Field of Invention

Thϊs jπveπtϊoπ resales to a packaging machine for cartons. More particularly, bul not exclusively it relates to a packaging machine for wraparound cartons.

Packaging machines are weϋ known in the art. It us well known to group a number of articles together to be packaged and to wrap a carton blank around the group to term a package, it ss desirable to reduce ihe costs and simplsfy a production lsne for packaging artscies by reducing the number of separate packaging machines without reducing the output o! the production plant.

it is further desirable to create a packaging machine sn which access to the blank is not restricted m order to facilitate assembly of the package.

first aspeci of ihe invention provides an apparatus for forming a package for a group of similar articles wrapped by a carton blank, which apparatus comprises a means for applying 8 carton blank to a group of articles, a conveyor for conveying the articie group and carton biank to a closing station an alignment means for causing the article group and the carton blank to adopt a pre-determjned relationship relative to one another, to provsde a prefoniied unit to facilitate completion of the package, means for applying a force transverse to the conveying direction to the preformed unit, folding means tor folding the bottom panels of the blank into overlapping relationship beneath the bases of she articles

withsπ the unύ anά securing means for securing the bottom panels together at the closing station to complete the package.

Preferably, the bases of the articles are unsupported and free from incumbrance at the dosing station.

Preferably, the means for applying a transverse force comprises a pair of formers disposed on either side of the preformed unit.

Preferably, ihe formers have a comb structure,

ferably, the means for applying transverse force conveys Ihe preferred group towards Ihe dossng station,

Preferably, a packaging machine incorporating the apparatus.

Preferably, the means for applying transverse force is slldabiy mounted upon a gi;;de member,

Preferably, ihe guide member is transversely mounted between a pasr of endless conveyors

Preferably, there is provided a earn track for providing the transverse force.

Preferably, the means for applying transverse force comprises a cam follower to be received in the cam track

preferably, ihe alignment means comprises a lug having a substantially finger hke projection

Preferably, the lug comprises a guide path for receiving a cam foliower.

Preferably, the lug member Is slidaby mounted upon a second gαsde member.

Preferably the second guscie member ss mounted between the pair of endless conveyors

Preferably, the means for applying a transverse force is followed by an ahgnmem means

Preferably, the lug member composes a cam follower to be received into second cam track.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method of forming a package tor 3 group ol similar articles wrapped by a cadon blank, whsch method comprises the steps of applying a carton blank to a group of articles and causing the carton blank and the article group to be conveyed together towards a closing station, causing the carton blank and the article group to adopt a predetermined relationship relative to one another to provide a preformed unit to facilitate completion of the package, causing the pre-forrned unit to be supported by applying 3 force to the υnst transversely of the conveying direction, and folding bottom panels ot the blank info overlapping relationship beneath the bases of the articles wiiNn the unsl and securing the bottom panels together at the closing station to complete ihe package.

Preferably, the base of lhe articles are unsupported and free from inournbrance dunπq the FokdinQ process.

πpdon of the

Exemplary embodiments of the invention wsll now be described, by way of example only, mϊh reference Io (he accompanying drawings tπ which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of lhe preferred embodiment of the present. invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the input end of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1 which has been enlarged for illustrative purposes.

Figure 3 shows a plan v?ew of Figure 2 in which features have been removed for illustrative purposes.

Figure 4 snows a perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of Figure 1 on whsch features have been removed for illustrative purposes.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the input end of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure ? snows a perspective view of the input end of the embodiment of figure 1

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the input end of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspeotive view of the input end of lhe embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view oi the folding process performed on the carton blank,

Figure 1 1 shows a perspective vsew of the folding process performed on the carton blank

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the fokisng process performed on the carton blank.

