"Method and System to insert a blank with holes within the inferior portion of a lot of objects and for packaging said lot, relative packings and wrappings obtainable"

D E S C R I P TI O N Field of the Invention -The present invention concerns a method and a system to insert a blank with holes within the inferior portion of a lot of objects and/or for the packaging of said lot of objects, as well as the relative packs and/or wraps obtainable.

-More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention concerns a method and a system of the above mentioned type for packaging in single succession and with continuous motion lots of objects by a flat lamina and a sheet of packaging material preferably of the heat-shrinkable type.

-Such method and such system are particularly indicated for the packing of lots of object such as prismatic shaped containers and/or conical and/or frustum- conical, as for example lots formed by yogurt jars. Background of the Invention

-Currently, for the packing of said lots of objects methods and machines called clusterering are being used, in which a paperboard blank is wrapped around the lot in the shape of a sleeve.

-Said methods require long execution time, with consequently low productivity and, besides, require the use of a blank paperboard of large dimensions, with consequently high packaging costs.

-The relative machines result much expensive and difficult to produce. Description of the Invention

-The purpose of the present invention is therefore to resolve the above mentioned drawbacks.

-The invention, which is characterized by the claims, resolves the problem of creating a method to insert a blank with holes within the inferior portion of a lot of objects, in which said method is characterized by the fact that it comprises: ...>-a first path of lots translation, in which said first path extends rectilinearly and longitudinally from upstream to downstream; -a second path of blanks translation, in which said second path extends beneath and in vertical alignment with respect to said first path, and in which said second path comprises a segment oriented from upstream to downstream from downwards to upwards

extending within the operative translation environment of the inferior portion of the lot of objects that translates along the quoted first path, and by the fact that the lot and the blank are translated along respective paths with the holes of said blank vertically aligned with respect to the inferior faces of the objects forming the lot and therefore inserting from downstream to upstream said blank within the inferior portion of the objects lot inserting the bottom side of the objects within respective holes of the blank.

-The invention, which is characterized by the claims, also resolves the problem of creating of a system of inserting a blank with holes within the inferior portion of an objects lot, in which said system is characterized by the fact that it comprises: >-first guiding-supporting means, longitudinally extending, to support and guide in a sliding manner the objects of the lot along a first path of lot translation; >-first pushing-translating means, longitudinally moving, to push-translate the lot of objects along the first path of objects lot translation configured by means of said first support-guide means; >-second supporting-guiding means, longitudinally extending, to support and guide in a sliding manner the blank with holes along a second path extending beneath and in vertical alignment with respect to said first path, in which said second path comprises a segment oriented from upstream to downstream from downwards to upwards and extending within the operative translation environment of the inferior portion of the objects lot that translates along said first path; >-second pushing-translating means, longitudinally moving, to push-translate the blanks along the second blank translation path configured by said second support-guide means; >-synchronizing means to synchronize said first pushing-translating means and said second pushing-translating means, in order to translate both the lot and the blank along the respective aforesaid paths with the holes of the blank in vertical alignment with respect to the overhanging objects.

-The invention, which is characterized by the claims, resolves also the problem of creating of a pack and a wrap. Brief Description of the Drawings

-Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will result more evident from the following description of some of its preferred practical

realizations, hereby given purely as an example without any limitations, described with reference to the figures of the drawings attached in which:

-Fig. 1 is a lateral schematic view of the method of the present invention;

-Figs. 1 A-1 B-1 C, paced side by side, illustrate in a magnified form figure 1 ; -Fig. 2 is a lateral schematic view of the system of the present invention;

-Figs. 2A-2B-2C, placed side by side, illustrate in a magnified form figure 2;

-Fig. 3 is a plan schematic view of the system object of the present invention;

-Figs. 3A-3B-3C, placed side by side, illustrate in a magnified form figure 3;

-Fig. 4 is a view with respect to the line 4-4 of fig. 2; -Fig. 5 is a view with respect to the line 5-5 of fig. 2;

-Fig. 6 is a view with respect to the line 6-6 of fig.2;

-Fig. 7 is a view with respect to the line 7-7 of fig. 2;

-Fig. 8, 8A, 8B illustrate a preferred type of blank with holes and tongues;

-Fig. 9 and 9A illustrate two packs obtained after the insertion of the blank comprising a lot and the blank of fig. 8-8A-8B;

-Fig. 10 and 10A illustrate a distinctive wrap obtained with the pack of fig. 9;

-Fig. 11 and 11 A illustrate a distinctive wrap obtained with the pack of fig. 9A.

