The present invention is destined to be used preferably in a packaging machine wherein packaging boxes are employed of the type having a containment body comprising a first and a second semi-shells which define, coupled together, a housing chamber for the food product and wherein the two semi-shells, or parts defining the box, are separated and then re-associated to each other after the product to be packaged has been positioned in the semi-cavity defined by one of said semi-shells. Said food product to be packaged being, in a preferred manner, constituted by individually wrapped wedges of molten cheese.

To perform the aforesaid separating operation, the packaging machine presents a first operative station wherein two opposite gripping organs are provided, each able to grip a respective shell of the box which, moving in opposite direction, separate and remove said semi-shells from the box, which are then transferred to respective other working devices of the machine. To obtain said separation of the semi-shells from the boxes it is necessary to provide to said separating device the boxes arranged with their longitudinal axis oriented horizontally in accordance with the direction of work of said separating device.

Background Art Currently, in known packaging machines, the boxes are fed to said first working station of the machine by means of a short slide, which realises a modest store of boxes to be fed to the machine, and which extends inclined above the working station and presents a circular guide shape within which the boxes slide,

stacked one on top of the other in a single advancing column, engaging the guide with the respective external peripheral profile.

The boxes are fed manually within this short feeding slide by at least an operator specifically positioned for this purpose, who takes, from an appropriate containment crate, one by one the cardboard boxes, pre-positioned therein, and inserts them, holding the individual stack with both hands, into said circular feeding slide from the top end of the slide itself. Such a manual way of proceeding to feed the boxes to the machine, in addition to being excessively tiresome for the personnel assigned, is excessively expensive from the economic standpoint as it requires an excessive quantity of personnel working hours.

Moreover, to allow the operator to reach the top end of the short circular guide to insert the boxes, raised or elevated structures are provided, which are bulky and on which the operator must climb holding the individual stack of boxes in hand with the risk of falling and with considerable fatigue and inconvenience for the operator him/herself.

In traditional feeding apparatuses said short circular slide, which realises in a single element simultaneously means for receiving and feeding said boxes, provides a store of boxes to be worked which is limited to a reduced number of boxes and thus constitutes a limitation to the operating speed of the packaging machine.

Moreover, according to the prior art, providing this feeding slide sequentially to the exit of the boxes oriented inclined with respect to the vertical, it becomes necessary for the machine to make use of a special positioning organ having a bearing portion for a box, which is positioned in front of the exits of said inclined circular feeding slide to receive the lower face of the box and accompanies, by rotating towards the subdividing area, the box received from the slide placing it, oriented vertically, in the grip position between the two jaws of said first station of the packaging machine.

The use of such a specially provided organ for positioning the boxes in the working area has to a certain extent an impact on the cost and level of complication of said working station of the packaging machine.

Disclosure of Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding boxes according to claim 1 and especially an apparatus for feeding boxes for packaging items, in particular food products, employable in association with a packaging machine; wherein said machine presents a first operative station defining a working area of said boxes; the apparatus comprising means for receiving and feeding the boxes to said working area of the packaging machine; characterised in that said means for receiving said boxes are able to house a plurality of box stacks in such a way that said box stacks are ordered according to a plurality of longitudinal and transverse rows of stacks of boxes.

With the present invention therefore a store of boxes of considerable size is set to be fed to the packaging machine, which allows the machine to operate at higher speeds and consequent greater production yields.

Moreover the loading operation can be performed by assigned personnel in a much faster manner since it is no longer necessary, as was the case in the prior art, to take the boxes from the crate to position them into the feeding slide.

According to the present invention, personnel can advantageously upset the content of an entire crate of said boxes onto said receiving means in a single operation, performing a loading procedure that is much faster than that of the prior art. With the present invention it is therefore possible to use a smaller number of personnel assigned to loading the packaging machine, reducing the related costs.