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of lhe folding process formed on the carton blank

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the output end of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 15 shows a perspective view of the output end of lhe embodiment of tsgure 1

Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the outι>ut end ot the embodiment of

Referring now to Figure I ₁ ξhere ss shown a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates a system 10 for packaging a qrouD of articles 12.

it WiH be appreciated by those skilled in the art thai the system 10 is Intended for incorporation into a packaging hπe. not shown, in which there may comprise further apparatus, tor example, 3 hopper for holding carton blanks 9 prior Io application Io Lhe group of articles 12, means for grouping the articles 12 into the group, % pick up means for receiving a carton from she hopper and applying the carton blank 9 Io the group of articles 12 and guides for folding the Sides of lhe carton blank 9 around the group of artrdesi 2.

The system 10 comprises an input end 6 and an output end S ₁ groups of articles 12 are supplied to the input end β. The group of articles 12 is supplied by the input conveyor 32. A carton blank 9 (shown figure 6} is partially folded about the group of articles 12. A comb member 14 is brought into engagernem wsfh the group of articles 12 on both sides of the group articles 12 to provide support Io the group articles 12 and to maintain the sides of she carton blank 9 substantially in contact wuh the group of articles 12. Pairs of comb members 14 convey the group of articles 12 along the system 10 The comb members 14 pre-form the carton blank 9 around the group of articles 12 forming a single unit to be conveyed for further processing in the system 10.

The comb member 14 comprises a senes of recesses 54 each recess 54 being designed to engage a single article 12 in the group of articles 12 as shown in figure 2 and figure 3 The comb members 14 engage a portion of the base of each article 12 in the group of articles 12 to provide vertical support. When the articles 12 are engaged in the recess 5*1 they are supported in a horizontal direction transverse to the few of articles (6, 8} on ^he system 10 and in a horizontal direction parallel to flow of articles (8, 8). The comb members 14 hold the group of articles 12 together as a group. The comb members 14 leave a substantial portion of ihe base of the group of articles 12 free from sncumbrance in order to facihtate folding of the carton blank 9,

The cørno- member 14 ss coupled to a support member 16. The support member 16 ss slidably mourned upon a fsrst pair of rods 18 The first pair of rode 18 are orientated transverse to the direction of the articles 12 kavel 6, 8 The fsrsl pair of rods ?8 sre mounted between two endiess chains 56a, 56b, shown in Figure 3. The endless chains 56a, 56b are mounted in gusde tracks 78a, ?8b respectively.

A cam follower 70 ss mounted upon the support member 16 The cam foitewer ?0 follows in cam track 36 In this way the cam follower 70 and cam track 36

achieve transverse movement, with respect to the direction of article travel (6, S), of the support member 18 and hence the comb member 14

Each comb member 14 is followed by a lug member 24, the member being a substantially fsnger like projection The iug member 24 is mounted upon two chassis members 22, 26. The first chassis member 26 is- fixedly mounted upon a second pair of rods 20 between the two endless chains 56a, 56b. A second cam follower 30 is mounted upon the first chassis member 26 The second earn follower 30 is received in a guide path 28, Lhe giπde path 28 being formed in the lug member 24 The lug member 24 is ratationaliy mounted upon the second chassis member 22 by pivot member 60, The lug member 24 is siidably mounted upon the first chassis member 28 by virtue o! the earn follower 30 and guide path 28 formed wilhsπ the iug member 24 The lug members 24 facilitate alignment of the carton blank 9 and group of articles 12 with respect to one another.

The second chassis member 22 is sildabiy mounted upon the second of rods 20, the lug member 24 being rotatsoπaily mounted to the second chassis member 22 such thai it is capable of rotational movement upon movement of she chassis member 22 along the second pair of rods 20. The second chassis member 22 comprises a third cam fofcwer SB shown in Figures 2 and 3 The third earn follower 68 is received in a second cam track 34. the third cam follower 68 and second cam track 34 co-operate ro create transverse movement of the second chassis member relative to ?he direction travel 6, 8 of the articles 12, Thus when the chassis member 22 moves transverse to the direction of article travel 6. 8 the second cam follower 30 is forced aiong guide path 26. The lug member 24 *s thus brought into contacting relationship with the carton 9. m the preferred embodiment the guide path 28 comprises a portion which directs the lug member 24 into the path of the groups of artic es 12, and a portion which forces the lug member 24 in a substantially diagonal direction to me articles direction of travel 6, 8, In this way the lug member 24 may approach a trailing edge of the carton 9 from a position behind the carton 9 and in the reverse direction can he withdrawn

