Patent Publication Number: US-2016221041-A1

Title: Automatic pouch sorting apparatus and automatic pouch sorting method

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of pending International Patent Application PCT/KR2013/008997 filed on Oct. 8, 2013, which designates the United States, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an automatic pouch sorting apparatus and an automatic pouch sorting method, and more particularly to an automatic pouch sorting apparatus and an automatic pouch sorting method, which can sort out a defective pouch among a plurality of disordered pouches and automatically arranges them in position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A pouch is made of a nonwoven film for containing a beverage, an ice cake or the like food, and has been widespread since a user can easily carry it and take in the food. 
     In general, the pouch is manufactured in a company of manufacturing a pouch, i.e. a pouch manufacturer and delivered to a food company. Then, the food company puts food or the like content into the pouch and provides it to a user in the form of a complete product. 
     By the way, when the pouches are delivered from the pouch manufacturer to the food company, they are arranged in order with their front sides facing in a certain direction. 
     However, if it is desired that the pouches are delivered in such an ordered state, a support structure is needed for supporting the pouches, thereby increasing volume and weight and thus raising transport costs. 
     Further, the support structure itself may be contaminated while carrying the pouches and the contaminated support structure may contaminate the pouches. 
     In addition, it is not only difficult to recover the support structure for supporting the pouches after the pouches are delivered to the food company, but also undesired in terms of recycling resources since the used support structure is discarded. 
     Accordingly, it would be better in terms of environments and transport costs if massive pouches are delivered in a disordered state and the plurality of delivered pouches are arranged and sorted out by a separate apparatus in the food company where the pouches are actually used. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide an automatic pouch sorting apparatus and an automatic pouch sorting method, which can sort out a defective pouch among a plurality of disordered pouches and automatically arranges them in position. 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing an automatic pouch sorting apparatus including: a pouch supplying section which has a pouch entrance through which a plurality of pouches is put and a pouch exit through which the plurality of put pouches are discharged in units of pieces; a pouch loading section where normal pouches are loadable; a pouch moving guide section which guides the pouch to move along a pouch moving path from the pouch exit to the pouch loading section; a pouch sensing section which is arranged in between the pouch supplying section and the pouch loading section and senses whether or not the pouch discharged from the pouch exit is normal; a pouch interceptor which selectively intercepts the pouch in order to prevent the pouch from being transferred and loaded to the pouch loading section; and a controller which controls the pouch interceptor in accordance with sensed results of the pouch sensing section so that normal pouches can be loaded to the pouch loading section but abnormal pouches cannot be loaded to the pouch loading section. 
     The pouch may include a pouch body in which contents are contained, and an inlet through which the contents flow in to/out from the pouch body, and the pouch moving guide section may include a guide rail supporting the inlet and guiding the pouch discharged from the pouch exit to the pouch sensing section. 
     The pouch sensing section may be provided to sense presence of a mark formed on at least one of front and rear sides of the pouch or sense a position of the mark. 
     The pouch sensing section may include at least one of an image sensor for recognizing an image of the mark and a mark reader for reading the mark. 
     The automatic pouch sorting apparatus may further include a pouch position changer for reversing the pouch to be in position, and the controller may control the pouch position changer to change the position of the pouch to a normal state if the pouch sensing section senses that the position of the pouch is abnormal, and control the pouch interceptor so that the pouch changed to the normal state can be loaded to the pouch loading section. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is achieved by providing automatic pouch sorting method including: separating and discharging a plurality of pouches from a pouch supplying section in units of pieces; sensing whether the pouches discharged in units of pieces are normal or abnormal; transferring the pouch to a pouch loading section if the pouch is normal; and intercepting the pouch from being transferred to the pouch loading section if the pouch is abnormal. 
     The intercepting the pouch from being transferred to the pouch loading section may include: changing the position of the pouch to a normal state if the position of the pouch is abnormal; and transferring the pouch changed to the normal state to the pouch loading section. 
     Thus, the automatic pouch sorting apparatus and the automatic pouch sorting method according to the present invention have the following effects. 
     First, it is possible to reduce transport costs since massive pouches are delivered being put in a box in a disordered state. 
     Second, it is possible to reduce volume and weight for transport since there is no need of a support structure that has been used for aligning and delivering the pouches. Further, it is preferable in terms of recycling resources since the support structure is not wasted. 