The secondary claims relate to particular and advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

Further features and advantages of the invention shall be made more readily

apparent from the detailed description that follows, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent embodiments provided purely by way of non limiting example.

Description of the Drawings -Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the box processed by the apparatus of the present invention; -Figure 2 shows a schematic elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of the invention and of the operative station of the packaging machine whereto the apparatus is associated; -Figure 3 shows a top view of the apparatus of the first preferred embodiment; -Figure 4 shows a side view, of the rear part relating to the means for receiving the boxes, of the first preferred embodiment of the invention; -Figure 5 shows a cross section view taken according to line V-V of Figure 4, depicting in particular the rear part relating to the box receiving means of the first preferred embodiment of the invention; -Figure 6 shows a schematic top view relating to a second preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of the present invention.

Description of the Illustrative Embodiments A type of box used in the present embodiment of packaging machine is show in Figure 1. The box, indicated in its entirety with the numerical reference 14, comprises a first and a second semi-shells 14a, 14b defining an inner chamber (not shown) for housing the food products, especially in the form of individually wrapped wedges of molten cheese. As shown in said Figure 1, the individual box 14 presents a respective longitudinal axis of orientation A, plane transverse faces 14c, 14d, and, between these transverse faces, a lateral wall or peripheral border

14e.

A first preferred embodiment 10 of the apparatus for feeding packaging boxes according to the present invention is shown in Figures 2 through 5.

As shown schematically in Figure 2, the packaging machine that uses the feeding apparatus of the present invention receives said boxes in a first operative station, indicated in Figure 2 with the numerical reference 9, and in particular in a working area 8, wherein said boxes are to be positioned with their longitudinal axis A oriented according to a predetermined direction (in particular oriented according to a horizontal direction) and wherein a pair of opposite gripping organs 7a, 7b proceed to grip a respective semi-shell 14a, 14b of the box and, moving away from each other, separate said semi-shells and, with subsequent rotation, position them on different operating lines of the machine, in view of filling one of said semi-shells with the items to be packaged and of the subsequent re-closure of the box by association of the other semi-shell with the shell containing the item.

In the aforementioned figures said packaging machine, with the exception of the aforesaid schematic representation of the working station 9, is not expressly shown. In any case, it is a machine for packaging wedges of molten cheese, in flattened cylindrical boxes, of a type wholly known to the person versed in the area and whose description would be quite superfluous and would excessively burden the present description.

Advantageously, the present apparatus for feeding the boxes comprises means 12 for receiving the boxes 14 able to house a plurality of box stacks 16 such that said box stacks 16 are ordered according to a plurality of longitudinal rows L and transverse rows T of box stacks (as indicated in Figure 3).

As Figures 4 and 5 particularly show, said receiving means comprise a lateral containment body 18 defining a compartment 20 for housing said box stacks 16 arranged according to said longitudinal rows L and transverse rows T.

The containment body 18 presents a substantially prismatic shape and

comprises a head wall 22, a rear wall 24 and opposite lateral longitudinal walls 26, 28.

The containment body 18 is superiorly open to allow placing the boxes into said inner compartment 20 by the assigned operator, who can advantageously upset the crate containing the boxes above said containment body, letting the stacks 16 of boxes 14 slide along the lateral walls of the container body 18, which thus realise peripheral guiding means for ordering box stacks 16 preformed in the box containment crate.

Inferiorly, the box stacks 16 bear on and are directly supported on continuous belts or ribbons 34 which are suitable for the longitudinal transport of the boxes 14 towards the packaging machine. In particular, a respective belt or ribbon 34 is provided for supporting a corresponding single longitudinal row L of box stacks 16.

According to the present embodiment of the invention, to feed the boxes 14 from the receiving means 12-wherein the boxes are housed on multiple stacks 16 set side by side-towards the utilisation station 9, suitable means are provided, able to arrange said boxes 14 in a mutually aligned condition in view of their use in succession one after the other in the packaging machine.

