Automatic packaging apparatus comprising package gravity-feed type cartridge complex

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic packaging apparatus comprising a package gravity-feed type cartridge complex, in which a packaging box containing sheets such as drug leaflets, or panel packages can be placed upright as it is and inserted into individual cartridges, the packages are transferred in a self-weight drop manner through a lower discharge part of the cartridge at a package discharge position, and in particular, the cartridge complex is configured so that the individual cartridges are obliquely inclined and collectively arranged to form a truncated cone shape as a whole, thereby ensuring stable insertion of the packaging box containing the packages and discharge of the packages, and maximizing space efficiency as a horizontal package transfer method is not employed.

Description

Automatic packaging device equipped with a packaging weight-drop supply type cartridge complex

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic packaging device equipped with a cartridge complex that supplies packaging by gravity drop, and

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to an automatic packaging device equipped with a packaging weight-drop supply type cartridge complex in which packaging boxes containing sheets or panels, such as drug instructions, can be placed upright and inserted into individual cartridges, and at the packaging discharge location, the packaging is transferred by gravity drop through the lower discharge part of the cartridge, and in particular, the individual cartridges are arranged in a diagonally inclined manner to form a truncated cone shape overall, thereby ensuring stable insertion of packaging boxes containing packaging and discharge of packaging, and maximizing space efficiency as it is not a horizontal conveying method.

[0003] Conventional packaging devices for sheet or panel packaging, such as drug instructions, are presented.

[0004] For example, there is Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0113865i (October 19, 2011) [Container Packaging Device],

[0005] This disclosed patent includes a container conveyor for transporting containers, a printed material supply unit for supplying printed material to the outer surface of a container transported by the container supply conveyor, a band supply unit having a band supply table on which a band is placed to supply a band, a band operating head positioned at a work position within a container transport path provided by the container supply conveyor, and a band operating head moving device for raising and lowering the band operating head. The band operating head includes a plurality of band grippers having a hook for spreading a band placed on the band supply table and a hook driveer for rotating the hook so that the band is caught on the hook or the band is released from the hook, and a band gripper operating device for moving the plurality of band grippers to narrow or widen the gap between the plurality of band grippers, thereby significantly improving work efficiency by automating the attachment of printed material.

[0006] Next, there is Patent Registration No. 10-1370652 (February 27, 2014) [Automatic instruction manual dispenser in an individual packaging system],

[0007] This registered patent provides an automatic instruction manual supply device in an individual packaging system, characterized by a device for individually packaging tube or container-shaped containers in each box, and automatically supplying the instruction manual to be attached so that it is packaged together with the container when the instruction manual describing the contents must be attached along with the container being packaged.

[0008] In the instruction sheet supply unit located on the opposite side of the packaging supply unit, an instruction sheet with one end inserted into the front of the individual carrier into which the packaging has been transferred is transported to the packaging loading unit while riding along a guide and standing almost vertically as the individual carrier moves, and when the packaging is pushed into the box loaded on the box carrier at that position, the instruction sheet standing in front is pushed into the box by the packaging and automatically attached, thus having the advantage of automating the cumbersome and tiring task of attaching instructions.

[0009] In addition, there is Patent Registration No. 10-2011856 (August 12, 2019) [Container label with attached instructions, manufacturing method and packaging container equipped with said label],

[0010] This registered patent discloses a container label with an attached instruction manual, a method for manufacturing the same, and a container equipped with the same, characterized by having an adhesive layer installed on one side for attachment to a packaging container, a label printed with a trademark, expiration date, or other basic product information on the other side, and an instruction manual having an adhesive layer on the periphery to be attached to the other side of the label, wherein a surface treatment material is installed on the other side of the label to allow the adhesive layer to be easily released. At this time, the surface treatment material is applied to the other side by a printing method together with the product information on the other side.

[0011] By integrating the label and the instruction manual, attaching the instruction manual to the product packaging is made easy and simple, thereby facilitating mechanized automatic operations. Additionally, the simple configuration reduces the time and cost of manufacturing the label and attaching it to the packaging container, and even after the consumer has checked the instruction manual, it can be kept in close contact with the label with a simple motion so that it can be viewed again whenever desired.

[0012] Furthermore, there is Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0058285 (May 24, 2021) [Instruction Sheet Set],

[0013] This disclosed patent provides multiple instruction sheets attached to the upper part of a roll-shaped base sheet so that the instruction sheets can be attached to a product in a folded state, thereby enabling easy attachment to the product through an automated process. It also enables the quantity of instruction sheets attached to the product to be identified, making inventory management of the instruction sheets easy. Furthermore, it is convenient to provide instruction sheets folded to a certain size and directly attached to the product. Additionally, it improves work efficiency by allowing the instruction sheets to be attached quickly using an automated machine. Moreover, by printing a verification number corresponding to the instruction sheet on the lower surface of the base sheet, the number of instruction sheets supplied from the roll-shaped base sheet and attached to the product can be easily verified, making inventory management, i.e., quantity management, of the instruction sheets easy.

[0014] However, these conventional technologies have a structure in which instructions or labels are supplied horizontally, so they occupy a large amount of horizontal space that overlaps with the movement path of workers, resulting in poor space efficiency. Additionally, the replenishment cycle for the continuous supply of instructions or labels is short, making continuous packaging work difficult and requiring a relatively large workforce.

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide an automatic packaging device that maximizes space efficiency and significantly improves packaging efficiency by ensuring ease of cartridge insertion and replenishment of packaging and enabling continuous supply of packaging, by providing a cartridge complex in which individual cartridges arranged in the direction of gravity on a rotating frame above a base and having a downward packaging discharge part are assembled to supply packaging by gravity-dropping.

[0016] In addition, the present invention aims to provide an automatic packaging device in which individual cartridges of a cartridge complex are arranged in a diagonally inclined manner to form an overall truncated cone shape, thereby ensuring cartridge insertion stability for refilling a package.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide an automatic packaging device that ensures the insertion of a packaging box and the drop stability of the packaging through a fixer arranged on the inner wall prior to the discharge section of an individual cartridge, which secures the bottom cover of a box containing packaging in an open state.

[0018] In addition, the present invention aims to provide an automatic packaging device that ensures stable discharge of packaging by including a relay having a curved transfer path bent from the top to the side so that the transfer decelerates the discharge speed of packaging falling by gravity from individual cartridges at the discharge location.

[0019] To achieve the above objectives, an automatic packaging device equipped with a packaging weight drop supply type cartridge complex according to the present invention

[0020] base;

[0021] A cartridge complex comprising a rotating frame installed on the above-mentioned base and a plurality of individual cartridges arranged in the direction of gravity on the frame and having downward packaging discharge portions, wherein the individual cartridges are assembled and the packaging is supplied by gravity-feeding from the discharge portions of the individual cartridges; and

[0022] A transfer that delivers individual packages while the individual cartridge is in the discharge position;

[0023] Includes

[0024] In an automatic packaging device equipped with a packaging weight drop supply type cartridge complex according to the present invention

[0025] The box containing the packages itself is inserted into the individual cartridge above, and

[0026] The above cartridge complex consists of individual cartridges arranged in a set at an angle to form an overall truncated cone shape, and

[0027] The inner wall prior to the discharge section of the individual cartridge above is equipped with a fixer that secures the bottom cover of the box containing the packaging in an open state, and

[0028] The above transfer preferably includes a relay having a curved transfer path bent from the top to the side to reduce the discharge speed of the package falling by gravity from individual cartridges at the discharge location.

[0029] An automatic packaging device equipped with a self-weight drop supply type cartridge complex according to the present invention comprises a cartridge complex in which individual cartridges are assembled and arranged in the direction of gravity on a rotating frame above a base and have a downward packaging discharge part, thereby enabling the supply of packaging via a self-weight drop method. This ensures ease of cartridge insertion and replenishment of packaging and enables continuous supply of packaging, thereby dramatically improving packaging efficiency and maximizing space efficiency. Furthermore, the individual cartridges of the cartridge complex are arranged in an inclined diagonal manner to form an overall truncated cone shape, ensuring stability in cartridge insertion for packaging refilling. Additionally, through a fixer arranged on the inner wall prior to the discharge part of the individual cartridge to secure the bottom lid of the box containing packaging in an open state, the insertion of the packaging box and the stability of the packaging drop can be ensured. Moreover, the transfer includes a relay having a curved conveyor path bent from the top to the side to decelerate the discharge speed of the packaging falling by self-weight from the individual cartridge at the discharge position, thereby ensuring stable discharge of packaging. Ultimately, packaging boxes containing sheet or panel packaging such as pharmaceutical instruction manuals It can be inserted into individual cartridges while standing upright, ensuring stable insertion and discharge for packaging refilling, and since it does not use a horizontal packaging conveying method, space efficiency can be maximized.

[0030] FIGS. 1 to 4 are drawings and photographs in lieu of drawings of an automatic packaging device equipped with a self-weight drop supply type cartridge complex according to the present invention.

[0031] *Explanation of symbols for major parts of the drawing*

[0032] A: Packaging device T: Packaging body

[0033] B: Box BC: Cover

[0034] 10: Base 11: Conveyor belt

[0035] 20: Cartridge Complex 20E: Cartridge

[0036] 21: Door 23: Fixer

[0037] 30: Transfer 31: Relay

[0038] 33: Picker 35: Drum

[0039] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0040] The present invention is capable of various modifications and may take various forms, and embodiments (aspects or examples) are to be described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific disclosed forms, and it should be understood that it includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0041] In each drawing, identical reference numerals, particularly those with identical tens and ones digits, or identical tens, ones, and alphabets, represent components having the same or similar functions; unless otherwise specified, the components referred to by each reference numeral in the drawing should be understood as components conforming to these criteria.

[0042] In addition, in each drawing, the components are depicted with exaggerated sizes or thicknesses, or simplified, for the sake of ease of understanding; however, the scope of protection of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by this.

[0043] The terms used herein are used merely to describe specific embodiments (aspects) (or examples) and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as “comprising” or “consisting of” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0044] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0045] The terms "~1~," "~2~," etc., described in this specification are used merely to distinguish different components, and are not bound by superiority or order of manufacture; furthermore, the names may not match those in the detailed description of the invention and the claims.

[0046] For convenience in describing the automatic packaging device (A) equipped with a packaging weight drop supply type cartridge complex according to the present invention, if a non-strict approximate directional reference is specified with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,

[0047] In the state as it is, the top and bottom, left and right, and front and back are divided, and the directions are specified and described in accordance with this standard in the detailed description of the invention and claims related to other drawings.

[0048] First, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, an automatic packaging device (A) equipped with a self-weight drop supply type cartridge complex according to the present invention includes a base (10), a cartridge complex (20), and a transfer (30).

[0049] An automatic packaging device (A) equipped with a self-weight drop supply type cartridge complex according to the present invention is intended to continuously supply various sheet or panel packaging materials, particularly drug instruction manuals, and as shown in FIG. 4 [C], dozens to hundreds of packaging materials are contained in a box (B). When the packaging material (T) is a drug instruction manual, it is fixed in a folded state with various sizes, such as A4 size or half A4 size.

[0050] The above base (10) is in the form of a table, and a cartridge complex (20) is provided on it with a rotating frame (F) as the center. For a sealed structure, columns and a roof are provided on the outer perimeter, and access to the cartridge (20E), etc., is possible through an opening and closing door, and the packaging (T) box (B) can be refilled into the cartridge.

[0051] The packaging body (T), particularly the medicine bottle that is packaged together with the medicine instructions, is transported via the conveyor belt (11), and the packaging body and the medicine bottle are finally discharged. The packaging body (T), particularly the medicine instructions, can be processed by attaching (adhering or sticking) to the medicine bottle using double-sided tape or hot melt adhesive.

[0052] The lower part of the base table is equipped with a frame (F) rotation drive unit, a conveyor belt (11) drive unit, etc., and the operation of each drive unit, etc. can be controlled by a touchscreen type control panel connected to the rear.

[0053] The cartridge complex (20) includes a rotating frame (F) installed on the base (10) and a plurality of individual cartridges (20E) arranged in the direction of gravity on the frame and having a downward packaging (T) discharge section.

[0054] The individual cartridges (20E) are assembled, and each individual cartridge is a rectangular cuboid box structure with a door (21) connected to the front through a hinge, and its length and width are such that they can accommodate a box (B) containing dozens to hundreds of packages (T), and its bottom is open to form a discharge section (a).

[0055] As shown in the lower dotted circle of FIG. 3, a donut-shaped support plate (D) is provided around the column of the rotating frame (F), and the support plate has a discharge hole (H) formed therein corresponding to the lower discharge part (a) of the individual cartridge (20E) so that the packaging is supplied by gravity-dropping at the discharge position (L).

[0056] The box (B) containing the packaging (T) is inserted into the individual cartridge (20E), and a long door (D) is provided for this purpose. When the door (D) is closed after the box (B) is inserted, the door's fixing body (m) is attached to the magnet (M) on the individual cartridge body side, thereby firmly maintaining the door in a closed state. The fixing body (m) may be the head of a bolt that secures the door frame to the viewing window of the door (D), which is made of a transparent synthetic resin, etc. If necessary, the positions of the magnet and the fixing body may be reversed.

[0057] Above all, in the present invention, the individual cartridges (20E) forming the cartridge complex (20) are arranged in a group at an angle and formed to form a truncated cone shape overall.

[0058] Specifically, the individual cartridges (20E) are arranged diagonally to form a relatively wide circle at the bottom and a relatively narrow circle at the top in a conical arrangement structure.

[0059] As a result, when a box (B) of a packaging body (T) with an opening formed on the long front side of a cuboid as shown in Fig. 4 [C] is inserted into an individual cartridge (20E) for refilling, the box (B) is inserted in a tilted state like the individual cartridge (20E), and the packaging body (T) can be maintained in a stable state without spilling out even before closing the door (21) after inserting the box.

[0060] The viewing window of the door (D) and the opening of the box (B) allow for convenient checking of the consumption status of the packaging (T).

[0061] Next, as can be seen in the drawings and photographs of FIG. 2 [A][B] and FIG. 3, the inner wall prior to the discharge section (a) of the individual cartridge (20E) is provided with a fixer (23) that fixes the bottom cover (BC) of the box (B) containing the packaging (T) in an open state.

[0062] This fixer (23) has a triangular structure, and its upper vertex is spaced apart from the inner wall of the individual cartridge (20E), so that the bottom cover (BC) of the disassembled box (B) is attached to the inner wall and does not hinder the self-weight drop of the packaging body (T).

[0063] Meanwhile, the transfer (30) transfers the individual packaging (T) while the individual cartridge (20E) is rotated to the discharge position (L).

[0064] The above transfer (30) includes a relay (31) having a curved transfer path (31W) bent from the top to the side to reduce the discharge speed of a package (T) falling by its own weight from the discharge section (a) of an individual cartridge (20E) at the discharge position (L).

[0065] The packaging body (T) at the end of the conveying path (31W) of the above relay (31) is adsorbed by a picker (33) provided at three positions on the rotating drum (35) and is transferred or attached to a medicine bottle, other bottle, or packaging box being conveyed on the conveyor belt (11).

[0066] The above picker (33) is connected to a compressor in the base (10), and suction force is applied and relieved according to the opening and closing of various valves of a known pneumatic distribution block.

[0067] In addition, to prevent overloading of the packaging body (T), as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 [A], the relay (31) is equipped with a stopper (31S) that is arranged at a specific position of the transfer path (31W) and moves in and out.

[0068] The temporary discharge stop function of the stop protrusion (not shown for convenience) on the inner circumference of the discharge port is maintained to physically prevent the package (T) from falling unintentionally from the discharge port at the end of the transfer path (31W) by blocking the package (T) from continuously being pushed into the transfer path (31W) of the relay.

[0069] The exposed packaging body (T) in the discharge waiting state of the discharge port is adsorbed onto the picker by passing over the stop protrusion of the discharge port by the suction force of the picker (33), and is then transferred to the conveyor belt (11) according to the rotation of the drum (35), and then transferred or attached (adhered or bonded) to a medicine bottle, other bottle, or packaging box by releasing the suction force of the picker.

[0070] In the above description, commonly known technologies related to the specifications and usage conditions of the automatic packaging device have been omitted, but a person skilled in the art can easily guess, infer, and reproduce them.

[0071] In describing the present invention above, the invention has been described primarily with reference to the attached drawings and an automatic packaging device having a specific shape and structure; however, the present invention is capable of various modifications, changes, and substitutions by those skilled in the art, and such modifications, changes, and substitutions should be interpreted as falling within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. Bass; A cartridge complex comprising a rotating frame installed on the above-mentioned base and a plurality of individual cartridges arranged in the direction of gravity on the frame and having downward packaging discharge portions, wherein the individual cartridges are assembled and the packaging is supplied by gravity-feeding from the discharge portions of the individual cartridges; and A transfer that delivers individual packages while the individual cartridge is in the discharge position; Automatic packaging device including 2. In Paragraph 1, The box containing the packages itself is inserted into the individual cartridge above, and The above cartridge complex is an automatic packaging device characterized by individual cartridges being arranged in a diagonally inclined manner to form an overall truncated cone shape.

3. In Paragraph 1 or 2, An automatic packaging device characterized by having a fixer provided on the inner wall prior to the discharge section of the individual cartridge above, which fixes the bottom lid of a box containing packaging materials in an open state.

4. In Paragraph 1 or 2, The above transfer is an automatic packaging device characterized by including a relay having a curved transfer path bent from the top to the side to reduce the discharge speed of a package falling by gravity from an individual cartridge at the discharge location.

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