Patent Application
20080022631
The technical features of the invention, with reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:
With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular
In particular, these groups 1 of products each consist of a plurality of products, grouped together to form a configuration, and wrapped and closed in a sheet of wrapping film.
The machine 2 has a series of operating stations, along a feed line A, partly not described in detail, being of the known type and not strictly part of the invention.
The known stations are a unit for feeding the roll products to a unit for dividing the roll products into groups 1 (in different configurations depending on the machine settings) and a unit for wrapping and closing the groups 1 of products with the wrapping sheet.
In addition to these stations, the following are also present:
a station 3 for grouping a plurality of groups 1 fed by suitable belts 3a connecting to the wrapping unit;
a first surface 4 for receiving the plurality of groups 1 of products arriving from the station 3 to form a batch L of loose products;
a first, programmable microprocessor logic unit 5, for checking and controlling the grouping station 3 and the first surface 4 (schematically illustrated with a block in the accompanying drawings);
a palletizing island 6 for the groups 1 of products fed from the first surface 4 and comprising a second microprocessor logic unit 7 for controlling and programming at least two robotic units 8 and 9 used to handle the groups 1 of products, so as to obtain, respectively, individual layers S of two or more groups 1 of products, and the relative positioning of the layers S on pallets 10.
More specifically, the grouping station 3 may, usually and by way of example only, be a known unit for straightening groups 1 of products arriving from the stations which produce said groups on the belts 3a (these two units are schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings).
The station 3 unloads a batch L of groups 1 of products whose dimensions (width and length) are obtained according to the number of them and the type of configuration of the groups 1.
The first surface 4 receives the batches L unloaded from the grouping station 3 and allows them to be fed, by belts 4a, towards the palletizing island 6.
As illustrated in
In this specific case, the batch L is fed in a compact state towards said unit 50, then, after being overwrapped, the bag formed in this way reaches the palletizing island 6 for the above-mentioned layering and palletizing operations.
In contrast, if the batch L of groups 1 of loose products must be layered and palletized without an overwrap, the bagging unit 50 is switched off and the groups 1 of loose products pass beyond the unit 50 and are fed to the palletizing island 6.
This palletizing island 6, also of the known type, may comprise, in a basic configuration (as already indicated) a first belt 6n on which the bags or groups 1 of products arrive (downstream of the unit 50 and along the feed line A) at the first robotic unit 8. The first belt 6n is, in practice, an extension of the first surface 4.
The first robotic unit 8 is of the known type with Cartesian axes movement, designed to allow the pick up, in sequence and according to a predetermined pick up program, of the groups 1, with a main movement perpendicular PR to the line A (and with relative axial and angular movements of the known type) and their positioning on a second belt 6a, located next to and parallel with the first belt 6n, so as to form a layer S of groups 1 of products to be palletized.
When the layer S is complete, the belt 6a transports the layer S of groups 1 of products to the operating zone of the second robotic pick up unit 9, allowing the latter to pick up (usually on four sides) the already complete layer S of groups 1 to be positioned directly on the pallet 10, again with sequential operation controlled by the second control logic unit 7.
In addition to the above, the machine 2 comprises:
means 11 for forming sub-batches SL starting with the batch L of groups 1 of products, when required, these means being positioned between the grouping station 3 and the first surface 4, and connected to the first microprocessor logic unit 5;
an interface unit 12, inserted between the first microprocessor logic unit 5 and the second microprocessor logic unit 7, and designed to allow a direct connection between the second logic unit 7 and the first logic unit 5, so as to program at least the means 11 for forming sub-batches SL directly from the second logic unit 7 according to the parameters for making up the layers S in the palletizing island 6.
In other words, the machine 2 is equipped with these means 11 for forming sub-batches SL which can be activated, preferably but without limiting the scope of the invention, in the presence of a pallet 10 formation with groups 1 of loose products and, in particular, which can be controlled, as regards the configurations and relative feeding of groups 1 to the first robotic unit 8, by the second logic unit 7 according to the layering parameters defined.
More precisely, the second logic unit 7 initially defines how the groups 1 shall be arranged (in the case of loose product) in each layer S according to product data (size of an individual group 1) and the size of the pallet 10, then programs the pick up of the groups by the first robotic unit 8, optimizing its outward and return movements.
Obviously, if the arrival of the groups 1 on the first belt 6n is defined simply by the batch L being fed out of the station 3, the times for pick up, movement/rotation of the groups 1 would also not coincide with the real pick up requirements programmed to be fulfilled by the first robotic unit 8.
In contrast, if the group 1 feed configuration could be programmed from the moment of outfeed from the station 3 according to layering step requirements, then layering would be extremely rapid.
Looking in more detail at the technical aspects, the forming means 11 may comprise (see
These parts 13, for example, may comprise at least two groups of vertical rods 13a and 13b, projecting from the first surface 4 and able to move along the first surface 4 according to two horizontal axes X and Y perpendicular to one another (see arrows FX and FY), so as to separate and/or separately feed various groups 1 of products forming the sub-batches SL.
The interface unit may comprise an electronic unit 12 for data transmission and entry connected to the two microprocessor logic units 5 and 7 and designed to receive and send data D for programming the parameters P for making up the sub-batches SL on the first surface 4 according to the layering program generated by the second logic unit 7 and controlled by the latter.
In particular, the electronic unit 12 for data transmission and entry may comprise a single, unique transmission channel C1 from the second logic unit 7 to the first logic unit 5, allowing, at least as regards the parameters P for making up the sub-batches SL, the presence of a single master logic unit for the first grouping station 3, the first surface 4 and the palletizing island 6, consisting of the second logic unit 7.
Obviously, the electronic unit 12 for data transmission and entry may comprise a double transmission channel C1 and C2, for sending and receiving data, between the first and second logic units 5 and 7, so as to keep both logic units up to date regarding the operating parameters.
One possible embodiment could be that in which the electronic unit 12 is included in the first logic unit 5 and when required the forming means 11 can be directly controlled through it by the second logic unit 7.
Operations might also be speeded up by equipping the electronic unit 12 with memory banks 12m for saving corresponding predetermined operating parameters P1, P2, Pn, sent by the second logic unit 7, for the formation of sub-batches SL by the forming means 11. These could be activated, when needed, by the second unit 7.
Basically, the second logic unit 7 can control (see
Therefore, a machine structured in this way achieves the preset aims thanks to the presence of means for forming sub-batches of groups of products upstream of the palletizing island and directly controlled by the second logic unit 7: this allows the step of layering the groups of products to be optimized and speeded up, effectively increasing the production capacity of the entire machine.
The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| BO2006A000559 | Jul 2006 | IT | national |
