STORAGE UNIT FOR BLANKS AND RELATED METHOD

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102024000015478, filed Jul. 4, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a blanks storage unit and a method for storing blanks. The invention also concerns a packaging apparatus provided with a blanks storage unit.

The present invention finds a preferred, albeit not exclusive, application in the field of packaging boxed articles, preferably by folding blanks. In particular, the invention finds preferred use in the packaging of articles by using relatively thin or flexible blanks.

The invention also finds preferred use in packaging that requires the formation of boxes of variable shape and/or dimensions. The invention can be used, for example, in packaging articles of variable geometry and which are relatively delicate, such as bags of cereal flakes, a field to which reference will be made later without losing generality.

DEFINITIONS

In this description as well as in the accompanying claims, certain terms and expressions are deemed to have, unless otherwise expressly indicated, the meaning expressed in the following definitions.

The term “article” means any product which may be packaged in boxes. The articles can have a predefined geometric shape or they can have a variable geometry. Preferably, the articles are food and confectionery articles, either in bulk, or contained within bags or other types of packages, such as cereal bags or coffee capsules or other infusion beverages, single chocolates (wrapped or unwrapped), candies, pouches containing solid, liquid or semi-solid food articles. The articles may also be articles of the ceramic industry, absorbent articles for hygienic use, articles of the tobacco industry, articles of the cosmetic industry, articles of the pharmaceutical industry, articles of the personal and household care industry.

By “packaging” one or more articles in a box is meant obtaining a box containing said one or more articles. Such packaging can be obtained by inserting one or more articles into an already formed box or, preferably, it can be obtained by forming a box around the one or more articles to be contained.

“Blank” means a shaped sheet of suitable material and thickness suitable for being folded to form a box. Preferably, the blank is made of cardboard. Preferably, the blank has two opposite substantially planar faces having dimensions substantially greater than the dimensions of the thickness of the blank itself. Preferably, the blank has a thickness of at least 0.2 mm, more preferably less than 4 mm. More preferably, the blank has a thickness comprised between 0.25 mm and 1.6 mm, more preferably between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, even more preferably between 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm.

An “intended fold line” of a blank is a predefined line made on the blank and intended to divide two panels of the blank itself and around which it is provided for the two panels of blank to rotate relative to each other in order to fold the blank, preferably to form a box. The intended fold line can be a virtual, albeit predefined, line. The intended fold line is preferably defined by a line of weakness obtained on the blank, such as for example a crease, or an incision or a plurality of aligned holes.

The term “stack” refers to a plurality of substantially planar objects, in particular blanks positioned one above the other, or flanked to one another. In particular, a stack of blanks is a set of blanks placed adjacent to each other so that the faces of two adjacent blanks face each other. In the stack of blanks the faces of two adjacent blanks can be in contact with each other, or spaced apart from each other. Preferably in the stack of blanks the faces of two adjacent blanks are in contact with each other.

By “box” it is meant any container suitable for containing a plurality of articles for the purpose of their packaging, which can be made starting from a blank by folding around a mandrel and subsequent fixing at edges or panels thereof. Preferably, the box has at least one closed contour section, more preferably it is closed laterally around the mandrel while the longitudinal ends are kept open.

The term “trajectory” refers to the linear path taken by an object, for example a stack of blanks, during its movement along a direction of movement. The trajectory is represented by an oriented line. A “section” or a “portion”of a trajectory are also represented by oriented lines.

When a trajectory, or a section thereof, are comprised within a plane, that plane is defined as the “feed plane”of the object.

With reference to a particular trajectory, a first element has a “forward position” or is positioned “downstream” with respect to a second element when along the oriented line identified by such trajectory, the first element is in a position that is subsequent to the position of the second element. Similarly, a first element has a “backward position” or an “upstream” position with respect to a second element when along the oriented line identified by this trajectory, the first element is in a position preceding the position of the second element. In particular, one blank is in a forward position with respect to another blank if it is closer to the outlet section of the storage unit than the other blank.

In the present description the definition “advanced blank” means in particular the blank of the stack of blanks closest to an outlet section of the storage unit.

A vector quantity, for example the speed, is defined by a “modulus” and by a “direction”, herein intended to include also the way, and can be represented by an oriented segment of length equal to the “modulus” and oriented in the way indicated by the “direction”.

BACKGROUND

The Applicant has preliminarily observed that the provision of a storage unit configured to store a stack of blanks and provided with movement means to move the blanks of the stack of blanks from an inlet section of the storage unit towards an outlet section thereof to supply them in succession towards a manipulation unit allows to obtain significant advantages in terms of efficiency and speed of supply of the blanks. In fact, the subsequent blanks are moved and supplied in rapid succession one after the other towards the manipulation unit.

However, the Applicant has observed that sometimes the blanks are not properly supplied into the storage unit.

In particular, the Applicant has noted that in some cases the blanks are not regularly supplied into the storage unit and that they tend to accumulate within it, in particular in proximity to the inlet section of the storage unit. The Applicant has also verified that this defect is particularly frequent when the blanks have limited thickness and resistance and when the dimensions and/or the number of the blanks themselves increase. This causes clogging or blockages in the storage unit that can be resolved with the intervention of an operator.

Furthermore, the Applicant has noted that in some cases the blanks, especially if of limited thickness and resistance or of large dimensions, may be torn, or ripped off, during movement in the storage unit.

SUMMARY

To this end, the Applicant has found that a stack of blanks is supplied into a storage unit provided with a movable support device on which the stack of blanks is loaded and a feed element operable to move the blanks of the stack of blanks along a feed trajectory from an inlet section towards an outlet section of the storage unit. The stack of blanks is supplied at the inlet section of the storage unit and pushed towards the movable support device so that the blanks of the stack rest on the movable support device. Subsequently, the stack of blanks is moved towards the outlet section of the storage unit by means of the movable support device where the blanks are picked up by a manipulation unit. The support device is provided with a support surface intended to restingly receive the blanks of the stack of blanks and defining a feed plane for the blanks. The blanks are positioned on the support device so that a flank of the blanks rests on the support device and that the face of the blanks is arranged perpendicularly to the feed trajectory.

To pick up the blanks from the storage unit, a manipulation unit is usually provided with gripping elements intended to engage the advanced blank, i.e. the blank placed at the outlet section of the storage unit to pick it up. The manipulation unit is configured to pick up a single blank each time. For this purpose, the manipulation unit is approached to the storage unit so as to engage the advanced blank with gripping elements and subsequently moved to pick up the advanced blank from the storage unit to move it towards

The Applicant has observed that it is sometimes not possible to correctly pick up the advanced blank because the latter is not correctly positioned at the outlet section or is stuck on another blank. The Applicant has also observed that in some cases the advanced blank is torn, or damaged, therefore, it is not usable and must be discarded.

The Applicant has perceived that the blanks are not always moved correctly in the storage unit and that sometimes the blanks, during movement, tend to bend, especially when they have considerable dimensions, or are made of material with limited resistance. The Applicant has also noted that sometimes the blanks of the same stack tend to remain stuck on each other and get packed forming groups of blanks and that this hinders the movement of the blanks in the storage unit and the picking up of the blanks by means of the manipulation unit. The Applicant has verified that one of the critical steps in the movement process of the blanks is the initial movement of the blanks in the storage unit towards the support device and the positioning of the blanks on the support device itself. The Applicant has noted that sometimes groups of blanks offer considerable resistance to movement in the storage unit and tend to accumulate in proximity to the inlet section where the various stacks of blanks are loaded. This prevents, for example, further stacks of blanks from being loaded into the storage unit. If the blanks are moved in groups up to the outlet section of the storage unit, the picking up by the manipulation unit is compromised.

The Applicant therefore imagined modifying the feed element to push with greater force the blanks from the inlet section onto the support device or in general towards the outlet section of the storage unit. However, the Applicant found that this would have resulted in a greater frequency of damages to the blanks and would not have solved the problem of the incorrect positioning of the blanks at the outlet section nor the possible packing of the blanks.

The Applicant imagined modifying the support device so as to reduce the friction of the blanks on the support surface of the support device and thus facilitate the sliding of the blanks towards the outlet section. This would facilitate the movement of the blanks from the inlet section to the outlet section of the storage unit. However, the Applicant verified that such a solution would necessarily involve the provision of measures to avoid the accumulation of blanks at the outlet section and that such a solution could have worsened the positioning of the blanks in the storage unit by favoring their bending, or tilting from the desired feed position.

The Applicant therefore verified that these measures would not have been sufficient to resolve the problems identified.

