EP0239507A1 - Magazine for feeding a horizontal loader of a machine processing sheet-like products, and its utilization method - Google Patents

Abstract

Charger intended for the supply of blanks (49) to a horizontal magazine of a machine for treating plate products, in the form of a removable prepackage in the form of a sheath. It is characterized by the fact that it is in the form of a rectangular box made of semi-rigid material, the upper face of which has a central longitudinal groove (51) over a median portion of its length, with lines of pre- cutout (19, 20, 21, 22) connecting the four corners of the groove (51) to the corresponding four corners of said upper face, and of which at least the front face has a central lower opening (39), with two pre lines -cut (41, 42) connecting this opening (39) to the two upper corners of said face.

Description

The present invention relates to a loader intended for supplying a horizontal magazine to a machine for treating plate products, such as for example a machine for packaging and packaging pharmaceutical products.

On a packaging machine packaging (cases, easels or other), are put in the presence of various elements which, joined and arranged together, form a whole at the outlet of the machine, the finished product being intended for sale and l 'use.

Thus on a machine of this type, a supply of the product to be packaged is generally ensured mechanically. The same is true of the packaging, but the supply thereof is however carried out, first of all, by a manual operation. This manual operation consists of the transfer from the delivery box to the store of the packaging machine. This store constitutes a reserve of packaging which is mechanically routed from this station on the machine circuit. The invention relates to a loader intended to provide the link between the packaging delivery case and the machine store, in other words the transfer mentioned above.

Generally in the case of materials known on the market, one or more people draw from a box of packages, whether they are folding cases, flat blanks, easels or the like, and by handles arrange these packages in the machine store. The store empties mechanically, the faster the faster the packaging machine.

On these modern machines, the production rates having become very fast, the operation of transfer and manual supply of packaging has become very restrictive. The personnel failing in many cases to ensure this supply correctly, or else this supply operation mobilizing one or more full-time people for this task. Production is therefore penalized.

The object of the invention is to facilitate this transfer and supply operation by bringing, using a removable prepackaging called a "loader", into the machine store a large quantity. packaging at once, thus avoiding multiple manual operations. It can therefore run out with the reserve thus constituted of several minutes of production, which leaves time for the person in charge of the supply to better organize himself or to engage in the meantime in other tasks around or on the machine. .

There are currently two main types of stores supplying machines for processing plate products:
- so-called "vertical" magazines, where the blanks are stacked on top of each other between vertical guides and descend by gravity as the mechanical system takes them from the base one by one. For such vertical stores, several types of supply loaders are known. They are generally constituted by sheaths closed at their two ends, which are reversed in the vertical magazine, after having removed one of the end closures and maintaining the blanks during the positioning. Then simply remove the sheath by pulling it from the top, and the blanks remain in the magazine.
- so-called "horizontal" stores, where the packages are arranged on a column edge, one behind the other, and advance horizontally, towards the gripping system of the machine driven by a belt. It is not easy to use, for such magazines, a charger of known model, constructed to supply a vertical magazine.

The subject of the invention is therefore a charger in the form of a closed sheath containing a number of blanks, and intended to make it possible to supply plates with a magazine of the horizontal type, such a charger being characterized in that it is presented under the shape of a semi-rigid rectangular box whose upper face has a central longitudinal groove over a median portion of its length, with pre-cut lines connecting the four corners of the groove to the corresponding four corners of said upper face , and at least the front face of which has a central lower opening, with two pre-cut lines connecting this opening to the two upper corners of said face.

• Figure 1 est une vue en plan du chargeur de l'invention, tota­lement déplié à plat avant son assemblage en une boîte parallélépipèdique,
• Figure 2 montre le chargeur de la figure 1 en cours d'assemblage autour d'un paquet de flans sur chant,
• Figure 3 montre le chargeur assemblé et rempli du paquet de flans sur chant,
• Figure 4 montre le magasin horizontal en train d'alimenter la machine à l'aide d'une colonne horizontale de flans sur chant,
• Figure 5 montre la mise en place dans le magasin du chargeur de l'invention,
• Figure 6 montre l'opération suivante de libération de la partie avant du chargeur,
• Figure 7 montre l'opération suivante de libération de la partie arrière du chargeur,
• Figure 8 montre le début de la phase d'extraction du chargeur,
• Figure 9 montre le chargeur en cours d'extraction,
• Figure 10 est une vue en perspective du magasin horizontal de la machine, avec le chargeur en début de phase d'extraction.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a plan view of the charger of the invention, completely unfolded flat before its assembly into a parallelepiped box,
• Figure 2 shows the loader of Figure 1 being assembled around a pack of blanks on edge,
• Figure 3 shows the loader assembled and filled with the blank package on edge,
• Figure 4 shows the horizontal magazine feeding the machine using a horizontal column of edge blanks,
• FIG. 5 shows the installation in the magazine of the charger of the invention,
• Figure 6 shows the following operation to release the front part of the charger,
• Figure 7 shows the following operation to release the rear part of the magazine,
• Figure 8 shows the start of the magazine extraction phase,
• Figure 9 shows the magazine being extracted,
• Figure 10 is a perspective view of the horizontal magazine of the machine, with the loader at the start of the extraction phase.

