Machine

Abstract

An apparatus for inserting planar articles into packages having mouths, the apparatus comprising a bed to support a package; an opener to open the mouth of a package; a pusher to push a planar article along an article path into the package when the opener has operated, The pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the package. The guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article. Movement of the guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package. A bias spring mechanism returns the guides to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article.

1 . An apparatus for inserting planar articles into packages having mouths, the apparatus comprising:
 a bed to support a package;   an opener to open the mouth of a package;   a pusher to push a planar article along an article path into the package when the opener has operated,   wherein the pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the package.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein guide movement is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package, the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring mechanism is adapted to return the guide to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is a guide on each side of the article path. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is a guide on each side of the article path; and wherein the guides are spring biased to a default position towards said article path. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein:
 the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, 
 the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article; 
 movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package; 
 the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism; said bias spring mechanism is adapted to return the guide to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article. there is a guide on each side of the article path; and 
 the guides are spring biased to converge to a default position towards said article path. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein there are at least two suction cups. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein the opener comprises suction cups for pulling opposed leaves away to open the mouth. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein the opener comprises suction cups for pulling opposed leaves away to open the mouth. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opener and the pusher are driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opener and the pusher are driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation, wherein the cam mechanism is linked with a drive to move the bed into an insertion position. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bed is on an indexed carousel. 
     
     
         16 . A packaging machine comprising an indexing carousel with a plurality of beds, a feed mechanism for feeding packages onto the beds, and a feed mechanism for feeding articles to an apparatus comprising:
 an opener to open the mouth of a package;   a pusher to push a planar article along an article path into the package when the opener has operated,   wherein the pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the package.   
     
     
         17 . A method performed by an apparatus comprising a bed, and opener, and a usher, and a guide, the method being for inserting a planar article into a packages having a mouth, the method comprising:
 the bed supporting a package;   the opener opening the mouth of a package;   the pusher pushing the planar article along an article path into the package when the opener has operated, the guide engaging in the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the package.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving the article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards the package. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein guide movement is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package, the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring mechanism returns the guide to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein there is a guide on each side of the article path; and wherein the guides are moved by spring biased to a default position towards said article path.