Patent Grant
11208312
The present invention relates to a packaging method for packaging a pourable product in at least one container, by means of which it is obtained an improvement in the flexibility of the packaging machine configured for carrying out the method with regards to the type of the product which is to be packaged, and to a machine configured for carrying out the method.
In the general field of packaging machines for packaging a pourable product in containers, the machine comprises a conveyor supporting a plurality of containers and comprises a plurality of filling devices each configured for filling the container with the product by means of a filling process. The filling process can be of several types. For example, in the case of a still product, the filling process can be for example a not contact filling process, which can be considered for example a first type of the filling process. According to this first type, the container is not in contact with the filling device during the delivering of the product to the container. For example, in the case of a carbonated product, the filling process can be for example a contact filling process, which can be considered a second type. According to this second type, the container is in contact with the filling device during the delivering of the product to the container. For example, in the case of a hot fill product, the filling process can be for example a hot filling process, which can be considered a third type. According to this third type, the product is delivered to the container in a heated condition, in order to obtain the pasteurization of the container by means of the same product.
In general, the type of filling process depends on the type of product to be packaged.
Usually the filling devices are configured all for filling the respective containers by a filling process which is of the same type for all the filling devices, and the filling devices therefore are configured for the same type of product.
Present description relates to a packaging method for packaging a pourable product in at least one container, by means of which it is obtained an improvement in the flexibility of the packaging machine used for carrying out the method, with regards to the type of the product which is to be packaged.
A packaging method according to present description or according to any of the appended method claims obtains that objective of improving the flexibility of the machine.
Present description relates also to a packaging machine which is configured for carrying out the method according to present description.
A packaging machine according to any of the appended machine claims is configured to carry out a method according to any of the appended method claims.
The features of a method and a machine according to the present description will be clarified by the following not limiting description of respective exemplary respective embodiments of said method and machine according to the present description.
The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description are referred to a possible exemplary embodiment of a packaging method according to present description. In the following, with the term “method” it is intended said exemplary embodiment of the method.
The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description are referred to a possible exemplary embodiment of a packaging machine according to present description. In the following, with the term “machine” it is intended said exemplary embodiment of the machine.
The machine is configured for carrying out the method. The method is specially adapted to be carried out by the machine.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent on reading the following description of various embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The machine is indicated in
The pourable product can for example a food pourable product. The food pourable product can be for example a carbonated product, or a not carbonated product, which can be called a still product, or a hot fill product, which requires to be delivered to the at least one container B while it is in a hot condition.
The food pourable product can be water or any other kind of beverage.
The container B can be a receptacle of any kind, for example a bottle.
The machine comprises a first filling station 3. The first filling station 3 is configured for filling the at least one container B by means of a filling process of a first type.
The first filling station 3 comprises at least a filling device 31 configured for delivering the product to the at least one container B according to the first type of filling process.
The first type of filling process can be for example a not contact filling process (also called contactless filling process), according to which the at least one container B is not in contact with the at least one filling device 31 during the delivering of the product to the at least one container B. A not contact filling process can be employed for example in the case the product is a not carbonated or still product.
The first type of filling process can be for example a hot filling process, according to which the product is in a hot condition while being delivered to the at least one container B. This for example can be for pasteurizing the at least one container B by means of the same product.
The first type of filling process can be for example a contact filling process, according to which the at least one container B is in contact with the at least one filling device 31 during the delivering of the product to the at least one container B. A contact filling process can be employed for example in the case the product is a carbonated product.
The first filling station 3 is positioned at a first angular position around an axis X. The axis X is defined by the machine 1. The axis is indicated only in
The machine comprises a second filling station 4. The second filling station 4 is configured for filling the at least one container B by means of a filling process of a second type. The second type can be for example a contact filling process. Anyway, the second type is different from the first type.
It is to be noted that the general category of not contact filling process and the general category of hot filling process can be not completely separated.
