Method and device for transferring blister packs and the like between two conveyor lines

Abstract: A method for transferring blister packs (2) to a step-less moving feeding line (4) of a packaging machine, according to which a gripping member (11) of a three-axes robot means (10) picks up at least one group of blister packs (2) from an outlet line (3) of a blistering machine. The robot means (10) moves in the same direction as the outlet line (3), so as to follow the movement thereof. The group of blister packs (2) is transferred to the feeding line (4), following the movement thereof.

Description: The present invention relates to production of blister packs and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for transferring blister packs from the outlet line of a blistering machine to the feeding line of a packaging machine, and a device for carrying out the method. In this field, there is known the problem of transferring blister packs from the outlet line of the blistering machine to the packaging machine, the blister being arranged in ordered piles. According to a known solution, the blister packs are transferred by using a a vertical magazine, inside which the blister packs coming from the outlet line of the blistering machine are stored and piled orderly one over another. Then, groups of piled blister packs are removed by suitable pushers from the bottom of the magazine and introduced into relative boxes. According to another known solution, the blister packs are transferred by an escapement device associated to a magazine oscillating around an axis perpendicular to the translation direction of a conveyor situated below. The conveyor is equipped with a plurality of box-like seats which receive the blister packs removed from the bottom of the magazine. The escapement device allows to place intermittently a predetermined number of blister packs into each box-like seat of the conveyor. The known methods for transferring blister packs feature different drawbacks and generally they are not satisfactory, in particular with regard to the connection between the blister machine and the packaging machine. As a matter of fact, the limits of the known systems result from inconsistency between the continuous flow of the packs leaving the blistering machine and the discontinuous feeding of the packaging machine. Consequently, the working speed of known systems is considerably lower than the potential speed that the packaging machines used at present would allow. On the other hand, to avoid the above problems, the above mentioned solutions are very complicated from the constructive as well as from the functional point of view, and consequently they are not very convenient in practice. The publication US-A-3.168.184 discloses a boom assembly with an arm link carrying a frame lift bracket. The arm link is pivoted on a base so that it can swing. The frame lift bracket provides a vertical reciprocating motion , so that glass plates can be can be gripped, raised, moved to a release position and then lowered. The arm link is moved by a swing cylinder. An extension cylinder is operatively connected to the conveyor on which the glass plates are moved, by means of a pump connected to one of the roller of the conveyor, so that the frame assembly moves at the same rate of speed as the glass plates. The object of the present invention is to propose a method which allows an automatic continuous transferring of blister packs from the outlet line of a blistering machine to the feeding line of a packaging machine. Another object of the present invention is to propose a method which allows to transfer ordered piles of blister packs to the feeding line of the above packaging machine. A further object of the present invention is to propose a device carrying out the proposed method, whose structure is reliable, functional and versatile, so as to obtain ordered piles of blister packs with one or more blister packs for each pile, on the feeding line. The above mentioned objects are obtained in accordance with the contents of the claims. The characteristic features of the present invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred, but not only embodiment, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Figure 1 is schematic plan view of a device for transferring blister packs from the outlet line of a blistering machine to the feeding line of a packaging machine; Figures 2a and 2b are detailed sectional views of the above transferring device, in different operation steps; Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are plan views of the above feeding line of the packaging machine during subsequent steps of the transferring of blister packs from the outlet line of a blistering machine, according to the proposed method. With reference to the above Figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates the device for transferring blister packs 2 from the outlet line 3 of a blistering machine to the feeding line 4 of a packaging machine. The outlet line 3 of the blistering machine and the feeding line 4 of the packaging machine are arranged one beside the other, along a longitudinal direction. The outlet line 3 of the blistering machine includes substantially a step-less powered belt conveyor, which carries blister packs 2 in a line, e.g. inside regularly spaced apart box-like seats 5. The feeding line 4 of the packaging machine includes a step-less powered conveying belt, equipped with box-like seats 6 for receiving the above mentioned blister packs 2. The device 1 includes a three-axes robot means 10, mounted slidably on a guide 7, situated longitudinally beside the outlet line 3 and the feeding line 4. The robot means 10 is operated by motor means, not shown. The robot means 10 is equipped with a gripping member 11, movable along the above mentioned three axes and including a bar 12, which is arranged longitudinal to the guide 7 and is equipped with a plurality of suction cups means 13, capable of acting on the blister packs 2 to be transferred. The gripping member 11 is fastened to a double four-bar linkage 14, which drives the gripping member 11 in vertical and horizontal motion