     Third, it is possible to raise productivity since a defective pouch is automatically determined and sorted out from a plurality of disorderedly arranged pouches and the plurality of pouches are arranged in position. 
     Fourth, pouches are free from contamination caused by the contaminated support structure for aligning the pouches since there is no need of the support structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an automatic pouch sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a partial enlarged lateral view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of a pouch to be sorted out by the automatic pouch sorting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 4  is a partial schematic plan view for explaining a sorting process in the automatic pouch sorting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of an automatic pouch sorting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an automatic pouch sorting method according to the present invention, and 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of another automatic pouch sorting method according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Below, an automatic pouch sorting apparatus and a automatic pouch sorting method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     In the following embodiments, like numerals refer to like elements, and repetitive descriptions will be avoided as necessary. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , an automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a pouch supplying section  110  which has a pouch entrance  111  through which a plurality of pouches is entered and a pouch exit  113  through which the plurality of put pouches are discharged in units of pieces; a pouch loading section  120  where normal pouches S are loadable; a pouch moving guide section  130  which guides the pouch P to move along a pouch moving path from the pouch exit  113  to the pouch loading section  120 ; a pouch sensing section  140  which is arranged in between the pouch supplying section  110  and the pouch loading section  120  and senses whether or not the pouch discharged from the pouch exit  113  is normal; a pouch interceptor  150  which selectively intercepts the pouch in order to prevent the pouch from being transferred and loaded to the pouch loading section  120 ; and a controller  190  which controls the pouch interceptor  150  in accordance with sensed results of the pouch sensing section  140 . 
     The pouch supplying section  110  includes the pouch entrance  111  opened upward. The plurality of pouches is entered through the pouch entrance  111 . 
     The pouch supplying section  110  may vibrate the plurality of pouches so as to be transferred toward the pouch exit  113  in units of pieces. That is, the pouch supplying section  110  may be achieved by a vibration feeder. 
     As necessary, the pouch supplying section  110  may further include a hopper (not shown) for mixing the plurality of pouches. 
     The pouch P put in the pouch supplying section  110  may include a pouch body P 1  in which contents are contained, and an inlet P 3  through which the contents flow in to/out from the pouch body P 1  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The inlet P 3  may further include a neck P 2  protruding from the pouch body P 1 . The neck P 2  may further include three ribs R surrounding the neck P 2 . These three ribs R are used in transferring the pouches in a process of sorting out the pouch or in a process of putting contents in the pouch. That is, the pouch may be transferred being guided by the moving guide section  130  supported in a space around the neck P 2  formed by three ribs R.  FIG. 3  shows three ribs, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, two or more than four ribs may be provided, or a shape analogous to this may be given. 
     Further, a predetermined mark M may be given on a front side P 1   a  of the pouch body P 1 . 
     Alternatively, the mark M may be given on a rear side opposite to the front side P 1   a . The mark M may include a barcode, a quick response (QR) code or the like well-known recognition code. As necessary, the mark M may be a manufacturer&#39;s own identification character, image, color, pattern or the like visually recognizable mark. Further, the mark M may be a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. In this case, the kind of pouch sensing section  140  (to be described later) may vary depending on the kind of mark M. If the mark M is the visual mark, the pouch sensing section  140  may include an image sensor. If the mark M is the RFID tag, the pouch sensing section  140  may include an RFID reader. Further, if the mark M is the barcode, the pouch sensing section  140  may include a corresponding barcode reader. 
     As necessary, an embossed mark N embossed on an external outline of the pouch body P 1  or a hole mark H may be used instead of the foregoing mark M printed on the pouch body P 1 . If the embossed mark N or the hole mark H is employed, the pouch sensing section  140  may be achieved by a pair of photo-sensors that have a light emitter (not shown) and a light receiver (not shown). In this case, the embossed mark N or the hole mark H is arranged on a path where light emitted from the light emitter (not shown) travels to the light receiver (not shown), and it is thus possible to determine the presence of the embossed mark N or the hole mark H in accordance with whether the light receiver (not shown) senses the light emitted from the light emitter (not shown). 
     The pouch moving guide section  130  may include a guide rail  131  supported in between the ribs R of the neck P 2  and guiding the pouch P to move. 
     The guide rail  131  may guide the pouch P to move from the pouch exit  113  of the pouch supplying section  110  to the pouch sensing section  140 . 
