Apparatus and system for loading boxes with folded containers and associated method

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a packing system for loading an open box with a bundle of semi-rigid planar articles. The packing system includes: a pivotably-mounted platform and an abutment-conveying surface extending orthogonally from a planar-receiving portion of the pivotably-mounted platform. The planar-receiving portion of the pivotably-mounted platform is configured to receive the box thereon. The pivotably-mounted platform is pivotable to reversibly tilt from a receiving tilt configuration to an evacuation tilt configuration such that the opening of the received box faces upwardly. The abutment-conveying surface is configured to stop the box received onto the pivotably-mounted platform. The abutment-conveying surface also includes conveying means to evacuate the box when the pivotably-mounted platform is in the evacuation tilt configuration. Furthermore, the abutment-conveying surface is slidably coupled to the pivotably-mounted platform to translate there along between a proximal translatory position and a distal translatory position.

Description

APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR LOADING BOXES WITH FOLDED CONTAINERS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority of US provisional patent application No. 63 / 720,950 filed on November 15, 2024, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The technical field of the present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus and system for loading boxes with contents of articles such as folded containers, semi-rigid planar articles or other bundled items with a similar shape. The system disclosed is of the kind particularly, although not exclusively, employed in the packing of boxes having closure flaps within a packing line having a folded container provider, such as a folder-gluer.BACKGROUND ART

[0003] There are known machines for manufacturing containers, also known as folder-gluers. The output of some folder-gluers can consist of a continuous stream of such folded containers, or other semi-rigid planar articles going up a processing line for packing the folded containers in discrete bundles into standard boxes for shipment. In other words, the articles can be supplied as a shingled stream of partially overlapping semi-rigid planar articles. The packing stage of the folded containers into boxes is normally performed manually by workers.

[0004] According to an existing system of the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1 , a modular universal packer system (i.e. , ERGOSA™) is configured in a “vertical mode” along with an optional packing module.

[0005] According to one mode of operation of the packing module M as shown in FIG. 1 , a shingled stream of folded containers (not shown) is carried up a carpet conveyor C to a transversal stopping wall coupled with a sliding sweeper.Then, a box B is fitted on the packing module M by a worker standing on an opposite-proximal side of the carpet conveyor C such that an opening of the box B faces the conveyor C and such that the flaps F of said box B are out of the way of the box opening. As the box is inserted onto the packing module M, a rear panel of the box B is made to abut on an abutment wall of the packing module M. Then, a bundle of the shingled stream corresponding approximately to a width W of the box is stood up vertically and then pushed (i.e., loaded) into the box B through the lateral opening thereof. The loaded box is then pivoted upright by tilting the packing module M backwards to then evacuate the packed box via an outfeed 0 for shipment.

[0006] In view of this existing system, it becomes apparent that the packing module M has a limited capacity to receive boxes of varying depths D (FIG. 1). For example, if a worker attempts to fit a box with a substantially greater depth onto the packing module M compared to what is shown, a side panel of the box B would overlap with the carpet conveyor C or interfere with the sliding sweeper. As things stand, a worker would have to manually adjust a position of the abutment wall of the packing module M outwardly (i.e., away from the conveyor C) to fit a larger box B.

[0007] Varying systems exist to process containers and boxes for packing and unpacking involving a pivoting or tilting system.

[0008] For example, U.S. Patent No. 8,172,498 to Enenkel describes a device for unloading a container containing in particular a stack of flat mail items. The device has a rotatably mounted supporting surface, a likewise rotatably mounted retaining means, and a synchronizing means. The synchronizing means synchronizes turning of the supporting surface with turning of the retaining means. As the container is tilted sideways, the retaining means retain the stack of flat items into position. The container can be removed as the supporting surface is pivoted away.

[0009] As another example, U.S. Patent No. 11,866,275 to Lustig describes a device to unload bulk goods from an open large container using an unloading device with a tilting unit and a platform. The tilting unit and the platform have a common rotational axis. The platform is flipped up such that the platform closes the opening side of the large container. The tilting unit is tilted together with the large container located thereon and the platform closing the opening side of the large container about the common rotational axis such that the large container is positioned on the container opening side, and the bulk good is deposited on the platform. The tilting unit is then tilted back together with the large container, the bulk good remaining on the platform.

[0010] All of the devices mentioned above concern a loading or unloading of a preset container in a given packing or unpacking line, but none of them have suitable means to adjustably receive a container of a different format, and more particularly a container of a different depth. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and apparatus for loading boxes of varying sizes with folded containers and an associated method.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0011] It is an object of the present disclosure to address at least some of the inconveniences mentioned above.

[0012] According to one general aspect, there is provided a packing system for loading a laterally open box with a bundle of articles received from a loading edge, the packing system comprising: a pivotably-mounted platform comprising a receiving portion configured to receive the box and defining a leading edge, the pivotably-mounted platform being pivotable around a rotation axis to reversibly tilt from a receiving configuration, such that the leading edge is positioned alongside or into abutment with the loading edge, to an evacuation configuration, such that an opening of the box faces upwardly; and an abutmentconveying surface extending from the receiving portion of the pivotably-mounted platform, and configured to abut the box being received onto the receiving portion along a loading direction, and the abutment-conveying surface being moveablycoupled to the pivotably-mounted platform to translate along the loading direction between a proximal position and a distal position.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the abutment-conveying surface comprises conveying means configured to evacuate the box when the pivotably-mounted platform is in the evacuation configuration.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the pivotably-mounted platform further comprises one or more guide rails mounted to the receiving portion and arranged along the loading direction, the abutment-conveying surface being coupled to the one or more guide rails to allow said translation of the abutmentconveying surface.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the one or more guide rails comprise two guide rails, each guide rail being mounted longitudinally along an opposite lateral side of the receiving portion.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the rotation axis of the pivotably-mounted platform is located proximate to the leading edge.

