Patent Application
20090301037
The present invention relates to an apparatus for packing a group of items.
Said items are preferably packs containing respective products, which are packed or bagged in a proper wrapper formed by a film made of a suitable material, in particular, preferably a plastic film.
Said products are preferably rolls, in particular rolls of toilet or kitchen paper or the like, arranged in a suitable and desired configuration in the pack.
However, the present apparatus is preferably applied in the “tissue paper” field in general.
An apparatus for packing or bagging a group of packs in a special wrapper formed by a plastic film is known. This known apparatus comprises means for supplying groups of items, and means for wrapping the group of items in the wrapper, the wrapping means comprising means for forming a tubular film for wrapping the group of items from a film fed and means which push a first and a second group of items into the tubular film in such a way that they are distanced from one another, in this known machine. The groups in the tubular film are fed forward, together with the tubular film, by conveyor belts, which engage with the outer surface of the tubular film, and the groups of packs inserted in it, along the entire length of the means which arrange the film in a tubular shape.
However, this method of feeding the groups of items and the tubular film is over-elaborate and bulky, requiring special long feed belts to be provided at the means which form the tubular film.
An apparatus for packing a group of items is also known in which, to feed the tubular film and a single group of packs, inserted in the tubular film, a suitable pusher is used, which pushes the single group of items in the tubular film, thus pushing the closed downstream wall of the tubular film, consequently feeding the tubular film.
However, in a situation of this type the closed end wall of the tubular film, which is pushed by the bundle, or group of packs, is subjected to excessive stresses and there is the risk that it will break, above all at the seal just made. Normally, to avoid subjecting the film to too much stress, the operating speed of this type of machine is kept relatively low.
However, since the pusher has to enter the tubular film to insert the group and to push the film in order to feed it, the pusher must perform an excessively long outward and return stroke. This contributes to excessive slowing in the operating speed of this type of machine.
It should also be noticed that in both of the above-mentioned apparatuses, air accumulates in the tubular packing film, necessitating the use of additional and bulky means for extracting the air from inside the tubular film, otherwise the bag prepared remains inflated and is difficult to process, or the wrapper may even break due to the overpressures inside the wrapper, created due to compression of said air trapped between the wall of the group of items and the opposite pack closing wall.
An apparatus is therefore provided for packing a group of items in a special wrapper obtained from a film or sheet, in particular a film made of a plastic material, in which the items are preferably packs containing respective products; the apparatus comprises means for feeding groups of items, means for feeding a film, means for wrapping a group of items in the film, said means for wrapping a group of items comprising means for arranging the film in a tubular configuration, and means for inserting groups of items in the tubular film; The apparatus is characterised in that, at the means which arrange the film in a tubular configuration there are means for feeding the groups, which are aligned and engage with one another.
In this way, an apparatus is obtained which allows a relatively high operating speed to be achieved.
The present invention also relates to a process for packing a group of items in a special wrapper obtained from a film or sheet, in particular a film made of a plastic material.
The technical characteristics and advantageous aspects of the invention are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:
In accordance with the present invention, the accompanying drawings illustrate a first preferred embodiment 10 of an apparatus for packing groups of items 12 in a special wrapper 14 obtained from a film 16, in particular a film made of a plastic material.
The items 18 are preferably packs containing respective products, which are packed or bagged in the wrapper or bag 14.
Each group of items to be packed has, overall, a rear transversal face 12′b, a front transversal face 12′a and a plurality of longitudinal outer faces 12′c, between the rear face 12′b and the front face 12′a.
The wrapper or bag 14 used to pack a group of items in turn has a front section 14a for wrapping the front face of the group of items, a rear section 14b for wrapping the rear face of the group of items and an intermediate section 14c for wrapping the longitudinal outer walls of the group.
The first embodiment of the apparatus comprises means 20 for feeding groups of items in sequence, means 22 for feeding a wrapping film, and means for wrapping a group of items in the wrapping film.
Downstream of the means for forming the tubular film there are also means for clamping, sealing and cutting, at transversal portions of the tubular wrapping film, to form the pack which contains a respective group of items, said means being labelled 26 as a whole.
In particular, the means for wrapping a group of items comprise means 23 for arranging the film in a tubular configuration, that is to say, tubular film forming means, and means 24 for inserting groups of items in the tubular film 19.
As may be seen in particular in
The film tubular forming means also comprise a second, outer tunnel 28, extending longitudinally and open at the upstream and downstream ends 28a and 28b, respectively for tubular film 19 infeed and outfeed.
At the infeed end 28a, the forming tunnel 28 has surfaces for diverting and arranging the flat film into a tubular configuration, before it enters the outer tunnel 28 through the front opening 28a.