     On the guide rail  131 , the pouches P may be arranged to make the front side P 1   a  or rear side P 1   b  thereof face not in a certain direction but in random directions. Occasionally, there may be a defective pouch, which is not normally manufactured, among the pouches P supported on the guide rail  131 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the guide rail  131  includes a guide groove  131   a  through which the neck P 2  of the pouch P can pass. The guide groove  131   a  is extended along the moving direction of the pouch P. 
     The guide groove  131   a  does not allow the rib R of the neck P 2  to pass therethrough so that the guide rail  131  can support a lower side of the inlet P 3 . 
     The pouch exit  113  may be higher than the pouch sensing section  140  so that the guide rail  131  can be inclined. Thus, the pouch P moving along the guide groove  131   a  may move down from the pouch exit  113  toward the pouch sensing section  140  by its own weight. Here, force for urging the pouch P to move from the pouch exit  113  toward the pouch sensing section  140  may be given by not only the weight of the pouch P but also vibration, rotatory power, etc. of the pouch supplying section  110 , which is a discharging pressure for discharging the pouch P from the pouch supplying section  110 . 
     On the other hand, the pouch exit  113  is approximately level with the pouch sensing section  140  so that the guide rail  131  can be arranged horizontally. In this case, the pouch P may be transferred to the pouch sensing section  140  along the pouch moving direction by a pneumatic or hydraulic pusher (not shown). 
     For convenience, the pouch moving guide section  130  is illustrated from the pouch supplying section  110  to a stopper  103  in front of the pouch sensing section  140 , and the other portion will be omitted in the drawings. Although it is not illustrated, the foregoing guide groove  131   a  may be extended to guide the pouch P to the pouch loading section  120  via the pouch sensing section  140  and the pouch interceptor  150 . 
     The automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100  may further include the stopper  103  for controlling the movement of the pouch P so that the pouches P on the guide rail  131  can be sequentially transferred to the pouch sensing section  140  at predetermined intervals of time. 
     The stopper  103  is controlled its drive by the controller  190  at predetermined intervals of time in consideration of time taken in sensing whether or not the pouch P is normal by the pouch sensing section  140 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the stopper  103  may be provided to reciprocate in left and right directions A between a blocking position for blocking the movement of the pouch P and a withdrawal position to be withdrawn from the blocking position and allowing the pouch P to move. In  FIG. 4 , the stopper  103  is in the withdrawal position. That is, the stopper  103  moves to the withdrawal position when it is completely sensed whether a proceeding pouch is normal or not under control of the controller  190 . Thus, the following pouch is fed to the pouch sensing section  140 . 
     Here, the stopper  103  may be installed to reciprocate in a main frame  101  of the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100 . 
     The pouch P may be arranged on the guide rail  131  so that the front side P 1   a  and rear side P 1   b  of the pouch body P 1  can be arranged transversely to the moving direction B of the pouch P. This is to arrange the plurality of pouches P on the guide rail  131 . 
     The pouch sensing section  140  may be provided to sense the presence of the mark H, N or M formed on the pouch P, specifically, on at least one of the front side P 1   a  and rear side P 1   b  of the pouch body p 1 , or sense the position of the mark H, N or M. 
     As described above, the pouch sensing section  140  may be provided to recognize the mark H, N or M in accordance with the kinds of mark H, N and M. 
     The pouch sensing section  140  may include the image sensor  141  to recognize the mark M if the mark M is a predetermined visual mark. Further, the pouch sensing section  140  may further include a light source (not shown), and an optical system (not shown) having a lens and/or a mirror so that the light emitted from the light source (not shown) can be focused on the mark M. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the pouch P stopped by the stopper  103  is changed is position while moving toward the pouch sensing section  140 . In more detail, the front side P 1   a  or the rear side P 1   b  of the pouch P are perpendicular to the pouch moving direction B in the previous stage before the stopper  103 , but the front side P 1   a  or the rear side P 1   b  of the pouch P have to be turned at a predetermined angle to face the pouch sensing section  140  so that the pouch sensing section  140  can scan the mark H, N or M formed on the front side P 1   a  or the rear side P 1   b . If the pouch sensing section  140  is provided to take an image at the right angle to the pouch moving direction B, the pouch P has to be rotated at the corresponding right angle. 
     To this end, the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100  may further include a pouch contactor  107  that contacts one side of the pouch body P 1  and rotates the pouch P with respect to the inlet P 3 . 