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Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention -With reference to the following description, see figs. 8, 8A, 8B, 9, 9A, the present invention concerns a method and a system to insert a blank F with holes 20 within a lot L of objects O in which, preferably, said blank F comprises a flat lamina 10 of substantially rigid material, such as carton and/or other material, and the objects O are frustum-conical containers such as yoghurt jars. -Moreover, for reasons that will following result, said blank F may also be equipped with one or more tongues 30, placed initially coplanar within said one or more containment holes 20, fig. 8-8A, in order to obtain, as a consequence of the insertion of the blank F from downwards to upwards within the lot L, that is consequently the insertion of the bottom portion of the objects O within each single hole 20, the downwards folding of said tongues 30, fig. 8B, obtaining of the pack as illustrated in figs. 9 and 9A.

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Method - Fig. 7, 1A-1B-1C

-With reference to figure. 1 , 1 A-1 B-1 C, the method used to insert a blank F with holes 20 within the inferior portion of a lot L of objects O and for packing the same objects comprises: -a first path P1 , of translation for the lots L and for the objects O ₁ in which said first path P1 extends rectilinearly and longitudinally from upstream to downstream, arrow F-P1 , and, -a second path P2, of blanks F translation, which extends beneath and in vertical alignment with respect to said first path P1.

-Said second path P2 comprises at least one segment P2-CF, oriented from upstream to downstream from downwards to upwards, in which said segment P2- CF extends within the operative translation environment of the inferior portion of the lots L of objects O which translate along said first path P1.

-With such configuration the lot L and the blank F are translated along the respective paths P1 and P2, preferably with a continuous motion, setting up and maintaining the vertical alignment established between the blank F and the respective lot L, and, more particularly, between the holes 20 of said blank F and the inferior faces of the objects O that form the lot L and, then, see the segments P2-CD, P2-DE, P2-EF, to insert from downwards to upwards said blank F within the inferior portion of the lot L of objects O, inserting the bottom portion of the objects O within the respective holes 20 of the blank F, while said lot L and said blank F are downstream translated.

-Again with reference to fig. 1 , 1 A-1 B-1 C, said first path P1 , preferably, upstream comprises a first segment, P1 -CD, along which is selected and formed in succession a lot L of objects having a pre-determined number of transversal rows of objects (two in the illustrated form). -Moreover, the lots L are formed throughout separation with respect to a continuous flow of feeding objects O placed along a previous segment P1-AC of the same first path P1 , and then downstream translate said lots L with the inferior faces of the relative objects O in vertical alignment with respect to the holes 20 of a beneath blank F. -As previously said, according to a preferred realization, said blank F further comprises one or more tongues 30, and in such context, for reasons that will following result, see fig. 9A, said folded tongues 30 have a height H and a resistance to axial loadings able to support at least the weight of the blank F, in

such manner that once said blanks F are inserted they can fall down by gravity until the tongues 30 with their free distal ends abut the transportation plane T, positioning the lamina 10 of the blank F at a pre-determined height H with respect to said transportation plane T, obtaining the pack illustrated in fig. 9A. -Alternatively, see fig. 9, it is also possible to provide the insertion of said blank F such way able to obtain an interference fit between the objects O and the holes 20, so that said interference fit obviate the downwards falling by gravity of the blank F after its insertion, positioning the lower ends of the tongues 30 lifted at the height H1 with respect to the transportation plane T, obtaining the pack illustrated in fig. 9.

-Also in this case, if the blank F should fall-descend, the tongues 30 would anyway maintain said lamina 10 at a determined height H with respect to the transportation plane, thus obtaining the configuration of fig. 9A. -Again with reference to fig. 1 , 1A-1 B-1 C, preferably, downstream of the insertion segment P2-CG of the blank F, is provided an operative segment along which the packing L+F in this way obtained, i.e. as illustrated in figs. 9 or 9A, is sleeve-shape wrapped by means of a heat-shrinkable plastic film sheet 606, in order to obtain, following the heat-shrinking process, a wrap of the type illustrated in figs. 10-1 OA or figs. 11 -11 A. -More particularly, after the insertion of the blank F within the lot L, see also fig.

