthermore, the groups of packages 105 can be further formed by lugs 106 that engage with one or more of the packages and move the packages so that they come into contact or approximate each other, to form the groups of packages 105. Alternatively, individual packages can be grouped together by means of pushing or guiding mechanisms that push or guide the packages together to form respective groups of packages 105. As another example, the packages can be grouped together via a restraint mechanism that restricts or slows the movement of one or more of the packages, such that the packages move together to form the respective groups of packages 105. Other grouping mechanisms and processes will be evident to those experienced in the art and can be used to orient individual packages into groups of packages 105. Figure 2 shows a closer view of the drive section 104. The drive section 104 is located at the second end 102b of the first conveyor 102. Lugs 106 drive the newly formed groups of packages 105 forward to an orientation section 108 at a second predefined speed. The lugs 106 can be provided on a driven chain or chains or other suitable drive or movement mechanisms, as will be This is evident to those experienced in the technique. In drive section 104, a belt can move groups of packages 105 forward along with lugs 106. The lugs 106 circulate adjacent to drive section 104 to advance certain predetermined packages in the flow or stream. For example, the lugs 106 can make contact with the rear of every third package, or every other package, to propel it and the package or packages in front of it forward. Alternatively, the lugs 106 can make contact with the rear of a different predetermined interval of packages to propel it and the packages in front of it forward. Figure 2 further shows each lug 106 mounted on and following a path of a track 110. The track 110 can be a driven chain or other suitable mechanical means for moving and driving the lugs 106 along the conveyor direction. Each of the lugs 106 can be individually controlled, such that, while driving alternating packages, the lugs 106 can accelerate to increase speed, while one or more lugs 106 travel at a different speed around track 110 when moving away from the package groups 105. This allows the lugs 106 to adapt to the individual flow rate 101, the size of each individual package, and the desired size of each package group 105. Each of the lugs 106 passes over the drive section 104. The lugs 106 can hang over portions of the drive section 104 when the lugs 106 are driving the packages forward.Track 110 allows each of the lugs 106 to make contact with the packets before the orientation section 108 and is configured to move each of the lugs 106 away from the packets within the orientation section 108. Figure 3 shows a guidance section 108 located downstream of the drive section 104. The guidance section 108 includes a plurality of chain-driven rotary mechanisms 112. Each rotary mechanism 112 is configured to grip and rotate a group of packages by 90 degrees. The rotary mechanisms 112 grip each group of packages from the top, and at a certain point, the rotary mechanism is forced to rotate by its drive chain, thereby sliding the groups of packages, reorienting them by 90 degrees, and then releasing the grip. System 100 provides single-stream transport 101 of packets, grouping those packets into predetermined number groups, reorienting or rotating the groups by 90 degrees, and dividing the packets into groups of packets to form three parallel 103 packet flows. This allows the system to have shorter uptime or greater ML / 1000 throughput rate and requires fewer rotation mechanisms to handle the same number of packets, instead of rotating each packet of the single 101 flow individually. Figure 4 shows a second conveyor section 114 located downstream of the orientation section 108. The second conveyor section 114 can be used to divide the bundles of packages into parallel streams of individual packages and then convey the packages to further packaging or labeling processes. The bundles of packages 105 can be separated or divided into streams of individual packages, for example, by a slat divider provided in the second conveyor section 114. The slat divider creates a separation or space between each package in the bundle, thus forming the parallel streams of individual packages. Other separation mechanisms and processes will be obvious to those experienced in the art and can be used to divide the bundles of packages 105 into separate streams of individual packages.In alternative implementations, the 105 package groups can be transported for further packaging and / or labeling processes without splitting the package groups into parallel flows of individual packages. The methods and systems described herein, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide a guidance system with superior properties that ML / t / ZUZZ / U / Ί OOO include greater reliability and stability and reduced size, weight, complexity, and / or cost. Although the apparatus and methods of the present description have been shown and described with reference to modalities, those experienced in the technique will readily appreciate that changes and / or modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present description.

Claims

1. A package orientation system, characterized in that it comprises: a first conveyor configured to drive a flow of packages from a first end to a second end at a predefined first speed; a drive section located at the second end of the first conveyor configured to receive the flow of packages from the first conveyor and drive the flow of packages to an orientation section at a predefined second speed, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed; and a plurality of lugs adjacent to the drive section configured to drive forward packages in the package stream that form groups of two or more packages.

2. The system of claim 1, characterized in that each of the plurality of lugs is mounted on and follows a path of a fixed track.

3. The system of claim 2, characterized in that each of the lugs can be individually controlled, such that at least one of the lugs serves to increase the speed of one or more of the packages while actuating one or more packages while one or more other lugs move at a different speed than at least one of the lugs.

4. The system of claim 2, characterized in that each of the lugs is configured to actuate one out of every two or every third packet of the packet flow.

5. The system of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a guidance section located downstream of the drive section comprising a plurality of chain-driven rotary mechanisms configured to rotate the bundle groups.

6. The system of claim 5, characterized in that each of the plurality of lugs is mounted on and follows a track, the track being configured to propel each of the lugs to make contact with the packages before the orientation section and configured to propel each of the lugs away from the packages within the orientation section.

7. The system of claim 5, characterized in that each of the rotating mechanisms is configured to rotate one of the groups of packages by approximately 90 degrees.

8. The system of claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a second conveyor section downstream of the orientation section, the second conveyor section being configured to receive and transport the package groups. ML / / Ί 800 9. The system of claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a division section located adjacent to or downstream of the second conveyor, the division section comprising one or more dividers configured to separate packages in each of the package groups.

10. The system of claim 1, characterized in that each of the lugs passes over the drive section.

11. A method for orienting packages, characterized in that it comprises: conveying a stream of packages by a first conveyor wherein each of the packages is separated from the other; forming groups of packages by propelling one or more packages in the stream of packages at a speed different from that of the first conveyor, the groups of packages being separated from each other and comprising two or more packages; and rotating each of the groups of packages by approximately 90 degrees.

12. The method of claim 11, characterized in that propelling one or more packets into the packet stream comprises propelling one out of every two or three packets into the packet stream by means of a lug to form the packet groups.

13. The method of claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises braking each of the packages in the downstream package stream of the first conveyor.

14. The method of claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises: conveying each of the groups of packages by a second conveyor and dividing each of the previously formed groups of packages into individual flows of packages.

15. The method of claim 14, characterized in that dividing each of the previously formed groups of packages comprises: separating packages in each of the groups of packages with a divider to create a space between each of the packages in each of the groups of packages.

16. The method of claim 11, characterized in that rotating each of the groups of packages comprises: coupling a plurality of chain-driven rotating mechanisms with the groups of packages, each of the rotating mechanisms configured to rotate a respective ML / í Ί OOO of the groups of packages.

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