The Applicant has found that the blanks may sometimes be torn during movement in the storage unit or they may not be correctly positioned at the outlet section of the storage unit. In particular, the Applicant has verified that in some cases at the outlet section the face of the blanks is not arranged perpendicularly to the feed trajectory.

The Applicant has verified that this prevents the use of the blanks or in any case negatively affects the correct picking of the blanks by the manipulation unit. The incorrect positioning of the blanks at the outlet section may also compromise the correct formation of the boxes to be formed with the blanks themselves.

The Applicant has noted that frequent maintenance interventions by the operators are necessary to align the blanks on the support device, or to separate groups of blanks stuck on each other.

However, the Applicant has verified that these interventions considerably slow down the productivity of the packaging apparatus since it is necessary to interrupt the operation of the storage unit during maintenance interventions and, therefore, of the processing machines of the packaging apparatus in which the blanks are used.

Furthermore, the Applicant has verified that this approach does not allow to prevent some blanks from being damaged, or compromised, during movement in the storage unit. In fact, the maintenance interventions are usually planned after a plurality of blanks have been damaged or torn, or got packed, in order to avoid interrupting the operation of the storage unit unnecessarily, or due to an isolated malfunction.

The Applicant has also found that as the movement speed of the blanks in the storage unit increases, for example to increase the production capacity of the packaging apparatus, tearing or ripping of the blanks occurs more frequently.

The Applicant, in order to reduce the occurrence of possible tearing of the blanks, has therefore imagined acting on the movement mechanism of the blanks, for example by reducing the thrust force on the blanks and, therefore, the movement speed of the blanks in the storage unit, or even by reducing the number of blanks loaded into the storage unit to be moved towards the outlet section thereof.

However, the Applicant has found that these solutions would have strongly limited the production capacity of a packaging plant without necessarily solving the problems encountered. The Applicant has therefore verified that the possibility of using these measures was limited by the productivity required for the packaging apparatuses.

The Applicant has therefore understood that in order to limit the possibility of clogging the storage unit and damaging the blanks during movement, it was necessary to rethink the blanks storage unit.

The Applicant therefore understood that in order to achieve the aforementioned purpose while maintaining high production capacities, it was necessary to identify an operating mode that would allow adjusting the friction to which the blanks are subjected in the movement in the storage unit.

The Applicant, in particular, intuited that the possibility of generating damage to the blanks, or packing of the blanks themselves, was correlated to the force exerted on the blanks by the feed element in the movement in the storage unit and to the friction between the blanks and the support device, in particular, in an initial portion of the feed trajectory between the inlet section and the outlet section of the storage unit. Consequently, the Applicant has intuited that by adjusting the friction of the blanks in an initial portion of the section, it would allow to avoid tears or damages to the blanks without thereby limiting the supply speed of the blanks to the manipulation unit.

Finally, the Applicant has understood that a method and a blanks supply unit that provide a guide device for the blanks configured to facilitate the sliding of the blanks in a section of the feed trajectory adjacent to the inlet section surprisingly allows to guide the blanks effectively towards the outlet section avoiding unwanted tears of the same and at the same time maintaining high production speeds without the need to continuously resort to the action of an operator.

In other words, the Applicant has found that reducing the friction of the blanks and, therefore, facilitating the sliding of the blanks in a section of the feed trajectory adjacent to the inlet section allows the blanks to be moved effectively while avoiding the defects complained of above.

In a first aspect, therefore, the present invention relates to a blanks storage unit for storing a stack of blanks.

The storage unit comprises an inlet section of said blanks and an outlet section of said blanks.

Preferably, the storage unit comprises a feed device comprising a support device intended to restingly receive said blanks of said stack of blanks and a feed element for moving said blanks along a feed trajectory from said inlet section towards said outlet section.

Preferably, the storage unit comprises a guide device intended to facilitate the sliding of the blanks in a section of the feed trajectory adjacent to the inlet section.

Preferably, at least one of said support device and said guide device is movable with respect to the other along a lifting trajectory between a transport configuration in which said support device defines in said section a feed plane of said blanks and said blanks rest on said support device and a sliding configuration in which said guide device is at least partially lifted with respect to said support device and said blanks rest on said guide device to be guided in sliding along said section towards said outlet section.

In a second aspect thereof, the present invention concerns an apparatus for packaging boxed articles comprising a blanks storage unit for storing a stack of blanks comprising an inlet section of said blanks and an outlet section of said blanks.

Preferably, the storage unit comprises a feed device comprising a support device intended to restingly receive said blanks of said stack of blanks and a feed element for moving said blanks along a feed trajectory from said inlet section towards said outlet section.

Preferably, the storage unit comprises a guide device intended to facilitate the sliding of the blanks in a section of the feed trajectory adjacent to the inlet section.

Preferably, at least one of said support device and said guide device is movable with respect to the other along a lifting trajectory between a transport configuration in which said support device defines in said section a feed plane of said blanks and said blanks rest on said support device and a sliding configuration in which said guide device is at least partially lifted with respect to said support device and said blanks rest on said guide device to be guided in sliding along said section towards said outlet section.

In a third aspect thereof, the invention concerns a method for storing a stack of blanks.

Preferably the method comprises loading a stack of blanks onto a support device of a storage unit of said blanks intended to support said blanks.

Preferably the method comprises feeding the blanks of said stack of blanks along a feed trajectory from said inlet section towards said outlet section of said storage unit.

Preferably, the method comprises arranging a guide device in a section of the feed trajectory adjacent to the inlet section to guide the sliding of said blanks in said section.

Preferably, the method comprises moving at least one between said support device and said guide device with respect to the other of said support device and said guide device along a lifting trajectory between a transport configuration in which said support device defines a feed plane of said blanks and said blanks rest on said support device and a sliding configuration in which, in said section, said guide device is at least partially lifted with respect to said support device and said blanks rest on said guide device to be guided in sliding towards said outlet section.

Thanks to these characteristics, the storage methods, the storage units and the packaging apparatuses according to the present technical solution allow to effectively move a stack of blanks avoiding on the one hand potential accumulations of blanks in an area of the storage unit, or tears thereof during movement in the storage unit. Groups of blanks are prevented from forming in proximity to the inlet section of the storage unit. At the same time, it is ensured that boxes having a regular and precise shape are formed. Thanks to these features, it is also possible to obtain the aforesaid advantages without penalising production speed.

In the sliding configuration, the blanks in said section of the feed trajectory do not rest on the support device but they only rest on the guide device so as to be guided in sliding along said section. The blanks are pushed along the guide device along the section, downstream of said section the blanks rest on the support device to be transported towards the outlet section. In the transport configuration, the blanks rest on the support device and are transported along the feed trajectory.

The possibility of moving the guide device and/or the support device with respect to each other allows to adjust the sliding developed at said section in the storage unit. It is therefore possible to adjust the resistance of the blanks to the movement along the feed trajectory. It is possible to modify the resistance that must be overcome in the section to move the blanks of the storage unit based, for example, on the characteristics of the blanks to be To move the blanks it is necessary to overcome a resistance that depends on the dimensions of the blanks, the material of which they are made, the rigidity of the same. Therefore, conveniently by moving the guide device and/or the support device, it is possible to obtain a storage unit suitable for moving blanks having different characteristics from each other in a desired manner. This advantage is obtained without modifying other operating parameters of the storage unit. Furthermore, such adjustment does not affect the normal operation of the storage unit and it is not necessary to interrupt its operation to configure the storage unit in the sliding or transport configuration.

In a fourth aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a blanks storage unit for storing a stack of blanks.

The storage unit comprises an inlet section of said blanks and an outlet section of said blanks.

Preferably, the storage unit comprises a feed device comprising a support device intended to restingly receive said blanks of said stack of blanks and a feed element for moving said blanks along a feed trajectory from said inlet section towards said outlet section.

Preferably, the storage unit comprises a guide device intended to facilitate the sliding of the blanks in a section of the feed trajectory adjacent to the inlet section.

Preferably said support device defines a feed plane of said blanks in said storage unit.

Preferably, in said section said guide device is at least partially lifted with respect to said support device and is intended to restingly receive said blanks in said section so that said blanks are guided in sliding along said section on said guide device towards said outlet section.

In a fifth aspect thereof, the present invention concerns an apparatus for packaging boxed articles comprising a blanks storage unit for storing a stack of blanks comprising an inlet section of said blanks and an outlet section of said blanks.

Preferably, the storage unit comprises a feed device comprising a support device intended to restingly receive said blanks of said stack of blanks and a feed element for moving said blanks along a feed trajectory from said inlet section towards said outlet section.

