FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a packaging apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a packaging apparatus for packing a stack of flexible articles into an erected sleeve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In latex industry, product packaging process is one of the crucial steps that ensures the quality of the latex products. Conventionally, particularly in glove industry, most of the packing machines load the gloves into the boxes vertically through an opened top of a box, or by pushing the gloves into the boxes laterally from one of its side. However, the current practice causes several complications during loading of the gloves as the gloves are generally soft and flexible. For example, if the gloves are placed within a box vertically, it is difficult to maintain the gloves at its horizontal position and thereby unable to stack each of the glove vertically within the box. In another example, if the gloves are pushed into the box through either one of its sides, the gloves may trap air within or the gloves may be crumpled due to friction between the gloves and the box.

There are a few patented technologies over the prior art relating to the packaging machine. CN103332346B discloses a lining type machine for enabling flexible gloves to be automatically inserted into a box. The machine comprises a working table, a glove packaging box which is arranged in front of the working table, a material management box which is fixed on the working table, a glove compressing mechanism and a mechanism for pushing the gloves to enter the box, wherein the glove compressing mechanism and the mechanism for pushing the gloves to enter the box are arranged on the back portion of the working table.

Another packaging apparatus is disclosed in CN106956816B. The invention discloses a rubber glove packaging production system comprising a carton forming mechanism, a carton conveying mechanism, a hand case box mechanism, a glove box rejecting mechanism, a glove box fold-over cover mechanism, a glue applying mechanism and a glove box seal Side output mechanisms and electrical control systems that control the operation or stopping of the above mechanisms.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide provides a packaging apparatus suitable for loading a stack of flexible articles into an erected sleeve without crumpling the flexible articles by gripping and pulling the stack of flexible articles into the sleeve and thereafter release the loaded stack.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide a packaging apparatus that grips and pulls a stack of flexible articles into the sleeve and thereafter release the loaded stack without crumpling the flexible articles. Another object of the invention is to retain flaps of the open end in its unfolded position as to prevent obstruction of the stack of flexible articles by the flaps upon its travel through the axial extend of the sleeve. Furthermore, it is also the object of the invention to provide a fully automated packaging apparatus suitable for handling flexible articles.

The invention provides a packaging apparatus suitable for loading a stack of flexible articles, such as gloves, into an erected sleeve, the apparatus comprising means for maintaining an open-ended sleeve in an erected condition, a loading station for positioning a stack of said articles into proximity with one of the open ends of the sleeve and a reciprocating member having an end effector having means to grip and release the flexible articles, wherein actuating means is provided to cause the reciprocating member to enter into the sleeve from its opposite open end and travel through the axial extent of the sleeve to grip and pull the stack of flexible articles into the sleeve and thereafter release the loaded stack.

Preferably, the packaging apparatus further comprises retaining means to retain flaps of the open end in its unfolded position to prevent obstruction of the stack of flexible articles by the flaps upon its travel through the axial extend of the sleeve. Preferably, the end effector is in the form of an angular gripper which operates between a grip condition and a release condition within the sleeve to prevent damage onto the sleeve.

Preferably, the reciprocating member is arranged on a support frame to allow for substantially horizontal movement of the reciprocating member with respect to the support frame.

Preferably, the end effector is actuated to grip and release the flexible articles upon detection of the flexible articles with sensing means.

Preferably, the actuating means is in the form of timing belt, in which the reciprocating member is moved relative to a displacement of the timing belt where the displacement defines the substantially horizontal movement of the reciprocating member.

Preferably, the end effector is actuated to grip and release the flexible articles upon sensing a predetermined displacement by the timing belt.

Preferably, the actuating means is mounted on a structure that provides a rail which is complementary to the reciprocating member and engageable therewith, such that the reciprocating member is moved substantially horizontal along the rail by the actuating means.

Preferably, the packaging apparatus further comprises means to load a new stack of flexible articles to the loading station upon retrieval of the stack of previously loaded articles by the reciprocating member.

Preferably, the packaging apparatus further comprises means to close the flaps to provide a loaded carton.

In a further aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for loading a stack of flexible articles, such as gloves, into an erected sleeve, the method comprising the steps of maintaining an open-ended sleeve in an erected condition; positioning a stack of said articles into proximity with one of the open ends of the sleeve; and causing a reciprocating member to enter into the sleeve from its opposite open end and travel through the axial extent of the sleeve to grip and pull the stack of flexible articles into the sleeve and thereafter release the loaded stack.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step to retain flaps of the open end in its unfolded position to prevent obstruction of the stack of flexible articles by the flaps upon its travel through the axial extend of the sleeve.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments described herein are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated.

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a reciprocating member and an actuating means that is mounted on a structure.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the method performed by the packaging apparatus to load a stack of flexible articles into a sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of description, the term “box blank” refers flat sheet of board that has been cut, scored, and slotted, but not yet glued together. The board may be made from paper, plastic or in combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “erected sleeve” refers to a box that is erected from the box blank. The box may be erected manually which involves human labour, or erected by a machine without human intervention.

As used herein, the term “loaded carton” refers to the erected sleeve that is loaded with flexible articles. As used herein, the flexible article refers to a thin article, such as a glove. By way of example, the flexible article includes a surgical glove, a latex glove, a nitrile glove, a neoprene glove, a polyvinylchloride glove, a polyvinyl alcohol glove, a butyl glove, a fluoro-elastomer rubber glove or any combination thereof.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, there is provided a packaging apparatus suitable for loading a stack of flexible articles, such as gloves, into an erected sleeve. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for maintaining an open- ended sleeve in an erected condition, a loading station 4 for positioning a stack of said articles into proximity with one of the open ends of the sleeve and a reciprocating member 7 having an end effector 8 having means to grip and release the flexible articles.

