U.S. patent application number 11/803145 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-29 for system for ordering, conveying, and depositing small objects.
This patent application is currently assigned to UHLMANN Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Markus Habdank, Wolfgang Krahl, Harald Litke, Martin Seiffert.
Application Number | 20070271882 11/803145 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38269097 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070271882 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Litke; Harald ; et
al. |
November 29, 2007 |
System for ordering, conveying, and depositing small objects
Abstract
An apparatus for packaging small identical objects in respective
pockets of a package strip where the pockets are in a succession of
identical arrays has a conveyor extending and displaceable from an
upstream loading end to a downstream transfer end and having a
plurality of sections each formed with an array of pockets
dimensioned to hold a respective one of the objects. The array of
each section corresponds to at least two of the arrays of the
package strip interleaved with each other so that each section can
hold a number of the objects equal to at least twice what one of
the arrays of the package strip can hold. The objects are fed to
the conveyer at the upstream end ordered such that at the transfer
station there is one of the objects in each of the pockets.
Inventors: |
Litke; Harald; (Achstetten,
DE) ; Krahl; Wolfgang; (Laupheim, DE) ;
Habdank; Markus; (Laupheim, DE) ; Seiffert;
Martin; (Schelklingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
K.F. ROSS P.C.
5683 RIVERDALE AVENUE
SUITE 203 BOX 900
BRONX
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Assignee: |
UHLMANN Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co.
KG
|
Family ID: |
38269097 |
Appl. No.: |
11/803145 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/558 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 9/045 20130101;
B65B 35/30 20130101; B65B 35/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/558 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/02 20060101
B65B001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2006 |
DE |
102006022260.1-27 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for packaging small identical objects in respective
pockets of a package strip where the pockets are in a succession of
identical arrays, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor extending
and displaceable from an upstream loading end to a downstream
transfer end and having a plurality of sections each formed with an
array of pockets dimensioned to hold a respective one of the
objects, the array of each section corresponding to at least two of
the arrays of the package strip interleaved with each other,
whereby each section can hold a number of the objects equal to at
least twice what one of the arrays of the package strip can hold;
means for feeding the objects to the conveyer at the upstream end
and ordering them such that at the transfer station there is one of
the objects in each of the pockets and otherwise the conveyor is
free of the objects; a transfer device at the transfer station and
having a plurality of grabs in a number and array equal to one of
the arrays of pockets of the package strip; and control means for
relatively displacing the packaging strip, the conveyor, and the
transfer device such that in a first half cycle the transfer device
picks up all the objects from one of the interleaved arrays of
pockets of the conveyor section at the transfer station and
deposits the picked up objects into the packaging strip, thereafter
in a second half cycle the package strip is advanced by a length of
one of its pocket arrays and the transfer device picks up all the
objects from the other of the interleaved arrays of the same
section in the transfer station and deposit the picked up objects
into the packaging strip downstream of the previously deposited
objects, and the conveyor is advanced to bring another of the
conveyor sections into the conveyor station.
2. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the pockets
of the arrays of the sections are arrayed in columns extending in a
travel direction of the conveyor and rows extending transverse to
the direction.
3. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein in the first
half cycle the transfer device picks up all the objects in every
other row of the conveyor section and deposits them in a respective
array of the package strip and then in the second half cycle picks
up the objects in the remaining rows and deposits them in the next
array of the package strip.
4. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein between the
first and second halves of the cycle the control means advances the
conveyor in the direction by a distance equal to a spacing between
immediately succeeding rows of the pockets in the conveyor.
5. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein to pick up
the objects the transfer device is moved at the start of each half
cycle upstream to a position above the section of the conveyor in
the transfer station, but at the start of the second half of the
cycle the transfer device is moved back upstream by a distance
shorter or longer by an amount equal to the spacing in the
direction between succeeding rows of the pockets than the distance
it is moved for the first half of the cycle.
6. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the sections
are formed with upwardly projecting ridges extending in the
direction between the rows.
7. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the ridges
are of upwardly pointing triangular section.
8. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the conveyor
section are rigid plates that are hinged together about axes
extending perpendicular to the direction.
9. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the plates
each have an upper face provided with a low-friction coating.
10. The packaging apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the device
is provided with a plurality of suction grabs each for picking up a
respective one of the objects.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for packaging
small objects. More particularly this invention concerns a system
for separating small objects into an orderly array and depositing
them into respective blisters or pockets of a packaging strip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Small objects such as pills, capsules, and tablets are
typically produced in bulk but packaged by placing them each in a
respective pocket or blister of a plastic packaging strip. Thus the
process entails the steps of separating the pills from each other,
positioning them in an orderly array, and then transferring them
from this array to the respective pockets of the packaging
strip.