Preferably, the storage unit comprises a guide device intended to facilitate the sliding of the blanks in a section of the feed trajectory adjacent to the inlet section.

Preferably said support device defines a feed plane of said blanks in said storage unit.

Preferably, in said section said guide device is at least partially lifted with respect to said support device and intended to restingly receive said blanks in said section so that said blanks are guided in sliding on said guide device along said section towards said outlet section.

In a sixth aspect thereof, the invention concerns a method for storing a stack of blanks.

Preferably the method comprises loading a stack of blanks onto a support device of a storage unit of said blanks intended to support said blanks.

Preferably the method comprises feeding the blanks of said stack of blanks along a feed trajectory from said inlet section towards said outlet section of said storage unit.

Preferably, the method comprises arranging a guide device in a section of the feed trajectory adjacent to the inlet section to guide the sliding of said blanks in said section.

Preferably the method comprises positioning said guide device so that it is at least partially lifted with respect to said support device and said blanks rest on said guide device to be guided in sliding towards said outlet section.

By providing a guide element in a section of the feed trajectory of the blanks intended to guide the blanks in a section of the feed trajectory in the storage unit placed adjacent to the inlet section, it is possible to avoid accumulations of blanks in proximity to the inlet section. At said section, the blanks rest on the guide element and this facilitates the sliding of the blanks along the section of the feed trajectory avoiding accumulations of blanks in proximity to the inlet section and downstream of the section the blanks rest on the support device to be transported towards the outlet section of the storage unit. The provision of the guide element only in said section placed in proximity to the inlet section allows to avoid that the blanks are moved too quickly in the storage unit or that they heap up in other areas of the feed trajectory, while allowing to avoid accumulations of blanks in proximity to the inlet section or having to exert an excessive thrust force on the blanks to push them towards the outlet section. Unwanted damages to the blanks are therefore avoided. In this way it is also possible to facilitate the correct positioning of the stack of blanks in the storage unit and that the blanks are correctly positioned at the outlet section.

The present invention, in at least one of the aforesaid aspects, may have at least one of the further preferred features set out below.

In some versions, in the transport configuration the guide device is positioned so that, in said section, the blanks rest only on the support device. The guide device is positioned so as not to engage the blanks and not to interfere with the blanks in said section. This guarantees a regular feeding of the blanks in the section and avoids that distinct portions of the blanks are subjected to frictions different from one another and that the face of the blanks tilts and is not perpendicular to the feed trajectory.

In some versions, in the transport configuration, the guide device is positioned at a vertical level lower than the feed plane of the blanks so as not to engage the blanks.

Preferably said feed plane is a horizontal plane.

Preferably, said feed element is intended to drive said support device to move said blanks along said movement trajectory. The blanks are transported via the support device towards the outlet section.

Preferably said support device comprises a support surface intended to restingly receive the blanks of the stack of blanks and defining the feed plane of the blanks along the feed trajectory.

In some preferred versions said support device comprises a plurality of support elements each provided with a support surface intended to restingly receive a portion of the blanks of the stack of blanks and defining a feed plane for said portion of blanks along the feed trajectory.

In some preferred versions said support elements are coplanar so as to define the same feed plane.

In some preferred versions said support elements are arranged so that the respective support surfaces lie on parallel planes and define feed planes parallel to each other. This version makes it possible to effectively feed blanks with panels with dimensions that are different from each other.

In some preferred versions said guide device comprises a plurality of guide elements, a guide element of said plurality of guide elements being associated with a respective support element of said plurality of support elements. At least one of the support member and the guide member of each pair of the support member is movable with respect to the other between the transport configuration and the sliding configuration.

In some preferred versions said support device comprises at least one feed belt intended to restingly receive said blanks.

Preferably said at least one feed belt extends along said feed trajectory.

The at least one feed belt is operable so as to move the blanks along the feed trajectory at a desired feed speed. The feed speed can be adjusted based on the characteristics of the blanks and/or the required productivity.

In some preferred versions said feed element comprises a pair of pulleys around which said at least one feed belt is wound and a motor intended to rotate the pulleys to move said at least one feed belt in a feed direction and feed the blanks along said feed trajectory.

Preferably, said guide device comprises at least one guide element having a rest surface intended to restingly receive said blanks.

The rest surface is preferably made of a material with low coefficient of friction such as a metal.

In this way it is possible to reduce the friction of the blanks when they rest on the rest surface of the guide element. The sliding of the blanks in the section of the feed trajectory in which the guide element is provided is facilitated without affecting the movement of the blanks through the support device along the remaining part of the feed trajectory. The support surface is made of a material having a greater coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of the rest surface and vice versa the rest surface of the guide device is made of a material having a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of the support surface. In this way, a lower thrust force is required to slide the blanks on the rest surface than the force required to move the blanks with respect to the support surface.

In some versions, the rest surface is provided with a finish intended to facilitate the sliding of said blanks to facilitate the movement of said blanks along said section of said feed trajectory. By suitably choosing the finish of the rest surface, it is possible to adjust the sliding of the blanks on the guide element.

In some versions, said support surface is made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, for example rubber, so as to reduce the sliding of the blanks along the support surface.

Suitably, by choosing the finish of the support surface, or the material of the support device, it is possible to adjust the friction provided by the support device and, therefore, the resistance of the blanks to sliding with respect to the support surface.

In some versions said support surface is provided with knurling, or other surface treatment, to increase the friction of said blanks on said support surface.

The rest surface can be made of a material having a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of said support surface to facilitate the sliding of said blanks on said rest surface in said section of said feed trajectory. In this way, the sliding of the blanks on the guide element is facilitated without compromising the correct feeding of the blanks on the support device. This makes it possible to optimise the movement and the positioning of blanks in the storage unit. The provision of a rest surface with a low coefficient of friction and in particular with a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of the support surface makes it possible to facilitate the sliding of the blanks in the section with respect to the other portions of the feed trajectory. On the other hand, the provision of a support surface with a high coefficient of friction makes it possible to avoid unwanted movements of the blanks in the feed along the feed trajectory. By providing a rest surface and a support surface with a coefficient of friction that is different between them, it is possible to adjust the sliding of the blanks on the guide device while avoiding clogging in the passage between the guide device and the support device.

The feed trajectory extends between the inlet section and the outlet section of the storage unit. Along the feed trajectory a release section is identified which is interposed between the inlet section and the outlet section at which the blanks are transferred, with the storage unit in the sliding configuration, from the guide device to the support device.

Preferably in said sliding configuration said guide element extends between said inlet section and said release section along said feed trajectory. Preferably in the sliding configuration the blanks are released by said guide element on said support device at said release section. The blanks are then guided by means of the guide device along the section of the trajectory in proximity to the inlet section and then released by the guide element on the support device at the end of the section to be moved by means of the support device towards the outlet section. Downstream of the section, therefore, the blanks are fed by means of the support device both if the storage unit is configured in the sliding configuration and if the storage unit is configured in the transport configuration. On the contrary, in the section the blanks are pushed on said guide element if the storage unit is in the sliding configuration or they are transported by means of the support device if the storage unit is configured in the transport configuration.

The section of said feed trajectory extends between said inlet section and said release section. The provision of the guide element at the inlet section allows the blanks to be guided by means of the guide device if necessary, avoiding that packing of blanks is formed along the feed trajectory or that the blanks move from the desired feed position. This simplifies the management of the transport of the blanks.

In the sliding configuration, the guide device defines a sliding plane for the blanks. In some preferred versions the sliding plane is parallel to the feed plane.

In other preferred versions the sliding plane is incident to the feed plane at the release section.

Preferably, the support device extends from the inlet section towards the outlet section beyond the release section so that the release section is provided at an intermediate portion of the support device. The release section is positioned so that said blanks are released by said at least one guide element on said support device in an intermediate portion thereof. This allows to favor the correct positioning of the blanks on the support device. Preferably, the guide device extends, in the sliding configuration between the inlet section and the blanks release section.

Preferably said section has an extension comprised between 10 and 80 cm.

The Applicant has verified that these extension values of the section allow to obtain a correct feeding of the blanks avoiding that they pack up or accumulate in proximity to the inlet section and at the same time avoiding that they tilt or move from the desired feed position and it also allows to achieve a correct positioning of the blanks on the support device.

Preferably, said guide element is flanked in said sliding configuration to said support device along said feed trajectory in said section.