It is to be noted that the general category of contact filling process and the general category of hot filling process can be not completely separated.
The first type and the second type can both belong to the general category of contact filling process. In this case, the first type and the second type differ for at least a feature or parameter of the filling process.
It can be for example that the first type is a contact hot filling process and the second type is a contact filling process which is not also a hot filling process.
It can be for example that the first type is a not contact filling process and the second type is a contact filling process.
In general, the first type of filling process differs from the second type of filling process for said at least one feature or parameter of the filling process.
In general, the type of filling process depends on the type of product which is to be packaged.
The second filling station 4 is positioned at a second angular position around said axis X. The second angular position is different from the first angular position.
The machine 1 comprises a control unit 5. The control unit 5 is in communication with the filling stations 3 and 4. The control unit 5 is configured to carry out a preliminary selection phase. During the preliminary selection phase, one of the filling stations 3 and 4 is automatically selected as a function of an input I from a user. In general, the input I depends on the type of filling process, and therefore on the type of product which is to be packaged. The control unit 5 is schematically showed only in
The first and second angular positions can be seen in
In the following it is considered as an example that the second filling station 4 is the selected station.
The at least one filling device 31 of the first station 3 can comprise for example a respective first filling device 31a and a respective second filling device 31b. The at least one filling device 41 of the second station 4 can comprise for example a respective first filling device 41a and a respective second filling device 41b.
In this case the at least one container B is to be considered as comprising a first container B1 and a second container B2. Each of the first container B1 and the second container B2 can be a receptacle of any kind, for example a bottle.
Each of the respective first filling device 31a and the respective second filling device 31b of the first station 3, is configured for delivering the product to the first container B1 and the second container B2, respectively, according to the first type of filling process.
Each of the respective first filling device 41a and the respective second filling device 41b of the second station 4, is configured for delivering the product to the first container B1 and the second container B2, respectively, according to the second type of filling process.
The machine 1 comprises an upper frame 7. The upper frame 7 is indicated in Figures from 1 to 6.
The machine 1 comprises a lower frame 8. The lower frame 8 is indicated in
The first station 3 is fixed in said first angular position by means of the upper frame 7.
The second station 4 is fixed in the second angular position by means of the upper frame 7.
The machine 1 comprises a conveyor 2. The conveyor is indicated in
The upper frame 7 is located, with respect to said axis X, at a higher height with respect to said conveyor 2.
The lower frame 8 is located, with respect to said axis X, at a lower height with respect to said conveyor 2.
The conveyor 2 is configured to carry out a transporting phase. During the transporting phase, by means at least of a stepwise rotational movement of the conveyor 2 around the axis X and with respect to the stations 3 and 4, the at least one container B is subsequently positioned in each of the stations 3 and 4.
The machine 1 is configured to carry out, as a function of said selection phase and during said transporting phase, a filling phase. During the filling phase, the at least one container B is filled with a pourable product. The filling phase is carried out by means of the selected station 4. The filling phase is carried out while the at least one container B is positioned in the selected station 4.
In this way, the flexibility of the machine 1, with regards to the type of product to be delivered to the at last one container B, is improved thanks to the possibility of switching very quickly between the first type of filling process and the second type of filling process, by changing the input I of the control unit 5.
Moreover, the fact that each of the filling stations 3 and 4 comprises more than one filling device increases the productivity of the machine 1.
The upper frame 7, which defines the first angular position of the first station 3 and the second angular position of the second station 4, allows for the first station 3 and the second station 4 to be in a correct position for carrying out the filling phase, without interfering with the movement of the conveyor 2. In this way the compactness of the machine 1 is improved. In this way the mechanical complexity of the machine 1 is also improved, because the machine 1 does not need complicated systems for allowing the stations 3 and 4 to adapt to the movement of the conveyor 2 in order to carry out the filling phase.
The machine 1 is configured so that the filling phase comprises a delivery phase, during which the product is delivered to the at least one container B by means of the at least one filling device 41 of the selected station 4.