[0003] The sorting and arraying step is relatively easy. The
objects are deposited on a slightly inclined and relatively broad
feed plate that is vibrated such that the objects orient themselves
in a single layer. The lower outlet end of the vibrating feed plate
deposits them gently on a slowly moving conveyor formed with an
array of upwardly open pockets typically arrayed identically to the
blisters pockets of the packaging strip to be loaded. The pockets
of this conveyor are dimensioned such that they can each just hold
a single one of the objects, and the conveyor is vibrated also so
that the objects work their way into the pockets, filling them all.
A scraper oriented somewhat downstream along the path of the
conveyor pushes the excess objects off the upper surface of the
conveyor and recirculate them back to the upstream end of the
process, so that downstream of the scraper the conveyor is
transporting an exactly ordered array of the objects, one in each
pocket.
[0004] At a loading station at the downstream end of the conveyor a
transfer device comprising a multiplicity of suction grabs oriented
identically to the conveyor pockets drops down on the conveyor,
which can move slowly continuously or in steps, and picks out all
the objects from a short length of the conveyor, then swings
normally further downstream and deposits the picked-up objects into
the pockets of the packaging foil, which typically is moving in
steps transversely past the downstream end of the conveyor. Once a
section of the conveyor has been emptied, it typically drops
downward to recirculate back to the upstream conveyor end at the
downstream end of the vibrating feed plate and get reloaded.
[0005] Thus in this system, which is basically described in German
patent document 199 26 893 of D. Gertitschke, the conveyor is
formed as a succession of hinged together plates each having an
array of pockets identical to some multiple of the array of the
package to be produced, and the transfer device has an identical
number of grabs. Thus for example if a pill package is to be
produced that holds six pills, each conveyor plate can hold 84
pills and the transfer device will have 84 grabs, so that a strip
of packaging strip can be loaded with each cycle for subsequent
division into 14 packages each holding six pills.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved system for ordering, conveying, and depositing
small objects.
[0007] Another object is the provision of such an improved system
for ordering, conveying, and depositing small objects that
overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that can
work faster, that is package more of the small objects in less
time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An apparatus for packaging small identical objects in
respective pockets of a package strip where the pockets are in a
succession of identical arrays has according to the invention a
conveyor extending and displaceable from an upstream loading end to
a downstream transfer end and having a plurality of sections each
formed with an array of pockets dimensioned to hold a respective
one of the objects. The array of each section corresponds to at
least two of the arrays of the package strip interleaved with each
other so that each section can hold a number of the objects equal
to at least twice what one of the arrays of the package strip can
hold. The objects are fed to the conveyer at the upstream end
ordered such that at the transfer station there is one of the
objects in each of the pockets and otherwise the conveyor is free
of the objects. A transfer device at the transfer station has a
plurality of grabs in a number and array equal to one of the arrays
of pockets of the package strip. A controller relatively displaces
the packaging strip, the conveyor, and the transfer device such
that in a first half cycle the transfer device picks up all the
objects from one of the interleaved arrays of pockets of the
conveyor section at the transfer station and deposits the picked up
objects into the packaging strip. Thereafter in a second half cycle
the package strip is advanced by a length of one of its pocket
arrays and the transfer device picks up all the objects from the
other of the interleaved arrays of the same section in the transfer
station and deposit the picked up objects into the packaging strip
downstream of the previously deposited objects and the conveyor is
advanced to bring another of the conveyor sections into the
conveyor station.
[0009] The instant invention is based on the discovery that it is
the loading of the conveyor, which has to be done perfectly since
if one pocket is left empty the resultant package is a reject, that
is the limiting factor on the operation speed of the system.
Furthermore the conveyor has to be moved at a very slow pace to
work properly and prevent any of the objects from popping out of
its pocket. Thus according to the invention the conveyor sections
each hold a number of objects equal to at least twice what each
grab can pick up and handle at a given time, meaning that the grab
can operate at basically double speed, which it is perfectly
capable of doing without error, while the conveyor continues its
steady careful and normally stepwise advance.
[0010] According to the invention the pockets of the arrays of the
sections are arrayed in columns extending in a travel direction of
the conveyor and rows extending transverse to the direction.
Furthermore in a first half of the cycle the transfer device first
picks up all the objects in every other row of the conveyor section
and deposits them in a respective array of the package strip and
then in a second half of the cycle picks up the objects in the
remaining rows and deposits them in the next array of the package
strip. Of course if each conveyor section array holds three or four
times the number of objects as the strip arrays, the pickup device
cycles back three or four times for each cycle. Furthermore the
pickup device or the conveyor can shift transversely to the
conveyor travel direction between succeeding part cycles for
picking up of another interleaved array.