with respect to the outlet line 3 and to the feeding line 4, maintaining the suction means 13 vertical. Therefore, the gripping member 11 picks up blister packs 2 from the outlet line (Figure 2a) and transfers them to the feeding line 4 (Figure 2b). According to the method for transferring blister packs 2 to the feeding line 4 of the packaging machine, so as to define on the latter ordered piles of blister packs 2 with one or more blisters for each pile, a first group of blister packs 2 is picked up from the outlet line 3 by the gripping member 11 of the robot 10, which moves in the direction of the outlet line 3 forward movement, so as to follow the movement of the outlet line 3. For this purpose, the gripping member 11 is brought first to a reference position, indicated with an enlarged point R in Figure 1, at the median line of the outlet line 3, where the blister packs 2 are picked up. The reference point R is situated in an intermediate position between a rear position 10a and a fore position 10b, which is the end-of-stroke stop of the robot means 10 along the guide 7. During the picking up step, the gripping member 11 moves in synchrony with the outlet line 3 forward movement, so that its relative speed with respect to the outlet line 3 in correspondence to the point R is substantially zero. Obviously, the gripping member 11 is imparted combined translation and raising movements, so as to lift the blister packs 2 from the outlet line 3. The first group of blister packs 2, for sake of clarity encircled by the broken line F in Figure 3a, is delivered to the feeding line 4 when the gripping member 11 is in , in a rearmost position 11a corresponding to the end-of-stroke position 10a of the robot means 10 (Figure 1). For this purpose, the gripping member 11 moves in the direction opposite to the direction of the outlet line 3 and feeding line 4 and crosswise thereto, towards the feeding line 4, at the same time. When the gripping member 11 has reached the rearmost position 11a, it reverses the movement direction, so as to follow the movement of the feeding line 4, on which the first group F of blister packs 2 is being placed (Figure 3b). It is to be noted that the when the gripping member 11 reaches the rearmost position 11a, it does not take a position centered with respect to the longitudinal median line of the feeding line 4, as seen in Figure 1. The gripping member 11 moves to a centered position later, when the blister packs 2 are being released; during this step, the gripping member 11 moves synchronously with the feeding line 4 forward movement, so that its relative speed with respect to the feeding line 4 is substantially zero. Moreover, the gripping member 11 is imparted combined translation and lowering movements, so as to release the blister packs 2 onto the feeding line 4. When the first group F of blister packs 2 has been released, the gripping member 11 performs a return stroke above the outlet line 3, so as to pick up a second group S of blister packs 2, which has been brought thereto in the meantime (Figure 3c). As it can be seen in the figures, the gripping member 11 performs a first transferring cycle as indicated by the trajectory T'. The gripping member 11 picks up the second group S of blister packs 2 likewise the first group F of blister packs, i.e. following the movement of the outlet line 3. However, the gripping member 11 brings the second group S of blister packs 2 to a foremost position 11b on the feeding line 4, so that the second group S of the blister packs 2 is put over the first group, moved forward in the meantime along the feeding line 4 (Figure 3d). It is to be pointed out that in this case, the gripping member 11 releases the second group S of blister packs 2 on the feeding line 4, and more precisely, on the first group F of blister packs 2, before having reached a foremost position 11b corresponding to the end-of-stroke stop 10b of the robot means 10. After having reached the foremost position 11b, the gripping member 11 reverses again the movement direction, so as to perform the return stroke back to the outlet line 3. Practically, the gripping member 11 completes a second transferring cycle indicated with the trajectory T''. The transferring cycles T' and T'' are properly controlled by programmable means, which control the movements and related speeds imposed to the gripping member 11 by the robot means 10. It is to be noted that the speeds of the outlet line 3 and the feeding line 4 are suitably differentiated, in relation to the need to pick up single groups of blister packs from the outlet line 3 and to form piles of the blister packs on the feeding line 4. In order to form piles of two blister packs, as described previously, the speed of the outlet line 3 is double with respect to the speed of the feeding line 4. Thus, the described method achieves the object of transferring automatically and continuously blister packs from the outlet line of a blistering machine to the feeding line of a packaging machine: the feeding line of a packaging machine carries single blister packs or ordered piles of two or more blister packs. Actually, the proposed method allows to pick up, in a simple way, the blister packs 2 from the outlet line 3 of the blistering machine, which moves on a step-less basis, and to transfer the picked up, orderly piled, blister packs to the feeding line 4 of the packaging machine, which also moves in step-less way. The proposed solution allows to obtain a high operation speed and consequently, to use in best way the machines productive capability. Obviously, it is possible to transfer single blister packs or piles formed by a different number of blister packs, changing correspondingly the transferring strokes of the gripping member 11. For instance, in order to obtain piles formed by three blister packs, an intermediate cycle is needed between the two described previously, so as to release another group of blister packs in a position intermediate between the rearmost position 11a and the foremost position 11b. It is to be pointed out that the proposed method is carried out by a very simple, functional as well as versatile, device.