[0017] According to one embodiment, there is further provided an upright support frame pivotably coupled to the pivotably-mounted platform to define the rotation axis, such as to allow the reversible tilt thereof, and wherein the upright support frame also extends about a proximal side of the receiving portion.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the pivotably-mounted platform further comprises a drum portion fixedly connected to a lower face of the receiving portion on the proximal side thereof, the drum portion having pivot connection means to enable coupling with the upright support frame around the rotation axis.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the upright support frame is configured to be selectively vertically raised and lowered.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the packing system comprises biasing means to bias the abutment-conveying surface towards the proximal position.

[0021] According to one embodiment, there is further provided an adjustment brake operably connected to the abutment-conveying surface, and being configured to selectively restrict the translation of the abutment-conveying surface between the proximal position and the distal position.

[0022] According to one embodiment, there is further provided an actuator operably connected to at least one of: the pivotably-mounted platform, the actuator being configured to selectively configure the pivotably-mounted platform, between the receiving configuration and the evacuation configuration; and the conveying means of the abutment-conveying surface, the actuator being configured to selectively enable said evacuation of the box.

[0023] According to one embodiment, there is further provided a linear actuator operatively connected to the pivotably-mounted platform and configured to selectively raise and lower said pivotably-mounted platform along with the abutment-conveying surface and the upright support frame.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the abutment-conveying surface comprises a framed structure, and wherein the conveying means comprises a plurality of cross-conveying rollers coupled in series along the framed structure such that the cross-conveying rollers extend orthogonally to the receiving portion.

[0025] According to one embodiment, there is further provided an outfeed positionable downstream of the conveying means along an unloading direction when the pivotably-mounted platform is configured in the evacuation configuration.

[0026] According to one embodiment, there is further provided at least one spacer extending away from the upright support frame, the at least one spacer having a length adapted to create a gap between the leading edge of the packing system and the loading edge in which a closure flap of the box in vertically insertable.

[0027] According to one embodiment, there is further provided one or more suction devices provided with at least one of the pivotably-mounted platform and the abutment-conveying surface, and configured to hold the box onto the at least of one of the pivotably-mounted platform and the abutment-conveying surface via differential pressure.

[0028] According to one embodiment, one of the one or more suction devices is arranged to selectively move transversely across the receiving portion to enable the one or more devices to engage the box via the differential pressure.

[0029] According to another general aspect, there is provided a packing method for loading a correspondingly sized laterally open box, having a lateral opening and a closure flap, with a bundle of semi-rigid planar articles received from a loading edge, the packing method comprising: providing a packing system having a pivotably-mounted platform and a biased abutment-conveying surface translatably coupled to the pivotably-mounted platform along a loading direction, and wherein the loading edge and the pivotably-mounted platform define a gap therebetween; positioning the box onto the pivotably-mounted platform, thus correspondingly translating the abutment-conveying surface along the loading direction until the closure flap is vertically inserted in the gap; actuating an adjustment brake to constrain or lock the abutment-conveying surface into a corresponding translatory position; loading the bundle of semi-rigid planar articles from the loading edge, across the gap, and into the laterally open box; tilting the pivotably-mounted platform and the abutment-conveying surface by 90 degrees into an evacuation configuration; and evacuating the loaded box away from the packing system by actuating conveying means of the abutment-conveying surface.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the laterally open box is sized and shaped to fit at least two superposed rows of bundled semi-rigid planar articles, the packing method further comprising vertically lowering the pivotably-mounted platform by a distance corresponding to a height of a first row of said bundled semi-rigid planar articles, and further comprising loading a second row of said bundled semi-rigid planar articles into the laterally open box superposed to thefirst bundle.

[0031] According to a general aspect, there is provided packing system for loading a laterally open box with a bundle of semi-rigid planar articles received from a loading edge. The packing system includes: a pivotably-mounted platform and an abutment-conveying surface extending orthogonally from a planar-receiving portion of the pivotably-mounted platform. The planar-receiving portion is configured to receive the box thereon and defines a leading edge. The pivotably-mounted platform is pivotable around a rotation axis to reversibly tilt from a receiving tilt configuration such that the leading edge is positioned alongside or into abutment with the loading edge, to an evacuating tilt configuration such that the opening of the received box faces upwardly. The abutment-conveying surface is configured to stop the box being received onto the pivotably-mounted platform along a loading direction. The abutment-conveying surface includes conveying means configured to evacuate the box when the pivotably-mounted platform is in the evacuating tilt configuration. The abutmentconveying surface is slidably coupled to the pivotably mounted platform to translate along the loading direction between a proximal translatory position and a distal translatory position.