This configuration makes it possible to improve the guide of the blanks along said section, considerably reducing the possibility that the blanks are subject to unwanted movements. Furthermore, this configuration makes it possible to optimize the positioning of the blanks on the support device downstream of the section.

Preferably, said guide element comprises at least one slide intended to restingly receive said blanks in said section.

Preferably, in said sliding configuration, said at least one slide is flanked to said at least one feed belt along said feed trajectory in said section. This makes it possible to improve the guide of the blanks on the slide in the section of the feed trajectory and also the guide of the blanks towards the at least one feed belt. This also makes it possible to improve the positioning of the blanks on the at least one feed belt downstream of said section.

Preferably the at least one slide comprises a body having a surface intended to receive the blanks and defining the rest surface for the blanks. Preferably, the rest surface of the at least one slide extends between a backward edge and an opposite forward edge of the slide itself. Preferably, when the slide is in sliding configuration, the backward edge is positioned in proximity to the inlet section and the opposite forward edge is positioned in proximity to the release section.

In some preferred versions, the guide device comprises a first slide and a second slide flanked at said section with said at least one support device in said sliding configuration, the first slide and the second slide being positioned on opposite sides of said support device with respect to said feed trajectory. In this way it is possible to guide the blanks symmetrically along said feed trajectory. It is also possible to guide the blanks from the first and second slide symmetrically towards the support device, favoring their correct positioning on the support device downstream of the section. The first and second slide are movable with respect to said support device between the transport configuration in which said support device defines in said section the feed plane of said blanks and said blanks rest on said support device and the sliding configuration in which the slides are at least partially lifted with respect to said support device and said blanks rest on said guide device to be guided in sliding along said section towards said outlet section.

In one version both the rest surfaces of said first slide and said second slide are made of material having a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of the support surface to favor the sliding of said blanks on said first slide and said second slide in said section of said feed trajectory. This allows to prevent the blanks from moving with respect to the desired feed position and, on the contrary, to favor the correct positioning of the blanks on the support device.

In some preferred versions, the storage unit comprises a movement device for moving said at least one support device with respect to said guide device along said lifting trajectory between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration. In this version, in case of difficulty in moving the blanks, it is possible to move the support device to bring the blanks to rest on the guide device or on the support device.

In some preferred versions the storage unit comprises a movement device for moving said guide device with respect to said support device along said lifting trajectory between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration. This version allows the guide device to be moved when necessary, in order to guide the blanks in the section of the movement trajectory. If difficulties occur in the feeding of the blanks, the guide device is moved into the sliding configuration so that the blanks rest on the guide device and are guided in sliding along the section towards the outlet section.

Preferably, said lifting trajectory comprises a vertical lifting component oriented so as to lift said guide element with respect to said support device. In this way, in the passage from the transport configuration to the sliding configuration, the guide element is lifted and engages a lower flank of the blanks, progressively lifting them with respect to the support device. In the sliding configuration, the blanks rest on the rest surface of the guide element and are lifted with respect to the support surface of the support device.

Preferably said lifting trajectory comprises a transport component directed in the opposite direction to said feed trajectory. This facilitates the separation of the blanks, avoiding excessive accumulations and packing of the blanks themselves. The transport component is parallel to the feed trajectory and directed in the opposite direction to it.

In some versions said movement device is configured to move said guide device from said sliding configuration to said transport configuration along a return trajectory having a vertical lowering component oriented so as to lower said guide element with respect to said support device and a sliding component concordant with said feed trajectory. In this way, in the passage from the sliding configuration to the transport configuration, the blanks are progressively lowered towards the support device and at the same time fed along the feed trajectory. This return trajectory allows to optimize the passage of the blanks from the guide element to the support device.

If the feed plane of the blanks is a horizontal plane, the lifting component and the lowering component are perpendicular to the feed plane.

In other preferred versions said movement device is configured to move said guide device from said transport configuration to said sliding configuration along a lifting trajectory having a vertical lifting component oriented so as to lift said guide element with respect to said support device and a transport component oriented in a manner concordant to said feed trajectory. This facilitates feeding the blanks along the feed trajectory in the passage from the transport configuration to the sliding configuration. In this way, in the passage from the transport configuration to the sliding configuration, the blanks are progressively lifted by means of the guide element from the support device and at the same time moved in a manner concordant to the feed trajectory. In this case, the movement device is configured to move said guide device from said sliding configuration to said transport configuration along a return trajectory having a vertical lowering component oriented so as to lower said guide element with respect to said support device and a sliding component, oriented opposite to said feed trajectory.

In some versions the lifting trajectory is linear and perpendicular to the feed plane.

In some versions the lifting trajectory is linear and inclined with respect to the feed plane.

In some versions the lifting trajectory is curved, preferably in the shape of an arc of circumference. The lifting trajectory comprises in each plane a vertical component perpendicular to the feed plane. In this way, jams of the blanks are avoided, favoring the passage of the blanks on the at least one slide.

In some preferred versions, the support device comprises a plurality of feed belts intended to support distinct portions of said blanks for moving the blanks along said feed trajectory. This measure makes it possible to improve the support and, therefore, the feeding of blanks having also considerable dimensions, preventing the blanks from moving from the desired feed position along the feed trajectory. The feed belts of the plurality of belts are flanked along the feed trajectory.

In some preferred versions, the support device comprises at least a first feed belt and at least a second feed belt intended to support distinct portions of said blanks for moving the blanks along said feed trajectory.

Preferably said second feed belt is flanked to said first feed belt along said feed trajectory.

In some preferred versions said second feed belt and said first feed belt are coplanar so that the respective support surfaces define the same feed plane for the blanks and are spaced apart from each other by a distance that depends on the dimensions of the blanks.

In some preferred versions said second feed belt and said first feed belt are positioned so that the respective support surfaces define two distinct feed planes parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other by a distance that depends on the dimensions of the blanks.

Preferably the support device comprises a plurality of feed belts arranged flanked along said feed trajectory and spaced apart from each other by a desired distance in a direction perpendicular to the feed trajectory so as to support distinct portions of said blanks. In this way it is possible to support and feed blanks of considerable dimensions.

In some preferred versions, the belts of the plurality of feed belts are arranged so that the respective support surfaces are positioned at the same vertical level and define the same feed plane of the blanks.

In other versions the feed belts of the plurality of feed belts are positioned at vertical levels that are different from each other so that the respective support surfaces lie in planes parallel to each other and define feed planes parallel to each other. The vertical position of the feed belts of the plurality of feed belts depends on the shape and dimensions of the blanks to be transported. In this way it is possible to correctly support and feed blanks having panels of different shape and, therefore, different vertical extension between them.

Preferably, the support device comprises a first feed belt, a second feed belt and a third feed belt flanked to one another along the feed trajectory and intended to support distinct portions of said blanks to move the blanks along said feed trajectory.

Preferably, the feed belts of the plurality of feed belts are placed at a mutual distance such that distinct feed belts support different panels of a same blank.

In other versions, two feed belts are positioned so as to support the same panel of each blank. This version is particularly advantageous in the case of blanks with panels of considerable dimensions and/or flexible material.

In some versions, adjustment means are provided which are adapted to move at least one feed belt along an adjustment direction perpendicular to the feed trajectory to adjust the distance between two adjacent feed belts. In this way it is possible to adapt the support device to the dimensions of the blanks. The adjustment direction is preferably parallel to the feed plane. It is therefore possible to effectively feed blanks with dimensions that are different from each other.

In some versions, a positioning device is provided to move at least one feed belt along a positioning direction perpendicular to the feed plane to position the feed belt at a desired vertical level. The positioning direction is preferably vertical. In this way, it is possible to vary the vertical position of one or more of the feed belts, and consequently adapt the support device to the dimensions and/or shape of the blanks. It is therefore possible to effectively feed blanks with dimensions and shapes that are different from each other.

In one version, for each feed belt of the plurality of feed belts a first slide and a second slide are provided which are arranged in said section and flanked in said section to said feed belt in said sliding configuration. Preferably the first slide and the second slide are positioned on opposite sides of said at least one feed belt with respect to said feed trajectory, so that the feed belt is interposed between the first slide and the second slide in a direction orthogonal to the feed trajectory. In this way, the guide of the blanks in the section is improved and the blanks are prevented from moving with respect to the desired feed position.

In some preferred versions, said movement device is configured to move said first slide and said second slide with respect to said at least one feed belt along said lifting trajectory between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration.