As illustrated, the film slides into the outer channel 28, whilst the means 29 longitudinally seal the overlapping ends of the film after it has been folded to form a suitable tubular film.
Moreover, as illustrated in
However, this double forming tunnel 27, 28, and the longitudinal sealing means 29 for the film are of the known and customary type for technicians in the field and, to keep this description brief, they are not described in detail. However, other methods for preparation of the tubular film may also be imagined, for example in another embodiment the double tubular film forming tunnel could be as illustrated in
The embodiment illustrated in
According to a particularly advantageous aspect, the means 24 for inserting the items are designed to insert a plurality of groups of items in the tubular film, the groups aligned and the transversal faces of each group engaging with those of the adjacent group of items. In particular, the insertion means insert the groups of items in the inner tubular element 27 through its front opening 27a, whilst the portion of tubular film which will be used to wrap the corresponding group of items slides on the outer surface of this tubular body 27.
In particular, in the first embodiment, there is a first group 12a upstream, a second group 12b downstream, a third group and a fourth 12c and 12d, both intermediate.
The means for inserting the items in the tubular film are, advantageously, item pushing means, designed to engage with a rear face 12′a of the upstream group in a plurality of items to be inserted and forming tubular film feed means. According to the present first preferred embodiment, the pushing action on the aligned plurality of groups of items causes the front face 12′b of the downstream group 12b in the plurality of groups to engage with and push the closed transversal face 14a of the tubular film. As illustrated, in particular in
As illustrated, the pushing means consist of a pusher 30 with alternating forward-backward motion, having an outward and feed section, in which it is in a lowered position and feeds the groups of items forward, and a section for returning to the position in which it will receive the next group of items, in which it is raised.
As illustrated, the means for pushing the plurality of groups of items into the tubular film, having reached the forward insertion position, remain in front of the outside of the tubular film arrangement means, and so must perform a rather short feed stroke, substantially equal to the length of the single group, this being advantageous in terms of the operating speed of the present apparatus.
As illustrated, upstream of the tubular film arrangement tunnel means 27, 28, there are means 32 for feeding the items to a position at which they are received by the pushing means which insert them in the tubular film arrangement tunnel.
The feed means preferably feed an upstream group of items 12a towards and against a group of items 12c immediately downstream, thus forming means for accumulation of the groups of items, creating a plurality of groups of items that are aligned and engage with one another, to be fed or pushed into the tunnel 28 by the pusher 30.
As illustrated, the feed means consist of a conveyor belt 34, on which the items fed rest.
The pushing means therefore comprise a pusher, consisting of a plate 30, transversal to the pushing direction, which is supported by a vertical arm that is vertically mobile 36, in turn supported by a head 38 which slides on a longitudinal member 40, extending longitudinally above the feed belt 34.
According to the advantageous preferred embodiment illustrated, the stroke for insertion of the groups in the tunnel 27 and return of the means for insertion of the groups of items in the tubular film is less than the length of the supporting surface of the feed means 32.
As illustrated, when the insertion push is complete, the insertion means leave the rear part 12″a of the upstream group of items outside the tubular film arrangement means.
The means 20 for feeding groups of items comprise means 42 for receiving the items in sequence, means 44 for intermediate storage of the items, and means 46 for releasing ready-formed and distanced groups of items.
The means for receiving the items in sequence receive the items 18 from above, in contact, and arrange them in a position to be received by the next storage means 44′, described in more detail below. These sequential receiving means are also designed to push the items received forward after they have been arranged in the receiving position, and for this purpose the means comprise a part 48 designed to receive an item and simultaneously push the item previously received and already positioned forward onto the belt or storage means.
The part 48, designed to receive one item and to simultaneously push the items previously received forward consists of a part with an upper surface 48a for receiving the items and a front surface 48b, extending below and starting at the front edge of the upper surface 48a, the front surface 48b being designed to push the previous item forward.
As also indicated with reference to
For this purpose, the parts 48, 48 move with a substantially circular path, that is to say, according to a closed rotary path.
Each part 48 also has a plurality of shaped elements 49, in the form of a bracket, transversally distanced from one another, in particular so that the shaped receiving and pushing elements of a part 48 are designed to be inserted between corresponding projections on the storage means 44, not illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings.
The brackets 49 have a trapezoidal profile and extend vertically from a transversal beam 50, which is mobile on vertical guide rods 52, 54 supported on a supporting block 56, in turn mobile on longitudinal rods 58 and 60, so that the part can cover a closed path which places the same part in the position for receiving items, at predetermined time intervals.
In particular, each beam 50 extends cantilever style from the guide and support means, located on a respective side of the machine, opposite that on which the guide and support means for the other beam 50 are located.
