US 11,932,434 B2
Packing method and unit to pack articles, in particular straws, with automatic rejection of defective articles
Massimo Fortini, Bologna (IT); Fabrizio Fazzioli, Bologna (IT); Gaetano Balboni, Bologna (IT); and Giuliano Gamberini, Bologna (IT)
Assigned to G.D SOCIETA′ PER AZIONI, Bologna (IT)
Filed by G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI, Bologna (IT)
Filed on Mar. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/698,947.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000006605 (IT), filed on Mar. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0306327 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 35/26 (2006.01); B65B 11/10 (2006.01); B65B 19/34 (2006.01); B65B 57/10 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 35/26 (2013.01) [B65B 11/10 (2013.01); B65B 19/34 (2013.01); B65B 57/10 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A packing method to pack articles (1), comprising the steps of:
moving, by means of a first rotary conveyor (16), first seats (18), each designed to house an article (1), along a first path (P1) and with a first moving speed (V1);
moving, by means of a second rotary conveyor (21), second seats (23), each designed to house an article (1), along a second path (P2) and with a second moving speed (V2);
feeding, in a first feeding station (S8) arranged along the second path (P2), in each second seat (23) a portion of a first continuous band (24) of wrapping material which is arranged in the second seat (23) so as to define a pocket;
cyclically transferring an article (1) from a first seat (18) to a second seat (23) in a transfer station (S5), where the first path (P1) and the second path (P2) face one another and which is arranged downstream of the first feeding station (S8) in order to insert the article (1) in a corresponding pocket of the first continuous band (24) of wrapping material provided in the second seat (23); and
applying, in a second feeding station (S9) arranged along the second path (P2) downstream of the transfer station (S5), to the first continuous band (24) of wrapping material, a second continuous band (27) of wrapping material that closes the pockets containing the articles (1) which are arranged in the second seats (23);
wherein, in case of normal operation during which all the first seats (18) contain transferable articles (1), the first moving speed (V1) is functionally equal to the second moving speed (V2), so that, within a same time frame, the same number of first and second seats (18, 23) move through the transfer station (S5);
wherein the packing method comprises, in case of at least one first seat (18) not containing a transferable article (1), the further steps of:
functionally decreasing the second moving speed (V2) relative to the first moving speed (V1) so that, within a same exchange time interval, in which one single second seat (23) passes through the transfer station (S5), at least two first seats (18), one of which does not contain a transferable article (1) and one of which contains a single transferable article (1), pass through the transfer station (S5); and
transferring, in the transfer station (S5) and during the exchange time interval, the single transferable article (1) from the first seat which contains the single transferable article (18) to a corresponding second seat (23); and
wherein the packing method comprises the further steps of: temporarily reducing, when a first seat (18) not containing a transferable article (1) is identified, both the first moving speed (V1) and the second moving speed (V2) from respective normal values to respective reject values before functionally decreasing the second moving speed (V2) relative to the first moving speed (V1); and restoring, once the first seat (18) not containing a transferable article (1) has passed the transfer station (S5), both the first moving speed (V1) and the second moving speed (V2) from their respective reject values to their respective normal values.