Apparatus for packaging containers for foodstuff to form final packages containing a plurality of groups of containers or a plurality of separate containers

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for packaging containers (C) for foodstuff is described, comprising: a grouping machine (12) configured to group together a plurality of separate or already grouped containers (C) to form groups of containers (CG); a packaging machine (14) configured to group together a plurality of groups of containers (CG), or a plurality of separate or bundled containers (C), to form final packages (FP) each containing a given plurality of groups of containers (CG) or a given number of separate containers (C); and a first conveyor device (26) interposed between the grouping machine (12) and the packaging machine (14) to transport the groups of containers (CG) produced by the grouping machine (12) to the packaging machine (14). The grouping machine (12) and the packaging machine (14) extend along respective longitudinal directions (x1, x2) that are parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other, while the first conveyor device (26) extends along a transverse direction (y), i.e., along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal directions (x1, x2) of the two machines (12, 14).

Description

[0001] APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING CONTAINERS FOR FOODSTUFF TO FORM FINAL PACKAGES CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF CONTAINERS OR A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE CONTAINERS

[0002] Technical field of the invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for packaging containers for foodstuff to form final packages containing a plurality of groups of containers or a plurality of separate containers, of the type comprising a grouping machine (for example, a clustering machine, a banding machine, a bundling machine, or another type of machine), designed to receive single containers at its inlet and to supply groups of containers (for example, in the form of boxes or clusters) at its outlet, and a packaging machine (or cartoning machine), designed to receive at its inlet either single separate containers or groups of containers produced by the grouping machine and to supply the aforementioned final packages at its outlet.

[0004] In the following description and claims, the term container is used to refer to any type of container commonly used to contain foodstuff, whether in liquid form (for example, fruit juices, milk, and, in general, various types of beverages) or in solid or semi-solid form (for example, legumes, sauces, etc.). Examples of such containers are the so-called "brik" containers, made of multi-layer cardboard (i.e., cardboard composed of several overlapped layers of materials) and commonly having a flat top, or head, and the so- called "Gable Top" containers, having a top folded in such a way as to form a point.

[0005] However, the present invention is also applicable for packaging groups of containers consisting of cans, jars, or similar containers.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] Apparatuses of the above-mentioned type are known, in which the grouping machine and the packaging machine are arranged in line one after the other and in which a conveyor belt is arranged between these two machines, which has the function of transporting to the packaging machine the groups of containers leaving the grouping machine, as well as acting as a buffer to ensure synchronization between the two machines.

[0008] A disadvantage of this known solution is that the apparatus is very bulky, as it may have lengths of up to 25 meters or more. Such a size obviously makes it more difficult to find the right location for the apparatus within an existing building, since the installation of the apparatus may require the repositioning of other machines or equipment already present in the building, or may even make it impossible to install the apparatus in an existing building, thus requiring the construction of a new building.

[0009] There is therefore a need for an apparatus for packaging food containers, of the type comprising both a grouping machine and a packaging machine, which is of smaller size than the prior art and is therefore easier to install in existing buildings.

[0010] Summary of the invention

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art discussed above by providing an apparatus for packaging food containers, of the type comprising both a grouping machine and a packaging machine, which has a reduced overall length compared to the prior art.

[0012] This and other objects are fully achieved according to the present invention by means of an apparatus as defined in the attached independent claim 1 .

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention are specified in the dependent claims, the subject matter of which is to be understood as forming an integral part of the following description.

[0014] In summary, the invention is based on the idea of arranging the grouping machine and the packaging machine in parallel and at least partially side by side, and providing a first conveyor device which extends in a transverse direction, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the two machines, connecting the exit region of the grouping machine with the entry region of the packaging machine, and which is configured to transport the groups of containers leaving the grouping machine in the transverse direction towards the entry region of the packaging machine, so that the packaging machine can form the final packages, each containing a certain number of such groups of containers, said final packages leaving the exit region of the packaging machine.

[0015] Thanks to such a configuration, the apparatus has a smaller longitudinal size than the prior art. In fact, an apparatus according to the present invention may have a maximum length of around 10 meters, compared to the 25 meters of the known apparatuses. This obviously allows to install the apparatus in existing buildings in a much easier way than the prior art. Furthermore, the fact that the apparatus is of smaller sizes, particularly in terms of length, than the prior art allows for a reduction in the number of operators needed to manage and monitor the operation of the apparatus. Another advantage of such a configuration of the apparatus is related to the fact that the entry region of the grouping machine, where the containers, either individual or grouped, are loaded, can be located next to the exit region of the packaging machine, where the final packages are unloaded, which makes the handling of incoming and outgoing goods easier.