1 C segment GM, the following operations are performed: a)-the packing L+F is placed on a sheet 606 of packaging material; b)-the sheet 606 is sleeve wrapped around the packing L+F.

-In such context, preferably a sheet 606 of heat-shrinkable plastic film of packaging material is used and, after the operation b), the heat-shrinking operations of said sheet wrapped are performed.

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System - Figs. 2, 3, 4. 5. 6 and 7

-With reference to figs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, the system of the present invention to insert a blank F with holes 20 within the inferior portion of a lot L of objects O and for the packaging of said lot comprises: >-first support-guide means 100, longitudinally extending, which are able to support and to guide in a sliding manner the objects O of the lots L along a first path P1 of lots translation; >-first

pushing-translating means 200, longitudinally moving along a respective path P3, which are able to push-translate the lots L of objects O along said first path P1 configured by said first support-guide means 100; >-second support-guide means 300, longitudinally extending, which are used to support and guide in a sliding manner the blanks F with holes 20 along a second path P2 that extends beneath and in vertical alignment with respect to said first path P1 , in which said second path P2 comprises a segment P2-CF oriented from upstream to downstream from downwards to upwards and extending within the operative translation environment of the inferior portion of the lots L of objects O which translate along said first path P1 ; >-second pushing-translating means 400, longitudinally moving, which are used to push-translate the blanks F along the second path P2 of blanks F translation configured by means of said second support-guide means 300; >-synchronizing means, which are able to synchronize said first pushing-translating means 200 and said second pushing- translating means 400 in order to translate the lots L and the blanks F along the respective paths P1 and P2 in a respective vertical alignment, with the holes 20 of the blanks F in vertical alignment with respect to the upper objects O of the lots L. First support-guide Means 100 -With reference to the first longitudinal support-guide means 100, see also fig. 4, they comprise a plurality of single first supports-guide, 101a, 101 b, 101c, 101d, arranged transversally spaced themselves, longitudinally extending, which are able to configure between themselves longitudinal sliding and support channels 102a, 102b, 102c, in which said channels are able to contain longitudinal single rows of objects Oa, Ob, Oc, in which, more particularly, said objects O have an upper flange O1 whose inferior edge-face abut in a sliding manner on said single supports-guide 101a, 101 b, 101 c, 101d.

-Each of said single supports-guide 101a, etc., comprises a first upper longitudinal guide-bar 103a, 103b, etc., and a second lower longitudinal bar 104a, 104b, etc., which are joint together in the shape of a "T", whose upper part of said "T" is used for abutting the inferior edge-face of the flange O1 of the objects O, while the transversally opposed flanks of two "T" configure between themselves a transversal spacing, 105a, 105b, 105c, able for allowing the sliding with a little

loose of the upper portion of the objects O and, therefore, to avoid-limit the transversal movements of said objects O during their downstream translation.

-If desired, with particular reference to the segment P1 -CD and P2-CD along which the insertion of the blank F occurs, said first support-guide means 100, see fig. 5, may further comprise a third lower longitudinal guide-bar 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, which has a transversal size width to determine, in the lower part, between the two transversally opposed flanks of two slide-bars 106, a transversal spacing 107a, 107b, 107c, able to allow the little loose sliding of the inferior portion of the objects O and, therefore, to avoid-limit the transversal movements of said objects O during their downstream translation, thus improving the transversal centring between the lower faces of the objects O and the holes 20 of the blanks F during said insertion operations of same blank F.

-Therefore, substantially, said supports-guide 101a, etc., embody each a cross section in the shape of a so called double "T", comprising a vertically standing "T" and an inverted "T" both sharing the same shank, in which the horizontal segments of said double ¹ T" may present different width, in order to configure the sliding channels 102a, 102b, 102c, having the upper part with a first width 105a, etc., and a lower part with a different or identical width 107a, etc., and, anyway, a channel in which the objects O are able to slide in a guided manner by means of four longitudinal profiles of abutment-guide, two upper profiles 111a-111b configured by means of the two guide-bars 103a-103b and two lower profiles, 112a-112b, configured by two guide-bars 106a-106b. First pushinα-translatinq means 200 -With reference to said first pushing-translating means 200, in the illustrated example, they are able to form a lot L of objects with respect to an objects flow, see segment P1-BC of the first path P1 , in which said lot L comprises two transversal rows of objects O, that is six objects, and then translate said lot L along the first path P1 , setting up and maintaining, during said translation, a vertical alignment between said formed lot L and the beneath blank F with holes 20 moving forward.

