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Title:
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PACKING OF GABLE TOP PACKAGES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2005/105577
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A method and a system for automatic packing of gable top packages (6), in particular gable top packages with liquid procucts, by way of example milk products or juice, where the system includes a arraying surface (8) arranged for receiving the gable top packages (6), which are transported form a filling machine to the arraying surface (8): a lifting unit in the shape of a robot (2) with a tool (16) of the type adapted for simultaneous gripping around the upstanding gable top of a group of the gable top packages (6), and to transfer the group of gable top packages from the arraying surface (8) to transport boxes (18), or with a tool (32) of the same type, and adapted to transfer the said group of gable top packages (6) to transport containers (10), where the gable top packages (6) are disposed upon one another in a plurality of layers, where the said lifting unit or robot (2) is used according to need, either for transferring the said groups of gable top packages (6) to the transport boxes (10) by means of the first mentioned tool (16), or for transferring the groups of gable top packages (6) to the transport container (10) by means of the mentioned second tool (32) in such a way that the groups of gable top packages (6) are moved down into the transport containers (10) from above ans disposed upon each other in the plurality of layers. In a simple way is hereby achieved possibility of a very significant simplification of the work with packing gable top packages with liquid products, by way of example milk products or juice, as one and the same lifting unit or robot with associated exchangeable tools may be used, controlled by demand, to pack groups of gable top packages in an automatic way in transport boxes or in transport containers, respectively.

Inventors:
FRANDSEN CLAUS FUNDER (DK)
Application Number:
PCT/DK2005/000301
Publication Date:
November 10, 2005
Filing Date:
May 03, 2005
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ELOPAK DENMARK AS (DK)
FRANDSEN CLAUS FUNDER (DK)
International Classes:
B65B5/06; B65B35/36; B65B35/50; B65B39/00; B65G47/90; B65G57/24; B65G61/00; (IPC1-7): B65B35/36; B65B35/50; B65B39/00; B65G47/90; B65G57/24
Foreign References:
DE4122953A11993-01-14
US3673756A1972-07-04
US4635328A1987-01-13
US6733224B12004-05-11
US5975837A1999-11-02
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Patrade, A/s (Aarhus, DK)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A method for automatic packing of gable top packages, in particular gable top packages with liquid products, by way of example milk products or juice, where the gable top packages_are transported from. a filling machine, to a arraying surface, from where groups of gable top packages are transferred to transport boxes by means of a lifting unit in the shape of a robot with a tool of the type which is adapted for simultaneous gripping around the upstanding gable top of a group of the gable top packages, and where groups of gable top packages are transferred from the arraying surface to transport containers, where the gable top packages are disposed upon one another in a plurality of layers, characterised in that the robot is used according to need either for transferring the said groups of gable top packages to the transport boxes by means of a first tool of the mentioned type, or for transferring the groups of top packages to the transport container by means of a second tool of the same type and in such a way that the groups of top packages are moved down into the transport containers from above and disposed directly upon one another in the plurality of layers.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the first mentioned tool, which is used for transferring the groups of gable top packages to the transport boxes, is also used subsequently to transfer the filled transport boxes to shipping pallets.
3. Method according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that by means of the first mentioned tool, four groups are transferred simultaneously, each consisting of three rows each with five gable top packages to four transport boxes, and that these subsequently are transferred simultaneously to the shipping pallets.
4. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that by the last mentioned tool there is simultaneously transferred groups consisting of five rows, each with eight gable top packages, to the transport containers, as each of the groups constitute one of the said layers.
5. Method according to claim 1 and 4, characterised in that for passing the groups of gable top packages down from above into the transport containers, a funnel means with collapsible guide plates for guiding the said groups laterally is used, the funnel means being moved upwards as the layers of gable top packages are disposed upon each other in the transport container.
6. A system for automatic packing of gable top packages, in particular gable top packages with liquid products, by way of example milk products or juice, where the system includes a arraying surface arranged for receiving the gable top packages, which are transported from a filling machine to the arraying surface; a lifting unit in the shape of a robot with a tool of the type adapted for simultaneous gripping around the upstanding gable top of a group of the gable top packages, and to transfer the group of gable top packages from the arraying surface to transport boxes, or with a tool of the same type and adapted to transfer the said group of gable top packages to transport containers, where the gable top packages are disposed upon one another in a plurality of layers, characterised in that the robot is used alternatingly according to need either for transferring the said groups of gable top packages to the transport boxes by means of the first mentioned tool, or for transferring the groups of top packages to the transport container by means of the mentioned second tool in such a way that the groups of top packages are moved down into the transport containers from above and disposed upon one another in the plurality of layers.
7. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the first mentioned tool, which is adapted for transferring the groups of gable top packages to the transport boxes, is also adapted to subsequently transfer the filled transport boxes to a shipping pallet.
8. System according to claim 6 and 7, characterised in that the first mentioned tool is adapted to grip simultaneously about the gable top of four groups of gable top packages, each consisting of 3 x 5 gable top packages, and to transfer these groups to four transport boxes, the first mentioned tool also being adapted to subsequently grip around the four filled transport boxes simultaneously and to transfer these at once to the shipping pallets .
9. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the last mentioned tool is adapted for simultaneously transferring a group of gable top packages consisting of five rows, each with eight gable top packages, to the transport containers, as each of the groups of 40 pes. constitutes one of the said layers.
10. System according to claim 6 and 9, characterised in that for passing the groups of gabletop packages down from above into the transport containers, it includes a funnel means with collapsible guide plates, which are adapted for guiding the said groups of gable top packages laterally, the funnel means arranged for being moved upwards from a position down in a transport container as the layers of gable top packages are disposed upon each other in the transport container.
Description:
Method and System for Automatic Packing of Gable Top Packages