More in particular, during the delivery phase, the product is delivered to the first container B1 by means of the respective first filling device 41a of the selected station 4, and the product is delivered to the second container B2 by means of the respective second filling device 41b of the selected station 4.
The delivery of the product to the first container B1 and the delivery of the product to the second container B2 are preferably carried out simultaneously, or at least partially simultaneously.
The machine 1 comprises a lifting device 6. The lifting device is indicated in
The machine 1 is configured so that the filling phase comprises, before the delivery phase, a lifting phase. During the lifting phase, the at least one container B, by means of the lifting device 6, is lifted until it is in contact with the at least one filling device 41 of the selected station 4.
However, the lifting of the first container B1 and the lifting of the second container B2 are carried out preferably simultaneously, or at least partially simultaneously.
The lifting device 6 is fixed in said second angular position by means of the lower frame 8. This allows for the lifting device 6 to be able to lift the a at least one container B without interfering with the movement of the conveyor 2, leading to a simplification of the mechanical complexity of the machine 1, because the machine 1 does not need complicated systems for avoiding interference between lifting device 6 and conveyor 2 and simultaneously allowing the lifting device 6 to carry out the lifting phase.
The conveyor 2 comprises a star 21. The star 21 is indicated in
The retaining unit 22 is configured for carrying out a retaining phase. During the retaining phase, the at least one container B is retained by the retaining unit 22 at a radial periphery of the star 2.
The machine 1 is configured so that the transporting phase and filling phase are carried out during said retaining phase. Therefore, the positioning of the at least one container B in the first station 3 corresponds to the positioning of the retaining unit 22 in the first station 3 and the positioning of the at least one container B in the second station 4 corresponds to the positioning of the at least one container B in the second station 4.
The lifting device 6 comprises at least one lifting element 61. The lifting device 6 is configured so that the lifting phase is carried out by a motion of the retaining unit 22 with respect to the star 21. This motion comprises at least a translational component along a direction parallel to said axis X. The lifting device 6 is configured so that the motion of the retaining unit 22 is generated by the at least one lifting element 61.
In particular, the at least one lifting element 61 comprises a first lifting element 61a and a second lifting element 61b. The first lifting element 61a contributes to generate the motion of the retaining unit 22 on the side of the first container B1. The second lifting element 61b contributes to generate the motion of the retaining unit 22 on the side of the second container B2.
The first lifting element 61a and the second lifting element 61b are indicated in
The lifting device 6 is configured so that said motion is generated by means of a lifting action exerted by the at least one lifting element 61 on the retaining unit 22.
The retaining unit 22 and the at least one lifting element 61 comprise a at least one protuberance 611 and at least one groove 221. The at least one protuberance 611 is integral with the at least one lifting element 61a and the at least one groove 221 is integral with the retaining unit 22, or vice versa.
The lifting action is caused by an inserted position of the at least one protuberance 611 in the at least one groove 221.
The machine 1 is configured so that the positioning of the retaining unit 22 in the second station 4 corresponds to said inserted position of the at least one protuberance 611 in the at least one groove 221.
In this way the lifting device 61 can be used to lift the at least one container B in the case the second filling station 4 is the selected station 4, while allowing the retaining unit 2 to be positioned in the second station 4 without interfering with the lifting device 6 also in the case the second station 4 was not the selected station. Therefore, the switch between the first type of filling process to the second type of filling process can be very simple, because it does not require any complicated mechanical intervention on the machine 1.
In particular, the at least one protuberance 611 comprises a first protuberance 611a and a second protuberance 611b.
The first protuberance 611a and the second protuberance 611b are indicated in
In particular, the at least one groove 221 comprises a first groove 221a and a second groove 221b.
The first groove 221a and the second groove 221b are indicated in
The first protuberance 611a is integral with the first lifting element 61a and the first groove 221a is integral with the retaining unit 22, or vice versa.