Advantageously, according to the present preferred invention, the aligned arrangement of said boxes 14 is obtained starting from a first phase wherein suitable means act to advance said boxes 14 (arranged in stacks 16 in said receiving area) according to parallel rows of boxes 14 mutually aligned. Said rows of parallel advance being indicated with dashed and dotted lines indicated with references"1" in Figure 3.

The present realisation thus provides for a plurality of longitudinal box conveying lanes 33, realised by the aforementioned belts or ribbons 34 for the longitudinal transport of said boxes, and means for the advance of said boxes along respective lanes 33.

In particular, the boxes 14 are advanced, starting from said receiving section 12, by pulling only the lower boxes of the box stacks in contact with the respective said transport belts 34. For this purpose, as Figures 4 and 5 show, in order to allow the advance of only the lower layer of boxes 14 of said box stacks 16, the front or head wall 22 of the box reception container 18 presents an opening 30 of substantially rectangular shape which extends transversely for the entire width of the wall 22 and which presents an upper edge 32 positioned in height in such a way as to allow the passage only of the lower boxes 14 of said box stacks. Even if not shown expressively in the figures, it is possible to provide for means suitable to adjust the height of the position of said edge 32 to allow always, also in case boxes of different type and height are used, the passing of only the inferior layer of said stacks of boxes 16.

As shown, said continuous conveyor belts or ribbons 34 are borne by common driving and transmission rollers, respectively indicated with the numerical references 38,40 in the figures. Such rollers 38,40 make said continuous conveyor belts or ribbons 34 rotate simultaneously, causing the climbing advance of the boxes 14 (as highlighted by the arrows of Figures 2 and 4), thanks also to the aid of a plurality of organs for gripping or engaging the boxes, provided in coincidence with each conveying lane 33. Each of said gripping or engaging means being, as shown, in the form of a portion 36 projecting perpendicularly from the respective belt 34 whereto it is firmly fastened in any suitable manner.

As is readily apparent in particular from Figure 2, the plurality of pulling organs 36 of each lane 33 is arranged in such a way that each pulling organ 36 is longitudinally distanced from the adjacent one in such a way that it is possible to insert therebetween at least an entire row or group of said boxes 14. Said rows or groups of boxes being indicated with reference G in Figures 2 and 3.

As is readily apparent from Figure 4, advancing, each of the projecting portions 36 of each conveyor belt 34 passes through an appropriate opening 24'in

the rear wall 24 of the container body 18, and goes to engage the lower box 14'of the rear stack 16'of the corresponding row of box stacks, thereby placing the entire lower layer of the boxes 14 which bear on the corresponding belt 34 in a condition where it can be pulled.

The rotation of the advancing belts 34 therefore generates the upward pulling, by said engagement organs 36, of the lower boxes 14 of the box stacks which, in the first advancing phase, are made to pass through said opening 30 in the front wall 22 of the box container 18 exiting from said means 18 for housing or receiving the boxes.

In particular, it can be observed that, following the advance of the lower boxes of the box stacks, the fall is progressively caused of the stacks themselves, whose lower box has been removed, on the respective conveyor belt 34, with the new lower boxes of each stack bearing down in contact with the ribbon. The new lower boxes 14 of the stacks 16 that go to bear down on the respective ribbon 34, are then in turn removed from their position and advanced by means of a successive engagement organ 36, which engages the new lower box 14'of the rear box stack 16'.

As shown, in the present embodiment, the conveying lanes 33 of the boxes 14 are completed by rectilinear bars 39, provided in correspondence with the sides of the longitudinal conveyor belts 34, to guide, with lateral sliding contact, the advance of the boxes 14 on said conveyor belts 34.

One could imagine, for the present embodiment, providing on the box containment body 18 of the receiving section, a box presence sensor, for instance able to sense the presence in the containment compartment 20 of only the two lower layers of boxes, thereby commanding, in the event such a minimum loading level, the emission of an alarm signal to alert assigned personnel, who will then be able advantageously to proceed with filling the box receiving means 12 anew. Obviously other configurations, different from the preferred embodiment shown herein, are

imaginable for said receiving means.