[0032] According to another general aspect, there is provided a packing method for loading a correspondingly sized laterally open box having a lateral opening and a closure flap F, with a bundle of semi-rigid planar articles received from a loading edge. The packing method includes: providing a packing system having a pivotably-mounted platform and a biased abutment-conveying surface adjustably and translatably coupled to the pivotably-mounted platform along a loading direction, and in which the loading edge and the pivotably-mounted platform define a gap therebetween; inserting the box onto the pivotably-mounted platform, thus correspondingly translating the abutment-conveying surface along the loading direction in a corresponding translatory position until the closure flap is vertically inserted in the gap; actuating an adjustment brake to constrain or lock the abutment-conveying surface into the corresponding translatory position; loading the bundle of semi-rigid planar articles from the loading edge, across thegap, and into the laterally open box; tilting the pivotably-mounted platform and the abutment-conveying surface by 90 degrees into an evacuating tilt configuration; and evacuating the loaded box away from the packing system by actuating conveying means of the abutment-conveying surface.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] For a better understanding of the present disclosure, as well as other aspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular packer system having a packing module, a carpet conveyor, a sliding sweeper and an outfeed conveyor, according to an embodiment of the prior art;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a top (front) perspective view of a packing system including a vertical or upright support frame, a pivotably-mounted platform configured in a receiving configuration, and an abutment-conveying surface in a proximal translatory position, according to an embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a top (left side) perspective view of the packing system of FIG. 2, showing the abutment-conveying surface translated in a distal translatory position by a box with closure flaps received onto the pivotably-mounted platform;

[0037] FIG. 4A is a top (right) perspective view of the packing system of FIG. 2, showing a bundle of semi-rigid planar articles being pushed from a carpet conveyor, over a loading edge, and being loaded into the box, and wherein the packing system is in a single row configuration;

[0038] FIG. 4B is a top (right) perspective view of the packing system of FIG. 2, showing one bundle of semi-rigid planar articles being pushed from the carpet conveyor, over the loading edge, and being loaded into the box to superpose another bundle of articles, and wherein the packing system is in a two-row configuration;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a top (left) perspective view of the packing system of FIG.2, showing the pivotably-mounted platform tilted in an evacuation tilt configuration and the abutment-conveying surface in the distal-translatory position;

[0040] FIGS. 6 and 7 are each a top (left) perspective view, enlarged, of the packing system of FIG. 2, showing more particularly the vertical support frame, the pivotably-mounted platform configured in the receiving configuration, and respectively the abutment-conveying surface in the proximal-translatory position (FIG. 6) and the distal-translatory position (FIG. 7);

[0041] FIGS. 8 and 9 are each a top (left) perspective view, enlarged, of the packing system of FIG. 2, showing more particularly the support frame, the pivotably-mounted platform configured in the evacuation configuration, and respectively the abutment-conveying surface in the proximal-translatory position (FIG. 8) and the distal-translatory position (FIG. 9);

[0042] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the modular packer system of FIG. 1 , according to the embodiment of the prior art; and

[0043] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the packing system of FIG. 2, with an infeed and an outfeed.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] With reference to the annexed drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose.

[0045] With reference to the drawings and the non-limitative embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-9, the present disclosure relates to a packing system 10 for loading a correspondingly sized laterally open box B with a bundle of semi-rigid planar articles A. Although the packing system 10 described herein can be implemented as a packing module of a universal packing system previously presented as part of the prior art (FIG. 1), this combination is not meant to be limitative since the packing system 10 can operate stand-alone or as a module of other systems known in the art. As such, reference to the loading edge E, a carpetconveyor, the box B and the bundled semi-rigid planar articles A (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) herein serve as illustrations of a packing processing line around which the packing system 10 may or may not interact. More particularly, the packing system 10 shown can notably process 4-corner and 6-corner articles with one or two row(s), one layer folded boxes. With some modifications known to the art, this packing system 10 can pack crash-lock / auto-bottom boxes.

[0046] The packing system 10 can include a support structure 20, a pivotably-mounted platform 40 pivotably mounted thereon around a rotation axis AA’, and an abutment-conveying surface 60 configured to stop or abut or restrict the box B being received onto the pivotably-mounted platform 40 along a loading direction 12.

[0047] The packing system 10 can be used for loading a laterally open box B with a bundle of articles A received from a loading edge E In one embodiment, the pivotably-mounted platform 40 is pivotable around the rotation axis AA’ to reversibly tilt from a receiving configuration, such that the leading edge 44 is positioned alongside or into abutment with the loading edge E, to an evacuation configuration such that an opening of the (loaded) box B faces upwardly.

[0048] FIGS. 2 to 5 show, at least partially, an exemplary sequence for packing a bundle of articles A (i.e., a packing-conveying sequence) excluding the completed evacuation stage which sees the box B removed from the packing system 10. The means provided for enabling the packing-conveying sequence are explained in more details below. Generally, FIG. 2 shows the packing system 10 “at rest”, meaning that the pivotably-mounted platform 40 is in the receiving configuration characterized by the pivotably-mounted platform 40 being substantially horizontally-oriented with respect to the ground and not tilted, at least not substantially. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the packing system 10 is ready to receive a box B to begin the packing sequence.