The second protuberance 611b is integral with the second lifting element 61b and the second groove 221b is integral with the retaining unit 22, or vice versa.
The lifting action is caused by an inserted position of the first protuberance 611a in the first groove 221a and of the second protuberance 611b in the second groove 221b.
The machine 1 is configured so that the positioning of the retaining unit 22 in the second station 4 corresponds to the inserted position of the first protuberance 611a in the first groove 221a and to the inserted position of the second protuberance 611b in the second groove 221b.
The machine 1 comprises a capping station 9. The capping station 9 is indicated in
The capping station 9 is configured for carrying out a capping phase. The capping phase is carried out after the filling phase. During the capping phase, the at least one container B is capped by at least one closure C. The capping station 9 is positioned at a third angular position around said axis X. The third angular position is different from the first angular position and from the second angular position.
The conveyor 2 is configured so that the at least one container B is positioned, by means of said stepwise movement and after the filling phase, in the capping station 9.
The at least one closure C comprises a first closure C1 for capping the first container B1 and a second closure C2 for capping the second container B2.
The capping station 9 comprises a fork shaped transfer element 91. The transfer element 91 comprises a first arm 911a and a second arm 911b.
The capping station comprises a picking up substation 92. The capping station 9 is being configured so that the capping phase comprises a picking up phase. The picking up phase is carried out in the picking up substation 92. During the picking up phase, the transfer element 91 picks up at least the first closure C1 and the second closure C2 by means of the first arm 911 and the second arm 911b, respectively.
The picking up substation 92 comprises a distributor 921 configured for distributing at least the first closure C1 and the second closure C2.
During the picking up phase, the transfer element 91 detaches from the distributor 921 at least the first closure C1 and the second closure C2, by means of the first arm 911 and the second arm 911b, respectively.
The capping station 9 comprises an applying substation 93. The capping station 9 is configured so that the capping phase comprises an applying phase. The applying phase is carried out in the applying substation 93. The applying substation comprises a first capping head 931a and a second capping head 931b. During the applying phase, the first closure C1 is applied on the first container B1 by means of the first capping head 931a. During the applying phase, the second closure C2 is applied on the second container B2 by means of the second capping head 931b.
The capping station 9 is configured so that the capping phase comprises a transfer phase. During the transfer phase, the transfer element 91, by means of a displacement of the transfer element 91, transfers at least the first closure C1 and the second closure C2 from the picking up substation 92 to the applying substation 93. The fork shaped element 91 allows for picking up the first closure C1 and the second closure C2 in such a way to allow the capping of the first container B1 and of the second container B2 to be carried out simultaneously or at least partially simultaneously. In this way it is improved the productivity of the machine 1 provided also with the capping station 9.
The capping station 9 is configured so that the transfer element 91 picks up at least said second closure C2 and first closure C1, one after the other. In
The capping station 9 is configured so that the transfer element 9 picks up the first closure C1 while the transfer element 91 is being subjected to the displacement from the picking up substation 92 and the applying substation 93. The situation of
In this way the distributor can distribute one closure at a time. Therefore, the mechanical complexity of the capping station 9 and then of the machine 1 is reduced.
The transfer element 91 can be for example Y-shaped. This allows for the displacement of the transfer element to be a rotation, in order to save space.
The machine can comprise a further capping station 9′. This can improve the productivity of the machine. This option is showed in
The further capping station 9′ can have one or more of the features of the capping station 9, or all the features of the capping station 9.
The machine 1 can be configured so that the rotation of the transfer element of the capping station 9 and the rotation of the transfer element of the further capping station 9′ are opposed to each other. In this way it is obtained a reduction of the space required by the machine 1 to define the path from the input, where the machine 1 receives the at least one container B, to the output, where the machine release the at least one container B.
The method comprises the phases described above.
Clearly, changes may be made to the machine 1 and method, without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims.
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| 20172828 | May 2020 | EP | regional |
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