Each slide is then lifted with respect to the support plane defined by the feed belt to which it is flanked. This allows each flank portion of the blank to be engaged with the slide to lift the blank with respect to the feed belts. Each slide is movable between a transport configuration in which the feed belt defines in said section a feed plane of said blanks and said blanks rest on said support device and do not interfere with the first and second slide and a sliding configuration in which the first and second slide are at least partially lifted with respect to the feed belt and said blanks rest on the slides to be guided in sliding along said section towards said outlet section.

Preferably, the movement device is configured to move said first slide and said second slide with respect to said at least one feed belt along said lifting trajectory between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration in a synchronized manner.

In this way it is possible to move the at least one slide into the sliding configuration when necessary and eventually return it to the transport configuration.

Preferably the storage unit comprises a pushing device for pushing the stack of blanks from the inlet section onto said support device.

In one version, the storage unit comprises a detection sensor adapted to detect the thrust pressure exerted on the stack of blanks, preferably in proximity to said inlet section.

In one version the storage unit comprises a control unit for controlling the operation of the storage unit.

Preferably said control unit is operatively connected to said detection sensor so that said control unit receives said detection signal from said sensor. Said control unit is provided with a processor for comparing said detection signal with a threshold value. Said control unit is preferably operatively connected to a command element of said movement device for commanding the movement of at least one between said support device and said guide device if the detection signal detected by the detection sensor deviates by a predetermined range from the threshold value. Preferably, the command element is configured to move at least one of said support device and said guide device to configure the storage unit in the sliding configuration when the signal detected by the detection sensor is higher than the threshold value.

In one version the control unit comprises a memory on which a first threshold value and a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value are stored. The command element is arranged to configure the storage unit in the sliding configuration when the detected signal is higher than the first threshold value and to configure the storage unit in the transport configuration when the detected signal is lower than the second threshold value.

In one version said movement device comprises an articulated parallelogram movement mechanism intended to move said guide device with respect to said support device.

In another version said movement device comprises an articulated parallelogram movement mechanism intended to move said support device with respect to said guide device.

The articulated parallelogram movement mechanism allows said guide device or said support device to be moved in a simple and precise manner between said sliding configuration and said support configuration.

In a preferred version said articulated parallelogram movement device is configured to move said at least one slide and comprises at least one connecting rod extended between a first and a second hinging end opposite the first hinging end, said at least one connecting rod being hinged at a first hinging end thereof to said at least one slide and at the opposite second hinging end to a support structure of said storage unit.

Preferably, said movement device is configured to rotate said second hinging end of said at least one connecting rod about a rotation axis in both ways of a rotation direction to move said at least-one slide between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration. In this way it is possible to alternatively move the at least one slide between the transport configuration and the sliding configuration.

Preferably said rotation axis is a horizontal rotation axis.

Preferably said movement device is configured to rotate said second hinging end so that in the passage between the transport configuration and the sliding configuration said at least one slide is moved with a lifting trajectory having at least one transport component opposite to said feed trajectory and a vertical lifting component directed perpendicularly to the feed plane. In the passage between the transport configuration and the sliding configuration, the at least one slide is moved with a lifting trajectory having a vertical lifting component arranged perpendicularly to the feed plane to lift the slide with respect to the feed plane and a transport component parallel to the feed plane and opposite to the feed trajectory. In this way, in the passage from the transport configuration to the sliding configuration, the blanks are progressively lifted by means of the at least one slide from the support device and at the same time moved in a manner opposite to the feed trajectory in order to separate the blanks and avoid excessive packing of blanks. It is possible to move the at least one slide into the sliding configuration even after loading the blanks into the storage unit. In this way it is possible to promptly modify the sliding of the blanks in the storage unit avoiding blockages in the operation of the storage unit.

In some versions, in said sliding configuration said at least one connecting rod is substantially vertical.

In other versions in said sliding configuration said at least one connecting rod is inclined with respect to the feed plane.

In the transport configuration the at least one connecting rod is preferably inclined with respect to the feed plane of the blanks.

By varying the amplitude of the rotation of the at least one connecting rod it is possible to adjust the position of the at least one slide with respect to the at least one feed belt in the sliding configuration. It is possible to adjust the lifting of the slide with respect to the feed surface.

The movement device may preferably be provided with a stroke limiting element for limiting the stroke of said connecting rod and between a first position corresponding to the sliding configuration and a second position corresponding to the transport configuration. Blocking elements of said at least one connecting rod in said first and/or said second position may also be provided.

Preferably, said movement device is configured to rotate said second hinging end by an angle of rotation comprised between about 20° and about 90°, preferably between about 30° and about 60°, more preferably about 45°, to move said at least one slide between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration.

Preferably said movement device is configured to rotate said second hinging end so that in the passage between the transport configuration and the sliding configuration said slide is moved by a segment having an extension comprised between about 10 mm and about 50 mm along said vertical direction. This range of values allows on the one hand to effectively lift the blanks with respect to the support device and on the other to allow a regular passage of the blanks from the at least one slide to the support device avoiding unwanted movements of the same.

Preferably said movement device comprises a pair of connecting rods hinged to said at least one slide at respective first hinging points spaced along said feed trajectory by a desired interval and hinged on said support structure of said storage unit at corresponding second hinging points spaced along said feed trajectory by a desired second interval.

Preferably said first hinging points and said second hinging points of the connecting rods of said pair of connecting rods are spaced apart by the same interval.

Preferably, the first hinging points are positioned at the same vertical level and the second hinging points are positioned at the same vertical level.

Preferably, the movement device comprises a first connecting rod hinged to said at least one slide in proximity to the forward edge of said at least one slide and a second connecting rod hinged to said at least one slide in an intermediate portion of said at least one slide. In this way, the support and the movement of the at least one slide is optimized. The intermediate portion of the slide is intermediate along the feed trajectory between the backward edge and the forward edge.

Preferably, the movement device is configured to move said at least one slide to position said at least one slide in said sliding configuration parallel to the feed plane defined by said support device. In this way, the support surface and the rest surface lie on parallel planes and the rest surface is placed at a higher vertical level with respect to the support surface. In this case, in the sliding configuration, the rest surface of the at least one slide defines a sliding plane parallel to the feed plane defined by the support surface.

In some versions, said movement device is configured to move said at least one slide while maintaining the rest surface parallel to said feed plane defined by the feed belt to which the slide is flanked. In this way, unwanted movements of the blanks with respect to the feed plane are avoided. The slide engages the blanks and lifts them with respect to the feed plane while maintaining the face of the blanks substantially perpendicular to the feed trajectory.

Preferably, the articulated parallelogram movement device moves the first and second connecting rod so as to maintain the rest surface of the at least one slide parallel to said feed plane.

In some preferred versions, said movement device is configured so as to move said at least one slide so as to position said slide in said sliding configuration so that the rest surface of the at least one slide is inclined with respect to the support surface and, therefore, to said feed plane defined by the feed belt to which the slide is flanked. The backward edge is preferably positioned at a higher vertical level with respect to the forward edge to facilitate the sliding of the blanks along the feed trajectory.

In some preferred versions, said movement device is configured so as to move said at least one slide so as to position said slide in said sliding configuration so that the rest surface of the at least one slide defines a sliding plane inclined with respect to the feed plane.

This allows to facilitate the sliding of the blanks on the at least one slide along the section. The passage of the blanks from the at least one slide to the support device is also facilitated. By adjusting the inclination of the at least one slide in the sliding configuration it is possible to adjust the sliding of the blanks towards the support device in the feed trajectory.

The forward edge of the at least one slide is preferably positioned at the same vertical level of the feed plane. The backward edge of the at least one slide is placed at a higher vertical level of the feed surface. In this way, the passage of the blanks from the at least one slide to the support device is facilitated.

Preferably, said movement device comprises a motor element for driving the rotation of said at least one connecting rod.

In some versions, said movement device comprises a hydraulic cylinder for lifting the at least one slide.

Preferably, the cylinder is fixed to a backward edge of said at least one slide and is configured to move said backward edge along the lifting trajectory to position said backward edge in said sliding configuration at a higher height with respect to said feed plane to facilitate the sliding of said blanks on said at least one slide.

In some versions, in said transport configuration, said support device and said guide device are positioned so that said rest surface and said rest surface are coplanar. In this way the guide device cooperates with the support device to feed the blanks.

In some versions, in said transport configuration, said rest surface and said support surface are arranged on parallel planes, said rest surface being arranged at a lower vertical level with respect to said support surface. In this way the guide device does not interfere with the feeding of the blanks.

Preferably, after having positioned the guide element in the transport configuration or in the sliding configuration, the guide element is kept fixed during the feeding of the blanks along the feed trajectory. In other words, the guide device is not movable with the support device along the movement trajectory.

