US20220097885A1

US20220097885A1 - Apparatus for grouping products and separating discrete batches, for packaging

Info

Publication number: US20220097885A1
Application number: US17/428,729
Authority: US
Inventors: Piergiorgio PAVAN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-02-12
Filing date: 2020-01-16
Publication date: 2022-03-31
Also published as: WO2020164844A1; IT201900001979A1; EP3924262A1

Abstract

An apparatus for grouping products and separating discrete batches, for packaging, which comprises a portioning device which has:a belt which can slide between a plurality of movement and transmission rollers, the arrangement of the rollers defining the transverse profile of the belt,a plurality of partitions which extend from the belt at right angles thereto, outward from the transverse profile.The portioning device comprises at least one curved section which is curved substantially outward from the transverse profile of the belt, between two of the rollers.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging.
The invention can be applied in the food industry, for grouping and/or separating discrete batches of snacks and biscuits. However, the invention can also be employed in other industrial sectors where it is necessary to separate a plurality of individual products into a single package or to group discrete batches of products.
Nowadays, at the end of a production line a plurality of products is presented arranged according to a configuration that is advantageous for the production process. Such configuration is not always ideal for being used by apparatuses for packaging.
In systems for conveying apparatuses for packaging, and in systems for loading trays or cartons, it is often necessary to reorder the products arriving from the production line according to a pre-established configuration, advantageous for the subsequent packaging, before executing the operation for conveying, or loading, products into the apparatuses therefor.
In order to obtain an ordered configuration for packaging, usually one of the following operations is carried out:

- the products are arranged in the configuration of a layer before retrieving the layer and inserting it into a package, for example by way of a pick-and-place system,
- an ordered batch of products is created in order to then push it, or load it, into a package, for example by way of a pusher.

Usually the products arriving from the production line are brought by feeder conveyor belts, so as to be arranged in single file, and subsequently they reach a system of pockets, conveniently contoured, each one of which is adapted to contain a single product.
Such pockets are mounted on the belt of a portioning device which is arranged at 90° with respect to the belt that brings the products in single file.
The portioning device, as soon as it receives a product in one of its pockets, advances by one position, or step, so as to present a new, empty pocket at the conveyor belt.
In this portioning device, which is commonly known as a “race-track”, the products, which on the conveyor belt were in single file, are located arranged side by side, at a fixed distance which is determined by the distance between the walls of the pockets.
Such fixed distance determines an ideal configuration so that, for example, a pick-and-place system can take the batch in order to insert it into a tray, or a pusher can push the necessary number of products out of the portioning device to make up the batch to be packaged.
If the feed rate of the products exceeds the time necessary for the pick-and-place or for the pusher to extract the products from the portioning device, the latter can be split.
In this case, the portioning device is flanked by another, at a distance such that it is possible to send a first batch to the pockets of a first portioning device, and a second batch to a second portioning device.
The pockets are contoured and mounted so as to be presented before the conveyor belt as if they were part of a single portioning device, although in reality they belong to two different portioning devices, driven by independent motors.
When the pockets on the first portioning device are occupied by products that make up a first batch, ready to be picked up, the second portioning device seamlessly continues the operation at the loading point, presenting the respective empty pockets one after the other, ready to be occupied by products arriving from the conveyor belt, in order to form a second batch.
In the meantime, the first portioning device transfers the first batch to the pickup point of the pick-and-place system.
Then, the first portioning device stops momentarily and the first batch halts, at such pickup point, for a sufficient time for the operation carried out by the pick-and-place system.
As soon as such operation has been completed, the first portioning device brings its set of empty pockets to the point for conveying, queuing up with the second portioning device, within a period of time that prevents packaging discontinuities.
In this manner it is possible to load the pockets, at the point for conveying, at the speed determined by the product arriving on the conveyor belt, while at the pickup point a halt time is ensured that is compatible with the picking-up operation.
The portioning device is driven by electronic motors which are actuated by product-presence photocells on the arriving belts.
The operation and the adjustment of the system of portioning devices is managed by a controller via software.
Such conventional techniques have a number of drawbacks.
The pockets moved by the portioning devices are expensive and numerous, because each single pocket is adapted to contain a single product and they have specific contours made especially for each individual type of product.
The number of pockets and the associated contours also have the function of compacting the products in order to form the batch to be packaged.
For this reason, every time the format of the product arriving from the conveyor belt changes, it is necessary to change the pockets of the portioning device and this requires a considerable amount of time to refit the machine.
Furthermore, even at low advancement speeds of the conveyor belt it is necessary to use two portioning devices and this determines the need to have two different portioning devices with consequent two different drive units, two different groups of pockets and an overall software system for managing the apparatus, which is complex and expensive.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, that eliminates the need to use two portioning devices for the operations to package the products.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, that eliminates the need to have individual pockets for the formation of batches of products and which reduces the overall number of pockets, for the same number of portioned products.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, that can be easily adapted to different types of product.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, that is highly reliable, easy to implement and of low cost.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an apparatus for grouping products and separating discrete batches, for packaging, which comprises a portioning device which has:

- a belt which can slide between a plurality of movement and transmission rollers, the arrangement of said rollers defining the transverse profile of said belt,
- a plurality of partitions which extend from said belt at right angles thereto, outward from said transverse profile,

said apparatus being characterized in that said portioning device comprises at least one curved section which is curved substantially outward from said transverse profile of said belt, between two of said rollers.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the apparatus for grouping products and separating discrete batches, for packaging, according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 1 in a first operating application,

FIG. 3 is a side view of an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, according to the invention, in a second operating application,

FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 1 in a third operating application.

With reference to the figures, an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, according to the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 1.
The apparatus 1 comprises a portioning device 10.
The portioning device 10 is arranged, in operation, downstream of a conveyor belt 11 for products 12.
The conveyor belt 11 brings the products 12 to the portioning device 10.
The portioning device 10 has:

- a belt 13 which can slide between a plurality of movement and transmission rollers 14,
- a plurality of partitions 15 which extend from the belt 13 at right angles thereto.

Advantageously the partitions 15 are all identical.
The arrangement of these rollers 14 defines the transverse profile of the belt 13.
The expression “transverse profile”, in the present description, means the projection of the belt 13 onto a plane perpendicular to the rollers 14.
One of the peculiarities of the invention consists in that the belt 13 comprises at least one curved section 16 which is curved substantially outward from the transverse profile of the belt 13, between two of these rollers 14.
This curved section 16 is directed downward.
The separator partitions 15 extend outward from the transverse profile of the belt 13.
The portioning device 10 comprises a shape 17, inside of the transverse profile of the belt 13, at the curved section 16, which is adapted to determine its curvature.
The shape 17 extends between the two rollers 14 that are arranged at the ends of the curved section 16.
Advantageously, the shape 17 has a profile shaped like a circular arc.
The portioning device 10 comprises, outside of the transverse profile of the belt 13 and at the curved section 16, a chute 18.
The chute 18 has the same curvature as the shape 17 and as the section 16, is arranged at a distance from the belt 13 which is comparable to the height of the partitions 15, and has a width that is comparable to the width of the belt 13.
The chute 18 has an upper end 19, which is arranged proximate to and below the conveyor belt 11, in a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and a lower end 20, which is arranged at a portion 21 that can be opened by horizontal sliding.
The openable portion 21 is for example a horizontal plane and/or shutter.
In a second embodiment of the apparatus 1, shown in FIG. 3, the openable portion 21 is arranged proximate to the conveyor belt 11.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the apparatus 1, the portioning device 10 has a belt 13 which comprises a substantially horizontal section 22, above the curved section 16.
The conveyor belt 11 can be arranged as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, in order to provide batches of products 12 in the portioning device 10 with the individual products 12 arranged vertically, or it can present a different configuration, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, in order to provide batches of products 12 in the portioning device 10 with the individual products 12 arranged horizontally, one above the other; in such case it will have a sliding direction arranged substantially at 90° with respect to the transverse profile of the portioning device 10.
Below the openable portion 21 there is, for example, a belt 23 for conveying packages 24.
In this manner, it is possible to package a batch of products 12, arranged on the openable portion 21, by opening such portion 21 and making the batch fall, by gravity, into the packaging 24 arranged below.
In particular, at least one of the rollers 14 is a driving roller and can be actuated both in one direction of rotation and in the opposite direction.
In this manner it is possible to adapt the portioning device 10 of the apparatus 1 to different applications and to the packaging of different types of product 12.
One of the peculiarities of the invention consists in that the apparatus 1 comprises a portioning device 10 and a swiveling conveyor belt 11.
The term “swiveling” in the present description means that the conveyor belt 11 is capable of lifting and/or lowering its end that is proximate to the portioning device 10, as indicated by the arrow 30 in the figures.
The swiveling of the conveyor belt 11 is achieved by way of lifting means that are conventional, which are synchronized with the movement of the portioning device 10 and controlled by software for controlling the entire apparatus 1.
Operation of the apparatus 1 according to an application shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is as follows.
The products 12 are conveyed by the conveyor belt 11 toward the portioning device 10.
When they reach the upper end 19 of the chute 18, they enter a space 25 created between two consecutive partitions 15 of the belt 13, which advances, in steps, with a speed comparable to the speed of the product 12 falling into the space 25 of the belt 13.
As the products 12 enter the space 25 of the belt 13, the latter advances one step, in the direction of the arrow 31.
The products 12, on entering the chute 18, are compacted, arranging themselves beside each other by virtue of gravity, and by virtue of the presence of the partitions 15 batches are formed with a predetermined number of products 12 arranged vertically.
In this manner it is possible to obtain compact batches, without the need for individual pockets for each individual product.
These batches, thus formed, advance toward the openable portion 21.
Once a batch fully occupies the openable portion 21, the latter is opened, allowing the batch to fall into an underlying package 24, which is brought into position by the belt 23 for conveying packages.
If the time to unload the batch is greater than the time for conveying the portioning device 10, it is possible to allow the unloading of the batch while continuing to feed the portioning device 10, in the following manner.
During the stop phase of the belt 13, for unloading the batch through the openable portion 21, the belt 11 is directed vertically, and is lifted one step upward in order to feed the portioning device 10.
Then, the openable portion 21 is closed and the belt 13 moves two steps forward.
At this point the belt 11 is lowered by one step in order to continue feeding the new space 25 of the portioning device 10, returning to the starting configuration, with the belt 13 advancing once again, one step at a time.
In this manner, the apparatus 1 makes it possible to carry out packaging at speeds comparable to those of the apparatuses now on the market, but using a single portioning device.
Operation of the apparatus 1 according to a different application, shown in FIG. 3, is as follows.
The products 12 are conveyed by the conveyor belt 11 toward the portioning device 10, into a space beside the openable portion 21, the space on the right in FIG. 3.
The sliding direction of the conveyor belt 11 is substantially at 90° with respect to the transverse profile of the belt 13, and is proximate to the openable portion 21.
In this case, the swiveling of the conveyor belt 11 is carried out in order to stack the products, one over the other, within a single space 25.
The conveyor belt 11 is lifted one step, if necessary, for each product in the stack, starting from the starting level.
When the stack is complete, the belt 13 advances by one step in the direction of the arrow 32, and the belt 11 is lowered by a number of steps equal to the number performed in order to build the previous stack in the space 25, from the lower level.
Then the operation begins again, in order to fill a new space.
The swiveling is reduced, or not necessary, if the conveyor belt 11 is at a higher level than the level of the openable portion 21.
Once a predefined number of these stacks makes up the predetermined batch, fully occupying the openable portion 21, the latter is opened, allowing the batch to exit.
The batch exiting from the openable portion 21 falls, for example, into an underlying package 24, which is brought into position by the belt 23 for conveying packages.
In every embodiment, the batches made up, which exit from the openable portion 21, can be packaged according to any conventional method.
When it is necessary to vary the size or the shape of the spaces of the portioning device 10, for a new type of product, it is sufficient to loosen the tension on the tensioner of the belt, which is conventional and not shown in the figures, replace the belt 13 with one that has partitions at a suitable distance and of a suitable size, reapply the tension to the tensioner of the belt, and bring it to the starting position.
In this manner, the apparatus according to the invention can be used for grouping products and separating discrete batches of different types of product, from snacks and biscuits to body care and perfumery products.
The apparatus 1, according to the invention, is managed and controlled by software.
In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, that eliminates the need to have two portioning devices for the operations to package the products.
According to the invention, an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, has been devised that eliminates the need to have individual pockets for the formation of batches of products and which reduces the overall number of pockets, for the same number of products conveyed.
In addition, with the invention an apparatus for grouping products and/or separating discrete batches, for packaging, has been provided that can be easily adapted to different types of product.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102019000001979 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. An apparatus for grouping products and separating discrete batches, for packaging, which comprises a portioning device which has:

a belt which can slide between a plurality of movement and transmission rollers, an arrangement of said rollers defining a transverse profile of said belt,

a plurality of partitions which extend from said belt at right angles thereto, outward from said transverse profile,

wherein said portioning device comprises at least one curved section which is curved substantially outward from said transverse profile of said belt, between two of said rollers.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said portioning device comprises a shape, inside of said transverse profile of said belt, at said curved section, said shape extending between said two rollers that are arranged at ends of said curved section.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said shape has a profile shaped like a circular arc.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising, outside said transverse profile of said belt and at said curved section, a chute.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said chute has a same curvature as said shape and as said section, is arranged at a distance from said belt which is comparable to a height of said partitions, and has a width that is comparable to a width of said belt.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said chute has an upper end and a lower end, which is arranged at a portion which can be opened by horizontal sliding.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said portion is a horizontal plane and/or shutter.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said belt comprises a substantially horizontal section above said curved section.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said movement and transmission rollers is a driving roller which can be actuated both in one direction of rotation and in the opposite direction.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a conveyor belt for said products.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said upper end of said chute is arranged proximate to and below said conveyor belt.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said portion which can be opened by horizontal sliding is arranged proximate to said conveyor belt, said conveyor belt having a sliding direction substantially at 90° with respect to said transverse profile of said belt of said portioning device.

26. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said conveyor belt is swiveling.