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatic packing of gable top packages, in particular gable top packages with liquid products, by way of example milk products or juice, and of the kind specified in the preamble of claim 1.

The invention furthermore relates to a system for automatic packing of gable to packages, in particular gable top packages with liquid products, by way of example milk products or juice, and of the kind specified in the preamble of claim 6.

Background of the Invention It is prior art to transfer groups of gable top packages of the kind mentioned simultaneously from an arraying surface to a number of transport boxes. It is also prior art to transfer groups of gable top packages of the stated kind to transport containers, where each group corresponds to a layer of gable top packages in transport containers, and where the groups of gable top packages are inserted from an open side of the transport container and laid off in layers upon one another by means of a carrier plate. This is inserted from the side, immediately over the bottom of the transport container, or immediately over a layer of gable top packages already laid, after which the carrier plate is drawn laterally out from the transport container, while simultaneously the layer of gable top packages are retained by means of a retainer means, so that respective layers of gable top packages are now filling the container, which is closed subsequently.

However, it has appeared to be very cumbersome to close the side of the transport container after filling, because the individual layers of gable top packages in the transport container tends to stand askew upon one another, resulting from the gable top of the gable top packages being folded, due to the weight of superposed gable top packages, in a more or less random direction, resulting in that an outward pressure is exerted on opposing sides of the transport container. When the side opening of the transport container is to be opened again subsequently in the supermarket, the said internal skewness between the individual layers of gable top packages will make it difficult to open the transport container again.

Object of the Invention It- is the object- of- the invention to indicate- a method- and a system for automatic packing of gable top packages of the kind specified, in transport boxes as well as in transport containers, which method may mean a very significant simplification of the work with packing gable top packages with fluid products, by way of example milk products or juice.

Summary of the Invention The method according to the invention is characterised in that the robot is used according to need either for transferring the said groups of gable top packages to the transport boxes by means of a first tool of the mentioned type, or for transferring the groups of top packages to the transport container by means of a second tool of the same type and in such a way that the groups of top packages are moved down into the transport containers from above and disposed directly upon one another in the plurality of layers.

In a simple way is hereby achieved possibility of a very significant simplification of the work with packing gable top packages with fluid products, by way of example milk products or juice, as one and the same lifting unit in the form of a robot with associated exchangeable tools may be used according to demand to pack groups of gable top packages in an automatic way in transport boxes or in transport containers, respectively.

