System comprising an apparatus for the continuous feeding of boxes to a machine known as a box filler and a box filler

Abstract: The suction cups (23) for collecting the boxes (B) from the feed magazine (M) are mounted on a carousel (G) together with the check fingers (34) which ensure the correct introduction of the box into the box filler compartment and its retention when the box is released by the suction cups. The suction cups are mounted on the carousel with the interposition of an oscillating support (6-17-117) which, when the suction cups begin to interact with the box magazine, is orientated in advance and, by suitable means (7-8-108-9-10-11), is made to oscillate in a direction opposite that of the rotation of the said carousel, at a speed such that the motion obtained from the carousel is neutralized and the box can be extracted from the magazine, substantially with the same means as used in present static devices, from which the equipment described herein differs in the possibility of operation with continuous motion and consequently with higher output.

Description: The present invention relates to a system comprising an apparatus for the continous feeding of preformed boxes to a machine which fills the boxes with any desired product, and is known as a box filler and a box filler machine; according to the position adopted by the box in the filling phase, the box filler machine may be of either the vertical or horizontal type. Prior art document US-A-2 936 681 discloses an apparatus for the continous feeding of squared-out boxes to a box filler, comprising a magazine for holding the boxes preformed and stacked in collapsed condition in the same orientation as that in which they are to be fed to the box filler, a transfer mechanism for withdrawing a collapsed box from the magazine and for presenting it to squaring means, said tranfer mechanism comprising carrousel means mounted for rotation about an axis in one direction at a constant angular speed. At least one suction unit is provided for engaging and holding a box, means pivotally mounting said suction unit on said carrousel for angular movement about a pair of spaced axes spaced radially from the axis of rotation of the carrousel. Further means are provided operative in response to rotation of said carrousel about its axis for swinging said suction unit relative to said carrousel first in the direction of the rotation and then in the opposite direction so that during the latter movement said suction unit moves substantially linearly relative to said magazine for approaching and withdrawing a collapsed box from the magazine while said carrousel continues to rotate at said constant angular speed. According to the US-A-2 936 681 squared-out boxes are discharged from the apparatus for continuos feeding into a chute. According to the present invention, there is provided a system comprising an apparatus of the type disclosed above, for the feeding of boxes from a magazine to a box filler machine and a box filler machine, in which the box filler machine comprises a plurality of receiving compartments defining a quadrangular seat with an open side. Each compartment is intended to receive a box from the suction unit and moves tangentially in the same direction as and at a lower speed than the cooperating carrousel. The squaring means comprise a front wall of each receiving compartment, suitable check means being provided to push each box while being squared by the said squaring means into the compartment. The said check means comprise at least one finger-like member mounted on the carrousel at a suitable distance after each suction unit having regard to the direction of rotation, means operative in response to the rotational movement of the carrousel being provided to swing said finger-like members in a direction towards and away from the compartments of the box filler. Fixed guide means are provided to cooperate with said check means to assist the insertion of the box into the compartment. The above and other features of the invention, and the advantages deriving therefrom, will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, made with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a lateral perspective view of the apparatus of the system; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are schematic plan views of a working unit of the apparatus, seen in the significant phases of grasping, extracting and transferring the box from the feed magazine to a compartment of the box filler; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the movement of the suction cups in their interaction with the box feed magazine; Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are perspective and plan views of the significant parts of the system during the same number of phases of transfer of a box from the feed magazine to a compartment of the box filler. With reference initially to Figures 1 to 5, it may be seen that the apparatus of the system comprises a carousel G rotating about an axis A parallel to that of the final drives of a transfer device or of a carousel of the box filler T, which carries equidistant compartments S to which the said apparatus has to feed at the correct time a box B, collecting it from a magazine M where the boxes are stacked. In the example described here, the magazine M is horizontal, being interlocked with what is known as a vertical box filler, and the axis A of the carousel G is vertical. The boxes B are disposed vertically, with what is to be the leading wall B1 in the following movement on the box filler facing in the direction of the box filler, and rest on a conveyor which keeps them in order and pressed against the outlet of the magazine where the leading box is retained by curved stops R, of a known type, which are partially rigid and partially elastic. A plate controlled by a cam may be provided in place of the appendages R disposed on the rear side of the magazine. The magazine M may be disposed at between ninety and one hundred and eighty degrees from the point at which the carousel cyclically transfers the boxes into compartments of the box filler. The carousel comprises a vertical shaft 1 which is made to rotate by suitable means in the direction of the arrow F1, continuously and in phase with the movement of the box filler transfer device in the direction of the arrow F2. The shaft 1 is supported rotatably by opposing and fixed supports 2-3 and two horizontal and identical plates 4-104 are fixed on the said shaft. These plates support rotatably, by means of supports with bearings 5-105, the ends of one or more vertical shafts 6 at equal distances from each other and from the axis A of the carousel G. The shaft 6 passes through the lower support 5 and has keyed to it a pinion 7 which engages with a toothed sector 8 of greater diameter (for example with a ratio of 