[0049] The stage of the packing-conveying sequence represented in FIG.3 displays a laterally open box B (hereinafter, the “box” B) received by the packing system 10. According to one mode of operation, the box B is mounted onto thepivotably-mounted platform 40 such that a side panel Ps of the box B rests thereon. By mounting the box B on the pivotably-mounted platform 40, the abutment-conveying surface 60 is consequently “pushed” or “translated” outwardly from a proximal-translatory position (FIG. 2) to a (maximum) distal-translatory position (FIG. 3), such that a rear panel Pr of the box B abuts on the abutment-conveying surface 60. Note that the packing system 10 accommodates closure flaps F of the box B which have room to extend away from the opening of said box B to avoid obstructing the articles A. Advantageously, the packing system 10 can receive a box B having different depths D (i.e. , a box having a side panel Ps of a different length) because the abutment-conveying surface 60 can adjustably translate to a distal-translatory position corresponding to a lengthdepth of the box B.

[0050] Referring to the stage illustrated in both FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the packing system 10 includes spacers 26 extending inwardly. The spacers 26 can abut on any corresponding structural surface of the adjacent article infeed, thus advantageously creating a gap defined between the loading edge E of the carpet conveyor C infeed and a leading edge 44 (see FIGS. 6-7) of the pivotably-mounted platform 40 for the bottom closure flap F to fit therewithin.

[0051] It should be noted that the packing system 10 is compatible with an array of open-top containers. The box B processed by the packing system 10 can be semi-rigid as shown with cardboard, or rigid. The box B may have closure flaps F or no closure flaps, although the packing system 10 as shown is adapted to handle boxes B with unbonded closure flaps.

[0052] The loading edge E referred to herein is external to the packing system 10 and therefore could be embodied by a rail, conveyor, or any other means to deliver the bundle of semi-rigid planar articles A to the packing system 10 in the loading direction 12.

[0053] Referring to the stage represented in FIG. 5, the abutmentconveying surface 60 is still in the same distal-evacuating position shown in FIG.3, except that the pivotably-mounted platform 40 has been reversibly tilted“backwards” (i.e., away from the loading edge E) in an evacuation tilt configuration, such that the lateral box opening B faces upwardly. It is understood that the box B is being shown empty for the sake of simplicity, but it is envisioned that the box B is loaded with the bundle of articles A by that stage. Once in the evacuation tilt configuration, the upright box B can be evacuated by conveying means 62, for example, as explained in more details below. In the embodiment shown, the box B can be conveyed away along an unloading direction 14 transverse to the loading direction 12, for example to the left side or the packing system 10, but this direction is not meant to be limitative, as explained in more details below. As explained regarding the embodiment of the prior art of FIG. 1 , an outfeed conveyor 0 can be levelled and aligned with the tilted abutmentconveying surface 60 to receive the box B on the left side of the packing system 10.

[0054] Once the (loaded) box B is conveyed away from the packing system 10 (stage not shown), the pivotably-mounted platform 40 can tilt back by about 90 degrees into the receiving tilt configuration - hence the “reversible” feature of the packing system 10 - to receive another box to be loaded and start a new packing-conveying sequence.

[0055] It is understood that by virtue of the direct connection between the pivotably-mounted platform 40 and the abutment-conveying surface 60, the receiving and evacuating configurations designate not only a state of the pivotably-mounted platform 40, but also of the abutment-conveying surface 60.

[0056] FIGS. 6-7 show in more details a (vertical or upright) support frame 20, the pivotably-mounted platform 40, and the abutment-conveying surface 60 of the packing system 10. The illustrated support frame 20 should not be considered as being limitative or essential as any means that enable the rotation axis AA’ may be used for the purpose of this disclosure.

[0057] According to the embodiment shown, the pivotably-mounted platform 40 of the packing system 10 includes a (planar) receiving portion 42 which can delimit an upper limit of the pivotably-mounted platform 40. Referringto the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 9, the receiving portion 42 has a planar profile to match the planar surface of the side panels Ps of the box B. It is understood that the “planar” aspect of the receiving portion 42 does not exclude the presence of apertures, slits and slots defined in the receiving portion 42.

[0058] The receiving portion 42 has the leading edge 44 on a proximal extremity thereof, and a trailing edge at an opposite extremity thereof. In the embodiment, the receiving portion 42 forms a rectangle when viewed from a top perspective (not shown) having a width and a length sufficient to fit and support a largest side panel Ps of a predetermined array of box B formats. In this case, while the leading 44 and tail edges correspond to two sides of said rectangle, the other two sides correspond to lateral sides 46 (FIG. 6) of the receiving portion 42. For example, FIG. 3 shows a largest box in both width and length that is compatible with the given receiving portion 42. Note that the vertical side panels of the box B are vertically flushed with the lateral sides 46 of the receiving portion 42 in this configuration.

[0059] Still referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 2-9, the pivotably-mounted platform 40 further includes a lower drum portion 50 fixed to a lower face of the receiving portion 42. More specifically, and as better shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the drum portion 50 is advantageously fixed to a proximal section of the lower face. The lower drum portion 50 is rotatably coupled to pivot connection means 52 to enable the pivotable connection with the vertical support frame 20, thus defining the rotation axis AA’ and providing one rotational degree of freedom to the platform 40. In the embodiment shown, the pivot connection means 52 include a disc channel hinge. According to an alternative embodiment, said pivot connection means 52 are provided directly on the receiving portion 42.