Figure 1 shows the charger of the invention, fully unfolded and laid flat before assembly. It is composed of a packaging made of semi-rigid material, such as cardboard, consisting of a flat blank 1 the various constituent parts of which are as follows:
a bottom plane 2, in the shape of a very elongated rectangle as shown, delimited by four fold lines 3, 4, 5, 6,
- two transverse flaps 7, 8 extending the rectangle 2 beyond its longitudinal fold lines 3, 5 forming its long sides; each of these flaps 7, 8 is divided by longitudinal fold lines 9 and 10 into a first flap, respectively 11, 12, contiguous to the bottom plane 2, called lateral transverse flap, and a second outer flap, respectively 13, 14 , said upper transverse flap; according to the invention, the sum (2a) of the widths (a) of the two outer flaps 13, 14 is less than that 1 of the rectangular bottom plate 2; in addition, each upper transverse flap 13, 14 is provided, at each of its two longitudinal ends, with a transverse tab, respectively 15, 16, 17, 18, each separated from the central part of the upper transverse flap by a line of oblique pre-cut, respectively 19, 20, 21, 22 joining as shown the associated end, respectively 23, 24, 25, 26, of the longitudinal fold line, respectively 9 and 10 delimiting the upper transverse flap at the starting point interior, respectively 27, 28, 29, 30 of the leg; finally, the overall transverse width b of each leg is equal, in the nonlimiting example considered, to half the width 1 of the rectangle 2, however noting that it could, as a variant, be less than this value or even higher than this,
- two longitudinal flaps 31, 32 extending the rectangle 2 beyond its transverse fold lines 4, 6 forming its short sides; each of these flaps 31, 32 is divided by transverse fold lines 33, 34 into a first flap, respectively 35 and 36, contiguous to the bottom plane 2, called lateral longitudinal flap, and a second outer flap, respectively 37 and 38 , said upper longitudinal flap; the length h of each of the flaps 35 and 36 is equal to the width h of each of the flaps 11 and 12, and will define the height of the box forming the loader; as seen in the drawing, each flap 35 and 36 is pierced with a central rectangular opening 39, 40 and based on the fold lines 4 and 6; on each of the flaps 35 and 36, two pre-cutting lines 41, 42 and 43, 44 connect as shown the outer corners of each rectangle 39, 40 to those associated with the flaps 35 and 36; advantageously moreover, fold lines 45, 46 and 47, 48 are provided on the flaps 37 and 38 symmetrically with respect to lines 33 and 34 respectively of the pre-cut lines 41, 42 and 43, 44.

In general therefore, all the dimensions of the flaps and lugs of the blank 1 are such that they allow the making by folding, then fixing by gluing or the like, from the blank 1, of a rectangular box as shown in the figures 2 and 3 to which we will now refer.

As shown in FIG. 2, to make a feeder filled with blanks 49 on edge from the blank 1, the column of blanks 49 on edge is placed on the bottom plane 2 of the box, then as indicated by the arrows f, first of all the longitudinal flaps 31, 32 are folded over the blanks 49 and, as indicated by the arrows F, the transverse flaps 7 and 8 are folded over the assembly. The loader of the invention then shown in the figure is obtained. 3, which is fixed to prevent it from spreading using two pieces of adhesive tape 50.

As seen in Figure 3, the charger of the invention is completely symmetrical with respect to its transverse median plane. As can be seen on its front part fully visible in FIG. 3, each of its ends reveals the central lower opening 39 with the pre-cutting lines 41, 42 connecting this opening 39 to the two associated upper corners of the front face. Furthermore, the loader has on its upper face a central longitudinal groove 51 over a median portion of its length, with pre-cut lines 19, 20, 21, 22 connecting the four corners of the groove 51 to the corresponding four corners of the upper side.

We will now describe, with reference to schematic figures 4 to 10. the method of using the loader of FIG. 3, that is to say the manner in which the blanks 49, which the loader contains, are transferred to the horizontal magazine of the machine.

