US 12,344,422 B2
Packaging apparatus and process
Andrea Biondi, Bologna (IT); Luca Cavazza, Bologna (IT); Umberto Zanetti, Bologna (IT); Enrico Campagnoli, Bologna (IT); Antonio Gigante, Bologna (IT); Giacomo Noferini, Bologna (IT); and Cristian Dakessian, Bologna (IT)
Assigned to G.D S.P.A., Bologna (IT)
Appl. No. 18/006,719
Filed by G.D S.P.A., Bologna (IT)
PCT Filed Jul. 26, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/056721
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 24, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/029549, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 10, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000019612 (IT), filed on Aug. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271733 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B65B 7/28 (2006.01); B65B 7/01 (2006.01); B65B 7/16 (2006.01); B65B 29/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 7/01 (2013.01) [B65B 7/162 (2013.01); B65B 7/2807 (2013.01); B65B 29/022 (2017.08)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A packaging apparatus for capsules, the capsules comprising a container having an opening configured to be closed by a laminar lid applied to the opening, the laminar lid being formed by cutting a strip, said packaging apparatus comprising:
a cutting device, comprising: i) a tensioning and transport mechanism for a strip, defining a portion of the strip where the strip is tensioned in a respective cutting plane arranged in a vertical position, and ii) one or more punches to cut laminar lids from said strip; and
a carousel-like transfer device having movable transfer members, each having at least one gripping head configured to receive one respective laminar lid directly from the strip from the cutting device, the movable transfer members configured to move along a closed path, wherein a mutual position of the cutting device and the transfer device defines a gripping spot of said closed path, wherein the laminar lids are retained directly from the strip in said movable transfer members on a respective plane in a vertical position.
 
11. A packaging process for capsules comprising a container having an opening configured to be closed by a laminar lid applied to the opening, comprising:
a cutting step, wherein a strip is transported in a tensioned state on a cutting plane in a vertical position, and wherein one or more punches cut corresponding laminar lids from said strip; and
a gripping step of gripping the laminar lids wherein, once cut by said punches, the laminar lids are gripped directly from the strip at a gripping spot by respective gripping heads moving along a closed path, wherein the cutting step and the gripping step are performed in the gripping spot, and the laminar lids at said gripping spot are retained in a respective plane in a vertical position.