Each part is moved along a rotary path by a respective rotary chain, to which each part is connected at a suitable point on the side opposite that on which the other part is connected to its respective chain 55, 55. The drive chains 55, 55 of the parts are in turn driven by a motor 57, only one of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated, the intermediate storage means 44 for the items comprise a lower item supporting conveyor belt 44′ and at least one item upper feed belt 62.
There are also item compacting or side centring means 64, at the storage means.
The means 46 for releasing ready-formed and distanced groups of items comprise feed means, consisting of the item feed conveyor belt 34 and means 66 for stopping item feed, so that the items are released in such a way as to allow the release of a group consisting of a predetermined number of items.
The means for stopping item feed comprise a plate 66 mobile between a lowered position, in which it engages with and stops the items, and a raised position, allowing the group of items to pass freely.
There are also advantageous means for distancing or separating the groups of items being packed.
In particular, the distancing means advantageously separate a downstream group of items from a group of items immediately upstream of said downstream group, in the plurality of items inserted in the wrapping tunnel 27, 28.
As illustrated, the means for separating a downstream group of items from a group immediately upstream of said downstream group are advantageously and preferably located outside and downstream of the tubular film arrangement means and operate in such a way as to distance the downstream group from the group immediately upstream, to the extent which allows closing of the rear part of the downstream pack and, simultaneously, closing of the front part of the pack immediately upstream. However, according to another embodiment, the means for separating a downstream group of items from a group immediately upstream of said downstream group could be located at the section covered by the means which produce the tubular film, in particular, at the end of these means.
In particular, the means for distancing a downstream group of items from a group of items immediately upstream of said downstream group, separate the groups by a distance which substantially depends on the size of the bag at the bag being packed at that time.
The separating means advantageously consist of means which engage with and feed the front part of the tubular film wrapped around the downstream group of items, in particular, engaging with the front part of the tubular film wrapped around the downstream group of items.
In particular, there are means which engage with the tubular film and the upstream group and means which move the engagement means.
As illustrated, the engagement means consist of at least a first and a second conveyor belt 72 and 74, vertically opposite one another, having a longitudinal engagement section 72a, 74a, extending horizontally.
The cutting means consist of opposite blades 76, 76, inside clamping and sealing plates 78, 78, in the way substantially known to technicians in the sector.
In practice, suitable drive means bring the opposite plates and blades towards one another to seal a pack and cut it from the tubular film.
Advantageously, the cutting and sealing means and the separating or distancing means are supported on a single frame 80, which moves longitudinally forward and backward
For this purpose, there are longitudinal drive means comprising a belt 82, which moves forward and backward and is operatively connected to the frame 80, which slides along suitable longitudinal guides, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In particular, the belt 82 extends below the supporting surface 84 downstream of the tubular film arrangement means.
There are means for engagement and release of the separating means, which move the engagement means into contact with the tubular film and, respectively, move the engagement means away from the tubular film.
The engagement elements are supported by a respective support frame 86, 86, vertically mobile thanks to pneumatic actuators, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
There are also means for moving away the pack formed downstream of the sealing and cutting means. These means for moving the pack away consist of the group of items immediately upstream, which pushes against the group already packed. Therefore, gravity causes the roller already packed to slide on the plurality of aligned rollers 85, supported on the conveyor 84, angled downwards.
In short, the apparatus operates as follows.
As illustrated in
At this point the pusher 30 descends and engages with the rear surface of the upstream group, pushing the plurality of groups forward, as illustrated in
Simultaneously, the front part of the downstream group 12b comes out of the rear end 27b of the wrapping tunnel 27, 28, whilst the engagement means 72, 74 approach, in a disengaged condition, the rear end of the tunnel, as illustrated in
In this position, the engagement belts 72, 74 engage with the outer surface of the tubular film and the downstream group 12b contained in this longitudinal portion of tubular film, rotating to accompany the downstream group 12b out, as illustrated in
The separating means operate by pulling the tubular film 19 and the downstream group of items, whilst the upstream group of items remains on the inner tubular body 27.
For this purpose, the belts 72, 74, which engage with the front part of the tubular film and the downstream group 12b, are moved longitudinally, as illustrated in
In particular, the means for longitudinal movement of the engagement means 72, 74 move the engagement means forward, away from the end 27b, downstream of the tubular film arrangement or production means, in an attempt to distance the rear face of the downstream group 12b from the group 12d immediately upstream of it, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
These means 80 for longitudinal movement of the engagement means for the front group move away from the tubular film arrangement means 27, 28 by a section or stroke, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Once the jaws 76, 78 have met, as illustrated in
As illustrated, the cutting and sealing means operate while the tubular film and the groups inserted in it are stationary, as illustrated in
While sealing and cutting take place, the feed means 32 bring a new group of items upstream 12 into contact with the group stationary and partially out of the tunnel 27, as illustrated in
At this point the cycle continues as illustrated from the above-mentioned
There are means for feeding a wrapping film, comprising a film support reel 22. There are also means for making the reel rotate, comprising rollers 22a for reel rotation, driven by a motor 22b.
