METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MULTIUNIT PACKAGES

METHODES DE PRODUCTION D'EMBALLAGES A ELEMENTS MULTIPLES

English Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing multiunit packages (6). The method involves that packets (2) on
their opposing outer sides extending in the conveying direction are given an application of glue immediately before, or at packaging
blank wrapping station (4), after which a blank (5), from such blanks stored in a magazine (20), is draped over a set (3) of packets (2) in
a waiting position, flaps (9, 10) pertaining to the blank then being folded inwards into engagement with the glued sides (7, 8) of the set of
packets with the aid of guides (25, 26), the set of packets kept together by the blank being taken next to a pressure station (11), where the
side walls of the blank are further pressed against the set (3) before the finished multiunit package (6) leaves the machine. The apparatus in
accordance with the invention includes a conveyor (1) for conveying packets (2), the magazine (20) disposed above the conveyor for storing
packaging blanks (5), the blank wrapping station (4) as well as gripping means for plucking blanks from the magazine and delivering them
to a waiting position above the packets.

French Abstract

Procédé et appareil destinés à produire des emballages (6) à unités multiples. Selon ledit procédé, on applique de la colle sur les paquets (2), sur leurs faces externes opposées s'étendant dans la direction de transport, immédiatement avant ou au niveau d'une station (4) d'application de découpes d'emballage, après quoi une découpe (5) provenant d'un magasin (20) est appliquée sur une série (3) de paquets (3) en position d'attente. Des languettes (9, 10) appartenant à la découpe sont ensuite pliées vers l'intérieur pour venir en contact avec les surfaces encollées (7, 8) de la série de paquets à l'aide d'éléments de guidage (25, 26). La série de paquets réunie par la découpe est alors acheminée vers une station de pression (11) où les parois latérales de la découpe sont à nouveau pressées contre la série (3), avant que l'emballage (6) fini à unités multiples quitte la machine. L'appareil de la présente invention comporte une bande transporteuse (1) destinée à transporter les paquets (2), un magasin (20) placé au-dessus de la bande transporteuse, destiné à stocker des découpes (5) d'emballage, une station (4) d'application des découpes, ainsi qu'un dispositif de saisie destiné à aller chercher les découpes dans le magasin et à les placer en position d'attente au-dessus des paquets.

Claims

Claims
1. Method of producing multiunit packages from filled
and sealed individual packets (2) fed onto a conveyor
(1), said packets being successively fed out in line
from a filling station and in sets (3) of preferably
2-6 packets being pressed one against the other as they
ride on the conveyor before a packaging blank (5)
wholely or partially envelops the set for forming a
single multiunit package (6), characterised in that the
packets (2) are transported mainly linear by one and
the same conveyor (1) said packets (2) on their oppos-
ing sides (7, 8) parallel to the direction of travel
being provided with glue immediately before, or during,
compressing the packets together in a set, said com-
pression taking place with the aid of flights (15, 16)
mounted on a separately provided conveyor means (24)
adjacent the oonveyor (1), of said flights the trailing
one (16) urging a set (3) of packets (2) towards the
leading one (15) simultaneously as the trailing flight
(16) feeds a packaging blank (5) taken from a magazine
(40) forwards from its waiting position above the set
(3) of packets (2) and into position in a blank wrapp-
ing station (4), which includes guides (25, 26) on
either side of the packets (2) for steering, during
pushing of the trailing flight (16) against said blank
(5) forwards in the direction of travel, the blank
downwards over the set (3) of packets (2), there being
flaps (9, 10) on the blank (5), which are folded into
engagement against the glued outsides (7, 8) of the set
(3), and in that said set (3) of packets (2) kept
together by the blank (5) is then discharged from this
station (11) and is conveyed to a pressure application
station (11), there the flaps or side walls (9, 10) of
a blank (5) covering 7. set (3) receive a further appli-