[0060] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-9, the lower drum portion 50 of the pivotably-mounted platform 40 is not a “full” drum analogous to a complete cylinder. Rather, the lower drum portion 50 is substantially embodied by a quarter cylinder with a quadrant profile shape. In alternative embodiments, the lower drum portion 50 can be embodied by other variations of a cylinder shape. Advantageously, the round profile allows for the external surface of the drumlower portion 50 to stay close to a corresponding upper boundary 24 of the vertical support structure 20 during rotation of the pivotably-mounted platform 40 about the rotation axis AA’, thus limiting a risk of jamming or having an unwanted foreign object encroaching an opening (not visible) defined between the lower drum portion 50 and the corresponding boundary 24 of the vertical support frame 20. Also advantageously, in the embodiment shown, because of the tight fit between the lower drum portion 50 and the vertical support frame 20, the opening is narrowed to a minimum.

[0061] According to an alternative embodiment (not shown), the pivotably-mounted platform 40 does not include the lower drum portion 50 and instead the pivot connection means are located directly on the lateral sides 46 of the receiving portion 42. It is understood that in such an embodiment, the presence of connecting means 52 about the lateral edges of the receiving portion 42 may limit the instalment of other elements (provided below) on the same area, and / or limit the travel of the abutment-conveying surface, as explained below.

[0062] Referring to FIGS. 6-7, the pivotably-mounted platform 40 includes a plurality of guide rails 48 so that the abutment-conveying surface 60 may slide thereon along the loading direction 12, as explained in more details below. Three guide rails 48 are mounted on the receiving portion 42 along the loading direction 12. More specifically, a pair of guide rails 48 are mounted on lateral sides 46 of the receiving portion 42. In addition, a middle slit is provided along an outer surface of the receiving portion 42 halfway between the lateral edges 46. Underneath the middle slit, a middle guide rail is provided that substantially follows the middle slit. Other guide rail configurations that allow the abutmentconveying surface 60 to translate along the loading length 12 are envisioned herein. For example, the plurality of guide rails can be formed integrally with the upper surface of the receiving portion 42 such as to face upwardly and without interfering with the flat planar feature of the receiving portion 42.

[0063] Finally, the pivotably-mounted platform 40 includes stoppers or stopping means at the ends of each one of the plurality of guide rails 48 to prevent the abutment-conveying surface 60 from derailing off any of the guide rails 48 orundesirably colliding with other elements, such as the pivot connection means 52.

[0064] In some embodiments, suction means are provided with the system 10 to hold the box into position while it is being loaded with articles A (see FIGS.4A and 4B). A given box, especially a cardboard one, can easily move or sway laterally after a user has placed the box such that the side and bottom panels Ps, Pr are respectively in contact with the pivotably-mounted platform 40 and the abutment-conveying surface 60. Moreover, in an embodiment where the abutment-conveying surface 60 is biased, as explained in more details below. Suction means may be beneficial to maintain the laterally open box B in position while an operator lets go of the box B to handle and insert the bundle of articles A.

[0065] In some embodiments, the system 10 includes one or more suction devices 38 provided with at least one of the pivotably-mounted platform 40 and the abutment-conveying surface 60. The suction devices 38 are configured to hold the box B onto the pivotably-mounted platform 40 and / or the abutmentconveying surface 60 via differential pressure. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-9, and as better shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, there are shown a pair of suction devices, including a first suction device and a second suction device 38a, 38b. Each suction device 38a, 38b is sitting flushed with the upper surface of the receiving portion 42 of the pivotably-mounted platform 40. The suction devices 38a, 38b are flush with the receiving portion 42 to maximize the proximity and therefore the suction force being exerted on the box B without interfering with the insertion of the box B thereon.

[0066] The second suction device 38b is arranged to selectively move transversely across the receiving portion 42 to enable both suction devices 38a, 38b to engage the box B via the differential pressure. According to one mode of use, an operator may move (or slide, in this case) the second suction device 38b away from the first suction device 38a to engage both extremities of a side panel Ps of a wider box B being placed thereon. In one embodiment, the transverse movement of the second suction device 38b is enabled by mounting the device 38b onto a linear rail system equipped with a ball plunger mechanism. The ballplunger mechanism enables adjustable sliding of the second suction device 38b along the rail, thereby allowing precise and manual positioning relative to the first suction device 38a.

[0067] In the present embodiment, the suction device comprises a cup portion that is positioned such that a lip thereof is flush with the receiving portion 42. The cup portion has a channel in fluid communication with a negative pressure chamber to enable the differential pressure. It is understood that the negative pressure chamber may be turned off when the box is being unloaded towards the outfeed 0, either manually or automatically when the packing system 10 reaches the evacuation configuration.

[0068] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-9, the abutmentconveying surface 60 includes a framed structure 64 that extends orthogonally from the pivotably-mounted platform 40 to support other elements of the abutment-conveying surface 60, including the conveying means 62. More specifically, the framed structure 64 is slidably mounted to each of the plurality of guide rails 48, as previously explained. In the embodiment, the framed structure 64 has lower extensions. Each lower extension is fitted with a carriage adapted to mount a respective guide rail 48 to enable the translation along the loading direction 12. The framed structure 64 also extends upwardly according to a height corresponding to a height of the rear panel Pr (FIG. 3) of the box B preset for the packing system 10.

