Packaging machine and method of forming an insert

Abstract

Apparatus and a packaging machine comprising apparatus for placing packaging material in a pre-determined position relative to an array of articles for example bottles to be packaged, comprising a conveyor for conveying an array of articles, feed means for feeding the packaging material from a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the articles. The feed means accelerates the packaging material to a sufficient velocity relative to the velocity of the articles such that the packaging material is placed in the pre-determined position whilst continuous forward motion of the articles is maintained.

1 . An apparatus for placing packaging material in a predetermined position relative to an array of articles conveyed by an article conveyor in a first direction of travel at a first velocity, the packaging material having erectable cells for receiving the articles, the apparatus comprising: 
 an erection device having means for receiving the packaging material in a collapsed condition and erecting the cells; and    feed means having means for feeding the erected packaging material from a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction of travel of the article conveyor;    wherein said feed means is disposed at an output end of said erection device and said feed means has means for accelerating the erected packaging material to a second velocity relative to the first velocity of the article conveyor such that the erected packaging material is placed in the pre-determined position while forward motion of the array of articles is maintained.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system for effecting synchronization of said erection device, said feed means and the article conveyor.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for placing packaging material in a predetermined position relative to an array of articles conveyed by an article conveyor in a first direction of travel at a first velocity, the packaging material having cells for receiving the articles, the apparatus comprising: 
 a packaging material conveyor adapted for receiving the packaging material, disposed for conveying a continuous sequence of ones of the packaging material at a second velocity in a second direction of travel that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction of travel of the article conveyor;    a packaging material accelerator adapted for receiving said continuous sequence of ones of the packaging material from said packaging material conveyor at said second velocity, accelerating to a third velocity and projecting substantially perpendicularly to the first direction of travel of the article conveyor onto ones of the array of articles, whereby the packaging material is translated downward in a straight vertical line; and    wherein said packaging material conveyor and said packaging material accelerator are synchronized with respect to the velocities of one another and with respect to the velocity of the article conveyor such that the articles of the array are received within respective cells.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the packaging material conveyor is adapted for receiving the packaging material as a collapsed blank and wherein the apparatus further comprises an erecting mechanism having erecting elements disposed adjacent said packaging material conveyor adapted for erecting the cells of the packaging material as the packaging material is translated by said packaging material conveyor.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said erecting elements include at least one reciprocating member adapted for engaging at least one portion of the packaging material while maintaining a perpendicular orientation with respect to said second direction of travel.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one reciprocating member travels in a curvilinear path.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said curvilinear path is circular.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said curvilinear path is oval-shaped.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said erecting mechanism comprises an adhesive mechanism adapted for applying an adhesive to the packaging material during erection of the cells.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a terminal portion of said packaging material conveyor is disposed in staggered, overlapping relationship with respect to said packaging material accelerator.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said packaging material accelerator is adapted for accelerating said ones of said packaging material to said third velocity which is approximately 3.25 to 5 times greater than said second velocity.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the packaging material accelerator is adapted for being advanced or retarded so as to synchronize placement of the packaging material with respect to the array.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said packaging material accelerator includes at least one endless belt having a working reach terminating proximate the article conveyor disposed for intersection with top regions of the articles.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said packaging material conveyor comprises a pair of endless conveyor chains spaced apart from one another, each having at least one lug, and disposed such that said at least one lug will engage an end portion of an upper edge of the packaging material.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said pair of endless conveyor chains are disposed at right angles with respect to one another and ones of said at least one lug are oriented to support the packaging material in both a transverse and a longitudinal plane.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a control system for effecting the synchronization of said packaging material conveyor, said packaging material accelerator and the article conveyor.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said control system synchronizes positions of the packaging material translated by the packaging material conveyor and said packaging material accelerator with respect to positions of the arrays of articles translated by the article conveyor.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the control system comprises 
 at least one article array position detector for determining positions of the article arrays;    at least one packaging material detector for determining positions of the packaging material;    at least one controller for controlling at least one of said packaging material conveyor, said packaging material accelerator and said article conveyor; and    a central processor adapted for receiving input parameters including input from said at least one article array position detector and said at least one packaging material detector and for operating said at least one controller.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a control system comprising    at least one packaging material detector for determining positions of the packaging material;    at least one controller for controlling at least one of said packaging material conveyor and said erecting mechanism; and    a central processor adapted for receiving input parameters including input from said at least one packaging material detector and for operating said at least one controller.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a control system comprising 
 at least one article array position detector for determining positions of the article arrays;  
   at least one packaging material detector for determining positions of the packaging material;    at least one controller for controlling at least one of said packaging material conveyor, said packaging material accelerator, said erecting mechanism and said article conveyor; and    a central processor adapted for receiving input parameters including input from said at least one article array position detector and said at least one packaging material detector and for operating said at least one controller for controlling at least one of said packaging material conveyor, said packaging material accelerator, said erecting mechanism and said article conveyor.