cation of pressure from means (12, 13) before the
finished multiunit package (6) is conveyed to a collec-
tion point outside the conveyor (1).
2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the individual, filled packets (2) are turned
through 90° before the application of glue, a sector
feed wheel being used for the turning movement.
3. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the rate of travel for the conveyor (1) is some-
what greater than that of the flights (15, 16), in
order to achieve better compression of the packets (2)
included in the multiunit package (6).
4. Apparatus for producing multiunit packages (6)
from individual filled packets (2) kept together in
sets of preferably 2-6 packets, said apparatus includ-
ing a conveyor (1) for conveying the packets from a
filling machine, a magazine (20) arranged above said
conveyor for storing packaging blanks (5), as well as
gripping means for plucking the blanks from the maga-
zine and placing them in a position above the packets
(2) before the blanks are positionally fixed over them,
characterized in that said conveyor (1) for conveying
the packets (2) is extended mainly linearly from the
filling machine, glue applicators (17, 18) being dis-
posed one on either side of the conveyor for applying
glue to two opposing sides (7, 8) of the packets (2)
at, or slightly before, a blank wrapping station (4),
which includes guides (25, 26), one on either side of
the conveyor, for steering side flaps (9, 10) of said
blanks over the set (3) of packets , said glue being
intended for fastening said side flaps (9, 10) after
they have been folded against the glued outsides (7, 8)

of the set (3) of packets (2) by the guides (25, 26),
in that flights (15, 16) are arranged on a separate
conveyor belt (24) adjacent the conveyor (1), a leading
(15) and a trailing flight (16) being adapted to com-
press a set (3) of packets (2) while a blank (5) is
urged from a waiting position above the packets (2) and
forwards down into the wrapping station (4) with the
aid of said trailing flight (16), and in that there is
a pressure application station (4), situated directly
after the wrapping station (4), said station including
means (12, 13) for pressing against the flaps (9, 10)
and the packet sides (7, 8).
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in
that before the glue applicators (17, 18) there is an
engageable and disengageable sector feed wheel (14),
which functions as a stop for the packets (2) as well
as functioning to turn them through 90°, said wheel
being mounted for rotation about an axis (19) and in
spaced relationship to the line of packets on the con-
veyor and above said conveyor such as to enable catch-
ing, turning and relinquishing packets moving forwards
on the conveyor.

Description

~ WO95/05314 2 1 6 8 ~ ~ 3 PCTISE94/0075S
Method and aPParatus for
roducinq multiunit packaqes
The present invention relates to a method and an appa-
ratus for producing multiunit packages comprising a
plurality of individual packets or the like, which are
disposed juxtaposed and for keeping together with the
aid of a packaging blank coacting in common with the
outsides of the packets.
The object of the invention is to provide a multiunit
package that can be easily carried by a consumer, using
a comfortable grip on a handle disposed uppermost on
the package, while great stability may be obtained in
15 the finished package by the possibility, made available
by the invention, of positional orientation of the
packets.
There is now provided, due to the invention, a method
20 and an apparatus of the kind mentioned in the introduc-
tion that excellently fulfil envisaged objectives,
while the method is simple in execution and the appara-
tus is both simple and uncomplicated to manufacture.
The disting~ h ing features of the invention are dis-
25 closed in the accompanying claims.
The invention will now be described in detail and with
reference to the appended drawings, where
30 Fig. 1 is a plan from above of an apparatus for the
production of multiunit packages in accordance
with the present invention,
Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus depicted in
Fig. 1 and

WO95/05314 PCT/SE9~/007S5
` 2~8~ 2
Fig. 3 is an end view from the right in Figs. 1 and
2.
As will be seen from the figures, an apparatus for
producing multiunit packages 6 includes a conveyor 1
for moving individual packets 2 placed successively on
it in a row. The packets 2 (in this case milk cartons)
have been previously filled and sealed in a filling
machine. The upper closing flap 2' of each packet
extends parallel to the conveying direction when fed to
the first part of the conveyor. The individual packets
2 from a filling machine (unillustrated in the figures)
are conveyed to a sector feed wheel 14, which can be
enabled or disabled, and in the former state it is
intended to turn each packet through 90 for giving the
flap 2' a direction at right angles to that of travel.
An optional quantity, suitably between two and six
packets, forms a set 3 of packets 2 for producing a
package 6. The reason for turning the packets 90 is
that stability in the finished package 6 will be
greater, if the packets in a set are oriented with each
flap 2' disposed at right angles to the direction of
travel, i.e. at right angles to the long sides of the
set 3. After being turned, the individual packets are
conveyed to glue applicators 17, 18, one on either side
of conveyor 1, for applying glue to opposing sides 7, 8
of the packets. Each set is caught here between a
leading flight 15 and trailing flight 16 of a plurality
of such flights arranged on a conveyor belt 24 and
moving continuously in the conveying direction of
conveyor 1. When a set has been caught between the
flights, the trailing flight during its forward move-
ment urges the packets against the leading flight 15.

