Integrated secondary and tertiary packaging machine

Abstract

An apparatus for packaging articles, which apparatus comprises a first packaging mechanism ( 14 ) for forming secondary packages, in a sequential manner, around successive groups of articles, transfer means ( 20 ) to convey each of the formed secondary packages, each containing a group of articles, to a second packaging mechanism ( 42 ), and to manipulate selected ones of those secondary packages, as they are so conveyed, so as to form successive groups of secondary packages, the second packaging mechanism then forming tertiary packages ( 50 ) around those groups of secondary packages.

1 . An apparatus for packaging articles, which apparatus comprises a first packaging mechanism for forming secondary packages, in a sequential manner, around successive groups of articles, transfer means to convey each of the formed secondary packages, each containing a group of articles, to a second packaging mechanism, and to manipulate selected ones of those secondary packages, as they are so conveyed, so as to form successive groups of secondary packages, the second packaging mechanism then forming tertiary packages around those groups of secondary packages. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first packaging mechanism forms the secondary packages about the groups of articles as those secondary packages are conveyed at a first speed, and wherein the transfer means alters the speed of those secondary packages to a second speed as those secondary packages are grouped. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the said transfer means comprises means to form the said formed secondary packages into at least two conveyance paths, which at least two conveyance paths comprise at least a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the transfer means comprises an aligning mechanism, which aligning mechanism alters the velocity of the secondary packages in at least one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path, thereby to alter the positioning of those secondary packages relative to the secondary packages in the or each other conveyance paths. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the secondary packages formed by the first packaging mechanism are initially disposed in the first conveyance path, and wherein the transfer means comprises actuators to move selected secondary packages from the first conveyance path, into the second conveyance path. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the said one or more conveyance paths comprises an independent conveying means. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said independent conveying means is a conveyor belt. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rate at which the second packaging mechanism completes the formation of tertiary packages about the grouped secondary packages is proportional to the number of secondary packages in the groups of secondary packages. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the rate at which the second packaging mechanism completes the formation of tertiary packages about the grouped secondary packages is proportional also to the rate at which the first packaging mechanism completes the formation of secondary packages about the grouped articles. 
   
   
       10 . A method according packaging articles, which method comprises: forming secondary packages around groups of articles; conveying the formed secondary packages, each containing a group of articles, whilst simultaneously manipulating those secondary packages so as to form successive groups of secondary packages; and forming tertiary packages around the groups of tertiary packages. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the secondary packages are conveyed at a first speed as they are being formed, and wherein the speed of those secondary packages is altered to a second speed as those secondary packages are grouped. 
   
   
       12 . The method according  claim 10 , wherein the said formed secondary packages are formed into at least two conveyance paths, which at least two conveyance paths comprise at least a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the said formed secondary packages are initially conveyed at a first speed, and wherein secondary packages in at least one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path are accelerated or retarded so as to be conveyed at a second speed that is not equal to the first speed, thereby to alter the positioning of those secondary packages relative to the secondary packages in the or each other conveyance paths. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claims 11 , wherein the secondary packages are initially disposed in the first conveyance path when they are formed, and wherein selected secondary packages are moved from the first conveyance path into the second conveyance path. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to an one of  claim 12 , wherein each of the said one or more conveyance paths comprises an independent conveying means. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claims 10 , wherein the rate at which the tertiary packages are formed about the grouped secondary packages is proportional to the number of secondary packages in the groups of secondary packages. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the rate at which the tertiary packages are formed about the grouped secondary packages is proportional also to the rate at which the secondary packages are formed about the grouped articles. 
   
   
       18 . An integrated secondary and tertiary packaging machine, comprising a secondary packaging machine portion for receiving an infeed of articles, forming said articles into article groups, and for forming a carton around each of said article groups, and for conveying the completed cartons at a first speed; a decelerating and grouping mechanism for slowing the completed cartons to a second speed, and for forming the cartons into groups of cartons; and a tertiary packaging machine portion for receiving said groups of cartons, and for forming a case around each of said carton groups, and for conveying the completed cases from the machine.