The method according to the invention may suitably be further modified so mat the first mentioned tool, which is used for transferring the groups of gable top packages to the transport boxes, is also used subsequently to transfer the transport boxes to shipping pallets.

The method according to the invention may advantageously be further modified so that by means of the first mentioned tool, four groups are transferred simultaneously, each consisting of three rows each with five gable top packages to four transport boxes, and that these subsequently are transferred simultaneously to the shipping pallets.

For packing gable top packages in transport containers, the method according to the invention may be modified so that by the- last mentioned- tool there -are simultaneously transferred groups consisting of five rows, each with eight gable top packages, to the transport containers, as each group of 40 pes. constitutes one of the said layers.

With the purpose of facilitating passing down from above of the said groups of gable top packages into the transport containers, the method according to the invention may advantageously be further modified so that for passing the groups of gable top packages down from above into the transport containers, a funnel means with collapsible guide plates for guiding the said groups laterally is used, the funnel means being moved upwards as the layers of gable top packages are disposed upon each other in the transport container.

The invention also concerns a system for automatic packing of gable top packages and of the kind specified in the preamble of claim 6 in accordance with the method according to the invention, which system is characterised in that the robot is used alternatingly according to need either for transferring the said groups of gable top packages to the transport boxes by means of the first mentioned tool, or for transferring the groups of top packages to the transport container by means of the mentioned second tool in such a way that the groups of top packages are moved down into the transport containers from above and disposed upon one another in the plurality of layers.

The system according to the invention is furthermore designed so that the first mentioned tool, which is adapted for transferring the groups of gable top packages to the transport boxes, is also adapted to subsequently transfer the filled transport boxes to shipping pallets.

The system according to the invention may advantageously be designed so that the first mentioned tool is adapted to grip simultaneously about the gable top of four groups of gable top packages, each consisting of 3 rows, each with 5 gable top packages, and to transfer these groups to four transport boxes, the first mentioned tool also being adapted to subsequently grip around the four filled transport boxes and to transfer these at once to the shipping pallets.

-For packing transport containers, -the system according- to the invention -may advantageously be designed so that the last mentioned tool is adapted for simultaneously transferring a group of gable top packages consisting of five rows, each with eight gable top packages, to the transport containers, as each of the groups constitutes one of the said layers.

For further facilitating the passing down from above of the said groups of gable top packages, the system according to the invention may be designed so that for passing the groups of gable top packages down from above into the transport containers, it includes a funnel means with collapsible guide plates, which are adapted for guiding the said groups of gable top packages laterally, the funnel means arranged for being moved upwards from a position down in a transport container as the layers of gable top packages are disposed upon each other in the transport container.

Short Description of the Drawing The invention is described in more detail below in connection with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a computerised perspective view of an embodiment of an automatic packing system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a plane view of an embodiment of a tool for use in packing gable top packages in transports boxes and for handling transport boxes for an automatic packing system according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view from above of the combination tool shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a plan view from the end of the combination tool shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the combination tool shown in Fig. 1 - shown with four groups of gable top packages for filling into transport boxes;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a tool for use by automatic packing of groups of gable top packages in transport containers; - -

Fig. 7 shows a plan side view of the tool shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the tool shown in Fig. 6, as seen from one end;

Fig. 9 shows a plan view of the tool shown in Fig. 6, as seen from above;

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a funnel means with guide plates for use by automatic packing of groups of gable top packages by means of a tool, cf. Fig. 6, in transport containers;

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the funnel means shown in Fig. 10, as seen from above;

Fig. 12 shows a plane side view of the funnel means shown in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 shows a computerised perspective view of a situation by automatic packing of groups of gable top packages in transport containers by using the funnel means, cf. Figs. 10 - 12.

Detailed Description of the Invention The packing system shown in Fig. 1 comprises a programmable automatic lifting unit in the form of a robot 2, which is shown double in Fig. 1 just for the sake of clarity, so that the robot 2 to the left operates a special lifting tool 4 for transferring groups of gable top packages 6 from a arraying surface 8 to transport containers 10 via a special funnel means 12. The gable top packages 6 arrive from a filling machine to the arraying surface 8 via a conveyor 14.