Preferably, the movement device is independent of and detached from the feed element.

The provision of a rest surface having a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of the support surface allows to favor the sliding of the blanks on the guide element without the need to move the guide element along the feed trajectory.

In some versions, said feed device further comprises at least one conveyor belt positioned downstream of said support device along said feed trajectory and intended to receive said blanks from said support device for transporting them towards said outlet section.

Preferably said conveyor belt is operable to move the blanks along said feed trajectory at a transport speed having a different modulus from said feed speed. Preferably, the modulus of the transport speed is greater than the modulus of the feed speed. This further favors the separation of the blanks and avoids their packing in proximity to the outlet section.

In some versions, said movement device comprises a fixed support device with respect to said feed trajectory and a pusher element for pushing said blanks from said inlet section towards said outlet section along said fixed support device.

Preferably said movement device comprises operating said support device to move said blanks along said feed trajectory.

Preferably, said guiding comprises flanking said at least one slide along said section to said at least one feed belt in said sliding configuration.

Preferably said guiding comprises lifting said at least one slide at least partially with respect to said at least one feed belt. Preferably said at least one slide has a rest surface with a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of said support surface of said at least one feed belt.

Preferably, said guiding comprises lifting said at least one slide at least partially with respect to the corresponding feed belt so that the rest surface of the slide is placed at least partially at a higher vertical level with respect to the support surface of the corresponding feed belt.

Preferably said guiding comprises flanking in said sliding configuration along said section to said at least one feed belt a first slide and a second slide positioned on opposite sides of said at least one feed belt with respect to said feed trajectory. Preferably the first slide and the second slide are at least partially lifted with respect to said at least one feed belt.

Preferably said guiding comprises guiding said blanks on said guide device along said section from said inlet section to said release section. Preferably said method comprises releasing said blanks onto said support device at said release section and feeding said blanks onto said support device from said release section towards said outlet section.

Preferably said method comprises moving said guide device in said sliding configuration and maintaining said guide device fixed with respect to said support device after said moving and during the transport of said blanks with said support device.

Preferably said moving comprises moving said support device with respect to said guide device between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration.

Preferably said moving comprises moving said guide device with respect to said support device along said lifting trajectory between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration.

Preferably said moving comprises moving said guide device between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration along a lifting trajectory having at least one vertical component and one component parallel to the feed plane.

Preferably, said moving comprises rotating said second hinging end of said at least one connecting rod about a horizontal rotation axis in both ways of a rotation direction to move said at least one slide between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration.

Preferably, said moving comprises positioning said at least one connecting rod substantially vertically in said sliding configuration preferably perpendicularly to the transport plane.

Preferably, said moving comprises rotating said second hinging end in both directions of a rotation direction to move said at least one slide between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration.

Preferably, said moving comprises rotating said second hinging end so that in the passage between said transport configuration and said sliding configuration said at least one slide is moved with a lifting trajectory having at least one transport component parallel and opposite to the feed direction and a vertical lifting component.

Preferably, said moving comprises positioning in said transport configuration said at least one slide coplanar to said feed plane so that said at least one slide and said support device substantially define the same feed plane.

Preferably, said moving comprises tilting said at least one slide so that in said sliding configuration said rest surface is inclined with respect to said feed plane.

Preferably, said moving means comprises moving said blanks between said inlet section and an intermediate section of said storage unit at a feed speed.

Preferably, said moving comprises moving said blanks between said inlet section and an intermediate section of said storage unit at a feed speed and subsequently transporting said blanks from said intermediate section towards said outlet section at a transport speed, wherein the transport speed preferably has a greater modulus than the modulus of the feed speed.

Preferably, said moving comprises pushing said blanks from said inlet section towards said outlet section along a fixed support device on which said blanks rest.

It should be noted that some steps of the methods described above may be independent of the order of execution reported. In addition, some steps may be optional. In addition, some steps of the methods may be performed repetitively, or they may be performed in series or in parallel with other steps of the method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, shown by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment example of a storage unit in accordance with the present solution in a first operating configuration;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of detail “A” of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1B is a view like that of FIG. 1A but with some details removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment example of a storage unit in accordance with the present solution in a second operating configuration;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of detail “A” of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B is a view like that of FIG. 2A but with some details removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment example of a storage unit in accordance with the present solution in a second operating configuration;

FIG. 4 is a broken side view of the unit of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the attached Figures, a storage unit for storing blanks made in accordance with the present technical solution is indicated overall with 1. The storage unit 1 is preferably used in an apparatus for packaging boxed articles, or in general in forming apparatus in which it is provided to form a box by folding a blank. In a preferred version, the storage unit is to be used in a packaging apparatus of the “wrap-around” type, making the packaging by folding a blank around an article to be packaged so as to form a box containing the article.

The storage unit 1 is intended to receive a stack of blanks 100 and allow the movement thereof towards a manipulation unit intended to pick up an advanced blank from the storage unit and transport it to forming machines to form a box. The storage unit 1 comprises a ground support frame 4 defining a loading hopper 4A intended to receive and contain the stack of blanks 100. The storage unit 1 comprises an inlet section 2 at which a stack of blanks 100 is loaded into the storage unit 1 and an outlet section 3 at which a blank 10 is picked up by the manipulation unit. The storage unit 1 further comprises a feed device 5 intended to move the stack of blanks 100 between the inlet section 2 and the outlet section 3 along a feed trajectory M defined in the loading hopper 4A. The loading hopper 4A is preferably delimited by a plurality of walls which are only partially visible in the Figures for the sake of clarity. Furthermore, only some blanks of the stack of blanks housable in the hopper are represented in the attached figures for the sake of clarity.

In the version shown, the storage unit 1 is configured so that the feed trajectory M is parallel to a horizontal plane XY, however, in other versions, the blanks of the stack of blanks 100 can be moved along a feed trajectory transverse to a horizontal plane XY.

Each stack of blanks 100 comprises a plurality of blanks 10 flanked to one another so that the faces S of two adjacent blanks face each other, preferably in contact with each other. The blanks are fed along the feed trajectory M so that the faces S of the blanks are perpendicular to the feed trajectory M.

Each blank 10, better visible in FIG. 3, is made of cardboard and has two opposite faces S substantially planar having substantially greater dimensions with respect to the dimensions of the thickness of the blank. The blank 10 has a body with a substantially quadrangular shape delimited by two opposite lateral flanks 12, 13, a lower flank 11 and an upper flank 14 and a pair of opposite appendages 16A, 16B extended on opposite sides of the body 10A and protruding with respect to the lower flank 11 or respectively upper flank 12 of the blank 10. The terms lower and upper refer to the embodiment described below and, in particular, they depend on the positioning of the blank 10 in the storage unit 1, however, it is clear that this distinction has a purely conventional character.

The blank 10 has a thickness comprised between 0.4 and 0.8 mm, in this case about 0.5 mm, and is suitably shaped to form a box when suitably folded.

For this purpose, a plurality of fold lines 15 are obtained on the blank 10 which divide the blank 10 into a plurality of panels intended to form, alone or in combination with each other, the different faces of the box being formed. The fold lines 15 are preferably creases and each pair of adjacent panels is oscillatable about the respective fold line 15 separating them. The fold lines 15 are configured so as to define in the blank panels with shape and dimensions that are even different from each other, both in length and width, such dimensions depending on the shape and dimensions of the various faces of the box to be formed. The flanks 11-14 of the blank 10 are defined by a plurality of non-continuous portions, in particular portions of distinct panels.

The feed device 5 allows to move the stack of blanks 100 along the feed trajectory M so that the blanks 10 of the stack of blanks 100 are subsequently brought from the inlet section 2 of the storage unit 1 at the outlet section 3 of the storage unit 1. At each instant, therefore, a advanced blank 10 is identified in the storage unit 1, which is defined as the blank of the stack of blanks 100 closest to the outlet section 3 and intended to be picked up from the storage unit 1 by means of a manipulation unit not shown in the Figures.

The feed device 5 comprises a support device 20 intended to restingly receive the blanks 10 of the stack of blanks 100 and a feed element 21 for moving the blanks 10 along the feed trajectory M from the inlet section 2 towards the outlet section 3.

The support device 20 comprises one or more feed belts intended to restingly receive the blanks 10 and feed the blanks 10 towards the outlet section 3. However, in other versions not shown, other feed devices known in the field and suitable for moving blanks can be used.