from contact with the canon 9, and then withdrawn from the path of the articie few 6, 8.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of [he input end 6 of lhe system 10, it shows a article 12 being engaged by the comb member 14 m a recess 54 It can be seen that \n the embodiment shown the comb member 14 comprises a comb structure formed from a series of recesses 54 on both sides. The two sides of the comb are formed such that each side accommodates articles 12 of different sL?es The side in use being capable of accommodating up to 6 articles whilst the reverse side being capable of accommodating up to 5 larger articles The comb member 14 is mounted upon the support rnemoer 16, Ji is envisaged that ihe comb member will be mounted such that it may be rotated through 180° degrees m orύet that the alternative side of the comb member 16 may be used, it can όe seen thai, the cam follower 70 follows the cam track 36 In Figure 2 the comb member 14 has reached ihe stage m the system 10 where it has been brought into engagement with the articles 12 by following the cam track 36.

The fust pair of rods IS and the second pasr of rods 20 are mounted beiween the endless chains 56a, 56b; the endless chains 56a, 56b oeuig mounted \n guide tracks ?βa _v ?8b respectively

The endless chains 56a, 56b are coupled Lo a drive motor ^' 58. It is envisaged that this will be achieved by a gear wheel or gear mechanism (not shown).

In the preferred embodiment it is envisaged that the drive motor will be a servo motor as known in the art.

in figure 2 the second chassis member 22 has been moved along the second pair of rods 20 by consequence of the cam follower 68 following the second cam track 34. In thss way the iug member 24 has been forced into the path of the article flow 6. S and into contact with the trailing edge of the amcie 12

The group of articles 12 wsth the carton 9 applied to it (as shown m fsgure 6) is then moved atone? the system 1 O ₁ in order to complete assembly of the package A first base parsed of the carton 9 is brought into contact with a first fued guide 40 The first Isxed guide 40 folds the First base panel below the group of articles 12, a second fixed guide 4? maintains the base panel below the group of articles 12.

The comb member 14 then lightens the carton around the group of articles 12. Trns is achieved by the cam tracks 36 on either side of the group of articles converging upon one another

The cam track 36 moves the cornh member 14 inward at point 76 as shown sn figures 4 and 5. A thud fixed guide 44 then folds a second base panel into Oat face contacting relationship with the first base panel The first and second base panels are then secured in overlapping relationship with each other.

The completed package ss Ihen transferred to the ouipui conveyor 50 for further processing (not shown).

Figures 4 and 5 clearly illustrate the profile of the first cam track 36 and of the second cam track 34. At the snμut end 6 the first earn track 36 follows a linear portion parallel to the direction of the article travel Ci 8 Al a location de&sgnaied by reference ?2 ihe first cam track 36 deviates inwardly towards the path followed by the articles at which point the comb member 16 1$ brought into contact with the group of articles 12. The cam track 36 continues parallel to the direction of article travel Cx 8 until a location designated by reference 76 where the cam tracks 36 again converge toward the palh of Ihe articles 12 This time the converging of the cam iracks 36 achieves tightening of the carton around the artlcies 12 as Ihe comb members 14 move closer ro each other The first cam irack 36 continues parallel to the path of article travel 6, δ until point 46 when the

cam track 36 diverges away from the articles direction of travel 6, 8; ^he comb member 14 ss withdrawn from contact wsth the group of articles 12.