     As shown in a dotted line of  FIG. 4 , one side of the pouch body contacts the pouch contactor  107  and thus the pouch rotates at the right angle. Thus, the front side P 1   a  or rear side P 1   b  of the pouch P are changed to face toward the pouch sensing section  14 , and the pouch sensing section  140  can sense the presence of the mark formed on the pouch body P 1 . 
     The pouch interceptor  150  is provided to selectively prevent the pouch P from moving along the pouch moving path. The pouch interceptor  150  may be similar to the foregoing stopper  103 . In more detail, the pouch interceptor  150  may be provided to reciprocate in left and right directions D between a blocking position for blocking the movement of the pouch P and a withdrawal position to be withdrawn from the blocking position and allowing the pouch P to move. 
     The pouch interceptor  150  may contact the inlet P 3  of the pouch P and prevent the pouch P from moving. 
     The controller  190  controls the pouch interceptor  150  so that the pouch can be loaded to the pouch loading section  120 , if the pouch sensing section  140  senses that the pouch is normal. That is, if it is determined that the pouch is normal, the pouch interceptor  150  is moved to the withdrawal position so that the pouch can be transferred to the pouch loading section  120 . Thus, the pouches can be loaded to the pouch loading section  120 . 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that the pouch is abnormal, the controller  190  controls the pouch interceptor  150  so that the abnormal pouch cannot be loaded to the pouch loading section. 
     Suppose that the normal pouch P has the mark M formed on the front side P 1   a  of the pouch body P 1  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In the case of a pouch PA 2  positioned in front of the pouch sensing section  140  as shown in  FIG. 4 , its rear side P 1   b  is photographed by the pouch sensing section  140 . Thus, the controller  190  recognizes the absence of the mark M based on an image photographed by the pouch sensing section  140 , and determines that the pouch PA 2  is abnormal. 
     Here, the abnormal state may refer to that the front side P 1   a  and rear side P 1   b  of the pouch PA 2  are reversed or that the pouch PA 2  is not exactly processed, i.e. is defective. 
     In the foregoing examples, the controller  190  controls the pouch interceptor  150  to move the blocking position if it is determined that the pouch PA 2  is abnormal. Then, the pouch PA 2  may be transferred to a defective pouch loading section (not shown) along a pouch recovery path (not shown). As necessary, the pouch PA 2  may be adsorbed and intercepted from the pouch moving path so as to be transferred to the defective pouch loading section. In the case where it is determined that the front and rear sides of the pouch PA 2  are reversed, the pouch PA 2  may be returned to the pouch supplying section  110 . 
     In addition, the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100  may include another pouch sensing section  140  added at a downstream side along the pouch moving direction B, another stopper  103  for controlling the movement of the pouch in consideration of time taken in sensing of the downstream pouch sensing section  140 , a position changer  160  interposed in between an upstream pouch sensing section  140  and a downstream pouch sensing section  140  and changing the position of the pouch to a normal state, and another pouch interceptor  150  added at a downstream side. Of course, the downstream pouch sensing section  140  and the position changer  160  may be excluded as necessary. 
     Alternatively, the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100  may have a pair of pouch sensing sections  140  respectively arranged not in the upstream and downstream sides along the pouch moving direction B as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4  but to face each other at opposite sides with respect to the pouch PA 2  so that both the front side P 1   a  and the rear side P 1   b  of the pouch PA 2  can be simultaneously photographed. In this case, the position changer  160  may be excluded. 
     In the case where it is determined that the pouch PA 2  is abnormal, the controller  190  controls the position changer  160  to change the position of the pouch PA 2 . In more detail, the position changer  160  may be controlled to hold the inlet p 3  of the pouch PA 2  and turn it through 180 degrees. Thus, the opposite side P 1   a , not photographed by the upstream pouch sensing section  140 , is exposed to the downstream pouch sensing section  140 . Here, the pouch PA 1  placed in front of the downstream pouch sensing section  140  refers to that the pouch PA 2  sensed by the upstream pouch sensing section  140  is changed in position by the position changer  160 . 
