U.S. patent application number 12/805602 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-10 for machine.
Invention is credited to Stephen Casey, James Frost, Ernie Herterich, Deirdre O'Malley, Martin O'Malley, Michael O'Toole.
Application Number | 20110030319 12/805602 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43533696 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110030319 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Malley; Martin ; et
al. |
February 10, 2011 |
Machine
Abstract
An apparatus for inserting planar articles into packages having
mouths, the apparatus comprising a bed to support a package; an
opener to open the mouth of a package; a pusher to push a planar
article along an article path into the package when the opener has
operated, The pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the
package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for
the article as it is moved into the package. The guide has a
generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from
an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the
apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially
facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the
article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex
being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed
into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as
they guide an article. Movement of the guide is caused by a pusher
action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the
article path as it moves towards a package. A bias spring mechanism
returns the guides to a home position in the article path and ready
for a next article.
Inventors: |
O'Malley; Martin; (County
Dublin, IE) ; O'Malley; Deirdre; (County Dublin,
IE) ; Casey; Stephen; (Dublin, IE) ; Frost;
James; (Dublin, IE) ; Herterich; Ernie;
(Dublin, IE) ; O'Toole; Michael; (Dublin,
IE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACOBSON HOLMAN PLLC
400 SEVENTH STREET N.W., SUITE 600
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
43533696 |
Appl. No.: |
12/805602 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61272034 |
Aug 10, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/473 ;
53/235 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 25/002 20130101;
B65B 5/04 20130101; B65B 43/30 20130101; B65B 35/20 20130101; B65B
43/50 20130101; B65B 39/007 20130101; B65B 39/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/473 ;
53/235 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/04 20060101
B65B001/04 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for inserting planar articles into packages having
mouths, the apparatus comprising: a bed to support a package; an
opener to open the mouth of a package; a pusher to push a planar
article along an article path into the package when the opener has
operated, wherein the pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in
the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path
for the article as it is moved into the package.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide has a
generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from
an apex to an open side.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guide has a
generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from
an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the
apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially
facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the
article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex
being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed
into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as
they guide an article.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein movement of said
guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into
contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a
package.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein guide movement is
caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with
the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package, the
guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is
against a bias spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring
mechanism is adapted to return the guide to a home position in the
article path and ready for a next article.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a guide on
each side of the article path.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a guide on
each side of the article path; and wherein the guides are spring
biased to a default position towards said article path.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the guide has a
generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from
an apex to an open side, the guide is mounted with the apex
substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing
the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article
path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being
configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a
package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they
guide an article; movement of said guide is caused by a pusher
action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the
article path as it moves towards a package; the guide comprises a
bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias
spring force of said mechanism; said bias spring mechanism is
adapted to return the guide to a home position in the article path
and ready for a next article. there is a guide on each side of the
article path; and the guides are spring biased to converge to a
default position towards said article path.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener
comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and
a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open
the mouth.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener
comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and
a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open
the mouth; and wherein there are at least two suction cups.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener
comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and
a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open
the mouth; and wherein the opener comprises suction cups for
pulling opposed leaves away to open the mouth.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener
comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and
a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open
the mouth; and wherein the opener comprises suction cups for
pulling opposed leaves away to open the mouth.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener and the
pusher are driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener and the
pusher are driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation,
wherein the cam mechanism is linked with a drive to move the bed
into an insertion position.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bed is on an
indexed carousel.
16. A packaging machine comprising an indexing carousel with a
plurality of beds, a feed mechanism for feeding packages onto the
beds, and a feed mechanism for feeding articles to an apparatus
comprising: an opener to open the mouth of a package; a pusher to
push a planar article along an article path into the package when
the opener has operated, wherein the pusher comprises a guide
adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to
ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the
package.
17. A method performed by an apparatus comprising a bed, and
opener, and a usher, and a guide, the method being for inserting a
planar article into a packages having a mouth, the method
comprising: the bed supporting a package; the opener opening the
mouth of a package; the pusher pushing the planar article along an
article path into the package when the opener has operated, the
guide engaging in the package mouth while guiding the article to
ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the
package.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the guide has a
generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from
an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the
apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially
facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the
article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex
being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed
into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as
they guide an article.
