US 12,448,165 B2
Packaging plants and methods for packaging products
Francesco D'Aponte, San Giovanni Teatino (IT); Diego Gualtieri, San Giovanni Teatino (IT); and Matteo Antonioli, San Giovanni Teatino (IT)
Assigned to Fameccanica.Data S.p.A., San Giovanni Teatino (IT)
Filed by Fameccanica.Data S.p.A., San Giovanni Teatino (IT)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/678,348.
Claims priority of application No. 21160412 (EP), filed on Mar. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0281629 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65B 65/00 (2006.01); B65B 5/06 (2006.01); B65B 35/44 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 65/003 (2013.01) [B65B 5/06 (2013.01); B65B 35/44 (2013.01); B65G 1/137 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A packaging plant, comprising:
at least one manufacturing machine configured for manufacturing at least one flow of products,
at least one large distribution packaging unit configured for receiving said at least one flow of products from said at least one manufacturing machine and for packaging first products of said at least one flow of products in a large distribution packaging format,
at least one draw-off unit associated to said at least one manufacturing machine and configured for drawing-off second products from said at least one flow of products, the second products intended to be distributed through e-commerce distribution channels,
a filling station located downstream of said at least one draw-off unit,
a plurality of transfer containers movable independently of each other along at least one stationary guide system and configured for receiving said second products at said filling station,
a stocking area wherein at least one of said plurality of transfer containers are stocked, and
a flexible packaging area including at least one packaging robot configured for picking second products from transfer containers of the plurality of transfer containers that are placed in said flexible packaging area and for placing a variable number of the second products that are picked into packaging containers.