The means which drive the flat film comprise control means in the form of machine control means, not illustrated, designed to form means for controlled film release.
Before reaching the tunnel infeed, the film 16 is returned by various return means, in particular in the form of rollers and fed by a pair of feed rollers 22e. In particular, there is a mobile return roller 22d which forms a counterweight for maintaining film tension during the various acceleration and deceleration steps of film feed. The counterweight roller 22d has a central film 16 contact and return part and ends which are mobile within respective vertical guides. This motor-driven unwinding assembly allows film unwinding from the reel, the latter releasing the film at an almost constant speed. The accelerations and decelerations to which the film is subjected are controlled by the system of rollers downstream of the reel.
In particular, in a first step, the flat film feed means 22e are designed to release the film at a predetermined speed (V1) equal to the feed speed of the groups of items in the film forming means, that is to say, in the inner tubular body 27. The film released during this step forms the lateral walls of the bag, or the upper wall, the lower wall and the side walls of the bag.
In a second step, the flat film feed means 22e are designed to release the film at a predetermined speed (V2) greater than the predetermined feed speed (V1) of the film, which is equal to the speed of translation of the sealing means. The film released during this step forms part of the end walls of the bag. Moreover, during this step, the quantity of film released is enough to form a desired wrapper pulling or adhering condition on the respective group of products.
In a third step, the flat film feed means 22e are designed to release the film at a predetermined speed (V3) equal to the closing speed of the sealing means. The film released during this step forms the remaining part of the rear end wall of the bag and provides the front wall of the bag for the following group of items.
The flat film feed means 22e are also designed to release the film at a predetermined speed (V0), in particular equal to a condition in which film release has stopped, so that the transversal portion separating the downstream group from the following group can be sealed and cut.
As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the bundle or group to be packed normally comprises a plurality of packs aligned and ordered in various longitudinal rows that are parallel with one another. In particular, three rows of packs are used to produce the group illustrated.
The items are preferably packs containing respective products, which are packed or bagged in the wrapper or bag.
Said products are preferably rolls, in particular rolls of toilet or kitchen paper or the like.
The machine extends longitudinally and comprises a plurality of successive operating units.
In particular, the machine comprises, upstream, a unit 010a for receiving the items, which may optionally be fitted with a diverter for distributing the items in a plurality of predetermined rows.
Immediately downstream of said unit 010a for receiving the items there is a unit 010b for forming the plurality of items or group to be inserted in a wrapper or bag. However, this unit is described in more detail below.
Downstream of the unit 010b which forms or prepares the group or bundle to be bagged, there is a unit 010c for wrapping the wrapper around the group or bundle to be packed, comprising a group feed unit 010′c and an actual wrapping unit 010″c.
Once the wrapper has been wrapped around the portion of items to be packed, it is joined, in particular sealed, then cut and unloaded by the downstream unit 010d.
There may also be a unit suitable for arranging the items to be packed on a plurality of levels, in particular on at least a first level and a second level. In practice, on top of one plurality of rows of items set side by side, forming the lower level, a similar plurality of rows of items would be placed to form the upper level.
As can be seen, in particular with reference to
As illustrated with a dashed line in
As may be seen with reference to
There are also additional feed means 045 for the groups of items, downstream of the means 043, in the form of a respective conveyor belt. This conveyor belt 045, together with the previous conveyor belt 043, forms intermediate storage means for the items.
There are also item lateral centring or compacting means, at the intermediate storage means 045, not illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings.
As is clearly illustrated in
In practice, the means 046 for releasing predetermined and distanced groups of items comprise means which engage with the front or downstream surface of the rows of items set side by side, said engagement means consisting of a transversal bar or barrier 049, mobile between a position in which it engages with the front surface of the group of items being fed forward and a position in which it allows the items to pass freely.
In practice, the engagement means 049 are supported on opposite vertical plates 051, 053 of the support frame, on whose inner faces respective guide profiles are fixed for corresponding sliding side ends of the barrier. In
The engagement means 049 are mobile between a lowered position which prevents item feed and a raised position.
The side guides 055, for the ends 057 of means which engage with the front of the rows of items have a linear profile, extending upwards and angled forwards, so that the barrier is raised with a longitudinal movement component, towards the front of the apparatus, so that it does not obstruct or scrape against the front surface of the items.