19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein movement of said
guide is caused by a pusher action of moving the article into
contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards the
package.
20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein guide movement is
caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with
the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package, the
guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is
against a bias spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring
mechanism returns the guide to a home position in the article path
and ready for a next article.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein there is a guide on
each side of the article path; and wherein the guides are moved by
spring biased to a default position towards said article path.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for inserting planar
objects such as media discs into packages such as disc sleeves.
PRIOR ART DISCUSSION
[0002] An object of the invention is to achieve improved
reliability for automated insertion of objects such as discs into
packages such as sleeves or envelopes. Heretofore such insertion
has been performed by pushing the article into the package.
However, any irregularities in the package caused, for example by
the package being previously used lead to inconsistencies in
insertion of the articles in a high-speed production line.
[0003] The invention addresses this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus
for inserting planar articles into packages having mouths, the
apparatus comprising: [0005] a bed to support a package; [0006] an
opener to open the mouth of a package; [0007] a pusher to push a
planar article along an article path into the package when the
opener has operated, [0008] wherein the pusher comprises a guide
adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to
ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the
package.
[0009] In one embodiment, the guide has a generally V-shaped
configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open
side.
[0010] In one embodiment, the guide has a generally V-shaped
configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open
side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially
facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher,
said open side providing an open slot in the article path for
receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to
enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to
assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an
article.
[0011] In one embodiment, movement of said guide is caused by a
pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on
the article path as it moves towards a package.
[0012] In one embodiment, guide movement is caused by a pusher
action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the
article path as it moves towards a package, the guide comprises a
bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias
spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring mechanism is
adapted to return the guide to a home position in the article path
and ready for a next article.
[0013] In one embodiment, there is a guide on each side of the
article path.
[0014] Preferably there is a guide on each side of the article
path; and wherein the guides are spring biased to a default
position towards said article path.
[0015] In another aspect: [0016] the guide has a generally V-shaped
configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open
side, [0017] the guide is mounted with the apex substantially
facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher,
said open side providing an open slot in the article path for
receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to
enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to
assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an
article; [0018] movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action
of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article
path as it moves towards a package; [0019] the guide comprises a
bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias
spring force of said mechanism; said bias spring mechanism is
adapted to return the guide to a home position in the article path
and ready for a next article. [0020] there is a guide on each side
of the article path; and [0021] the guides are spring biased to
converge to a default position towards said article path.
[0022] In one embodiment, the opener comprises at least one suction
cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying
suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth.
[0023] In one embodiment, the opener comprises at least one suction
cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying
suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein there
are at least two suction cups.
[0024] In one embodiment, the opener comprises at least one suction
cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying
suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein the
opener comprises suction cups for pulling opposed leaves away to
open the mouth.
[0025] In one embodiment, the opener comprises at least one suction
cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying
suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein the
opener comprises suction cups for pulling opposed leaves away to
open the mouth.
[0026] In a further embodiment, the opener and the pusher are
driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation.
[0027] In one embodiment, the opener and the pusher are driven by a
cam mechanism providing synchronisation, wherein the cam mechanism
is linked with a drive to move the bed into an insertion
position.
[0028] In one embodiment, the bed is on an indexed carousel.
[0029] In another aspect, the invention provides a packaging
machine comprising an indexing carousel with a plurality of beds, a
feed mechanism for feeding packages onto the beds, and a feed
mechanism for feeding articles to an apparatus comprising: [0030]
an opener to open the mouth of a package; [0031] a pusher to push a
planar article along an article path into the package when the
opener has operated, [0032] wherein the pusher comprises a guide
adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to
ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the
package.
[0033] In another aspect, the invention provides a method performed
by an apparatus comprising a bed, and opener, and a usher, and a
guide, the method being for inserting a planar article into a
packages having a mouth, the method comprising: [0034] the bed
supporting a package; [0035] the opener opening the mouth of a
package; [0036] the pusher pushing the planar article along an
article path into the package when the opener has operated, the
guide engaging in the package mouth while guiding the article to
ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the
package.
[0037] In one embodiment, the guide has a generally V-shaped
configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open
side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially
facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher,
said open side providing an open slot in the article path for
receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to
enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to
assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an
article.