[0069] Alternatively, the abutment-conveying surface 60 may extend substantially perpendicular to the pivotably-mounted platform 40. In another alternative embodiment, the abutment-conveying surface 60 may extend at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the pivotably-mounted platform 40.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the packing system 10 comprises biasing means (not visible) operably connected to a least one of the carriages of the framed structure 64 to bias the abutment-conveying surface 60 towards the proximal-translatory position. In other words, at rest and without external interference (e.g., the braking means explained below), a translatory position ofthe abutment-conveying surface 60 along the receiving portion 42 or surface will tend to translate towards the proximal-translatory position of FIGS. 2 and 6. Advantageously, the biasing means allow for the abutment-conveying surface 60 to adjustably conform with a given box B depth as the box is being inserted in the packing system 10. The biasing means can include spring, pneumatic, magnetic or electric biasing means. For example, the lower surface of the receiving portion 42 can be mounted with coiled springs configured to push or pull the camages / the abutment-conveying surface 60 towards the proximal-translatory position.

[0071] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to lock the abutmentconveying surface 60 in a desired translatory position between the proximal-translatory position (FIGS. 2 and 6) and the most distal-translatory position thereof (FIGS. 5 and 7). Notably for that purpose, the packing system 10 includes an adjustment brake (not shown) operably connected to at least the abutmentconveying surface 60. The adjustment brake is configured to selectively restrict the translatory position of the abutment-conveying surface 60 between the proximal-translatory position and a maximum distal-translatory position (e.g., FIGS. 4A and 4B). For example, the adjustment brakes can be embodied by friction brakes, rail clamps, pneumatic breaks, magnetic and electromagnetic brakes. In some embodiments, brakes can be selectively actuated and deactivated by a controller (FIGS. 4A and 4B ).

[0072] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-9, the conveying means 62 include a plurality of cross-conveying rollers 66 coupled in series along the framed structure 64 and extending orthogonally to the receiving portion 42. In addition, the cross-conveying rollers 66 face towards the leading edge 44 of the pivotably-mounted platform 40. The ten cross-conveying rollers 66 shown are operably connected to an actuator or a plurality of actuators to drive the cross-conveying rollers 66 in rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise, as needed depending on the unloading direction 14) to selectively enable the evacuation of the box B. For example, according to one mode of use of the packing system 10 illustrated in FIG. 5, when the pivotably-mounted platform 40 is in the evacuation tilt configuration, the cross-conveying rollers 66 can be driven in rotation in theunloading direction 14 to evacuate the box B.

[0073] According to an alternative embodiment, the rollers 66 can be configured differently with respect to the framed structure 64 to customize the unloading direction 14. For instance, the rollers 66 can be coupled to the framed structure 64, but extend such that the unloading direction is transverse to the unloading direction 14 shown in FIG. 5 (i.e., the box B would be evacuated towards the rear partition wall that would be removed in such embodiment). Of course, in such an alternative embodiment, an outfeed 0, if any is implemented, would have to be positioned behind the packing system 10 and the perimeter partition walls provided in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 would be removed or positioned out of the way of the outfeed 0. The packing system 10 can be adapted such that the unloading direction 14 sends the loaded box B in another direction not described herein.

[0074] According to yet another alternative embodiment (not shown), the rollers 66 are substituted with a conveyor belt or a plurality of conveyor belts, or the like.

[0075] The support frame 20 is adapted to pivotably support the pivotably-mounted platform 40 and the abutment-conveying surface 60. The vertical support frame 20 extends perpendicularly to the receiving portion 42 when the platform 40 is in the receiving configuration. In other terms, the vertical support frame 20 is pivotably connected to the pivotably-mounted platform 40 about the rotation axis AA’ to enable the reversible tilt thereof.

[0076] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-9, the support frame 20 also defines a proximal planar surface that can face towards the infeed conveyor. As shown, the vertical support frame 20 - and by extension the rotation axis AA’ -also generally extends on a distal side of (i.e., behind) the leading edge 44 of the receiving portion 42 and proximate thereto. In the embodiment, the rotation axis AA’ advantageously extends near the leading edge 44 to help save on space and improve the ground footprint of the system (see FIGS. 10 and 11). In some embodiments, the rotation axis AA’ extends about a proximal side (e.g., the firsthalf) of the receiving portion 42. In other terms, the support frame 20 and / or the pivot connection means 52 are generally proximate a geometric reference vertical plane (not shown; said reference vertical plane is a conceptual reference) that intersects the leading edge 44 in the receiving configuration. Maximizing floor space of warehouses is an important consideration when planning packing processing lines.

[0077] It should be noted that the terms “proximal” and “distal” and any variations of the terms as used herein refer to a position relative to the loading edge E of the pivotably-mounted platform 40 and / or the loading edge E outside of the system 10. For example, an element existing close to the leading edge 44 is referred to as “proximal” as opposed to an element closer to a trailing edge of the pivotably-mounted platform 40 which is categorized as “distal”.