     The downstream pouch sensing section  140  takes an image of the front side P 1   a  of the pouch PA 1  changed in position. The controller  190  determines whether the mark M is present in the front side of the pouch PA 1  based on the sensed results of the downstream pouch sensing section  140 , i.e., based on the taken image. If there is the mark M, the controller  190  determines that the pouch PA 1  is normal, and controls the pouch interceptor  150  arranged at the downstream side to be in the withdrawal position. Thus, the pouch PA 1  can be transferred to the pouch loading section  120 . 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that even the front side of the pouch PA 1  changed in position has no mark M, the controller  19  determines that the pouch PA 1  is defective among the foregoing abnormal states. Thus, the controller  190  controls the pouch interceptor  150  to be in the blocking position and intercept the defective pouch PA 1  from being transferred to the pouch loading section  120 . Here, the defective pouch PA 1  may be transferred to the defective pouch loading section (not shown) along the recovery path (not shown). 
     The pouch loading section  120  may further include normal pouch loading rails  121 ,  123  and  125  formed with guide grooves  121   a ,  123   a  and  125   a  corresponding to the guide groove  131   a  of the guide rail  131 . 
     Here, the pouch loading section  120  is a place where sorted normal pouches are temporarily stored. If the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100  is directly connected to an apparatus for filling the normal pouches with contents, the pouch loading section  120  may correspond to the guide rails for transferring the normal pouches to the content filling apparatus. 
     If the normal pouch passed through the pouch interceptor  150  reaches an entrance position F of the pouch loading section  120 , a pusher  170  may be driven to transfer the pouch from the entrance position to the normal pouch loading rails  121 ,  123  and  125 . 
     Here, the pusher  170  may include a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. 
     Further, the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100  may additionally include a cassette replacer  180  that moves the normal pouch loading rails  121 ,  123  and  125  to another position and brings new empty loading rails to the entrance position F if all the normal pouch loading rails  121 ,  123  and  125  are occupied with the pouches. 
     Here, if the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100  is directly connected to the apparatus for filling the pouch body of the normal pouch with contents, the cassette replacer  180  may be excluded. 
     According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100   a  may be provided in such a manner that the automatic pouch sorting apparatuses  100  according to the first embodiment are symmetrically arranged with respect to a center line G except the pouch loading section  120  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     That is, pouches are supplied and sorted out by a plurality of pouch supplying sections  110 , a plurality of pouch moving guide sections  131 , a plurality of pouch sensing sections  140  symmetrically arranged with respect to the center line G, a plurality of pouch interceptor  150  and a plurality of position changers  160 , and therefore processing speed is doubled. 
     Here, the pouch loading section  120  may be loaded with the normal pouches simultaneously sorted out by the automatic pouch sorting apparatuses  100  symmetrically arranged with respect to the center line G. Since the automatic pouch sorting apparatus  100   a  according to the second embodiment includes the automatic pouch sorting apparatuses  100  according to the first embodiment symmetrically provided with respect to the center line G, the repetitive descriptions thereof will be avoided. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates that the pair of pouch supplying sections  110  are used to sort out the pouches, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, three or more than four pouch supplying sections  110  may be arranged to thereby speed up the process of sorting out the pouches. 
     Below, an automatic pouch sorting method according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     First, a plurality of pouches are separated and discharged in units of pieces (S 10 ). 
     Next, it is sensed whether the pouches discharged in units of pieces are normal or abnormal (S 20 ). 
     An operation of putting contents into the respective pouches separated in units of pieces may be added in between the operations S 10  and S 20 . Here, the contents may be a foodstuff such as porridge, soup, etc. or cosmetics, a beauty mask pack or the like other than the foodstuff. Likewise, there may be various kinds of contents. 
     If it is sensed that the pouch is normal (Yes at S 30 ), the pouch is transferred to the pouch loading section (S 40 ). 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that the pouch is abnormal (No at S 30 ), the pouch is prevented from being transferred to the pouch loading section (S 50 ). 
     If the position of the pouch is abnormal in the operation of intercepting the pouch from being transferred to the pouch loading section, the pouch is changed in position and then transferred to the pouch loading section (S 60 ). 
     Instead of the operation S 60 , if the position of the pouch is abnormal in the operation of intercepting the pouch from being transferred to the pouch loading section, the abnormally positioned pouch may be returned to the pouch supplying section  110  and sorted out again as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The operation S 40  of transferring the pouch to the pouch loading section may further include an operation of putting contents into the respective pouches. That is, the operation of filling the pouch with the content may be added not between the foregoing operations S 10  and S 20  but in the operation S 40 . Here, the contents may include foodstuffs, cosmetics other than the foodstuffs, and so on. 
     Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     The present invention is applicable to an industry of manufacturing a beverage container and putting contents into the manufactured beverage container.