Method of packing articles into a packing box, and corresponding packing device

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of and device for packing articles into a packing box for a flow of articles in a first direction and a flow of packing boxes in a parallel second direction. The packing boxes are put in a slanted position so the bottom of each packing box is slanted to a horizontal plane. Articles are gripped from the flow of articles and placed into the packing box so the articles are placed in a vertical orientation into the packing box, providing a row against the bottom and a first side wall that is lower with respect to the other side walls. At least one article is collected and provided into a holder, and placed from the holder in vertical orientation into the packing box, completing the row of articles in the packing box between the first and second side walls of the packing box.

1 . A method of packing articles ( 10 ) into a packing box ( 20 ) having a bottom ( 21 ) and side walls ( 22 ) connected to the bottom, the articles having a length ( 11 ), a width ( 12 ) and a thickness ( 13 ), the length being longer than or equal to the width and the width being longer than the thickness, the method comprising
 providing a flow (F 10 ) of articles ( 10 ) in a first direction (D 1 );   providing a flow (F 20 ) of packing boxes ( 20 ) in a second direction (D 2 ) substantially parallel to the first direction (D 1 );   providing the packing boxes in the flow (F 20 ) of packing boxes ( 20 ) in a slanted position, for packing of articles into the packing boxes, such that the bottom of each packing box is slanted with respect to a horizontal plane (H), a first side wall ( 22 . 1 ) is in a lower position with respect to other side walls of the packing box, and articles provided in the packing box ( 20 ) will bear against the bottom ( 21 ) and the first side wall ( 22 . 1 );   gripping articles ( 10 ) from the flow (F 10 ) of articles and placing the articles, into one or more packing boxes that are provided in the slanted position in the flow of packing boxes such that the articles are placed in a vertical orientation into each packing box ( 20 ) with the length and the width of the articles parallel to the first side wall to provide a row ( 18 ) of articles bearing against the bottom ( 21 ) and the first side wall ( 22 . 1 ); and   subsequently collecting and providing at least one article ( 10 ) from the flow (F 10 ) of articles in a holder ( 31 ), and placing the at least one article from the holder in vertical orientation into a packing box ( 20 ) that is provided in the slanted position in the flow of packing boxes to complete a row ( 18 ) of articles in the packing box between the first side wall ( 22 . 1 ) and an opposing second side wall ( 22 . 2 ) of the packing box.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein placing the at least one article ( 10 ) from the holder ( 31 ) into the packing box comprises at least one of sliding and pushing the at least one article from the holder into the packing box ( 20 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein collecting at least one article ( 10 ) from the flow (F 10 ) of articles comprises collecting at least two articles with sides comprising the length and the width on top of one another. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein collecting and providing at least one article ( 10 ) from the flow (F 10 ) of articles in a holder comprises in a first step collecting the at least one article and in a subsequent step providing the at least one article into the holder ( 31 ). 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein collecting and providing at least one article ( 10 ) from the flow (F 10 ) of articles in a holder is carried out at an end of the flow of articles. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the articles ( 10 ) are provided with one of the length and the width along the first direction (D 1 ) in the flow (F 10 ) of articles, and subsequently are provided with said one of the length and the width perpendicular to the bottom into the packing box. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the packing boxes ( 20 ) are provided in the flow (F 20 ) of packing boxes with the first side wall ( 22 . 1 ) perpendicular to the second direction (D 2 ) as seen when the packing boxes are not in the slanted position. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein gripping articles ( 10 ) from the flow (F 10 ) of articles and providing the articles into the packing box comprises gripping the articles and providing the articles into the box using a delta robot. 
     
     
         9 . A packing device for packing articles ( 10 ) into a packing box ( 20 ) having a bottom ( 21 ) and side walls ( 22 ) arranged perpendicular to the bottom, the articles having a length ( 11 ), a width ( 12 ) and a thickness ( 13 ), the length being longer than or equal to the width and the width being longer than the thickness, the packing device comprising
 an article conveyer ( 15 ) configured for providing a flow (F 10 ) of articles ( 10 ) in a first direction (Dl);   a packing box conveyer ( 25 ) configured for providing a flow (F 20 ) of packing boxes ( 20 ) in a second direction (D 2 ) substantially parallel to the first direction;   at least one slanting arrangement ( 26 ) associated with the packing box conveyer ( 25 ) and configured for providing the packing boxes in the flow (F 20 ) of packing boxes ( 20 ) in a slanted position, for packing of articles into the packing boxes, such that the bottom of each packing box is slanted with respect to a horizontal plane (H), a first side wall ( 22 . 1 ) is in a lower position with respect to other side walls of the packing box, and articles provided in the packing box ( 20 ) will bear against the bottom ( 21 ) and the first side wall ( 22 . 1 );   at least one gripping and placing arrangement ( 40 ) configured for gripping articles ( 10 ) from the flow (F 10 ) of articles and placing the articles, into one or more packing boxes that are provided in the slanted position in the flow of packing boxes such that the articles are placed in a vertical orientation into each packing box ( 20 ) with the length and the width of the articles parallel to the first side wall to provide a row ( 18 ) of articles bearing against the bottom ( 21 ) and the first side wall ( 22 . 1 ); and   a collecting and placing arrangement ( 30 ) configured and arranged for subsequently collecting and providing at least one article ( 10 ) from the flow (F 10 ) of articles in a holder ( 31 ), and for placing the at least one article from the holder in vertical orientation into a packing box ( 20 ) that is provided in the slanted position in the flow of packing boxes to complete a row ( 18 ) of articles in the packing box between the first side wall ( 22 . 1 ) and an opposing second side wall ( 22 . 2 ) of the packing box.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the collecting and placing arrangement is configured for at least one of sliding and pushing the at least one article from the holder ( 31 ) into the packing box ( 20 ). 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the collecting and placing arrangement ( 30 ) is configured for collecting at least two articles ( 10 ) with sides comprising the length and the width on top of one another. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the collecting and placing arrangement ( 30 ) comprises a collecting arrangement ( 35 ) for collecting the at least one article ( 10 ), and a placing arrangement ( 30 ) with the holder ( 31 ) and configured for providing the at least one article into the holder ( 31 ). 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the collecting and placing arrangement ( 30 ) is provided at an end of the article conveyer ( 15 ). 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the slanting arrangement ( 26 ) is configured to rotate a packing box ( 20 ) around a rotation axis (R) perpendicular to the second direction (D 2 ) in the slanted position, the rotation axis being perpendicular to the horizontal plane (H). 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the slanting arrangement ( 26 ) comprises at least one of a driven rotation axle ( 28 ) and a driven cam ( 29 ) to provide the packing box ( 20 ) in the slanted position, and comprises a supporting plate ( 27 ) configured for bearing the packing box ( 20 ) and to be rotated to a slanted position. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein one or both of the at least one gripping and placing arrangement ( 40 ) and the collecting and placing arrangement ( 30 ) comprises a delta robot ( 50 ). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping step comprises individually gripping articles ( 10 ) from the flow ( 10 ) of articles and placing the articles individually. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gripping step is performed while both the flow of articles and the flow of packing boxes are continuously progressing. 
     
     
         19 . The placing device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one gripping and placing arrangement individually grips articles ( 10 ) from the flow ( 10 ) of articles and places the articles individually. 
     
     
         20 . The placing device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one gripping and placing arrangement operates while both the flow of articles and the flow of packing boxes are continuously progressing.