[0078] Advantageously and optionally, the vertical support frame 20 is configured to be selectively vertically raised. Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 2-9 and more particularly to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the vertical support frame 20 is slidably coupled with a (linear) actuator 90, such as a double-acting cylinder actuator 90, as shown. Alternatively, the actuator 90 can be a single-acting cylinder, a rodless actuator, a bellow actuator, another commonly used linear actuators. The actuator 90 can be selectively actuated to lower or raise the pivotably-mounted platform 40.

[0079] FIG. 4B illustrates a configuration in which the pivotably-mounted platform 40 has been lowered relative to the loading edge E using the means described above, resulting in a lowered configuration. This configuration is advantageously utilized to sequentially and efficiently superpose two rows of bundled articles within the laterally open box B. For example, a first row of articles occupying approximately half the vertical space of the box can be inserted into the box (e.g., refer to the configuration depicted in FIG. 4A), leaving unoccupied space above. Subsequently, the system 10 can be adjusted to the lowered configuration, which aligns the unoccupied space with the infeed. This alignment enables the user to insert a second row of articles into the remaining space using the same method as for the first row. Accordingly, the packing system 10 maysupport a two-row mode or a dual-mode configuration to facilitate efficient packing operations.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 9, the packing system 10 can include an outfeed 0 that can be positioned downstream of the conveying means 62 - in-line with the unloading direction 14 - when the pivotably-mounted platform 40 is configured in the evacuation tilt configuration, thus tilting the conveying means 62 of the abutment-conveying surface 60 substantially horizontally.

[0081] The term “downstream” as used herein refers to the direction of movement of the box B and / or the articles A throughout the packing sequence, starting with the conveyor and ending at the conveyor.

[0082] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a comparison of the footprint between a packing module of the prior art (FIG. 10) and an embodiment of the packing system 10 (FIG. 11). As shown, the packing module depicted in FIGS. 1 and 10 extends outwardly over the ground to a greater extent than the packing system 10. This demonstrates the compact design of the packing system 10, which minimizes the footprint and optimizes spatial efficiency.

[0083] A method associated with some embodiments of the packing system 10 described above is provided. There is provided a packing method for loading a correspondingly sized laterally open box B having an opening and closure flaps F with a bundle of semi-rigid planar articles A. The packing method including: providing a packing system 10 having a pivotably-mounted platform 40 and a biased abutment-conveying surface 60 extending orthogonally from the receiving portion 42 adjustably and translatably coupled to the pivotably-mounted platform 40 along a loading direction 12 in a corresponding translatory position until the lower closure flap F is vertically inserted in the gap; actuating an adjustment brake to constrain or lock the abutment-conveying surface 60 into the corresponding translatory position; loading the bundle of semi-rigid planar articles A from the loading edge E, across the gap and into the laterally open box; tilting the receiving portion 42 and the abutment-conveying surface 60 by 90 degrees in an evacuation tilt configuration; and evacuating the loaded box B away fromthe packing system 10 by actuating conveying means 62 of the abutmentconveying surface 60.

[0084] According to an embodiment of the packing system 10 making use, for instance, of the linear actuator 90, the packing system 10 and a method associated therewith can be adapted to fit two superposed rows of bundled semirigid planar articles A therein. For example, where the laterally open box B is sized and shaped to fit two superposed rows of bundled semi-rigid planar articles A, the packing method further includes vertically lowering the pivotably-mounted platform 40 (via the linear actuator 90, for example) by a distance corresponding to a height of a first row of said bundled semi-rigid planar articles A. The method further includes loading a second row of said bundled semi-rigid planar articles A into the laterally open box B superposed to the first bundle A. Configurations of the system 10 related to this method is described above.

[0085] According to an alternative embodiment, the system 10 is configured to sequentially load more than two bundles of articles A into the box B by stacking the bundles on top of one another. In one embodiment (not illustrated), multi-level loading of the box B can be achieved by replacing or complementing the pneumatic actuator 90 with a linear servo motor. The linear servo motor enables automatic and optionally dynamic positioning of the box B, which can be controlled via pre-programmed instructions in the controller unit or external software inputs interfaced with the controller unit. This configuration may allow for greater adaptability in loading operations in terms of placement and alignment of multiple bundles within the box B.

[0086] In the previous description, non-limitative embodiments of the method are described. Although these embodiments of the assembly and corresponding parts thereof consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations, may be used for the method, as will be brieflyexplained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art. Moreover, it will be appreciated that positional descriptions such as “above”, “below”, “side”, “left”, “right”, “bottom”, “top”, “end” and the like should, unless otherwise indicated, be taken in the context of the figures and should not be considered limiting.

[0087] Furthermore, in the previous description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly burden the figures with several references numbers, not all figures contain references to all the components and features, and references to some components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and features of the present disclosure which are illustrated in other figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and / or dimensions shown in the figures are optional and are given for exemplification purposes only.

[0088] In the present description, an embodiment is an example or implementation. The various appearances of “one embodiment", "one embodiment", "an embodiment” or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment or embodiment. Although various features may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, it may also be implemented in a single embodiment. Reference in the specification to "some embodiments", "an embodiment", "one embodiment" or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments or embodiment is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments.

[0089] It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. The principles and uses of the teachings of the present disclosure may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples. It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do notconstrue a limitation to an application of the disclosure.