-More particularly, said first pushing-translating means 200 comprise one or more pushing bars, 201 , which are able to push against the back edge of the

flange of the objects O while said objects are supported in a sliding manner by means of said first support-guide means 100.

-Said pushing bars 201 , preferably, move in an orbital closed loop path to configure an inferior longitudinal active path, P3-AG, which comprises: >-a first segment, P3-BC, oriented from upstream to downstream from upwards to downwards, used for inserting said pushing bars 201 between rows of objects O which are supported by said first support-guide means 100 and then used to form in succession the lots L; >-a second segment, P3-CF, oriented from upstream to downstream horizontally and/or parallel with respect to the first support-guide means 100, able to push-translate the lot L of objects O from upstream to downstream in vertical alignment with respect to a beneath blank F with holes in order to allow the insertion of the same blank F; >-a third segment, P3-FG, oriented from upstream to downstream from downwards to upwards, used to upwards move the pushing bars in order to abandon the pushing. -The said pushing bars 201 preferably have a cross section in the shape of an "L", in which a leg 201a of said "L" is positioned behind the objects O this way performing the longitudinal pushing operation while the other leg 201b of said "L" is positioned on the tops of the objects O in order to this way perform the vertical counterthrust function during the insertion of the blank F. -According to the preferred illustrated realization, in order to form and push a lot comprising two transversal rows of objects, two pushing bars are used, 201 -201 , in which said two bars are placed in longitudinal succession with a longitudinal spacing 200A situated between the pushing legs 201a-201a, which said two bars are joint to a plate 202, in which said plate 202 is brought to orbit by means of one or more chains 203 that run in a closed loop, and which said chains are driven by a first servomotor M200.

-With such configuration, if desired, the bars 201 may be joined in a mobile and adjustable longitudinal manner with respect to said plate 202, in order to execute a change of size with respect to the objects, spacing out or approaching longitudinally to each other the bars, that is changing the spacing 200A, as also able to determine the number of transversal rows for each lot positioning one or more bars 201 on each plate 202. Second support-guide means 300

-With reference to the longitudinal second support-guide means 300, see also fig. 5 and fig. 6, they comprise a plurality of single longitudinal support-guide plates, 301a, 301 b, 301c, 301 d, etc, transversally spaced themselves, which extend in respective vertical-longitudinal planes, in which said plates 301a, etc., are able to form on the top a set of support-slide profiles 302a, etc., on which the blanks F may slide.

-More particularly, the upper profiles 302a, etc., of said supports-guide 301a,

301 b, 301 c, 301 d, etc., configure for said blanks F a path-segment, P2-DE, which is oriented upstream to downstream downwards to upwards, and a successive path-segment, P2-EF, which is oriented parallel with respect to the first path P1 configured by the first support-guide means 100.

-Moreover, said support-guide plates, 301a, 301b, etc., are transversally spaced to each other, see in fig. 6 the plates 301a-301 b, 301c-301d, in order to configure longitudinal channels 302a, 302b, 302c, which have the a width 300a into which the inferior portions of the objects O may freely slide. Second pushing-translating means 400

-With reference to the second pushing-translating means 400, see also fig. 5, they comprise one or more pushing elements 401 which are able for pushing against the back edge of the blank F, in which said pushing elements 401 are bring to orbit in a closed loop path comprising an upper active pushing branch

P4-AD used for pushing the blanks F.

-Along the active branch P4-AD said pushing elements 401 move along a path oriented from upstream to downstream from downwards to upwards and also into said channels configured by said second supports-guide means 300, that is by the plates 301 a, etc..