In particular, in the version shown, the support device 20 comprises a first, a second and a third feed belt 22-24 intended to engage the lower flank 11 of each blank 10. The first, second and third feed belt 22-24 are flanked to one another in the direction of the feed trajectory M and are positioned so that the respective support surfaces define feed planes of the blanks parallel to each other, as better clarified below.

In the version shown each feed belt 22-24 is intended to support and move a distinct panel of each blank. However, in other versions, multiple feed belts may be provided which are intended to support a single panel of the blanks. In other versions, a different number of feed belts may also be provided depending on the dimensions of the blanks or the shape and number of panels thereof, in addition, in other versions, a single feed belt may be provided for the blanks.

The feed belts 22-24 are flanked to one another in the direction of the feed trajectory M, the second feed belt 23 being interposed between the first 22 and the third feed belt 24. The first feed belt 22 and the second feed belt 23 are placed at a first distance, the second feed belt 23 and the third feed belt 24 are placed at a second distance. The first 22 and second 23 feed belt are positioned so that the appendage 16A is interposed therebetween and projects beyond the support surface of the first 22 and second 23 feed belt.

Adjustment means, not shown in the figures, are provided to move at least one of the feed belts 22-24 in a direction perpendicular to the feed trajectory M in order to adjust the distance between two adjacent feed belts and adapt the support device to the dimensions of the blanks to be transported.

In some versions, a positioning device, not shown in the Figures, is also provided which is intended to move one or more of the feed belts 22-24 along a positioning direction perpendicular to the feed plane to position a feed belt at a desired vertical level. This allows the feed belts to be positioned at vertical levels that are different from each other defining feed planes of the blanks parallel to each other and, therefore, to adapt the support device to the dimensions and/or shape of the blanks, as better clarified below.

In other versions not shown, the support device also comprises lateral feed belts intended to engage opposite lateral flanks 12, 13 of the blanks 10. In other versions not shown, an upper feed belt can be provided which is intended to engage the upper flank 14 of the blanks 10. The presence of further feed belts allows to improve the feeding of the blanks in the storage unit 1.

Each feed belt comprises a respective support surface 22A-24A intended to restingly receive the blanks to be moved. The support surface 22A, 23A, 24A is made of rubber or other material with high coefficient of friction to correctly support the blanks by preventing an unwanted sliding of the blanks on the support surface 22A, 23A, 24A. In some versions not shown the support surface 22A, 23A, 24A of each feed belt is provided with knurling or other machining to increase the coefficient of friction of the support surface.

In a version not shown, the feed belts are positioned so that the respective support surfaces are coplanar to each other and define the feed plane for the blanks 10 along the feed trajectory M.

In the version shown the feed belts 22-24 are positioned at vertical levels that are different from each other and the support surfaces 22A, 23A, 24A define a plurality of feed planes parallel to each other. In particular, the first feed belt 22 is placed at a first vertical level and defines a first feed plane for the blanks 100, the second and third feed belt 23, 24 are coplanar to each other and placed at a different vertical level with respect to the first feed belt 22 and jointly define a second feed plane for the blanks 100. The first feed plane and the second feed plane are parallel to each other. The second feed plane is placed at a lower vertical level with respect to the first feed plane.

Each feed plane is a horizontal plane XY and the feed trajectory M is a horizontal direction parallel to the feed plane or to the feed planes of the blanks 100. The feed belts 22-24 are positioned so that the faces of the blanks are substantially vertical and perpendicular to the feed plane or planes.

The feed belts 22-24 are operable by means of the feed element 21 so as to feed the blanks along the feed trajectory M at a feed speed VA. The feed belts 22-24 can be driven at the same feed speed VA.

The feed belts 22-24 are structurally and functionally corresponding so only one will be described for the sake of brevity, and corresponding numerical references will be used.

The feed element 21 comprises for each feed belt 22-24 a pair of pulleys 25, 26 around which the respective feed belt 22-24 is wound and a motor, not visible in the Figures, intended to rotate the pulleys 25-26 as indicated by the rotation arrow F1 to drive the respective feed belt 22-24 and move the blanks 10 along said feed trajectory M.

The motor is operatively connected to all the feed belts 22-24 of the storage unit 1 to move them in a coordinated manner and at the same speed.

The storage unit 1 further comprises a guide device 30 provided in a section M1 of the feed trajectory M adjacent to the inlet section 2 of the storage unit 1 arranged to guide the sliding of the blanks 10 in said section M1.

In the version shown, the guide device 30 comprises, for each feed belt 22-24, a first slide 32 and a second slide 33 which are flanked to the feed belt 22-24 in the section M1 along the feed trajectory M and positioned on the opposite side of the feed belt 22-24 with respect to the feed trajectory M so that each feed belt 22-24 is interposed in the section M1 between the first slide 32 and the second slide 33, in a direction perpendicular to the feed trajectory M.

In some versions of the storage unit not shown the guide device can be provided at one or only some of the feed belts.

In the configuration shown the slides 32, 33 have substantially the same configuration and function, therefore, for the corresponding parts a single slide will be referred to for the sake of brevity and the same or corresponding numerical references will be used.

The slide 32 is positioned in proximity to the inlet section 2 of the storage unit 1 and extends along the section M1 between a backward edge 34 placed in proximity to the inlet section 2 and a forward edge 35 placed at a release section 6 of the storage unit 1. The slide 32 comprises a rest surface S2 intended to receive and support the blanks 10 of the stack of blanks 100. The rest surface S2 of the slide 32 is made of metal or other material with a low coefficient of friction to favor the sliding of the blanks along the slide 32. The rest surface S2 can also be provided with a finish adapted to reduce the coefficient of friction of the rest surface S2.

The rest surface S2 has a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of the support surface 22A-24A of the feed belts 22-24 so as to favor the sliding of the blanks on the slide 32, as better clarified below.

Similarly, the second slide 33 is positioned at the inlet section 2 of the storage unit 1 and extends along the section M1 between a backward edge 34 placed in proximity to the inlet section 2 and a forward edge 35 placed at a release section 6 of the storage unit 1. The second slide 33 comprises a rest surface S2 intended to receive and support the blanks 10 of the stack of blanks 100 which is made of metal or other material with a low coefficient of friction to favor the sliding of the blanks along the second slide 33. The rest surface S2 can also be provided with a finish adapted to reduce the coefficient of friction of the rest surface S2.

The rest surface S2 of the second slide 33 has a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the coefficient of friction of the support surface 22A-24A of the feed belts 22-24 so as to favor the sliding of the blanks on the second slide 33, as better clarified below.

The storage unit further comprises a movement device 40 for moving the slides 32, 33, with respect to the respective feed belt 22-24 along a lifting trajectory M3 between a transport configuration T, shown in FIG. 1, and a sliding configuration T1 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

In the transport configuration T each pair of slides 32, 33 is coplanar with the corresponding feed belt 22-24 and the rest surfaces S2 and the support surfaces 22A-24A jointly define a feed plane of the blanks 100. The blanks 10 rest in the section M1 on the feed belts 22-24 and on the slides 32, 33. In the transport configuration T the rest surface S2 of the slides 32, 33 is placed at the same vertical level as the support surface 22A, 23A, 24A of the respective feed belts 22-24.

In the sliding configuration T1 the slides 32, 33 are lifted with respect to the respective feed belt 22-24 and the blanks 10 rest in the section M1 only on the slides 32, 33 to be guided in sliding along said section M1 towards the release section 6, as better clarified below. The rest surface S2 of the slides 32, 33 defines a sliding plane for the blanks which is parallel to the feed plane of the corresponding feed belt 22-24 and placed at a higher vertical level with respect to the feed plane. In the sliding configuration T1, in the section M1, the blanks rest only on the slides and are lifted with respect to the feed belts.

In other versions not shown, in the sliding configuration the slides are partially lifted with respect to the respective feed belt and positioned so that the rest surfaces of the slides define a sliding plane for the blanks that is inclined with respect to the feed plane of the corresponding feed belt. In this case, the sliding plane is lifted with respect to the feed plane and incident to the feed plane at the release section. A backward edge of each slide is placed at a higher vertical level with respect to the respective feed belt and a forward edge of the slide is placed at the same vertical level of the feed belt.

In versions not shown, in the transport configuration the blanks rest only on the feed belts, the slides being placed at a lower vertical level with respect to the respective feed belts or positioned so as not to interfere with the blanks. In other versions not shown in the transport configuration, the rest surface of the slides is placed at a lower vertical level with respect to the support surface of the corresponding feed belt. In this way, in the transport configuration, the blanks 10 rest only on the feed belts 22-24 and the positioning of the blanks is optimized, preventing them from moving with respect to the desired transport position.