At the right side, the robot 2 operates another special combination tool 16 which is adapted for simultaneously transferring four groups of gable top packages 6 from the arraying surface 8 to a row with four transport boxes 18, and which is also adapted for turning 90° for subsequently gripping around the four filled transport boxes 18 and transfer these to shipping pallets 20 on a rollerway 22.

The combination tool 16 is shown in more detail-in Figs. 2 - 5, where the tool in Fig. 2 is seen in against four groups of grippers 24 which, cf. Fig. 5, are arranged for simultaneously gripping around the gable top of four groups of gable top packages 6, each with three rows each containing five gable top packages 6, i.e. 60 gable top packages 6 in all, which are taken from the arraying surface 8 at the same time, where the gable top packages 6 are standing in quite tight rows. The four groups of grippers 24 of the combination tool are mutually displaceable, so that the groups of grippers 24 are moved closely together when the grippers 24 are to get hold of the gable top of the gable top packages 6 on the arraying surface 8.

Before putting the four groups of gable top packages 6 down, the groups of grippers 24 are brought into a mutual position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 5, so that the four groups of gable top packages fit down right away into a tight row consisting of four transport boxes 18. When the gable top packages 6 have been delivered into the four transport boxes 18, the combination tool is turned 90° so that special clamping jaws 26 may simultaneously clamp the four filled transport boxes 18 by means of pneumatic cylinders 28 for transfer and delivery of these upon shipping pallets 20.

The combination tool 16 is provided with an automatic coupling 30 that includes mechanical connection as well as common pneumatic control connections with regard to automatic replacement of the combination tool 16 with another lifting tool 32 (Figs. 6 - 9), which also has an automatic coupling 30, and which is provided with a large number of grippers 34 for one group of gable top packages 6 consisting of five rows, each with 8 pes., i.e. one group with a total of 40 gable top packages 6 which are to be transferred from the arraying surface 8 to transport containers 10, where each 40 piece group constitutes a layer of gable top packages 6 that are passed down from above into an otherwise closed transport container.

The 40-number grippers 34 of the lifting tool 32 are arranged on a lower base plate 36 which is guided on vertical slide rods 38 and carried by four air springs 40, so that the grippers 34 by passing down the said group consisting of 40 gable top packages 6 do not crush the layer of gable top packages 6 already packed in the transport container 10, as respective layers of gable top packages 6 are disposed directly upon one another in the transport containers 10.

Primarily, existing transport containers 10 are used which originally were intended for packing from an open side, and which include internal horizontal net members. These horizontal net members may inadvertently encumber the passing down of the said 40 pes. group of gable top packages 6, as the outermost gable top packages will tend to run into the horizontal net members. With the purpose of counteracting these difficulties, the funnel means 42 shown in Figs. 10 - 12 with guide plates 44 fitting into the transport containers 10 has been developed.

The funnel means 42 is applied so that the guide plates 44, when passing these down into transport container 10, are collapsed, as guide plates 46 with the least width may be folded inwards by pneumatic cylinders 48 along a wider guide plate 50, after which another wider guide plate 52 may be laterally displaced by means of a pneumatic cylinder 51 towards the guide plate 50, so that the guide plates 44 do not bump into the said obstacles during the passing down into the transport container 10, as the guide plate 50 in a corresponding way may be laterally displaced towards the guide plate 52 by means of a pneumatic cylinder 53.

After passing down the funnel means 42 into the transport container 10, the guide plates 50 and 52 are laterally displaced again, away from each other, and the guide plates 46 are unfolded so that the guide plates 44 - like a kind of shoehorn - are disposed against the internal net wall of the transport container 10 in order to facilitate the passing down of the said 40-number group of gable top packages 6. As layers of gable top packages are transferred and disposed upon one another in the transport containers 10, the funnel means 42 is pulled upwards so that the guide plates 44 are not wedged between the gable top packages 6 and the net wall of the transport container 10.

Finally, it is to be mentioned that the described system, which has been developed and intended primarily for automatic packing of gable top packages with fluid products, particularly milk products, may be used without difficulty for packing gable top packages with any other content, by way of example mineral water or juice; other products, such as powdered or granular products, by way of example spices, may also be applicable.