1/3) oscillating on a vertical pin 9 carried on the lower side of the plate 4, the said sector being integral with a lever 108 with an end roller 10 which follows the profile of a cam 11 mounted on a support 12 through which the shaft 1 passes rotatably and which is integral with an arm 13 connected by an adjustable link 14 to a post 15 fixed to the support 2. In the present example, the cam 11 is of the single-acting type and the roller 10 of the lever 108 is held against this cam by a return spring 16. However, it should be understood that the spring may be omitted and a double-acting cam used in place of the illustrated cam 11. On the section of shaft 6 lying between the plates 4-104 of the carousel G, there are fixed horizontally and with identical orientation a pair of identical arms 17-117 which rotatably support the ends of a vertical bar 18 to which is symmetrically fixed a cross-piece 19 which in turn is fixed by its ends to the ends of horizontal rods 20 which slide axially in the corresponding channels of a guide support 21 freely rotatable on the shaft 1. Corresponding elastic dampers 22 are mounted on the rods 20 between the cross-piece 19 and the support 21. The bar 18 has, on one of its faces, equally spaced projections 118 with suction cups 23 communicating with passages inside the said bar and connected, in such a way that they can be selectively activated according to the dimensions of the boxes to be manipulated, by means of ducts 24, to a rotary distributor 25, which is disposed above the plate 104 of the carousel G and has a lower part 125 fixed to the said plate 104 and connected to the said ducts 24, and an upper part fixed to a support 26 through which the shaft 1 passes rotatably and which is connected to the suction source and to a compressed air source if present, the whole in a way which will be apparent to and can easily be constructed by persons skilled in the art. The said support 26 has mounted on it a cam 27 connected adjustably, as shown previously for the lower cam 11, to an arm (not shown), to an adjustable link 28 and to a post 29 fixed to the support 3. The cam 27 interacts with the end roller 30 of a lever 31 fixed on the upper end of a vertical shaft 32 mounted rotatably in a tube 33 fixed to the plate 104. The shaft 32 projects below the plate 104 and carries a pair of suitably shaped fingers 34. A wire spring 35 ensures the constant interaction of the roller 30 with the cam 27. The equipment designed in this way operates as follows. During the rotation of the carousel G, each grasping unit with suction cups 23 begins to interact with the magazine M in the condition shown in Figure 2, with the arms 17-117 orientated in advance by an angle Z1 of sufficient size, for example approximately 30-33°, while the suction cups are disposed radially with respect to the carousel, substantially perpendicular to the leading box of the magazine and at a short distance from the wall B1 of the said box. At the correct time, while the carousel G continues to rotate at the predetermined speed, the roller 10 (Fig. 1) interacts with a recessed part of the cam 11 and the gears 7-8 rotate so that the arms 17-117 are made to oscillate in a direction opposite that of the rotation of the carousel and at such a speed that the suction cups, which are also guided by the parts 19-20-21, move along the path shown in Figure 5, entering into contact initially with the leading box B and pressing it gently into the magazine when the arms 17-117 are radially disposed with respect to the carousel as in Figure 3, and then withdrawing from the magazine with a slight reverse movement to extract the front part of the box from the magazine and to start the opening of the box as shown in Figure 4. In the example illustrated, the arms 17-117 have rotated backwards through an angle Z2 of approximately 40-41°. At this point the suction cups follow the rotation of the carousel. The box is pulled off from behind by the corresponding appendages R or by the cam plate of the magazine M and is transferred to the box filler. During this phase, the lower and upper flaps of the box interact with curved fixed guides 36, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, which have the function of forcing the box to open and keeping it correctly and partially opened. Figure 7 shows how, as a result of the reverse rotation of the arms 17-117, the bar carrying the suction cups 23 and the box is at a small distance from the shaft 32 with the fingers 34 which are thus disposed behind the box. Figure 8 shows that the position of the carousel G with respect to the box filler is such that the front edge of the box retained by the suction cups of the carousel begins to interact with the inner side of the front wall S1 of a compartment S of the box filler, which moves in the direction of the arrow F2 at a speed lower than the peripheral rotation speed of the box, so that the wall B1 of the box rotates and is disposed gradually in contact with the said wall S1 of the compartment, while the box is opened completely and is inserted progressively into the compartment. As shown in the sequence of Figures 9-10-11, while the box is inserted into the compartment of the box filler and the compartment is moved in the direction F2, the box begins to interact with the leading rounded part of longitudinal fixed guides 37 and is released by the suction cups 23 at the correct time and is finally pushed into the compartment by the fingers 34 which move between the guides 37 and which undergo an appropriate oscillation with the shaft 32, as a result of the interaction of the roller 30 with a projecting part of the cam 27. A fixed guide 38 supports the box in the compartment S. When the box has been inserted into the compartment, the fingers 34 and the arms 17-117 return to the necessary orientation for the performance of another operating cycle. Since a number of suction cup units are mounted on the carousel G at equal angular intervals, one suction cup unit is performing the cycle while another unit is being prepared for the repetition of the cycle. The equipment described herein is thus capable of continuously feeding a box to each compartment S of the box filler and of being adapted without problems to the operating speeds, even if high, of the box filler. It is to be understood that the description refers to a preferred embodiment of the invention, to which numerous variations and modifications may be made, particularly as regards construction, without thereby departing from the guiding concept of the invention as described above, as illustrated and as claimed below. In the following claims, the references given in parentheses have the sole purpose of facilitating the reading of the claims, and must not, therefore, be interpreted restrictively in respect of the scope of protection of the said claims.