As may be seen in
These upstream retaining means 047 operate on the vertically opposite sides of the items and comprise lower engagement means 047a, in the form of a comb element, which extends transversally and is designed to make contact with the lower surface of the items.
The retaining means also comprise opposing means 047b, in the form of a plurality of surfaces or thin plates distanced from one another transversally, designed to make contact with the upper surface of the items.
In practice, drive means, preferably consisting of an actuator 047c, in particular in the form of a pneumatic cylinder, engage with and release the items, preventing and allowing item feed.
Specifically, the actuator 047c acts on a cross member 047c integral with one end of the comb 047a, the other longitudinal end of the comb being integral with the end of the feed means 044, lifting it, so as to push the items against the upper engagement surfaces 047b, which are supported on suitable elastic means, in particular consisting of springs 047e.
As may be seen in
In practice, this plate 047′a acts as an item support plate, with the teeth of the comb element below projecting and, respectively, withdrawn relative to the supporting surface of the plate 047′, respectively to engage with and release the items, as required.
When the means 049 for stopping item feed are released, the conveyor belt 044 feeds a group consisting of a predetermined number of said items towards the packing zone.
Relative to the means 010c for wrapping a group of items,
As may be seen in particular in
The film tubular forming means also comprise a second, outer tunnel 028, extending longitudinally and open at the upstream and downstream ends 028a and 028b, respectively for tubular film 019 infeed and outfeed.
At the infeed end 028a, the forming tunnel 028 has surfaces for diverting and arranging the flat film into a tubular configuration, before it enters the outer tunnel 028 through the front opening 028a.
As illustrated, the film slides in the outer channel 028, whilst means 029 longitudinally seal the overlapping ends of the film after it has been folded to form said tubular film.
As illustrated, the downstream end 027b of the inner tunnel 027 extends beyond the downstream end 028a of the outer tunnel 028.
The front part of this double forming tunnel 027, 028, and the longitudinal sealing means 029 for the film may be of the known and usual type for technicians in the field and, to keep this description brief, they are not described in detail. Other methods for forming the tubular film may also be imagined.
As illustrated in
The product wrapping film 019 slides outside along the outer surface 027″ of the outer tunnel 027, whilst the groups to be packed are inserted in the inner tunnel 027 and slide on its inner surface 027′.
The accompanying drawings also reveal how the infeed end 027a of the inner tunnel 027 extends, upstream, beyond the infeed end 028a of the outer tunnel 028. Also, in the way customary in the sector, there are suitable and corresponding diverting surfaces or tabs, well known in the sector and not requiring detailed illustration in the accompanying drawings, which allow easy arrangement of the flat film in a tubular configuration when it enters the outer tunnel 028 through the upstream infeed opening 028a.
According to a particularly advantageous aspect, the means 024 for inserting the items are designed to insert a plurality of groups of items in the tubular film, the groups aligned and the transversal faces of each group engaging with those of the longitudinally adjacent group of items.
In particular, the insertion means insert the groups of items in the inner tubular element 027 through its front opening 027a, whilst the portion of tubular film which will be used to wrap the corresponding group of items slides on the outer surface of this tubular body 027.
In particular, in the second embodiment, there is a first group 012a upstream, a second group 012b downstream, a third group and a fourth 012c and 012d, both intermediate.
In practice, there is an advantageous build up of groups in the wrapping tunnel which allows advantageous production output.
The means for inserting the items in the tubular film are, advantageously, item pushing means, designed to engage with a rear face 012′a of the upstream group in a plurality of items to be inserted and forming tubular film feed means. According to the present second preferred embodiment, the pushing action on the aligned plurality of groups of items causes a front face 012′b of the downstream group 012b of the plurality of groups to engage with and push the closed transversal face 014a of the tubular film, as may be seen in particular in
As illustrated, the pushing means consist of a pusher 030 with alternating forward-backward motion, having an outward and feed section, in which it is in a lowered position and feeds the groups of items forward, and a section for returning to the position in which it will receive the next group of items, in which it is raised.
As illustrated, the means 030 for pushing the plurality of groups of items into the tubular film, having reached the forward insertion position, remain in front of the outside of the tubular film arrangement means, and so must perform a rather short feed stroke, substantially equal to the length of the single group, this being advantageous in terms of the operating speed of the present apparatus. However, in an alternative embodiment, the pushing means 030 may enter the wrapping tunnel.
However, the stroke, in particular, the pushing stroke end position, for the pushing means 030 may vary according to the length of the items or packs.
As illustrated, upstream of the tubular film production tunnel means 027, 028, there are means 044 for feeding the items to a position at which they are received by the pushing means which insert them in the tubular film arrangement tunnel.