The movement device 40 comprises a movement mechanism for each slide 32, 33. The movement mechanisms of the slides are structurally and functionally similar so only one will be described for the sake of brevity with reference to the first slide 32 of the first feed belt 22, the corresponding parts will be indicated with the same numerical references.

The movement mechanism 40 is configured as an articulated parallelogram and is intended to move the slide 32 between the sliding configuration T1 and the transport configuration T. The movement mechanism comprises a first connecting rod 41 and a second connecting rod 42 which are hinged at the respective first hinging ends 41A, 42A to the slide 32 and at the respective opposite second hinging ends 41B, 42B to the frame 4 of the storage unit 1.

The first connecting rod 41 is hinged at an intermediate section of the slide 32, the second connecting rod 42 is hinged at the forward edge 35 of the slide 32. In other versions not shown, the second connecting rod is hinged at the forward edge 33 of the slide.

The first connecting rod 41 and the second connecting rod 42 are rotatable in a synchronized manner to move the slide 32 between the transport configuration T and the sliding configuration T1.

Each connecting rod 41, 42 is rotatable, in both ways of the rotation direction F2, about a respective rotation axis X2, X2′ placed horizontally and parallel to the feed plane to move the slide 32 between the transport configuration T and the sliding configuration T1.

The movement mechanism is configured to rotate the second hinging end 41B, 42B of each connecting rod 41, 42 so that the first hinging end 41A, 42A is moved along the lifting trajectory M3, shown schematically in FIG. 2B to bring the slide into the sliding configuration T1. The lifting trajectory M3 is configured as an arc of circumference and comprises a vertical lifting component M31 oriented so as to lift the slide with respect to the feed plane and a transport component M32 parallel to the feed plane and oriented opposite to said feed trajectory M.

The movement mechanism is configured to rotate the second hinging end 41B, 42B of each connecting rod 41, 42 so that the first hinging end 41A, 42A is moved along the return trajectory M3′, shown schematically in FIG. 2B to bring the slide 32 into the transport configuration T. The return trajectory M3′ is configured as an arc of circumference and comprises a vertical lowering component M31′ oriented so as to lower the slide 32 with respect to the feed plane and a transport component M32′ parallel to the feed plane and concordant with the feed trajectory M.

The first hinging end 41A, 42A describes an arc of circumference for moving the connecting rod 32 between the transport configuration T and the sliding configuration T1.

In the version shown, in the transport configuration T the connecting rods 41, 42 are inclined with respect to the vertical direction, while in the sliding configuration T1 the connecting rods 41, 42 are arranged perpendicularly to the feed plane and parallel to the vertical direction. The first hinging ends 41A, 42A are placed in the sliding configuration T1 at a higher vertical level with respect to the transport configuration T.

In the sliding configuration T1, the rest surface S2 of the slides 32, 33 is placed at a greater vertical level with respect to the vertical level of the support surface 22A, 23A, 24A of the corresponding feed belt 22-24 to which the slides 32, 33 are flanked. In this way, in the sliding configuration T1, the blanks 10 rest in the section M1 only on the slides 32, 33 and their sliding along the feed trajectory M is favored.

By rotating the connecting rods 41, 42 to bring the slide 32 from the transport configuration T to the sliding configuration T1, the slide 32 is moved along a lifting trajectory M3 comprising a lifting component M31 perpendicular to the feed plane of the respective feed belt 22-24 so as to lift the slide 32 with respect to the feed plane and a transport component M32 parallel to the feed plane and opposite to the feed trajectory M so as to favor the separation of the blanks 10.

By moving the slide 32 from the transport configuration T to the sliding configuration T1, the slide 32 engages the lower flank 11 of the blanks and progressively lifts the blanks 10 with respect to the feed plane. In the sliding configuration T1, the rest surface S2 of the slide 32 is lifted by a height comprised between about 10 mm and about 50 mm with respect to the support surface 22A-24A of the respective feed belt 22-24.

The connecting rods 41, 42 are rotated by an angle comprised between about 30° and about 60°to move the slide 32 between the transport configuration T and the sliding configuration T1.

The storage unit 1 further comprises a conveyor belt, not visible in the Figures, placed downstream of the feed belts 22-24 and intended to receive the blanks 10 from the feed belts 22-24 to lead them up to the outlet section 3. The conveyor belt is movable at a greater transport speed than the feed speed VA to allow a separation between the blanks 10 of the stack of blanks 100. The conveyor belt can be provided with separating elements to further favor the separation of the blanks.

The supply unit 100 operates according to the following modes.

First, a stack of blanks 100 is loaded into the loading hopper 4A to move them along the feed trajectory M through the feed belts 22-24 towards the outlet section 3 of the loading hopper 4A. The feed belts 22-24 are driven so as to move the blanks 10 along the feed trajectory M at the feed speed VA.

The blanks are loaded into the loading hopper 4A with the storage unit 1 in the transport configuration T and pushed by means of a pusher element not visible in the Figures towards the transport belts 22-24.

If the resistance opposed by the blanks is excessive or it is wished to improve the movement of the blanks, the storage unit 1 is configured in the sliding configuration T1. Therefore, the movement device 40 moves the slides 32, 33 from the transport configuration T to the sliding configuration T1 so that, at the section M1, the blanks 10 of the stack of blanks 100 are progressively lifted from the feed belts 22-24 and rest on the slides 32, 33.

By progressively moving the slides 32, 33 along the lifting trajectory M3 the blanks 10 are lifted by the feed belts 22-24 and engaged with the slides 32, 33.

When the storage unit 1 is in the sliding configuration T1, the blanks 10 rest in the section M1 on the slides 32, 33 and are guided on the slides 32, 33 in sliding along the section M1. Since the rest surfaces of the slides have a lower coefficient of friction with respect to that of the support device, in the section M1, the resistance to movement offered by the blanks is decreased and the movement of the blanks along the feed trajectory M is therefore facilitated. The blanks then move along the slides 32, 33. At the end of the slides 32, 33, at the release section 6, the blanks 10 pass from the slides 32, 33 to the respective feed belts 22-24. The blanks 10 are then fed along the feed trajectory M towards the outlet section 3 via the feed belts 22-24. Then, with the storage unit 1 in the sliding configuration T1 in the feed trajectory, there are identified a section M1 in which the blanks 10 are made to slide on the rest surface S2 of the slides 32, 33 and a feed section in which the blanks 10 rest on the support surfaces 22A-24A of the feed belts 22-24 and fed by means of the feed belts 22-24. The feed section is positioned downstream of the section M1.

The vertical distance between the rest surface S2 of the slides and the support surface 22A-24A of the belt to which the slides are flanked allows to transfer the blanks 10 from the slides 32, 33 to the feed belts 22-24 without causing unwanted movements of the blanks with respect to the desired transport position.

The movement of the slides 32, 33 between the sliding configuration T1 and the transport configuration T does not interfere with the operation of the storage unit 1 and it is not necessary to interrupt or slow down the operation of the storage unit itself. Moreover, thanks to the invention, this movement can be carried out automatically without the intervention of the operator, greatly simplifying the operations of adjustment of the operation of the storage unit.

Furthermore, by acting on the friction generated in the initial portion of the feed trajectory M, the feeding of the blanks is optimized because the friction generated by the blanks during feeding is immediately modified and the possibility that a blank is torn during feeding or that accumulations of blanks are created in certain areas of the storage unit 1 are strongly limited or eliminated. The correct picking up of the advanced blank with the manipulation unit is therefore favored.

In a version not shown, the slides are fixed and the feed belts are not movable along the lifting direction. The slides are positioned so as to be lifted with respect to the feed surface so that in the section M1 the blanks rest only on the slides. At the end of the section, the blanks fall onto the feed belts to be transported towards the outlet section of the storage unit. In this way, there are defined a section M1 in the feed trajectory M in which the blanks slide on the slides and a second section in which the blanks are transported by the feed belts. This makes it possible to avoid packing of the blanks in proximity to the inlet section of the storage unit.

In a version not shown, in the sliding configuration the slides are positioned so that the rest surface is inclined with respect to the feed plane. The backward edge of the slides is placed at a higher vertical level than the feed surface and at a higher vertical level of the forward edge of the slide. The forward edge can be placed at a vertical level higher than or equal to the feed plane. In other versions, the forward edge is placed at a lower vertical level with respect to the feed plane. With the slide in an inclined configuration, the sliding of the blanks along the feed trajectory and the passage towards the feed belts are favored.