FIG. 4 very schematically represents the horizontal magazine of an automatic cartoner for pharmaceutical products. It essentially consists of an endless belt 52 on which an operator places cleats 53 used to hold the blanks 54 on edge, placed horizontally one against the other as shown to form a horizontal and continuous column 56. On either side of the endless belt 52, the blanks 54 are guided in the magazine by two longitudinal plates 55 (see also in FIG. 10) forming side rails. The device for gripping the plates 54 one by one in the column 56 is represented schematically by a rotary cylinder 57 provided with suction cups 58.

To transfer the loader of the invention to the horizontal magazine of the machine, it is first determined, by looking through one of the openings 39, where the part of the blanks to be presented downstream is located, and the loader is oriented accordingly. It is indeed important that the cases 49, or others, are presented in the correct direction in the machine store.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the loader is placed on the endless belt 52, as close as possible to the cleat 53, behind the column 56 already in place. As shown in FIG. 6, the fingers are then slid into the front opening 39, and suddenly pulled upwards. This movement causes the four pre-cut lines 41, 42, 19, 21 to yield so that, as will be understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, almost all of the front longitudinal flap 31 is torn off, as well as the two legs 15 and 17.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the blanks 49 located at the front of the loader then come to bear on the cleat 53, moreover still weakly supported by the two remaining tabs of the flap 31. Passing the fingers under the rear side of the upper central opening 51, and suddenly pulling upwards as shown in FIG. 7, the two lines 20 and 22 are made to yield, which makes it possible to release the rear flap 32, as can be seen in FIG. 8. The lateral flaps 7 and 8 are held in vertical position by the two lateral guides 55 of the magazine. In these two tearing operations, the folds 45 to 48 come, forming a corner, to aid in the cutting operation of the pre-cutting lines 41 to 44. These folds are however optional, although advantageous.

At the same time, as can be seen in FIG. 8, that the flap 32 is pulled back, the column of blanks is retained with the other hand, pushing advantageously downstream with it, and, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the magazine is pulled back by the flap 32, until it is completely removed. Another push and hold stopper is finally placed behind the blank column 49, and the operation is finished. It is very clearly seen in FIG. 10 that the opening 51 is essential to allow passage of the fingers holding the blanks 49 while the loader is pulled back by the flap 32.

Claims (5)

1. Charger intended for supplying blanks (49) of a horizontal magazine of a machine for treating plate products, in the form of a removable prepackage in the form of a sheath, characterized in that '' it is in the form of a rectangular box made of semi-rigid material, the upper face of which has a central longitudinal groove (51) over a median portion of its length, with pre-cut lines (19, 20, 21 , 22) connecting the four corners of the groove (51) to the four corresponding corners of said upper face, and at least the front face of which has a central lower opening (39) with two pre-cut lines (41, 42) connecting this opening (39) at the two upper corners of said face. 2. Charger according to claim 1, characterized in that its front and rear parts are symmetrical with respect to its median transverse plane. 3. Charger according to claim 2, characterized in that it is constituted by folding, then fixing by gluing or the like, from a single flat blank (1) comprising:
- a bottom plate (2),
- two transverse flaps (7, 8) themselves each divided in transverse direction into two parts (11, 13 and 12, 14) forming flaps, the external flaps (13, 14) being at their two ends provided with lugs (15 , 16 and 17, 18) each delimited by an oblique pre-cutting line (19, 20 and 21, 22),
- two longitudinal flaps (31, 32) themselves also each divided in the longitudinal direction into two parts (35, 37 and 36, 38) forming flaps, the internal flaps (35, 36) being pierced with a rectangular axial opening ( 39, 40) adjacent to the bottom plate (2), and pre-cut lines (41, 42 and 43, 44) connecting the outer corners of each opening (39, 40) to the associated outer corners of the part ( 35, 36) forming a flap of the associated longitudinal flap (31, 32). 4. Charger according to claim 3, characterized in that the outer flaps (37, 38) of the longitudinal flaps (31, 32) have fold lines (45, 46 and 47, 48) symmetrical with respect to the separation lines ( 33, 34) of the two flaps, inside and outside, of the associated longitudinal flap (31, 32). 5. Method of using a charger according to one of claims 1 to 4, in order to transfer the package of blanks on edge (49) which it contains in a horizontal magazine of a processing machine, characterized in that it consists, after having placed the loader horizontally in the magazine, to tear off , after having passed one or more fingers in the central lower opening (39) of the front face, the front tear-off part of the magazine, then to tear off, after having passed one or more fingers in the rear part of the upper longitudinal groove ( 51), the upper tear-off part, then pull with the same hand closed at the same place the magazine backwards, until its total extraction, while holding the rear of the blank column with the other hand. edge (49).

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