In the present embodiment, the receiving means 12 which are situated at the level of the plane whereon the machine bears and said lanes extend in height to a superior level to the one of the working area 8 of the machine. Said receiving means 12 can nonetheless be positioned at any desired level, different from the plane whereon the machine lies. In particular, in case of an industrial facility having a certain number of packaging machines positioned on different floors of the building, one could imagine realising a common floor for loading the boxes to the machines at whose level the box receiving means 12, suitable for servicing said packaging machines of the facility, are provided. The operations of loading boxes to the box receiving means could thus be centralised in an area of the facility and be performed easily and rapidly by a reduced number of operators.

As stated above, in the present embodiment, the rotation of the box support belts 34 takes place simultaneously making the groups G of boxes 14, situated on the different conveyor belts 34, advance at the same time.

Advancing along parallel lanes 33, said boxes 14 are presented at the outlet of the lanes or belts 34 and transferred, to realise said aligned arrangement of the boxes 14, to a conveying device positioned transversely to said longitudinal parallel lanes 33 and in the form of a continuous conveyor belt 42 suitable for transporting a single aligned row of said boxes.

As shown especially in Figure 3, the rotation of this conveyor belt 42, which rolls on extreme rollers, exemplified by respective axes 39 and 41, makes said boxes 14 advance in an aligned and rectilinear manner, thanks also to assistance from guides 43,45, developing parallel to the conveyor belt 42 and acting laterally to the boxes 14 borne by the belt 42.

Preferably, to obtain a transfer of said boxes 14 to the transverse belt 42 without creating superpositions or collisions between the boxes fed parallel along the lanes 34, the pulling bodies 36 corresponding therebetween, i. e. the pulling

bodies 36 that advance rows or groups G of boxes substantially parallel to each other and which realise a sort of common advance front, are longitudinally offset from each other, so that the boxes 14 made to advance by different ribbons 34 are transferred to the transverse ribbon 42 in sequence, correctly aligned according to its transverse direction of conveyance, without causing any impacts between boxes and ejections thereof from the transverse belt 42. It has been observed that a preferred and advantageous longitudinal distance between the engagement and pulling organs 36, relating to groups G of boxes 14 advancing mutually parallel, is equal to half the diameter of said boxes.

To feed the boxes 14 to the working area 8 of the operative station 9 of the packaging machine, downstream of said transverse conveyor belt 42, guiding and sliding means are provided for said boxes in the form of a rectilinear slide 44 positioned vertically above said working are of the first station, which lets said boxes 14 drop directly into said working area 8 of the machine and with the respective longitudinal axis A of the boxes which is oriented horizontally. It can thus be noted that the present conveying apparatus allows to arrange, starting from said box stacks 16, said boxes 14 aligned in individual rows with mutually parallel axes of orientation A of the boxes.

Although this vertical rectilinear slide 44 constitutes a preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the vertical fall of the boxes 14 enables to avoid nearly any and all obstruction to said slide by the boxes 14 themselves, one could also imagine using a slide having a different path, not necessarily vertical, and which in any case ends in an extremity whereat the boxes are transferred which is situated in correspondence with said working area 8 of the first operative station 9.

The present embodiment of packaging machine is provided with two box working stations. Therefore, a corresponding number is provided of guiding means 44 for each working station of said machine, as well as means suited to distribute said boxes to said guiding means 44 acting in such a way as to position sequentially

said boxes in the respective guiding channel 44.

According to this first preferred embodiment said means for positioning sequentially said boxes on the respective guiding slide 44 are constituted by respective ejectors 46 which transfer the boxes 14 from the transverse conveyor 42, by means of an inclined junction slide 48, to said vertical guiding slides 44. As shown in Figure 2, said ejectors 46 are in particular borne by a respective pneumatic actuating cylinder 47.