Claims: System comprising an apparatus for the continous feeding of squared-out boxes (B) to a vertical or horizontal box filler machine (T) and a box filler machine (T), the apparatus comprising a magazine (M) for holding the boxes (B) preformed and stacked in collapsed condition in the same orientation as that in which they are to be fed to the box filler (T), a transfer mechanism for withdrawing a collapsed box (B) from the magazine (M) and for presenting it to squaring means (S1, 34, 37), said tranfer mechanism comprising carrousel means (G) mounted for rotation about an axis (A) in one direction at a constant angular speed, at least one suction unit (18, 23) for engaging and holding a box (B), means pivotally mounting said suction unit on said carrousel (G) for angular movement about a pair of spaced axes (6, 18) spaced radially from the axis of rotation (A) of the carrousel, means operative in response to rotation of said carrousel (G) about its axis (A) for swinging said suction unit (18, 23) relative to said carrousel first in the direction of the rotation and then in the opposite direction so that during the latter movement said suction unit moves substantially linearly relative to said magazine (M) for approaching and withdrawing a collapsed box (B) from the magazine (M) while said carrousel (G) continues to rotate at said constant angular speed, characterized by the fact that the box filled machine (T) comprises a plurality of receiving compartments (S) defining a quadrangular seat with an open side, each compartment being intended to receive a box from the suction unit (18, 23), each compartment (S) moving tangentially in the same direction as and at a lower speed than the cooperating carrousel (G), said squaring means comprising a front wall (S1) of each receiving compartment (S), suitable check means (34) being provided to push each box while being squared by the said squaring means (S1) into the compartment (S), said check means comprising at least one finger-like member (34) mounted on the carrousel (G) at a suitable distance after each suction unit (18, 23) having regard to the direction of rotation, means (27, 30, 31, 32) operative in response to the rotational movement of the carrousel (G) being provided to swing said finger-like members (34) in a direction towards and away from the compartments (S) of the box filler (T), and fixed guide means (37) being provided to cooperate with said check means (34) to assist the insertion of the box (B) into the compartment (S). System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each suction unit comprises a vertical bar (18) with suction cups (23), said bar being mounted so that it can rotate on the ends of parallel horizontal arms (17, 117) which in turn are fixed in the manner of flags to the ends of a vertical shaft (6) mounted rotatably on the carrousel (G), one end of this shaft (6) having keyed to it a pinion (7) which engages with a toothed sector (8) which is rotatable with said carrousel and is associated with a lever (108) which carries at its end a cam follower (10) which follows the profile of a fixed cam (11), the said bar (18) with the suction cups 23 being provided with a crosspiece (19) which is integral with the ends of horizontal rods (20) with dampers (22) which slide in guide channels in a support (21) which is freely rotatable on the shaft (A) of the carrousel, while another fixed cam (27) is provided for cooperation with a cam follower (30) of a lever (31) keyed to one end of a vertical shaft (32) which is supported rotatably by the carrousel (G) and which carries at its other end the finger-like members (34) of the said check means.

Inventors: QUADALTI CESARE, QUADALTI, CESARE
Applicants: SENZANI BREVETTI OFFICINE DI F, SENZANI BREVETTI - OFFICINE DI FAENZA S.R.L.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65B43
IPC codes: B65B43