-More particularly, said active branch P4-AD of the pushing elements 401 comprises: -a first segment, P4-AB, used to draw the blanks F from a store; -a second segment, P4-BC, used for pushing the blanks F towards the second supports-guide means 300 by means of a curvilinear support; -a third segment P4-CD along which the front portion of the blank F is positioned on the third supports-guide means 300 and along which the blank F is inserted within the lot, in which said pushing elements 401 follow the inclined profile 302a of the third supports-guide means 300; -a fourth segment P4-DE along which said pushing

element 401 is bring to be downwards deviated in order to abandon the pushing of the blanks F.

-Preferably, said pushing elements 401 are supported by means of one or more chains that run in a closed loop on respective sprocket wheels operated by a respective servomotor M400. Synchronizer means

-Referring particularly to the illustrated example of fig. 2, in order to synchronize between themselves the first pushing-translating means 200 and the second pushing-translating means 400, in such manner able to set and maintain the vertical alignment between the lot L and the beneath blank F, the synchronizer means may comprise a programmable control unit, which has not been illustrated, used for driving the servomotors M200 and M400, as may also, if preferable, position sensors, which have not been illustrated, used to sense the advancement positions of said blank F and/or of the objects O. -In such context it is also possible to use a mechanical synchronization and/or another type of synchronization, and all these realizations are comprised within the inventive concepts of the present invention. Transporting and/or Wrapping Section 600 -Referring particularly to the illustrated example from fig. 2, downstream of the blanks insertion system there is a first transporting-belt 601 , of the closed loop type, which is able to move away the pack lot+blank L+F as formed, preferably in order to configure a successive transporting-wrapping section 600 best described here in after.

-In such context, for reasons that will following result, the support-guide plates 301a, 301b, etc., see their downstream portions, in the lower portion are shaped with a profile 305 that matches-follow the upper profile of the upstream portion of the first transporting-belt 601 , so that a downstream portion 306 of said support- guide plates 301a, 301 b, etc., extends onto the upstream portion of said first transporting-belt 601. -Downstream of said first transporting-belt 601 there are slightly distanced a second transporting-belt 602 and a third transporting-belt 603, able to determine two aperture A1 and A2, and film-wrapping means 604, comprising at least one suspended wrapping bar 605 transversally oriented with respect to the advancing

direction of the packs L+F, in which said bar 605 is lead for translating through said first A1 and said second A2 apertures along an orbital path that circumscribe said second transporting-belt 602, in order to transport the sheet 606 of packaging material fed by film-conveyor means 607 and the transport-belt 608. Operation

-With reference to the above structural description, in order to insert said blanks F within the inferior portion of a lot L of objects O the following operations are performed: >-a lot L of objects O is translated along a segment P1 -CF configured by the first upper longitudinal support-guide means 100, sliding the objects O of the lot L along and on the first support-guides 101a, 101 b, etc., pushing said objects O by means of one or more suspended pushing bars 201 that push on the rear of each transversal rows of objects O; >-a blank F is translated along the segment P2-CF, initially along a segment P2-CE inclined from upstream to downstream from downwards to upwards and operating within the translation environment of the inferior portion of the quoted lot L, sliding the blank F on the upper profile 302 of the second supports-guide 300, pushing said blank F by means of one or more pushing elements 401 that push against the rear of each of blanks F, in which said pushing elements 401 are inserted along the longitudinal channels determined by said second supports-guide 301 ; >- during said translation of the lot L and of the blank F is set up and maintained a vertical alignment between the bottom faces of the objects O of the lot L and the holes 20 of the beneath blank F and, while downstream translating the lot L of objects O, said blank F is inserted within the inferior portion of the objects O, positioning the holes 20 of said blank centred with respect to the inferior portions of each single object, pushing said blank F from downwards to upwards, in which during said inserting operation the objects O are restrained to upwards move by the pushing bar "L" whose branch 201a lies on top of the objects and by the plate

202.

-After the insertion of the blank, the pack L+F (lot+blank) in this way obtained is further downstream translated, by means of the pushing performed by the pushing bars 201 , see segment P3-EF, until reaching on top of the transporting- belt 601 and, then, when said pack L+F moves beyond the downstream end of the first support-guide means 100, see segment P2-FG, the same pack L+F falls

on said transporting-belt 601 and, afterwards, the pushing bars 201 are upwards diverted, see segment P3-FG, while the pack L+F is downstream transported and supported by said transporting-belt 601.