In one preferred embodiment, an actuating means 2 is provided to cause the reciprocating member 7 to enter into the sleeve from its opposite open end and travel through the axial extent of the sleeve to grip and pull the stack of flexible articles into the sleeve and thereafter release the loaded stack. Preferably, the end effector 8 grips one end portion of the flexible articles for pulling into the sleeve, for example at the fingertip portion of the gloves. When the stack of flexible articles is pulled from its end portion into the sleeve, the flexible articles are dragged into the sleeve and the friction between the flexible articles and the sleeve straightens the flexible articles, which prevents the flexible articles from crumpling.

In one particular embodiment, the packaging apparatus further comprises retaining means 3 to retain flaps of the open end in its unfolded position to prevent obstruction of the stack of flexible articles by the flaps upon its travel through the axial extend of the sleeve. Preferably, the retaining means 3 is positioned in proximity with the open end of the sleeve and is operable to be in contact with the flaps. By way of example, the retaining means 3 is positioned oppositely to the open end so that the retaining means 3 is actuated to move towards the open end in a direction perpendicular to the open end. In another example, the retaining means 3 is positioned around a perimeter of the open end so that the retaining means 3 is actuated to move towards the open end in a direction parallel to the open end. In this particular embodiment, the retaining means 3 is shaped to retain the flaps from the inner surface, for example, the retaining means 3 is in the form of a U-shaped fork that fits within the flaps when the retaining means 3 is actuated to move towards the open end. The retaining means 3 may be a suction mechanism that retains the flaps of the open end in its unfolded position.

In one preferred embodiment, a support frame 9 is provided to accommodate a first portion of the reciprocating member 7. The support frame 9 is designed to guide the first portion of the reciprocating member 7 to move substantially horizontal with respect to the support frame 9. Preferably, the support frame 9 is configured with at least one aperture for allowing first portion to pass through and slide axially therewithin. For example, the support frame 9 is in the form of a vertical plate configured with aperture for slidably movement of the first portion which is in the form of a shaft, and thereby guiding the substantially horizontal movement of the reciprocating member 7. In a further embodiment, bearing may be disposed around the aperture to facilitate the movement of the reciprocating member 7.

In one particular embodiment, a structure 1 is provided for mounting of the actuating means 2. Preferably, the structure 1 provides a rail 5 which is complementary to a second portion of the reciprocating member 7 and engageable therewith. Preferably, the reciprocating member 7 provides a third portion that is carried by the actuating means 7 such that the reciprocating member 7 is moved substantially horizontal along the rail 5 by the motion of the actuating means 2. For example, the second portion of the reciprocating member 7 is a rail engaging portion 6 that is complementary to and slidably moved along the rail 5, which the rail engaging portion 6 may be provided with bearings therewithin for the ease of horizontal movement of the reciprocating member 7.

In one advantageous embodiment, the reciprocating member 7 and the retaining means 3 operate in response to a movement of the actuating means 2. Preferably, the actuating means 2 is in the form of a timing belt which actuates the movement the reciprocating member 7 and the retaining means 3 at a predetermined displacement of the timing belt. In one example, the reciprocating member 7 can be moved relative to a displacement of the timing belt where the displacement defines the substantially horizontal movement of the reciprocating member 7. Further, the retaining means 3 may be actuated to move towards the open end for retaining the flaps when the actuating means 2 starts to move the reciprocating member 7 towards the sleeve. The retaining means 3 may be retracted to its original position and thereafter release the flaps when the actuating means 2 starts to retract the reciprocating member 7 to its original position.

In one particular embodiment, the end effector 8 is in the form of an angular gripper which operates between a grip condition and a release condition within the sleeve to prevent damage onto the sleeve. In one embodiment, the end effector 8 is actuated to grip and release the flexible articles upon detection of the flexible articles with sensing means. By way of example, the sensing means is an optical sensor or a touch sensor that detects the presence of the flexible articles. In another embodiment, the end effector 8 is actuated to grip and release the flexible articles upon sensing a predetermined displacement by the timing belt which indicates the location of the end effector along its horizontal movement pathway. By way of example, and not by limitation, the end effector 8 may be pneumatic grippers or hydraulic grippers. The packaging apparatus may further comprise means to load a new stack of flexible articles to the loading station 4 upon retrieval of the stack of previously loaded articles by the reciprocating member 7. The loading station 4 may be configured to sense the presence of the loaded articles, for example, with the use of weight sensor, touch sensor or optical sensor, and trigger the means to load the new stack of flexible articles to the loading station 4. By way of example, the means is in the form of a robotic arm.

The packaging apparatus may also further comprise means to close the flaps to provide a loaded carton. By way of example, the flaps may be glued or sealed to close the open ends of the erected sleeve to produce a loaded carton.

In one particular embodiment, the packaging apparatus may further comprise a suction unit that forms the erected sleeve from the box blanks. By way of example, the suction unit may provide a pair of suction cups which each suction cup is secured on both sides of the box blank and distant itself from one another to erect the box blank and thereby form the erected sleeve.

In a further aspect of the invention, the packaging apparatus can be used for executing a series of steps to load a stack of flexible articles, such as gloves, into an erected sleeve. At step 101, an open-ended sleeve is maintained in an erected condition. At step 102, a stack of said articles is positioned in a loading station 4 which is in proximity with one of the open ends of the sleeve. At step 103, a retaining means retains flaps of the open end in its unfolded position. At step 104, a reciprocating member 7 enters into the sleeve from its opposite open end and travel through the axial extent of the sleeve to grip and pull the stack of flexible articles into the sleeve. At step 105, the stack is released within the sleeve.

The present disclosure includes as contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.