[0016] Advantageously, the first conveyor device also acts as a sorting device, in that this device is configured not only to transport the groups of containers from the exit region of the grouping machine to the entry region of the packaging machine, but also to sort these groups of containers into transverse rows, each including exactly the number of groups of containers provided for in the transverse direction of the final package.

[0017] Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] - Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus for packaging groups of food containers according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] - Figure 2 shows an example of a group of containers obtainable with the grouping machine of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

[0021] - Figure 3 shows an example of a final package, comprising a plurality of groups of containers such as that of Figure 2, obtainable with the packaging machine of the apparatus of Figure 1 ; and

[0022] - Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus for packaging groups of food containers according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Detailed description

[0024] Figure 1 shows an apparatus, generally indicated 10, for packaging groups of food containers according to the invention. The apparatus 10 is configured to receive individual containers C at its inlet and to supply final packages FP at its outlet, wherein each of the final packages FP contains a plurality of groups of containers CG, each in turn containing a plurality of containers C, or a plurality of separate containers C, i.e., containers that are not grouped together in a certain number to form groups of containers. An example of a group of containers CG is shown in Figure 2 and in this case comprises three containers C which are held together by a packaging P, made, for example, of plastic material, while an example of a final package FP is shown in Figure 3 and comprises, in this case, eight groups of containers CG such as those of Figure 2, arranged one behind the other in a tray T, made, for example, of cardboard, which in this case is open at the top but might alternatively also be closed. The containers C forming the group of containers CG of Figure 2 are containers made of multi-layer material, but, as pointed out in the introductory part of the present description, the apparatus according to the invention can also be used for packaging groups of other types of containers, such as jars or cans. The groups of containers CG and the final packages FP may also differ from those shown in Figures 2 and 3. For example, the final package FP might include, in addition to the tray T, a lid, and this lid might be either a separate element from the tray, i.e., an element obtained from a die-cut different from that of the tray, or an element integrated into the tray, i.e., an element obtained from the same die-cut from which the tray is obtained.

[0025] With reference again to Figure 1 , the apparatus 10 basically comprises a grouping machine 12, designed to receive the individual containers C at its inlet and to supply the groups of containers CG at its outlet, and a packaging machine 14, designed to receive at its inlet the groups of containers CG produced by the grouping machine 12 and to supply the final packages FP at its outlet. Both the grouping machine 12 and the packaging machine 14 are of a type known per se and, therefore, will not be described in detail here. For the purposes of the present invention, in fact, neither the structure and configuration of the grouping machine taken individually, nor the configuration and configuration of the packaging machine taken individually are relevant, but rather the overall configuration of the apparatus comprising these machines.

[0026] The grouping machine 12 extends along a longitudinal direction x1 and has an entry region 16, where the individual containers C to be grouped together, in this case in groups of three, are loaded to form the groups of containers CG, and an exit region 18, where the groups of containers CG produced by the machine exit. In a manner known per se, the containers C can be loaded in one or more rows (for example, two rows, as in the embodiment illustrated here).

[0027] The packaging machine 14 extends along a longitudinal direction x2, parallel and spaced apart from the longitudinal direction x1 of the grouping machine 12. Advantageously, the packaging machine 14 is arranged at a certain distance from the grouping machine 12, so that a central passageway 20 is provided between the two machines 12 and 14. The central passageway 20 mainly serves as an access for maintenance, but can also be used, as explained below, for the direct feeding of separate containers C to the apparatus, in the event that these containers do not need to be grouped together to form groups of containers CG. The packaging machine 14 has an entry region 22, where the groups of containers CG coming from the grouping machine 12 are loaded, and an exit region 24, where the final packages FP produced by the packaging machine 14 exit. According to the embodiment of Figure 1 , the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14 is arranged next to the exit region 18 of the grouping machine 12, while the exit region of the packaging machine 14 is arranged next to the entry region 16 of the grouping machine 12. In other words, the entry region 16 of the grouping machine 12 and the exit region of the packaging machine 14 are located on a same first side of the apparatus 10, while the exit region 18 of the grouping machine 12 and the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14 are located on a same second side of the apparatus 10 opposite the first one. The loading of the separate containers C and the unloading of the final packages FP therefore take place on the same side (indicated above as the first side) of the apparatus 10.