-With reference to above described the insertion of the blanks may embody two different configurations of pack L+F obtained.

-According to a first preferred configuration, using the blanks F with the tongues 30, see fig. 8, during the insertion of said blank F the tongues 30 are being downwards folded and said insertion provides a loose type of fit between the object O and the hole 20 and, therefore, when the pack L+F falls on the transporting-belt 601 , see also fig. 9A, said blank F, by gravity, downwards moves, then stops placing the lamina 10 at a pre-determined height H with respect to the transportation plane T, in which said height H is determined by the height of the tongues 30 themselves.

-Alternatively, as a second configuration, see fig. 9, by using a blank F with or without tongues 30, it is also possible to provide an insertion of said blank F in order to obtain an interference fit between the objects O and the holes 20, so that said interference fit avoid the downwards falling by gravity of the blank F when said pack is placed on the transporting-belt 601.

-With reference to the second configuration, if a blank F with tongues 30 is being used, please note that in this case also, if the blank F should fall, the tongues 30 would anyway support the lamina 10 of said blank F at a predetermined height H with respect to the transporting plane.

-With reference to all above mentioned, a pack L+F would anyway be placed on the transporting-belt 601 , in which the lamina 10 of said blank F is positioned lifted with respect to the transportation plane and near the smaller bases of the frustum-conical objects.

-The transporting-belt 601 downstream translates the pack L+F beyond the opening A1 and on a sheet 606 of wrapping material which is laying in advancement on the conveyor 602, and then the sheet 606 is transported downstream beyond the pack L-F by use of the bar 605, in order to place the tail of the sheet 606 under the aperture A2, in order to obtain a sleeve-wrapping for the sheet 606 when the pack L-F will be translated on the third transporting-belt 603, thus obtaining the type of wrap illustrated on the transporting-belt 603.

-After these operations, if required, the heat-shrinking operations to shrink the sheet 606 around on the packing L-F are executed, and the wrap illustrated in figs. 10 and 1 OA or 11 -11 A will be obtained.

-In such context, please note that after the heat-shrinking of the sheet 606 the objects O remain correctly arranged, that is in a vertical orientation and not tilted, since the lamina 10 is positioned lifted at a pre-determined height H little above the smaller bases of the frustum-conical objects O, in which this lamina 10 is able to maintain the correct distance among the smaller bases of the same objects O despite the heat-shrinked film 606 tightens the objects of the packing L-F towards the centre, obviating any approaches among the smaller bases of the objects O, as it would had happened after the heat-shrinkage operation of the sleeve- wrapped sheet 606 if said lamina 10 had not been present.

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Packing and Wrappings -With reference to the above described method and system, they are able of creating a pack, illustrated in fig. 9 and 9A, comprising a lot L of frustum-conical objects having all same axial orientation with the smaller basis downwards oriented, and a blank F with holes 20 inside which said objects O are being placed, in which said blank F is placed horizontally raised close to the smaller basis of said lot.

-Also with reference to said method and said system, they are also able of obtaining a wrap, illustrated in figs. 10-1 OA or 11 -11 A, comprising: >-a lot L of frustum-conical objects having all same axial orientation with the smaller bases downwards oriented; >-uniquely a flat lamina 10 of substantially rigid material comprising a plurality of holes 20, one or more tongues 30 downwards oriented and joint to said lamina 10 close to the internal perimeter 25 of said holes 20, and an external perimetrical edge 11 ; >-a sheet 606 of film of packaging material wrapped in the shape of a sleeve around said lot L and around said lamina 10, in which said lamina 10 is being inserted within said lot L with the objects O placed inside said holes 20; in which said lamina 10 is horizontally steady positioned by means of the distal ends of said tongues 30 that abut the support plane; and in which said sheet 606 of packaging material abut and push against the external

perimetrical edge 11 of the lamina 10, and said lamina 10 opposes a resistance to avoid the inferior basis of said objects O approach each other.

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-The above specification relating to the method and the system is provided by way of example and without restrictive intent, and therefore said method and said system can clearly be subjected to all modifications or variations suggested by experience or by use or application, within the scope of the following claims

-In such context, the following claims also form an integral part of the above specification.