Automatic machine for packaging products inside containers

• US 20030089078A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I.A.C.E. Di Cristina Adriano
• Original Assignee: I.A.C.E. Di Cristina Adriano
• Inventors: Cristina, Adriano
• Granted Patent: US 6,688,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/55
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/00 Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages , to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/003 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material

Abstract

An automatic machine for packaging products, in particular cosmetic or pharmaceutical products, inside containers (11), comprising a series of stations (15-21A, 21B, 21C, 23-28), in each of which the operations required to insert the products and their leaflets into containers or cartons (11), and to close the cartons (11) definitively are performed; with the machine the format of the container (11) can be changed in extremely short times and automatically, by using a keyboard to key in the parameters relevant to the dimensions of the sides (A, B, C) of the carton (11) utilised.

Claims

1. Automatic machine for packaging products inside containers or cartons (11), of the type comprising a plurality of stations (15-21, 21A, 21B, 21C, 23-28) in a line (13), at each of which at least one operation to package the products is performed, by means of actuators (AT, AT1, AT2 . . . ), starting from at least one blank, which is collected from a magazine (12), conveyed to a loading station (15) and transferred, according to a pre-established route (10), from one station to the next, before being unloaded at specific reject (27) or storage (28) stations, characterised in that said actuators (AT, AT1, AT2 . . . ) are managed by an electronic axes control system, which automatically regulates their positioning and movements, on the basis of information relevant to at least one dimension (A, B, C) of said carton (11), which is set by an operator (OP) on an electronic processor (PC) of said axes control system, in order to allow the format of said carton (11) to be changed from a pre-established minimum value to a maximum value of the overall dimensions automatically and in extremely short times, compared with the known technique.

2. Automatic machine for packaging products as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said axes control system manages said positioning and movements, in order to effect, by means of said actuators (AT, AT1, AT2 . . . ), a series of operations to fold the blank, in order to close said cartons (11).

3. Automatic machine for packaging products as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said actuators (AT AT1, AT2) comprise pushing devices for said blanks and said cartons (11), inserting devices for products and illustrative leaflets, stamping devices (PT, TC) and devices for generating and printing bar codes on said cartons (11), devices to detect and process coherent codes, equipment (ST) for replacing pieces (SP) that can be collected from a tool magazine (MU), linear units for movement on the level or in space.

4. Automatic machine for packaging products as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said axes control system comprises at least one electronic board (K, K1, K2 . . . ), which receives from said electronic processor (PC), through at least one serial line (LS), a series of information relevant to at least one dimension (A, B, C) of said carton (11) and to the positions assumed by said actuators (AT, AT1, AT2 . . . ) in intervals of time prior to said information being set, said electronic board (K, K1, K2 . . . ) being connected to the mechanisms (M) of at least one of said actuators (AT, AT1, AT2 . . . ).

5. Automatic machine for packaging products as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said mechanisms (M) comprise electric motors or mechanical devices driven by said electric motors, said motors being provided with at least one encoder and being controlled in retroaction, by means of at least one closed loop retroaction circuit.

6. Automatic machine for packaging products as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that, subsequent to said positioning of the actuators (AT, AT1, AT2 . . . ), said serial line (LS) dialogues with a PLC electronic control system (SC), which manages, either directly or through a driver, operation of said actuators (AT, AT1, AT2 . . . ) and the sequence of steps required to move said cartons (11) in the line (13).

7. Automatic machine for packaging products as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said PLC electronic control system (SC) manages and controls the works in progress, manages the magazines (12, 29, MU) and the printout of works performed and delivery batches, divided both according to customer and product, through a compatible database, controls effective presence of cartons (11) in the line (13), controls coherence between carton (11), product and illustrative leaflet, checking that said leaflet has been inserted into said carton (11) and regulates stamping operations to allow cartons (11) of different formats to be processed in the line (13).

8. Automatic machine for packaging products as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it is composed of an automatic vertical loading cartoning machine for packaging products inside cartons (11).