The feed means preferably feed an upstream group of items 012a towards and against a group of items 012c immediately downstream, thus forming means for accumulation of the groups of items, creating a plurality of groups of items that are aligned and engage with one another, to be fed or pushed into the tunnel 028 by the pusher 030.
As illustrated, the pushing means therefore preferably comprise a pusher, consisting of a plate 030, transversal to the pushing direction, which is supported by a vertical arm 036 that is vertically mobile, in turn supported by a head 038 which slides on a longitudinal member 040, extending longitudinally above the feed belt 044.
According to the advantageous second preferred embodiment illustrated, the stroke for insertion of the groups in the tunnel 027 and return of the means for insertion of the groups of items in the tubular film is less than the length of the supporting surface of the feed means 044.
As indicated, advantageously and preferably, when the insertion push is complete, the insertion means leave the rear part 012″a of the upstream group of items outside the tubular film arrangement means.
In particular, the pusher 030 has a central portion 030a and two side tabs 030b and 030c. Support mechanisms 030d and 030e for the tabs 030b and 030c at the central portion 030a comprise devices (not illustrated in detail and which may be of any suitable type available to technicians in the sector), which allow the tabs 030b and 030c to be released if the thrust that they apply on the group of items reaches a predetermined limit value. In this way, in the event of jamming it is possible to prevent harmful thrusts on the products or other items.
As may also be seen in
Said feed means consist of means for feeding the items and the tubular film which contains them in the area extending longitudinally to the tubular film production tunnel 027.
Said item and tubular film feed means comprise respective pluralities of upper and lower feed belts, 0113 and 0115 respectively.
These feed belts are advantageously located at the end or downstream of the forming tunnel.
There are advantageous means for rotationally driving the feed belts and means for moving the feed belts towards and away from the tubular film and the group contained in it. Said means for moving the feed belts towards and away from the film and group, with a vertical movement, are not illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings.
The feed belts 0113 and 0115 extend from the downstream end of the tunnel, internally, over a predetermined section, suitable for engaging with a predetermined number of groups of items.
In particular, said plurality of upper feed belts 0113 engage with the upper face of the tubular film and of the group inserted in this longitudinal portion of the tubular film, which arrive through an opening 027c in the front or downstream part of the upper wall of the inner tunnel 027.
In particular, said plurality of lower feed belts 0115 engage with the upper face of the tubular film and of the group inserted in this longitudinal portion of the tubular film, which arrive through corresponding openings or slits 027d in the front or downstream part of the lower wall of the inner tunnel 027.
There are also means 027e for supporting the groups in the condition in which they are not engaged.
In particular there is a plurality of projections 027e, extending downstream, from an intermediate edge 027f of the base of the tunnel 027, and in which the slits 027d are made transversally.
In practice, the feed belts 0115, when engaged with the tubular film and the lower surface of the group of items, extend, after engaging with corresponding longitudinal portions or strips of the tubular film—which slide below the lower surface of the projections 027e—projecting from the longitudinal openings 027d, beyond the upper surface 027g of the projections 027e, making contact with the lower face of the respective items. In contrast, when the belts 0115 are vertically retracted, releasing the lower face of the tubular film and the group of items, said belts return downwards through the slits, moving into position under the projections 027e, on whose upper surface 027g the lower surface of the group of items rests. In the latter operating condition, the lower face of the tubular film is free to slide under the projections 027e.
Obviously, the groups of items are fed in the wrapping tunnel, over a first, upstream section, by the thrust applied by the upstream group of items, which is inserted by the pushing means 030, whilst, over a second section, the items are fed in the tunnel by the action of the belts 0113 and 0115.
This prevents product crushing. There is no resistance to insertion by the pushing means 030.
There are also advantageous means for distancing or separating the groups of items being packed.
In particular, the distancing means advantageously separate a downstream group of items from a group of items immediately upstream of said downstream group, in the plurality of items inserted in the wrapping tunnel 027, 028.
As illustrated, the means for separating a downstream group of items from a group immediately upstream of said downstream group are advantageously located outside and downstream of the tubular film arrangement means and operate in such a way as to distance the downstream group 012b from the group immediately upstream 012d, to the extent which allows closing of the rear part of the downstream pack and, simultaneously, closing of the front part of the pack immediately upstream.
In particular, the means for distancing a downstream group of items from a group of items immediately upstream of said downstream group, separate the groups by a distance which may depend on the size of the bag being packed at that time.
The separating means advantageously consist of means which engage with and feed the front part of the tubular film wrapped around the downstream group of items, in particular, engaging with the front part of the tubular film wrapped around the downstream group of items.
In particular, there are means which engage with the tubular film and the upstream group and means which move the engagement means.