[0011] Furthermore in accordance with the invention between the
first and second halves of the cycle the controller advances the
conveyor in the direction by a distance equal to a spacing between
immediately succeeding rows of the pockets in the conveyor, meaning
that the arrays are interleaved in the conveyor travel direction.
Alternately to pick up the objects the transfer device is moved at
the start of each half cycle upstream to a position above the
section of the conveyor in the transfer station, but at the start
of the second half of the cycle the transfer device is moved back
upstream by a distance shorter or longer by an amount equal to the
spacing in the direction between succeeding rows of the pockets
than the distance it is moved for the first half of the cycle. Thus
the pickup location for the objects from the conveyor can be
changed either by shifting the pickup position of the pickup device
or the position of the conveyor.
[0012] It is useful when the array has pockets or cups arranged in
columns. This provides in particular the possibility that sorting
aids are embodied between the columns on the surface of the
conveyor plate, that is, it facilitates adding the small objects to
the pockets from which they can then be removed by the suction
grippers for the transfer. In their simplest design, the sorting
aids are formed by ridges that have a triangular cross-section and
that have sides facing the pockets so that small objects conveyed
from a supply container to the conveyor plate slide along the sides
of the sorting aids, are arranged in columns, and can be shaken or
brushed into the pockets.
[0013] In order to prevent damage to the small objects, it is
worthwhile when the conveyor plate is provided with a
friction-reducing coating, for instance
polytetrafluoroethylene.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0014] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will
become more readily apparent from the following description,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 perspective view of an inventive apparatus;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a detail view of the downstream end of the
apparatus;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a detail view of a single conveyor plate; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a top view showing a single conveyor plate and the
adjacent package strip.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
[0019] As seen in FIG. 1 an apparatus sorts, feeds, and arrays
small objects to be packaged, such as tablets, coated tablets,
pills, or the like, into the blisters 14 of a package strip 6 that
form succeeding arrays each holding fourteen subarrays A or B each
in turn with six of the blisters 14. This apparatus has a supply 1
downstream of which in a conveyor travel direction 10 is a conveyor
formed of an endless loop of plates 4 each formed with an array of
pockets 12. Each plate 4 as shown in FIG. 4 is formed with 168
pockets 12 so that, as described below, each plate can hold enough
of the objects to fill all two succeeding arrays of subarrays A and
B. To this end the pockets 12 of the plates 4 as oriented as shown
in FIG. 12 in 28 columns extending in the direction D and spaced
apart identically to the blisters 14 of the strip 16 and six rows
spaced part in the direction by a distance equal to half the
spacing of the pockets 14 in the same direction.
[0020] In the illustrated embodiment depicted in the drawing, the
small objects are metered via vibrating troughs 2 and a slide 3 to
the plurality of conveyor plates 4 that are moved via holders 5 in
the direction 10 toward the package strip 6. During this transport
process, the small objects are caused to move into the pockets 12
by shaking. The excess product is scraped off upstream of a
transfer station 7 adjacent the package strip 6. Then the small
objects are removed from the pockets 12 by means of a transfer
device 8 and transferred into the blisters 14 of the package strip
6, the transfer device 8 itself having a plurality of suction
grippers that are arranged in the same array as the blisters 4 in
the package strip and the alternate rows of pockets 12 in the
conveyor plates 4.
[0021] To increase the capacity in the inventive apparatus, the
arrays A and B of the pockets 12 is embodied multiple times in the
conveyor plate 4 (FIG. 4) with a minimum offset, determined by the
size of the pockets 12, between two adjacent arrays A and B that
are offset in the direction that is perpendicular to a transverse
direction 11 of travel for the package strip 6. In order to be able
to transfer with no problem from the pockets 12 into the blisters
14 of the package strip using the transfer device 8, despite the
plurality of arrays A and B formed in one conveyor plate 4, there
is either an incremental displacement of the conveyor plate 4 by
the offset or the position of the suction grippers in the transfer
device 8 is adapted using a corresponding incremental displacement
of the suction grippers during positioning of the plate carrying
the latter in the transfer device 8.
[0022] The plates have sorting ridges 13 (FIG. 3) on the surface on
the conveyor plate 4 between the columns and of triangular
cross-section with sides facing the pockets 12. The conveyor plate
4 is furthermore provided with coating that reduces friction,
Teflon for instance being suitable for this. The conveyor plate 4
itself can be made of steel or even aluminum when reduced weight is
needed.
[0023] In the case of a continuously running package strip 6, a
plurality of cycles can be executed for the transfer device 8 from
one conveyor plate 4 so that the need to move them is less frequent
and more time is available for filling the other conveyor plates
4.
* * * * *