Package making – Methods – Filling preformed receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-03
2001-05-22
Kim, Eugene (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Filling preformed receptacle
C053S474000, C053S238000, C053S244000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233909
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of automated packaging, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for transferring an optical disk case during inserting a title sheet into the case.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
An optical disk case generally has an openable plastic case body. An optical disk is loaded into one side of the case body and a description sheet is inserted into the other side of the case body. A transparent cover for inserting a title sheet is provided on the front side of the case body. A title sheet is a flexible sheet on which a title of the optical disk and other visual information are printed.
Conventionally, as there were no automated packaging machines to load an optical disk and insert a title sheet into a case, these loading and inserting operations were done by hand, which was very troublesome.
The solution to this problem is identified in Onishi, Japanese patent application No. 11-217277. As shown in Onishi, an automated optical disk loading machine is provided where loading of an optical disk and insertion of a title sheet are automatically conducted.
In operation, as a case conveyor carries a plurality of cases, an optical disk loading device loads an optical disk into a case, a title sheet inserting device inserts a title sheet into the transparent cover of the case, and a description sheet inserting device inserts a description sheet into a claw portion of the case.
In inserting a title sheet into the case, as a suction pad holding a developed case moves downward, the case body is bent into a flat, reversed V-shape. Thus, the transparent cover is deformed into a general V-shape by its own weight, which causes a title sheet insertion space to be formed in the case. In this condition, the title sheet deformed into a corrugated form by a corrugation forming device is inserted into the title sheet insertion space of the case.
However, in the above machine, while the title sheet is inserted into the title sheet insertion space of the case, the suction pad is in the waiting condition of still holding the case, which results in a decrease in the process rate.
The main object of the present invention is to improve the process rate during insertion of a title sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for transferring an optical disk case during insertion of a title sheet into the case.
The method of transferring a case includes the steps comprising:
(i) holding a first developed case, which is introduced into a case introduction station, by a first suction head of a turret, rotating the turret 90 degrees in a first or forward direction to transfer the first case to a first insertion space forming station, deflecting the case body to form a title sheet insertion space between the case body and the transparent cover, of the first case and placing the first case at the first insertion space forming station by releasing the first case from the first suction head,
(ii) during the operation of title sheet insertion into the first case placed at the first insertion space forming station, holding a second developed case, which is then introduced into the case introduction station, by a second suction head of the turret, rotating the turret 90 degrees in a second or reverse direction opposite the first direction to transfer the second case to the second insertion space forming station which is positioned opposite the first insertion space forming station, deflecting the case body to form a title sheet insertion space between the case body and the transparent cover of the second case, and placing the second case at the second insertion space forming station by releasing the second case from the second suction head,
(iii) after completion of the title sheet insertion operation at the first insertion space forming station, holding the first case with the title sheet inserted thereinto by a fourth suction head placed at the first insertion space forming station, holding a third developed case, which is then introduced into the case introduction station, by the first suction head, rotating the turret 90 degrees in the first or forward direction to transfer the first case held by the fourth suction head to a case ejection station located opposite the case introduction station, and to transfer the case held by the first suction head to the first insertion space forming station, placing the first and third cases at the case ejection station and the first insertion space forming station by releasing the first and third cases from the fourth and first suction heads, respectively; and
(iv) after completion of the title sheet insertion operation at the second insertion space forming station, holding the second case with the title sheet inserted thereinto by a third suction head placed at the second insertion space forming station, holding a fourth developed case, which is then introduced into the case introduction station, by the second suction head, rotating the turret 90 degrees in the second reverse direction to transfer the second case held by the third suction head to the case ejection station, and to transfer the fourth case held by the second suction head to the second space forming station, placing the second and fourth cases at the case ejection station and the second insertion space forming station by releasing the second and fourth cases from the third and second suction heads, respectively.
Preferably, each suction head is comprised of a pair of suction pads corresponding respectively to each face of the case body. During transfer of each suction pad from the case introduction station to the first or second insertion space forming station, each suction pad moves downward to deflect the case body into a flat, reversed V-shape. Thus, the transparent cover deforms into a general V-shape via its own weight and the title sheet insertion space is formed between the case body and transparent cover.
The apparatus for transferring a case during insertion of a title sheet into the case comprises a case introduction station where a developed case is introduced before inserting the title sheet, and a case ejection station, disposed opposite to the case introduction station, where the developed case is ejected after inserting the title sheet. Also, the apparatus comprises first and second insertion space forming stations where the case deflects to form a title sheet insertion space between the case body and the transparent cover. The first and second insertion space forming stations are located opposite each other and spaced equally along the circumference. The apparatus further comprises a turret rotatable 90 degrees in the forward and reverse directions, which has first to fourth suction heads corresponding to each of the above-mentioned stations. The apparatus still further comprises, at the first and second insertion space forming stations, a mounting stand for the placement of a case formed with the title sheet insertion space by deflection of the case body.
Preferably, each suction head is comprised of a pair of downward translatable suction pads corresponding respectively to each face of the case body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4881356 (1989-11-01), Beezer et al.
patent: 5207050 (1993-05-01), Fulkerson et al.
patent: 5285620 (1994-02-01), Kaye et al.
patent: 5816028 (1998-10-01), Zaniboni
Fasse W.F.
Fasse W.G.
Kim Eugene
Kyoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
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