PACKAGE DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING PACKAGES

    公开(公告)号:EP4177191A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-05-10

    申请号:EP22203875.4

    申请日:2022-10-26

    IPC分类号: B65G47/71 B65G54/02

    摘要: There is described package distribution apparatus (1) comprising an upstream conveying device (3) configured to advance a succession of packages (2) along an upstream advancement path (P) and a distribution device (4) configured to selectively distribute the packages (2) advancing along the upstream advancement path (P) into a first flow (F1) of packages (2) advancing, in use, along a first downstream path (Q) and a second flow (F2) of packages (2) advancing, in use, along a second downstream path (R). The distribution device (4) comprises an endless carrier (15), a plurality of independent carts (16) moveably coupled to the endless carrier (15) and an actuation unit (17) configured to selectively advance the carts (16) along the endless carrier (15) and along an endless path (S). Each cart (16) comprises a pushing element (18) configured to interact with one or more respective packages (2) while the respective cart (16) advances, in use, along a contact portion (19) of the endless carrier (15) for directing the one or more respective packages (2) onto the second downstream path (R). The contact portion (19) is designed such that each pushing element (18) advances along a rectilinear path (T1) when directing, in use, the respective one or more packages (2) onto the second downstream path (R).

    METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PLURALITY OF CARTS MOVABLE ALONG AN ENDLESS TRACK

    公开(公告)号:EP3882164A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-09-22

    申请号:EP21162342.6

    申请日:2021-03-12

    摘要: There is described a method for controlling a plurality of carts (8) movable independently from one another along an endless track (7) and configured to perform at least one task in order to carry out at least one operation onto respective articles (3); the method comprising the steps of:
    a) advancing the carts (8) along the track (7), the track (7) comprising at least one task section (13) and at least one transient section (14);
    b) advancing each cart (8) along a task-assignment section (16) of the track (7) arranged upstream of the at least one task section (13);
    c) advancing a plurality of articles (3) along a feeding path (Q) and through an operation station (A) at which the operation is carried out;
    d) detecting the passage of each article (3) at a detection station (D) of the feeding path (Q) located upstream of the operation station (A); and
    e) controlling one respective cart (8) to perform the at least one task if an article (3) is detected, during the step d) of detecting, when the cart (8) is moving along the task-assignment section (16).

    A METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AN INLET PRESSURE OF A PACKAGING MACHINE

    公开(公告)号:EP3929693A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-12-29

    申请号:EP21180243.4

    申请日:2021-06-18

    摘要: A method (400) for controlling a regulating valve (206) of a packaging machine (100), wherein the packaging machine (100) is a roll-fed packaging machine configured to receive a roll of a carton-based packaging material (102). The packaging machine (100) is configured to be connected to a processing line (202) via the regulating valve (206), wherein the processing line (202) is configured to feed a liquid food product (216) to the packaging machine (100) through the regulating valve (206). The method (400) comprises determining (S402) a product flow, using a flow meter (106), of the liquid food product in the packaging machine (100); determining (S404) an inlet pressure-measurement (306), using a pressure sensor (204), of the liquid food product in the packaging machine (100); and making use of the inlet pressure measurement to the packaging machine (100) for adjusting the regulating valve (206), said regulating valve being configured to receive an output signal from a flow feed forward module (308) in combination with an output signal from a flow proportional-integral-derivative (PID) module (310), wherein the flow feed forward module (308) has the inlet pressure measurement (306) and a flow set point as input signals, and wherein the flow PID module (310) has the product flow and the flow set point as input signals.

    PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SEALED PACKAGES

    公开(公告)号:EP3725689A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-10-21

    申请号:EP20169171.4

    申请日:2020-04-10

    摘要: There is described a packaging machine (1) comprising a conveying device (5) for advancing a web (4) of packaging material along a web advancement path (P) at least to a tube forming station (6) at which the web (4) of packaging material is formed into a tube (3) and for advancing the tube (3) along a tube advancement path (Q), a tube forming and sealing device (10) and configured to form the tube (3) at the tube forming station (6) and to longitudinally seal the tube (3), a tensioning device (32) configured to control the tension of the web (4) of packaging material and/or of the tube (3) and a control unit (13) configured to control operation of packaging machine (1). The tensioning device (32) comprises at least one tensioning assembly (33) having at least a first drive roller (34), a second drive roller (35), a first drive motor connected to the first drive roller (34) and configured to actuate rotation of the first drive roller and a second drive motor (37) connected to the second drive roller (35) and configured to actuate rotation of the second drive roller (35) around the second rotation axis (B). The control unit (13) is configured to control the first drive motor and the second drive motor (37) such that a free loop (38) of the web (4) of packaging material expands and/or advances, in use, between the first drive roller (34) and the second drive roller (35).

    PACKAGE GROUPING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE, PACKAGING MACHINE HAVING A PACKAGE GROUPING APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF GROUPING PACKAGES

    公开(公告)号:EP4446263A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-16

    申请号:EP24168355.6

    申请日:2024-04-04

    摘要: There is described a package grouping apparatus (1, 1', 1") comprising an inlet conveying device (4) configured to advance packages (3) along an advancement path (P) and a grouping system (5) configured to form one or more groups (2) from the packages (3). The grouping system (5) comprises an endless carrier (6), a plurality of independent carts (7) moveably coupled to the endless carrier (6) and each having at least one engagement element (9). Each independent cart (7) comprises a powering unit configured to control movement the respective engagement element (9) between a respective rest position to a respective active position. The powering unit is configured to move the respective engagement element (9) from the respective rest position to the respective active position after formation of the respective group (2) and for discharging the respective group (2) of packages (3) from the inlet conveying device (4). The grouping system (5) also comprises an energy transfer device (10) configured to transfer energy to the powering units of the independent carts (7) and such to provide for the energy needed to control the respective engagement element (9) from the respective rest position to the respective active position.

    VIRTUAL-PRESSURE BASED CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A FILLING MACHINE FLOW REGULATING VALVE

    公开(公告)号:EP4173975A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-05-03

    申请号:EP22203583.4

    申请日:2022-10-25

    摘要: A method for controlling a flow regulating valve (6) of a filling machine (1) forming composite packages (2) from a multilayer composite packaging material and filling the composite packages with a pourable filling product, wherein a position of the regulating valve controls the flow of the product filling the packages, the method envisages: implementing a flow feedback control, receiving a flow set point (F SP ) and an inlet flow measurement (F IN ) and generating a feedback control contribution (C FB ) indicative of a difference between the inlet flow measurement and the flow set point; implementing a flow feed-forward control, receiving the flow set point (F SP ) and generating a feedforward control contribution (C FF ) using fluid-dynamic maps, which map an output position of the regulating valve with respect to flow and pressure values of the filling product; generating a virtual pressure (Pv) based on the feedback control contribution (C FB ) generated at the output of the flow feedback control module, wherein the flow feedforward control receives the virtual pressure (Pv) and generates at its output the feedforward control contribution (C FF ) based on the flow set point (F SP ) and the virtual pressure (P V ) using the fluid-dynamic maps. The feedforward control contribution (C FF ) determines a control signal (S c ) for adjusting an operating position of the flow regulating valve (6).