[0028] The apparatus 10 also includes a first conveyor device 26 that extends along a transverse direction y1 , i.e., along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction x1 of the grouping machine 12 and to the longitudinal direction x2 of the packaging machine 14, and which connects the exit region 18 of the grouping machine 12 with the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14, to transport the groups of containers CG leaving the grouping machine 12 towards the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14. The first conveyor device 26 also performs the function of a sorting device, in that it further groups the groups of containers CG leaving the grouping machine so that they are already suitably sorted according to the arrangement required for the subsequent packaging machine 14, in particular so as to take into account the transverse dimension of the final package FP to be produced. According to the example of Figure 1 , in which the groups of containers CG each contain containers C placed side by side and in which the final packages FP each contain seventy-two containers C, i.e., three transverse rows each having eight groups of containers C, the first conveyor device 26 will bring the groups of containers C leaving the grouping machine 12 to the entry of the packaging machine 14, forming a series of transverse rows each having eight groups of containers CG. Of course, the example of Figure 1 is just one of many other examples of groups of containers and final packages that the grouping machine 12 and the packaging machine Advantageously, the apparatus 10 also includes a second conveyor device 28, which is arranged in the central passageway 20 and extends along a longitudinal direction x3 parallel to the longitudinal directions x1 and x2 of the two machines 12 and 14, until it reaches a third conveyor device 30, which extends along a transverse direction y2 parallel to the transverse direction y1 of the first conveyor device 26 and connects the arrival zone of the second conveyor device 28 to the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14. The second conveyor device 28 has the function of allowing, where necessary, to bypass the grouping machine 12 and thus bring directly to the third conveyor device 30, and from this to the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14, separate containers C or groups of containers CG intended to be placed in the final package FP by means of the packaging machine 14. The third conveyor device 30 is advantageously associated with a diverter device (not shown) comprising a set of paddles which, with a continuous movement, divert the separate containers C from the second conveyor device 28 to the third conveyor device 30, already counting the separate containers C to be inserted into the final package FP.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus 10 further comprises a collecting station 32, which is located in front of the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14 and has the function of collecting, during the stop phases of the packaging machine 14, the groups of containers CG arriving from the grouping machine 12. The collecting station 32 occupies a space already used by the packaging machine 14, in that it is arranged above functional groups already present on that machine, and also has a significantly smaller size than collecting stations created by conveyor belts, which are provided in traditional apparatuses in which the grouping and packaging machines are arranged in line. In this case, the apparatus 10 is also equipped with a sorting device (not shown), which is interposed between the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14 and the collecting station 32 and is configured to sort the groups of containers CG coming from the grouping machine 12 via the first conveyor device 26 either to the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14 or towards the collecting station 32.

[0030] The operation of apparatus 10 is as follows. The apparatus 10 is fed, preferably by means of special robotic feeding systems, with the containers C at the inlet region 16 of the grouping machine 12. In this machine, the containers C are grouped to form groups of containers CG, each containing a given number of containers (in the present case, three containers) arranged in one or more rows (in the present case, a single row). The groups of containers CG thus formed leave the exit region 18 of the grouping machine 12 and are transported by means of the first conveyor device 26 to the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14. As explained above, the first conveyor device 26 not only transports the groups of containers CG towards the entry region 22 of the packaging machine 14, but also suitably sorts the groups of containers CG so that they are already in the desired number with respect to the transverse direction of the final package FP (i.e. , perpendicular to the longitudinal direction x2 of the packaging machine 14). In the entry region 22, the various rows of groups of containers CG are then suitably arranged longitudinally so that they can then be grouped together by the packaging machine 14 to form the final packages FP. The final packages FP leave from the exit region 24 of the packaging machine 14 and are suitably unloaded, either manually or by means of special unloading systems. As mentioned above, in the example shown, the final packages FP comprise eight rows of groups of containers CG, and each row comprises in turn three groups of containers CG, for a total of twenty-four groups of containers CG, and therefore seventy-two containers C. Of course, the number of groups of containers CG contained in each final package FP may differ from the one shown here, as well as the number of containers C contained in each group of containers CG.

[0031] As mentioned, it is also possible to bypass the grouping machine 12 and thus feed the packaging machine 14 directly with separate containers C. In this case, the containers C are fed to the packaging machine 14 via the second conveyor device 28 and the third conveyor device 30 and are then grouped together by the packaging machine 14 to form the final packages FP, which in this case will therefore contain individual containers C instead of groups of containers CG. The second conveyor device 28 can also be used to feed the apparatus with groups of containers already produced by other machines, without the need for the grouping machine 12 to intervene.