The second cam lrack 34 is positioned such that at the start 6 of the working reach of lhe endless conveyors 56a. 56b the input end 6 of the system 10. the lug member 24 is m a Withdrawn position, the second cam track 34 then converges towards the articles path of travel 6, 8 at point 74 bringing the iug member 24 into engagement with the group of articles 12 substantially simultaneously with the comb member 14 becoming engaged with the group of articles 12. The second cam track 34 then runs parallel to the path of article travel 6, 8 unlit point 48 located near the output end 8 of the system 10. The second cam track 34 diverges away from the group of articles 12 such that the lug member 24 is withdrawn from the completed package m preparation for the lug members 24 return to the input end 6 of the working reach of the endless chains 56a. 56b

Figure 6 and Figure T show a perspective view of ihe partially completed package ? comprising a carton 9 partially folded about a group of articles 12 In lhe view shown in figure 6 the package 7 has not been engaged by the comb members 14 or the lug members 24. it w$ be appreciated that the comb member 14 could accommodate a group of articles 12 m configurations other than the 2 x 2 configuration shown.

Turning now to figures 6 - 9, [here is shown several illustrations of the nψuϊ of the system 10. it can be cieady seen in figure 6 that the group of articles 12 arrive as a pre-torrned unit with the carton blank partially folded about lhe group. forming a partially complete package T The comb members 14 have not been brought into contact with the partially complete package 7 Figure ? shows the input end before the comb members 14 engage tne partially complete package /\ it can aiso be seen that the lug merπbers 24 have not been brought into contact with the paπ.iaiiy complete package 7.

Figures 8 and 8 show the Ing member 24 and the comb member 14 as they are brought into contact with the partially complete package 7 this process being completed in Figure 9. The partially completed package 7 has been engaged by the comb member 14. The comb member 14 now provides sufficient support Io the group of articles 12 and the carton blank 9 in preparation for the folding of base panels 3 and 5.

Figures 10 ^■■■■ 13 show the process of the base panels 3 and 5. In figure 10 it can be seen thai the input conveyor 32 terminates and that the partially completed package 7 is substantially free from Encumbrance at (he base thus allowing the fixed guides 42 and 44 to fold, the base panels 5 and 3 respectively, without hinderance.

it ss also envisaged that m the preferred embodiment the comb members 14 wiil tighten the carton blank 9 around the group of articles 12 whilst the base panels 3 and 5 are being folded about the bases of lhe articles 12 forming the group of articles 12.

Figure 10 snows the position of the base panels, 3 and 5 before any folding has taken place. Figure 11 shows the base panel 5 folded under the base of the articles 12 by the fixed guide 42. The base panel 3 remains in an unfolded siale. If is envisaged that it is al this point that any adhesive, should It be required to secure the base panels, could be applied. The second base panel 3 is then folded into overlapping relationship with the first base panel 5 by fixed guide 44 as shown in figure 13.

Referring now to figures 14 - 16 ύ can be seen thai at the output end 8 of the system 10 the comb member 14 and the lug member 24 are withdrawn from contact from the completed package. The package being transferred from the system 10 by tbe output conveyor 50.

H wiil be recognised that as used herein, terms such as lop ^" . ^' base ^" , "ssde ^" , ^" end ^" , "inner", "outer ^" , ^' upper" and "lower ^" are relative terms, they do not lirvrt the respective components to which they refer to an particular position or orientation.

U is clearly envisaged thai the features of the preferred embodiment described herein before could be altered without departing from fhe scope of the present invention. For instance it wt\ be understood that the endless chains couid be replaced by endless belts or other mechanism which provides the s>am§ result Furthermore It is envisaged that !he comb member 14 need not he provided with a comb structure but need oniy be structured to provide sufficient transverse force to convey the article to the closing station

The cornb member 14 need not extend under the group of articles, the articles therefore being wholly unsupported at the base.

WMst in figures 1 and m figures 6 - 14 the group of articles have been groups of 8 and 4 respectively it will be appreciated thai, the present invention may be adopted for use with different group configuration or a single article and references for a group in the specification should be interpreted accordingly. Furthermore the present invention is not limited to the articles shown and may be appised to other types articles, such as bottles, cans or pouches