WO 95tO5314 2 1 6 8 4 ~ ~ PCT/SE94/00755
Above conveyor 1 there is a magazine 20 for packaging
' blanks 5 and, as will best be seen from Fig. 2, it
contains a plurality of blanks standing on edge. Gripp-
J ing means (unillustrated) are adapted to pluck the
blanks from the magazine and take them to a position
above the set 3 of packets 2, now situated at a blank
wrapping station 4. A blank is drawn down, with the aid
of mutually opposing guides 25, 26 ext~n~;~g in the
conveying direction, into an upside-down U shape over
the set 3 in the station 4, simultaneously as the side
flaps 9, 10 of the blank are urged into engagement with
the outsides 7, 8 of the packets 2. The blank 5 is
moved forwards between the stationary guides 25, 26
with the aid of the trailing flight 16. It will thus be
understood that the trailing flight 16 urges both set 3
and blank 5 forwards, while the blank is wrapped round
the set of packets. Coming after station 4 there is a
station 11 equipped with pressure means 12, 13, which
are intended to press against the blank flaps 9, 10 as
soon as possible after glue has been applied to the
sides 7, 8 of the set 3. The ready-assembled, glued and
wrapped set 3, now in the form of a multiunit package
6, is subsequently conveyed further to a collection
point beyond the conveyor 1. As will be seen from Fig.
1, the preferred embodiment example of the blank has a
handle-like means 23 on the upper side of the package 6
to facilitate carrying it.
The sector feed wheel 14 not only functions for turning
packets through 90 but also as a gate obstructing the
passage of packets in certain circumstances, as will
now be described. The wheel is mounted for rotation
about an axis 19 and is situated above the conveyor 1
in spaced relationship with the string of packets 2 on
the conveyor. As already mentioned, it is adapted to

WO95/05314 PCT/SE9~10075S
2~ 6~3
enable catching each packet and relinquishing it in its
new orientation to the conveyor 1. The other function
of the wheel is to act as a gate or stop to ensure that
glue can be applied to the sides 7, 8 of the set 3.
Before the individual packets arrive at the wrapping
station 4 it is suitable that a blank 5 is delivered in
good time from the magazine 20 to a waiting position
above station 4 before a set 3 gets into place under
it. This enables the operating speed of the machine to
be increased, in turn giving a shorter waiting time
after glue application until the set has had the flaps
9, 10 pressed against it and is ready for conveying out
of the machine as a finished multiunit package 6.
Should it be desired to convey the packets individually
to final packing handling, the inventive apparatus may
function as a simple conveyor, with the sector feed
wheel functions disabled, i.e. without the packets
being arrested or turned through 90.
By placing magazine 20 above conveyor 1 the former may
be filled from both sides of the machine without any
special adaption. Bearing in mind thickness variations
in the blanks, in order to orient them easily, the
magazine may be equipped with lateral guides 21, 22,
one on either side, implemented as assisting belts or
chains provided with evenly distributed flights such as
to maintain a suitably large sheaf of blanks in a
controlled state. The advance of blanks in the magazine
may be performed conventionally, with the aid of pivot-
ing plucking means, which grip the blanks by vacuum and
place them on horizontally disposed rails above the
packets, before a trailing flight urges a blank towards
the guides 25, 26 to produce the U shape of the blank
draped over the packets, simultaneously as the flight

~ WO95/05314 ~1 ~ 8 45 ~ PCT/SE94/00755
.
positions the blank over the set of packets. In a
normal embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with
the invention machine capacity is calculated to be a
J minimum of 7000 packets per hour with a multiunit
package of 4-packets, i.e. approximately 30 finished
packages per minute.

Representative Drawing