[0090] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the disclosure can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the disclosure can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above. It is to be understood that the terms "including", "comprising", and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers. If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not to be construed that there is only one of that element. It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may", "might", "can" or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

[0091] It will be appreciated that the methods described herein may be performed in the described order, or in any suitable order.

[0092] Several alternative embodiments, embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A packing system for loading a laterally open box with a bundle of articles received from a loading edge, the packing system comprising:a pivotably-mounted platform comprising a receiving portion configured to receive the box and defining a leading edge, the pivotably-mounted platform being pivotable around a rotation axis to reversibly tilt from a receiving configuration, such that the leading edge is positioned alongside or into abutment with the loading edge, to an evacuation configuration, such that an opening of the box faces upwardly; andan abutment-conveying surface extending from the receiving portion of the pivotably-mounted platform, and configured to abut the box being received onto the receiving portion along a loading direction, andthe abutment-conveying surface being moveably coupled to the pivotably- mounted platform to translate along the loading direction between a proximal position and a distal position.

2. The packing system of claim 1 , wherein the abutment-conveying surface comprises conveying means configured to evacuate the box when the pivotably-mounted platform is in the evacuation configuration.

3. The packing system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivotably-mounted platform further comprises one or more guide rails mounted to the receiving portion and arranged along the loading direction, the abutment-conveying surface being coupled to the one or more guide rails to allow said translation of the abutment-conveying surface.

4. The packing system of claim 3, wherein the one or more guide rails comprise two guide rails, each guide rail being mounted longitudinally along an opposite lateral side of the receiving portion.

5. The packing system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation axis of the pivotably-mounted platform is located proximate to the leading edge.

6. The packing system of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an upright support frame pivotably coupled to the pivotably-mounted platform to define the rotation axis, such as to allow the reversible tilt thereof, and wherein the upright support frame also extends about a proximal side of the receiving portion.

7. The packing system of claim 6, wherein the pivotably-mounted platform further comprises a drum portion fixedly connected to a lower face of the receiving portion on the proximal side thereof, the drum portion having pivot connection means to enable coupling with the upright support frame around the rotation axis.

8. The packing system of claim 6 or 7, wherein the upright support frame is configured to be selectively vertically raised and lowered.

9. The packing system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the packing system comprises biasing means to bias the abutment-conveying surface towards the proximal position.

10. The packing system of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising an adjustment brake operably connected to the abutment-conveying surface, and being configured to selectively restrict the translation of the abutment-conveying surface between the proximal position and the distal position.

11. The packing system of claim 2, further comprising an actuator operably connected to at least one of: the pivotably-mounted platform, the actuator being configured to selectively configure the pivotably-mounted platform, between the receiving configuration and the evacuation configuration; and the conveying means of the abutment-conveying surface, the actuator being configured to selectively enable said evacuation of the box.

12. The packing system of claim 6 or 7, further comprising a linear actuator operatively connected to the pivotably-mounted platform and configured to selectively raise and lower said pivotably-mounted platform along with the abutment-conveying surface and the upright support frame.

13. The packing system of claim 2, wherein the abutment-conveying surface comprises a framed structure, and wherein the conveying means comprises a plurality of cross-conveying rollers coupled in series along the framed structure such that the cross-conveying rollers extend orthogonally to the receiving portion.

14. The packing system of claim 13, further comprising an outfeed positionable downstream of the conveying means along an unloading direction when the pivotably-mounted platform is configured in the evacuation configuration.

15. The packing system of claim 6 or 7, further comprising at least one spacer extending away from the upright support frame, the at least one spacer having a length adapted to create a gap between the leading edge of the packing system and the loading edge in which a closure flap of the box in vertically insertable.

16. The packing system of any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising one or more suction devices provided with at least one of the pivotably-mounted platform and the abutment-conveying surface, and configured to hold the box onto the at least of one of the pivotably-mounted platform and the abutmentconveying surface via differential pressure.

17. The packing system of claim 16, wherein one of the one or more suction devices is arranged to selectively move transversely across the receiving portion to enable the one or more devices to engage the box via the differential pressure.

18. A packing method for loading a correspondingly sized laterally open box, having a lateral opening and a closure flap, with a bundle of semi-rigid planar articles received from a loading edge, the packing method comprising:providing a packing system having a pivotably-mounted platform and a biased abutment-conveying surface translatably coupled to the pivotably- mounted platform along a loading direction, and wherein the loading edge and the pivotably-mounted platform define a gap therebetween;positioning the box onto the pivotably-mounted platform, thus correspondingly translating the abutment-conveying surface along the loading direction until the closure flap is vertically inserted in the gap;actuating an adjustment brake to constrain or lock the abutment-conveying surface into a corresponding translatory position;loading the bundle of semi-rigid planar articles from the loading edge, across the gap, and into the laterally open box;tilting the pivotably-mounted platform and the abutment-conveying surface by 90 degrees into an evacuation configuration; andevacuating the loaded box away from the packing system by actuating conveying means of the abutment-conveying surface.

19. The packing method of claim 18, wherein the laterally open box is sized and shaped to fit at least two superposed rows of bundled semi-rigid planar articles, the packing method further comprising vertically lowering the pivotably-mounted platform by a distance corresponding to a height of a first row of said bundled semi-rigid planar articles, and further comprising loading a second row of said bundled semi-rigid planar articles into the laterally open box superposed to the first bundle.

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