System for packing products

Abstract

A system for vertically packing of products into a container, with a predetermined number of products which are fed singly to the system. Said system includes: a shingling unit ( 14 ) in which the products are collated with a shingling degree determined by a collated pattern, each product overlapping the previous product to form a product group, a transfer unit ( 15 ) bringing the collected product group into a container filling system ( 16 ), bringing the product group sideways, a container filling system ( 16 ), bringing the product group into the container in a controlled manner, a container handling unit including means for receiving and holding an upright empty container, means ( 45 ) for tilting the empty container 90 degrees into the container filling system and tilting the full container back into an upright position, and delivering the full container on an outfeed conveyor, a controller unit ( 19 ) adapted to control the operation of said shingling unit ( 14 ), transfer unit ( 15 ), container filling system and container handling unit, wherein the operational speed of each unit is controlled in proportion to the flow of products through each of said units and system.

1 . A system for vertically packing of products into a container, with a predetermined number of products which are fed singly to the system, characterized in that said system includes:
 a shingling unit ( 14 ) in which the products are collated with a shingling degree determined by a collated pattern, each product overlapping the previous product to form a product group,   a transfer unit ( 15 ) bringing the collected product group into a container filling system ( 16 ), bringing the product group sideways,   a container filling system ( 16 ), bringing the product group into the container in a controlled manner,   a container handling unit including means for receiving and holding an upright empty container, means ( 45 ) for tilting the empty container 90 degrees into the container filling system and tilting the full container back into an upright position, and delivering the full container on an outfeed conveyor,   a controller unit ( 19 ) adapted to control the operation of said shingling unit ( 14 ), transfer unit ( 15 ), container filling system and container handling unit, wherein the operational speed of each unit is controlled in proportion to the flow of products through each of said units and system.   
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said units and system includes at least one sensor detecting the flow of products through the unit/system. 
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shingling unit ( 14 ) includes a sensor detecting the arrival of a product, the shingling unit being controlled to step to a next position when a product actually has arrived. 
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shingling unit ( 14 ) includes a conveyor belt ( 21 ) arranged 90 degree on the arriving stream of products. 
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shingling unit ( 14 ) includes a perforated conveyor belt that is guided over a vacuum chamber extending over the entire length of the belt. 
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shingling unit is using a high friction conveyor belt. 
     
     
         7 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , said system further including a product merger ( 13 ), which merges products from two, or more, product streams into one product stream prior to entering the shingling unit, said product merger including upper ( 61 ,  62 ) and lower ( 63 ) conveyor belts, each receiving a stream of products, driving means ( 64 ,  65 ,  66 ) controlling the speed of said upper and lower conveyor belts, sensors detecting the arrival of products in each stream, the product merger being adapted to output products alternatively from the upper and lower conveyor belts. 
     
     
         8 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transfer unit ( 15 ) includes two variable speed conveyor belts, the speed of the conveyor belts being controlled by said controller unit ( 19 ). 
     
     
         9 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container filling system includes a pushing plate ( 32 ) arranged to push product groups into a container and a transfer plate ( 34 ) supporting said product groups while they are pushed into the container. 
     
     
         10 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container handling unit includes:
 a container clamping mechanism with two vacuum pads ( 43 ,  44 ) adapted to hold a container between them,   a tilting mechanism ( 45 ) for the container clamping mechanism,   the container clamping mechanism being mounted on two rails ( 41 ,  42 ),   a drive adapted to move the container clamping mechanism along the rails ( 41 ,  42 ) in an indexing manner.