[0032] As is clear from the above description, as well as from the observation of Figure 1 , the particular configuration of the apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of that figure allows for a significant reduction in the longitudinal size compared to the prior art, since the longitudinal size of the entire apparatus corresponds now substantially to the longitudinal size of the grouping machine 12 alone, instead of - as it is the case in the prior art - the sum of the longitudinal size of the grouping machine, the packaging machine, and the conveyor device interposed between these two machines.

[0033] Figure 4, in which parts and components of the apparatus that are identical or corresponding to those of Figure 1 are indicated with the same reference numbers, shows a further embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention. This further embodiment of the apparatus differs from that of Figure 1 essentially only in that the grouping machine 12 and the packaging machine 14 are placed side by side just for part of their length, rather than essentially for their entire length, so that the central passageway 20 between the two machines has a smaller length than the length of each of the two machines. The apparatus according to this embodiment has an overall length greater than that of the apparatus of Figure 1 , with the two machines 12 and 14 being the same length, but still shorter than that of an apparatus according to the prior art in which the grouping machine and the packaging machine are arranged in series with respect to each other, substantially aligned along the same longitudinal direction. The rest of the description applies as already explained above with reference to the embodiment of Figure 1. The present invention has been described here with reference to one possible embodiment. It should be understood that other embodiments may be envisaged, which share the same inventive core with the one described here, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for packaging containers (C) for foodstuff, comprising:- a grouping machine (12) configured to group a plurality of separate containers (C) together so as to form groups of containers (CG), each of said groups of containers (CG) containing a given number of containers (C),- a packaging machine (14) configured to pack a plurality of groups of containers (CG), or a plurality of separate containers (C), together to form final packages (FP), each of said final packages (FP) containing a given number of groups of containers (CG) or a given number of separate containers (C), and- a first conveyor device (26) interposed between the grouping machine (12) and the packaging machine (14) to transport to the packaging machine (14) the groups of containers (CG) produced by the grouping machine (12), wherein the grouping machine (12) extends along a first longitudinal direction (x1) and has an entry region (16) and an exit region (18), and wherein the packaging machine (14) extends along a second longitudinal direction (x2) and has an entry region (22) and an exit region (24), characterized in that said second longitudinal direction (x2) is parallel to, and spaced apart from, said first longitudinal direction (x1), and in that said first conveyor device (26) extends along a transverse direction (y), that is to say, along a direction perpendicular to said first longitudinal direction (x1) and to said second longitudinal direction (x2).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said first conveyor device (26) is configured not only to transport the groups of containers (CG) produced by the grouping machine (12) to the packaging machine (14), but also to arrange said groups of containers (CG) in transverse rows, each transverse row including the same number of containers (CG) as the one provided for in the transverse direction of the final package (FP).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a collecting station (32), which is arranged in front of the entry region (22) of the packaging machine (14) to collect, during stop phases of the packaging machine (14), the groups of containers (CG) arriving from the grouping machine (12).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a sorting device, which isinterposed between the entry region (22) of the packaging machine (14) and the collecting station (32) and is configured to sort the groups of containers (CG) coming from the grouping machine (12) through said first conveyor device (26) either towards the entry region (22) of the packaging machine (14) or towards the collecting station (32).

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a central passageway (20) is provided between the grouping machine (12) and the packaging machine (14) and extends through at least part of the length of the grouping machine (12) or of the packaging machine (14).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second conveyor device (28), which is arranged in the central passageway (20) and extends along a third longitudinal direction (x3) parallel to said first and second longitudinal directions (x1 , x2), and a third conveyor device (30), which extends parallel to said first conveyor device (26) between an arrival zone of said second conveyor device (28) and the entry region (22) of the packaging machine (14).

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the entry region (16) of the grouping machine (12) is arranged next to the exit region (24) of the packaging machine (14), while the exit region (18) of the grouping machine (12) is arranged next to the entry region (22) of the packaging machine (14), whereby the entry region (16) of the grouping machine (12) and the exit region of the packaging machine (14) are on a same first side of the apparatus (10), while the exit region (18) of the grouping machine (12) and the entry region (22) of the packaging machine (14) are on a same second side of the apparatus (10) opposite said first side.

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