[0038] In one embodiment, movement of said guide is caused by a
pusher action of moving the article into contact with the guide on
the article path as it moves towards the package.
[0039] In one embodiment, guide movement is caused by a pusher
action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the
article path as it moves towards a package, the guide comprises a
bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias
spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring mechanism
returns the guide to a home position in the article path and ready
for a next article.
[0040] In one embodiment, there is a guide on each side of the
article path; and wherein the guides are moved by spring biased to
a default position towards said article path.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0041] The invention will be more clearly understood from the
following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:--
[0042] FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and side perspective views of a disc
insertion apparatus of the invention;
[0043] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view showing a pusher tool in
more detail; and
[0044] FIG. 4 is a more detailed perspective view showing operation
of the tool and of guides of the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0045] Referring to the drawings a disc insertion apparatus 1 of
the invention comprises a frame 2 mounted at a location around an
indexing table. The indexing table has a bed 3 for a sleeve E, to
bring the sleeve E into registry with a disc D to be inserted into
the sleeve E.
[0046] An opener for the apparatus is provided by suction cups 4
mounted on the frame 2 for movement by a mechanism in up-down
cycles in synchronism with the movement of the indexing table.
[0047] The frame also supports a pair of opposed guides 10, each
comprising a folded-over generally V-shaped metal plate shaped with
the apex facing towards the bed 3, and presenting a slot to the
path of a disc D as it moves towards the bed 3. The latter movement
is caused by a pusher arm 20 having a lip 21 providing an inverted
L-shape which traps the disc D in preparation for insertion. In
this specification the pusher arm and the guides are regarded as
being part of a pusher for pushing the discs into the sleeves.
[0048] The suction cups 4 are moved up and down by pneumatic
actuators and the pusher arm 20 is moved in and out by a cam drive,
not shown. This is a very simple drive arrangement to ensure
synchronism. Rotation of the cam shaft is synchronised with
rotation of the indexing table, and with application of suction to
the cups 4 by a vacuum system.
[0049] In operation, the indexing table rotates to present an
envelope 4 on the bed 3 to the disc insertion apparatus 1. The
suction cups 4 descend into contact with the top surface of the
sleeve E. Suction is applied so that the top leaf of the sleeve E
is pulled to open the mouth of the sleeve. A centrally-mounted
vacuum cup comes into contact with the underside of the sleeve
[0050] Just as the top leaf of the sleeve is being lifted to open
the mouth of the sleeve the pusher arm 20 moves to push the disc D
towards the sleeve. The disc D is supplied to this position by
means of a synchronized mechanical lifter which lifts the disc from
the dial plate as soon as the dial plate has indexed into
position.
[0051] The movement inwardly of the disc D engages it into the
guides 10, which are symmetrically arranged and spring-biased by
torsion springs to the closed position. The action of the disc
being pushed towards the sleeve E causes the guides 10 to rotate so
that their front apexes enter into the mouth of the sleeve, hence
ensuring that it is opened sufficiently and uniformly for
consistent entry of the disc D into the sleeve. The arm 20
continues pushing the disc D until it is no longer in contact with
the guides 10 and is fully home in the sleeve E. The bias springs
of the guides bring the guides 10 back into a central default
position ready for the next disc to be pushed through, and the
pusher arm returns to its retracted position.
[0052] The indexing table then moves on to the next indexing
position, at which there is further processing of the filled
sleeve.
[0053] It will be appreciated that the invention provides a very
simple, reliable, consistent, and robust apparatus for filling a
disc into a sleeve. The action of the pusher arm 20 in conjunction
with the guides 10 causes not only the insertion of the disc D into
the sleeve, but also ensures that any non-standard sleeve which may
contain folds, creases or "dog-ears" can be consistently processed
in the operation of the apparatus.
[0054] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described
but may be varied in construction and detail. For example, the
packages could be delivered to the apparatus by a supply
arrangement other than an indexed carousel. It could, for example,
be a linear supply arrangement with a conveyor. The apparatus may
be a stand-along workstation or a part of a larger machine or group
of machines. The apparatus may be configured for insertion of other
types of planar articles into packages. Examples are inserting
discs into envelopes or other types of packages currently used for
storing discs, or inserting smaller envelopes into larger
envelopes.
* * * * *