In the vertical guiding slides 44 the boxes 14 are positioned in close relation to each other and provide mutual support by engaging between the respective circumferential edges 14e.

In Figure 2, the numerical reference 50 also indicates an organ for arresting the fall of said boxes in correspondence with the working position in the station 9 of the packaging machine. The numerical reference 52 instead indicates a further organ for arresting the boxes, situated upstream of the previous arrest 50, and which is movable between an advanced position wherein it prevents the passage of the boxes 14 to a rear position wherein it allows such passage. The first advanced working position of the arresting means 52 is implemented when a box 14 is still present in the working area 8 of the packaging machine, whilst the second retracted working position of the means 52 is assumed when the previous box has already been removed from the working area 8, by said withdrawing organs 7a and 7b, in such a way as to allow the passage of a new box to be filled, which falls vertically and comes to rest against the subsequent positioning stop 50.

The number 54 in Figure 3 further indicates an ejector bome by a respective pneumatic cylinder, which is actuated to eject any defective boxes from the conveyor 42.

The number 58 in Figure 3 indicates a box presence sensor, of any suitable type, able to measure a minimum level of presence of boxes on the conveyor 42 to inhibit the operation of the ejector organs 46 and 47, whilst the number 60 in

Figure 3 indicates a further box presence sensor, of any suitable type, able to measure a maximum level of presence of boxes on the conveyor 42 to command the arrest of the rotation of said parallel longitudinal conveying belts or ribbons 34.

In Figure 2, the number 62 indicates a box presence sensor, of any suitable type, able to measure a minimum level of presence of boxes in the guiding channel 44 to command the in phase stop of the entire product packaging line, i. e. the machine for dosing the cheese portions to be packaged upstream of the present boxing machine whereto the present packaging apparatus is associated, whereas the number 64 in Figure 2 indicates a further box presence sensor, of any suitable type, able to measure a maximum level of presence of boxes in the guiding channel 44 to inhibit the operation of the respective ejector 46.

Figure 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, in which second preferred embodiment the machines or work stations serviced by the present apparatus are in a number equal to the parallel longitudinal rows of the boxes 14. The box feeding apparatus of this second embodiment comprises a receiving station 12 that is wholly similar to the receiving means 12 of the first embodiment and which are not re-described herein.

In this second embodiment the means able, starting from the arrangement of box stacks ordered in longitudinal rows and transverse lines, to provide for the arrangement of aligned boxes comprise a first conveyor 350 having a plurality of continuous parallel belts or ribbons 340 able to transport between intermediate guides 390 respective rows of boxes 14 thanks to organs for engaging and pulling the boxes 360. This first conveyor and the related components being wholly similar to the analogous conveyor of the first embodiment are not re-described in detail.

Downstream of the longitudinal conveyor with multiple belts 350 a second conveyor 370 is provided, in the form of a single conveying belt, which extends longitudinally to the first presenting a number of conveying lanes 361 equal to those of the first conveyor 350. Transversely to the second conveyor extend further

transverse conveyor belts 421 which carry respective rows of aligned and mutually distanced boxes 14 towards respective vertical slides for guiding and sliding (not shown in Figure 6) and thence to the working station of the machine (also not shown) and which are in any case wholly similar to those of the first preferred embodiment and thus need not be re-described herein.

In this second embodiment, to move the boxes 14 from the second longitudinal conveyor 370 to the transverse conveyors 421 for each lane 361 appropriate guiding bars 391 are used, which act laterally to the boxes and are shaped in such a way as to deviate the boxes 14 of each lane within the corresponding transverse conveyor 421 towards the respective vertical guiding slide. Said guiding bars 391 developing in particular, as shown in Figure 6, rectilinear with extreme curved segments towards the respective transverse conveyor belt 421.

The invention thus conceived may be subject to numerous modifications and variations, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept.