Apparatus and method for packaging products in boxes

Abstract

A packaging apparatus for packaging products in boxes, includes: a supply station, in which the products are positioned, a discharge station arranged to receive the products from the supply station and at least one first guide and a second guide which extend along respective longitudinal axes between the supply station and the discharge station, both configured to lead a single column of products along its own longitudinal axis from the supply station to the discharge station while rotating the products about the longitudinal axis through respective rotation angles different from 0° and different from each other.

1 . A packaging apparatus ( 1 ) for packaging products ( 2 ) in boxes ( 3 ), comprising:
 a supply station ( 11 ), in which said products ( 2 ) are positioned,   a discharge station ( 13 ) which is positioned downstream of said supply station ( 11 ) and which is arranged to receive said products from said supply station ( 11 ),   at least one first guide ( 12   a ) which extends along a longitudinal axis thereof between said supply station ( 11 ) and said discharge station ( 13 ), said at least one first guide ( 12   a ) being configured to lead a single column (B) of the products ( 2 ) along said longitudinal axis from said supply station ( 11 ) to said discharge station ( 13 ) while rotating said products at the same time about said longitudinal axis through a first rotation angle (R) different from 0°,   at least one second guide ( 12   b ) which extends along a longitudinal axis thereof between said supply station ( 11 ) and said discharge station ( 13 ), said at least one second guide ( 12   b ) being configured to lead an additional single column (B) of the products along said longitudinal axis from said supply station ( 11 ) to said discharge station ( 13 ) while rotating said products at the same time about said longitudinal axis through a second rotation angle (S) different from 0° and different from said first rotation angle (R).   
     
     
         2 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in a region of said discharge station ( 13 ), the distance between the respective longitudinal axes of said first guide ( 12   a ) and said second guide ( 12   b ) is less than the distance between said respective longitudinal axes in a region of said supply station ( 11 ). 
     
     
         3 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first rotation angle (R) is between 0° and 90°. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second rotation angle (S) is between 90° and 180°. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first rotation angle (R) and said second rotation angle (S) are substantially supplementary relative to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein between said supply station ( 11 ) and said discharge station ( 13 ) a plurality of guides ( 12 ) comprising at least said first guide ( 12   a ) and said second guide ( 12   b ) extends. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein in said plurality of guides ( 12 ), at least one sub-group (G) of guides which is repeated at least two times within said plurality of guides is identified, the at least one sub-group (G) comprising at least said first and said second guide ( 12   a ,  12   b ). 
     
     
         8 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of guides ( 12 ) are formed by the successive repetition in said at least one sub-group (G) of guides. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one subgroup (G) of guides is formed by said first guide and said second guide ( 12   a ,  12   b ). 
     
     
         10 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein in said supply station ( 11 ) said products are arranged with respect to each other in accordance with a first configuration and, in said discharge station ( 13 ), said products being discharged from said plurality of guides ( 12 ) are arranged with respect to each other in a second configuration which is different from said first configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein in said first configuration the products form successive rows (A) being introduced into said guides, wherein each row (A) being introduced is formed by products ( 2 ) which are equidistant and orientated identically. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein in said second configuration the products ( 2 ) form a row (A′) in which each product ( 2 ) is inclined with respect to the products adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging apparatus according to,  claim 1 , wherein said discharge station ( 13 ) comprises a gripping device ( 16 ) which is provided to take said products ( 2 ) being discharged from the plurality of guides ( 12 ) and to deposit said products ( 2 ) in one of said boxes ( 3 ) while maintaining them in said second configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging apparatus according to,  claim 1 , wherein said supply station ( 11 ) comprises a plurality of channels ( 15 ), in which said products are moved in single columns (B) towards said guides ( 12   a ,  12   b ). 
     
     
         15 . A method for packaging products ( 2 ) in boxes ( 3 ), the method comprising:
 arranging a plurality of said products ( 2 ) in a first configuration in a supply station ( 11 ),   sliding said products ( 2 ) from said supply station ( 11 ) to a discharge station ( 13 ) along at least one first guide ( 12   a ) and at least one second guide ( 12   b ),
 wherein said at least one first guide ( 12   a ) is configured to lead a single column (B) of said products ( 2 ) along a longitudinal axis thereof and to rotate said products about the longitudinal axis through a first rotation angle (R) different from 0°, and 
 wherein said at least one second guide ( 12   b ) is configured to lead an additional single column (B) of said products ( 2 ) along a longitudinal axis thereof and to rotate said products about the longitudinal axis through a second rotation angle (S) which is different from 0° and different from said first rotation angle (R), 
   
       in such a manner that said products ( 2 ) being discharged from said at least one first guide and said at least one second guide ( 12   a ,  12   b ) are arranged in said discharge station ( 13 ) in a second configuration which is different from the first configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising taking said products ( 2 ) in the second configuration from said discharge station ( 13 ) and depositing said products ( 2 ) in said box ( 3 ) while maintaining said second configuration. 
     
     
         17 . A packaging apparatus ( 1 ) for packaging products ( 2 ) in boxes ( 3 ), comprising:
 a supply station ( 11 ) in which said products ( 2 ) are moved along an advance direction (X) and are placed relative to each other according to a first configuration,   a discharge station ( 13 ) which is positioned downstream of said supply station ( 11 ),   a plurality of guides ( 12 ) which are interposed between said supply station ( 11 ) and said discharge station ( 13 ), wherein each of said guides extends along a respective longitudinal axis and is configured to lead a single column (B) of products ( 2 ) from said supply station ( 11 ) along the longitudinal axis and possibly to rotate the products of said single column about the longitudinal axis in such a manner that, in said discharge station ( 13 ), said products ( 2 ) being discharged from said plurality of guides ( 12 ) are arranged with respect to each other in a second configuration which is different from the first configuration,   a gripping device ( 16 ) which is provided in said discharge station ( 13 ) to take said products ( 2 ) and to deposit said products ( 2 ) in one of said boxes ( 3 ) while maintaining said products ( 2 ) in said second configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein each guide ( 12 ) of said plurality is configured to rotate the products ( 2 ) which are guided therein about said longitudinal axis through a rotation angle (R; S) which is different from zero and different from the rotation angle (S; R) of a guide adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein each guide ( 12 ) of said plurality is configured to rotate the products ( 2 ) which are guided therein about said longitudinal axis through the same rotation angle (T) which is different from zero. 
     
     
         20 . A method for packaging products ( 2 ) in boxes ( 3 ), the method comprising:
 defining a final configuration of said products ( 2 ) in said box ( 3 ), in which at least one row (A′; A″) of products having a desired mutual positioning is identified,   arranging in a supply station ( 11 ) a plurality of said products ( 2 ) in a first configuration, different from said final configuration,   providing a plurality of guides ( 12 ) equal to the number of products of said at least one row, wherein each guide is configured to lead a single column (B) of said products along a longitudinal axis of said guide from said supply station ( 11 ) to a discharge station ( 13 ) and to rotate said products ( 2 ) about said longitudinal axis in such a manner that said products being discharged from said plurality guides ( 12 ) are arranged with respect to each other in a second configuration corresponding to said at least one row (A′; A″) of products having said mutual desired positioning,   taking said at least one row (A′; A″) of products from said discharge station ( 13 ) and depositing said at least one row (A′; A″) of products in the box ( 3 ) while maintaining said second configuration.