As illustrated, the engagement means consist of at least a first and a second conveyor belt 072 and 074, vertically opposite one another, having a longitudinal engagement section 072a, 074a, extending horizontally.
In particular, as illustrated, the engagement means consist of a plurality of first conveyor belts 072 and a plurality of second 074 conveyor belts, vertically opposite one another, each having a longitudinal engagement section 072a, 074a, extending horizontally.
As may also be seen in
These means for stopping feed into the tunnel extend inside the tubular film 019 and engage with the front face of the group of items 012d which must be separated from the downstream group to be packed 012b.
These stopping means 0119 consist of a longitudinally extended element 0119a having, at the downstream end, a cross member 0119b, not illustrated in detail, designed to engage with the upper part of the group 012c of packs.
The longitudinal element 0119a pivots, at 0119c, upstream of the longitudinal sealing means 029, and its upstream end 0119e operates by engaging with and releasing the group 012d with corresponding drive means consisting of an actuator, in particular, a pneumatic cylinder 0119f.
In practice, the stopping means 0119 hold the group of items if activated to separate the downstream group of items for closing and cutting the respective bag.
At the downstream end of the tunnel 027 there are advantageous means for exchanging air with the inside of the tubular film.
These air exchange means consist of means for emitting a flow of air inside the tubular film, designed to counter any vacuum which may be created by the downstream group of items 012b detaching from the group 012d.
These means for air exchange with the inside of the tubular film preferably consist of a small perforated tube, having a plurality of distributed openings, extending along the cross member 0119b of the means for stopping the group immediately upstream of the group to be separated 012b. A similar small perforated tube, with a plurality of distributed openings, extends below at the end edge 0127 of the tunnel 027. These small perforated tubes for air exchange with the inside of the tubular film are not illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings.
The means for air exchange with the inside of the tubular film may also comprise a plurality of small perforated tubes longitudinally distanced from one another.
The cutting means consist of opposite blades 077, 077, inside clamping and sealing plates 078, 078, in the way substantially known to technicians in the sector.
In practice, suitable drive means bring the opposite plates and blades towards one another to seal a pack and cut it from the tubular film.
Advantageously, the cutting and sealing means and the separating or distancing means are supported on a single frame 080, which moves longitudinally forward and backward
For this purpose, there are longitudinal drive means comprising a belt 082, which moves forward and backward and is operatively connected to the frame 080, which slides along suitable longitudinal side guides, only one of which labelled 079 is illustrated in
In particular, the belt 082 extends below the supporting surface 084 downstream of the tubular film arrangement means.
There are means 087 for engagement and release of the separating means, which move the engagement means into contact with the tubular film and, respectively, move the engagement means away from the tubular film.
The engagement elements are supported by a respective support frame 086, 086, vertically mobile when respective actuators, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, are activated.
There are also means for moving away the pack formed, which is downstream of the sealing and cutting means. These means for moving the pack away consist of the group of items immediately upstream, which pushes against the group already packed. Therefore, gravity causes the group already packed to slide on the plurality of aligned rollers, supported on the conveyor 084, angled downwards.
In short, the apparatus operates as follows.
The group of items 012a released upstream is transported by the conveyor 044 to a position at which the insertion means 030 start pushing.
During this step the vertically opposite sealing and cutting plates 078, 078, moved between a position in which they are vertically close to one another for sealing and cutting and a position in which they are vertically distanced from one another, are returning towards the widened position, until they reach it as illustrated in
At this point the pusher 030 engages with the rear surface of the upstream group 012a, pushing it against the group immediately downstream 012c, as illustrated in
Pushed by the belts 0113 and 0115, the front part of the downstream group 012b then comes out of the rear end 027b of the wrapping tunnel, whilst the engagement means 072, 074 approach, in a disengaged condition, the rear end of the tunnel, until they reach it as illustrated in
In this position, the engagement belts 072, 074 engage with the outer surface of the tubular film and the downstream group 012b contained in this longitudinal portion of tubular film, rotating to accompany the downstream group 012b out, as illustrated in
The separating means operate by pulling the tubular film 019 and the downstream group of items, whilst the upstream group of items remains on the inner tubular body 027, with the feed belts in the tunnel in the disengaged condition which does not feed the items and the tubular film free to slide forward.
In this condition, the element 0119 for engaging with and stopping the group immediately upstream 012d is activated to provide said stopping action for the group immediately upstream. Moreover, in this condition, the air exchange means are activated to supply a suitable pressure in the film upstream of the downstream group 012b.
For this purpose, the belts 072, 074, which engage with the front part of the tubular film and the downstream group 012b, rotate and are also moved longitudinally by the forward movement of the support frame 080 along the side guides 079.
