Unit for transferring products from a packaging machine to a feeding line of a boxing machine

Abstract

In a unit for transferring products from a packaging machine to a feeding line of a boxing machine, a conveying belt has a plurality of seats for receiving products released by the packaging machine. A curved plate is associated to the conveying belt in a region corresponding to a passage portion between an upper run and a lower run, to close the seats and hold the products. A hopper is situated downstream with respect to the curved plate and receives the products released by the seats of the lower run, disengaged from the curved plate, and convey the products to a compartment made in the feeding line below. A sensor is associated to the hopper and counts the number of products received by the hopper. A straight plate is situated downstream respect to the curved plate and is operated to move in parallel directions, or opposite directions, with respect to the feeding direction of the lower run, respectively to close or open the seats disengaged from the curved plate.

1 . A unit for transferring products from a packaging machine to a feeding line of a boxing machine, with the packaging machine having an outlet line, feeding a plurality of packaged products, the unit including: 
 at least one conveying belt, situated between said outlet line and feeding line, and having a plurality of seats for receiving at least one product released by said outlet line of the packaging machine, said conveying belt defining corresponding runs, an upper run and a lower run, operated in corresponding, opposite feeding directions;    first guiding means associated to said conveying belt at least in a region corresponding to a passage portion between the upper run and the lower run, and closing said seats, in order to hold products contained in said seats;    conveying means, situated near the lower run of the conveying belt, downstream with respect to said first guiding means for receiving the products released by the seats of said lower run, disengaged from said first guiding means, and for conveying said products to a compartment made in the feeding line below;    sensor means, associated to said conveying means for counting the number of products received by the conveying means;    second guiding means, situated between the lower run of the conveying belt and said conveying means, downstream with respect to said first guiding means, and enabled by said sensor means for moving in parallel directions or opposite directions, with respect to the feeding direction of said lower run, respectively to close or open the seats disengaging from said first guiding means, respectively to hold or release the products contained in the seats and for preventing or allowing the products to be conveyed to the conveying means.    
     
     
         2 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , further including partition means, associated to said conveying means and enabled by said sensor means to allow, or prevent, conveying of the products released by the conveying means to a compartment of the feeding line below.  
     
     
         3 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a plurality of conveying belts arranged one after another and having corresponding seats for receiving at least one product; 
 with a fore conveying belt receiving products released by the outlet line of the packaging machine; and    with a rear conveying belt cooperating with said first guiding means and second guiding means, and said conveying means to release said products onto the feeding line.    
     
     
         4 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second guiding means are operated to move with a linear speed at least equal to the speed of said the lower run.  
     
     
         5 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said second guiding means include at least one straight plate, situated downstream with respect to said first guiding means, below them.  
     
     
         6 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first guiding means are stationary.  
     
     
         7 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first guiding means include at least one curved plate.  
     
     
         8 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said conveying means include at leas one hopper.  
     
     
         9 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said conveying means include at least one hopper, and said partition means include at least one bulkhead, enabled by said sensor means to close or open the bottom of said hopper.  
     
     
         10 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , further including transferring means, associated to said outlet line of said packaging machine and collecting packaged products in a substantially vertical configuration and releasing them into the seats of the conveying belt in a substantially horizontal configuration.  
     
     
         11 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said conveying belt is operated in a continuous way.  
     
     
         12 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said conveying belt is vertically aligned with respect to said feeding line.  
     
     
         13 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said conveying belt extends laterally, that is crosswise with respect to said packaging machine.  
     
     
         14 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said feeding line of said boxing machine is operated stepwise.  
     
     
         15 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said feeding line is enabled by said sensor means.  
     
     
         16 . A unit, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said packaging machine is a bagging machine.  
     
     
         17 . A unit, as claimed  claim 1 , wherein said products are packages with tubular shape.