Claims: Method for transferring blister packs (2) and the like from a continuously moving outlet line (3) of a blistering machine to a continuously moving feeding line (4) of a packaging machine, said feeding line being situated beside said outlet line (3) along a longitudinal direction and moving in the same direction, said outlet line being provided for conveying said blister packs (2) in a row, the method including: at least one group (F) of blister packs (2) is picked up from said outlet line (3) by a gripping member (11) of a robot means (10) moving in the same direction as said outlet line (3), so as to follow the movement of said outlet line (3); said first group (F) of blister packs (2) is transferred to said feeding line (4), following the movement of said feeding line (4) ; said gripping member (11) is moved back to a position above said outlet line (3), so as to pick up a next group of blister packs (2) to be transferred to said feeding line (4); the said method being characterized in that it includes: picking up of at least one group (F) of blister packs (2) from said outlet line (3) by a gripping member (11) of a robot means (10) which moves in the same direction as the said outlet line (3), so as to follow the movement of said outlet line (3); transferring of said first group (F) of blister packs (2) to a rearmost position on said feeding line (4), following the movement of said feeding line (4); performing at least once the following steps: operating said gripping member (11) to move it back to a position above said outlet line (3); picking up a further group (S) of blister packs (2) from said outlet line (3), following the movement of said outlet line (3); transferring said further group (S) of blister packs (2) to a position advanced with respect to the previous one of said feeding line (4), so that the further group (S) of blister packs (2) is situated over said first group (F) of blister packs (2). Method, according to claim 1, characterized in that , after,said first group of blister has been transferred and the gripping member (11) have moved back to a position above said outlet line (3), it includes: picking up only a second group (S) of blister packs (2) from said outlet line (3), following the movement of said outlet line (3),; and transferring said second group (S) of blister packs (2) to a foremost position of said feeding line (4), so that the second group (S) of blister packs (2) is situated over said first group (F) of blister packs (2). Method, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that during the picking up step, said gripping member (11) moves synchronously with said outlet line (3), so that the relative speed with respect to said outlet line (3) is zero at the point (R) in which said groups of blister packs (2) are picked up. Method, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that during the picking up step, said gripping member (11) is subjected to combined movement of raising, so as to detach said blister packs (2) from said outlet line (3). Method, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that during transferring of said first group (F) of blister packs (2) to said rearmost position (11a) along said feeding line (4), said gripping member (11) performs a stroke in a direction opposite to movement direction of said feeding line (4) and, simultaneously, said gripping member (11) translates crosswise towards the feeding line (4). Method, according to claim 5, characterized in that after having reached said rearmost position (11a), said gripping member (11) reverses the movement direction, so as to follow the movement of said feeding line (4) and so that the relative speed thereof with respect to said feeding line (4) in correspondence to the point, where said first group (F) of blister packs (2) has been released, is zero. Method, according to claim 2, characterized in that said gripping member (11) places said second group (S) of blister packs (2) over said first group (F) of blister packs (2), which is carried by said feeding line (4), before reaching said foremost position (11b) where said gripping member (11) reverses the movement to perform a return stroke to said outlet line (3). Method, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the speed of said feeding line (4) is suitably reduced with respect to said outlet line (3) speed, in relation to the number of said blister packs (2), which are to form the pile. Device for transferring blister packs (2) and the like from a continuously moving outlet line (3) of a blistering machine to a continuously moving feeding line (4) of a packaging machine, said feeding line being situated beside said outlet line (3) which conveys said blister packs (2) in a row, said outlet line moving in the same direction as said feeding line, including a three-axes robot means (10), mounted slidably on a guide (7), which is situated beside and along said outlet line (3) and feeding line (4), said robot means (10) being equipped with a gripping member (11), movable along three axes and equipped with a plurality of suction cup means (13), acting on the blister packs (2) to be transferred, said gripping member (11) being moved in the forward movement direction of said outlet line (3) and feeding line (4), so as to follow the movement of said outlet line (3) and feeding line (4) during picking up of said groups of blister packs (2) from said outlet line (3) and during releasing said picked up groups of blister packs (2) onto said feeding line (4); said device being characterized in that it is operated to pick up of at least one group (F) of blister packs (2) from said outlet line (3) by said gripping member (11) while moving in the same direction as the said outlet line (3), then to transfer said first group (F) of blister packs (2) to a rearmost position on said feeding line (4), following the movement of said feeding line (4), and then to perform at least once the following steps: moving back said gripping member (11) to a position above said outlet line (3); picking up a further group (S) of blister packs (2) from said outlet line (3), following the movement of said outlet line (3); transferring said further group (S) of blister packs (2) to a position advanced with respect to the previous one above said feeding line (4), and releasing the further group (S) of blister packs (2) over said first group (F) of blister packs (2). Device, according to claim 9, characterized in that while picking up said groups of blister packs (2), said gripping member (11) is moved with the same speed as the outlet line (3), and while releasing said picked up groups, the gripping member (11) is moved with the same speed as the feeding line (4).

Inventors: MONTI GIUSEPPE, MONTI, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: MARCHESINI GROUP SPA, MARCHESINI GROUP S.P.A.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65G47
IPC codes: B65G47, B25J9