In particular, the means for longitudinal movement of the engagement means 072, 074 move the engagement means forward, away from the end 027b, downstream of the tubular film arrangement or production means, in an attempt to distance the rear face of the downstream group 012b from the group 012d immediately upstream of it, as illustrated in
The closing distance between the downstream group 012b and the group immediately upstream 012d is, therefore, obtained through the combined effect of the carriage 080 translation and rotation of the belts 072, 074.
These means 080 for longitudinal movement of the engagement means for the front group move away from the tubular film arrangement means 027, 028 by a section or stroke, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Once the jaws 078 have met, as illustrated in
As illustrated, the cutting and sealing means operate while the tubular film and the groups inserted in it are stationary.
While sealing and cutting take place, the feed means bring a new group of items upstream 012 into the position for delivery to the pushing means.
Therefore, while the sealing and cutting jaws 078, 078 return to the widened, non-operating position, the pushing means 030 cause a new group of items to engage against the group of items immediately downstream and inserted in the front part of the tunnel.
At this point the cycle continues as described above.
As indicated, with each operating cycle of the feed means 0113, 0115 in the tubular film production tunnel, the groups are fed forward by a section equal to the length of the group of items to be packed.
There are means for feeding a wrapping film, comprising a film support reel 022. For this purpose, there could also be suitable means for rotationally driving the reel, comprising respective reel rotation rollers driven by a motor, but which are not illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The means which drive the flat film may also comprise control means in the form of machine control means, not illustrated, designed to form means for controlled film release.
Before reaching the tunnel infeed, the film 019 can be returned by various return means, in particular in the form of rollers and fed by a pair of feed rollers, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Moreover, there may be a mobile return roller which forms a counterweight for maintaining film tension during the various acceleration and deceleration steps of film feed. The counterweight roller would have a central film 019 contact and return part and ends mobile within respective vertical guides. This motor-driven unwinding assembly allows film unwinding from the reel 022, the latter releasing the film at an almost constant speed. The accelerations and decelerations to which the film is subjected are controlled by the system of rollers downstream of the reel 022.
In particular, in a first step, the flat film feed means are designed to release the film at a predetermined speed (V1) equal to the feed speed of the groups of items inside the film forming means, that is to say, inside the inner tubular body. The film released during this step forms the lateral walls of the bag, or the upper wall, the lower wall and the side walls of the bag.
In a second step, the flat film feed means are designed to release the film at a predetermined speed (V2) different to the predetermined film feed speed (V1), which is equal to the sum of the speed of translation of the sealing means and the speed imparted to the film 19 by the rotation of the belts 072 and 074. The film released during this step forms part of the end walls of the bag. Moreover, during this step, the quantity of film released is enough to form a desired wrapper pulling or adhering condition on the respective group of products.
In a third step, the flat film feed means are designed to release the film at a predetermined speed (V3) equal to the closing speed of the sealing means. The film released during this step forms the remaining part of the rear end wall of the bag and provides the front wall of the bag for the following group of items.
The flat film feed means are also designed to release the film at a predetermined speed (V0), in particular equal to a condition in which film release has stopped, so that the transversal portion separating the downstream group from the following group can be sealed and cut.
As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the bundle or group to be packed normally comprises a plurality of packs aligned and ordered in various longitudinal rows that are parallel with one another. In particular, three rows of packs are used to produce the group illustrated.
The wrapping tunnel 027, 028 may advantageously be width and/or height adjustable, or there may be a plurality of wrapping tunnels 027, 028, each suitable for use with a respective transversal size of the group of items to be packed.
In another embodiment of the invention the film feed means consist only of the pushing means 024, which, pushing the groups of items, at least for the initial step of outfeed from the tubular film forming means, or tunnel, 024, cause the front face of the downstream group to push against the closed end of the tubular film until the downstream end of both is received for forward feed by the downstream feed means or rollers 072, 074.
In practice, in the latter embodiment, the feed rollers 0113, 0115 operating in the tunnel section may be absent. The pushing or feeding action on the group of items to be packed, coming out of the tubular film forming tunnel, is imparted only by the forward stroke of the pushing means 024.
Thus, an apparatus was obtained with a relatively simple and compact structure, which allows a relatively high operating speed to be achieved, that is to say, with less stress on the wrapping film and in which the risk of product crushing is limited.
The invention may be subject to modifications and variations without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. The present second embodiment provides, in particular, an apparatus with a relatively simple and compact structure, which allows a relatively high operating speed to be achieved, that is to say, with less stress on the wrapping film.
Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| BO2004A000457 | Jul 2004 | IT | national |
| BO2004A000755 | Dec 2004 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2005/002056 | 7/18/2005 | WO | 00 | 8/6/2009 |
