The invention is now explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:
a-5c schematically show other embodiments of the device of
For a better understanding of the invention, like parts will be indicated by identical numerals in the following description of the Figures.
In
As
The supply member 12 carries the continuous strip of sleeve-like foil material 1 past cutting member for cutting the foil material through at predetermined intervals so as to obtain individual sleeve-like foil envelopes. According to the invention and as shown in the Figures, the cutting member is made up of two clamping sections 14-15, which each comprise cutting elements 14-15 that are movable with respect to the flat strip of sleeve-like foil material 1, each cutting element 14-15 being provided with at least one cutting blade 14′;15′-15″, which extends at least parallel to at least part of the width of the strip of foil material.
In this embodiment, the cutting elements 14-15 are arranged some distance apart along the continuous strip of sleeve-like foil material 1, when viewed in the direction of transport of the continuous strip. The cutting elements 14-15 are each rotatable about their axis parallel to the width of the strip of sleeve-like foil material 1, as shown in
Upon transport of the continuous strip of sleeve-like foil material 1 through the device (by the supply member 12), the two cutting elements 14-15 are driven in such a manner that they successively form partial cuts in the continuous strip of foil material in successive operating steps, which partial cuts will eventually be aligned and be contiguous to each other, thus forming a complete cut for forming an individual sleeve-like foil envelope.
The forming of contiguous partial cuts by two separate cutting elements 14-15 requires a correct adjustment or control of the cutting elements, also taking into account the conveying speed of the continuous strip of sleeve-like foil material 1 through the device.
To that end the device is provided with a sensor 16, which is arranged for detecting markings (not shown) present in or on the continuous strip of foil material 1. The markings are arranged at regular intervals and preferably consist of a strip of foil material which has been made reflective or, in the alternative, a strip of a transparent foil material. In both embodiments the sensor 16 can be configured as a light sensor which detects the presence of a marking on the strip of foil material 1 based on reflected or transmitted light and which is capable of determining the conveying speed, for example, of the strip of foil material 1 through the device on the basis of successive detections. Given a desired length of the individual sleeve-like foil envelopes, the two cutting elements 14-15 are rotatably driven accordingly.
Rotation of the cutting element 14 or 15 places the cutting blade 14′ or 15′-15″ into abutment against a fixedly disposed anvil 14a-15a, as a result of which a partial cut is formed in the continuous strip of foil material 1 that is present therebetween.
This is clearly shown in
Based on measuring signals delivered by the sensor 16 to a control unit 25 (see
Although the rotational speeds of the cutting elements 14-15 may in principle be the same and be geared to the conveying speed of the strip of foil material and the desired length of the final sleeve-like foil envelopes, the device according to the present invention may be operated at a higher speed by making the rotational speed of each cutting element variable during one rotation.
Furthermore, different rotational speeds may be used for the cutting elements 14-15, while the rotational speed of each cutting element may be substantially equal to the conveying speed of the strip of sleeve-like foil material 1 through the device at the moment of forming the partial cut in order to form good quality and in particular correctly contiguous (or coinciding) cuts. This also depends on the specific properties of the foil material that is used.
Thus, several partial cuts are formed in the continuous strip of sleeve-like foil material 1 in two operations, which partial cuts are contiguous to each other as a result of the two cutting elements 14-15 being suitably controlled, so that a complete cut is formed and an individual sleeve-like foil envelope is formed.
As shown in
To prevent undesirable jamming or accumulation of the strip of foil material 1 in the device, a guide element 17 is provided in the device, over which guide element 17 the strip of sleeve-like foil material 1 can be passed. As is clearly shown in
The guide element is preferably configured as a flat body having a width substantially equal to the width of the strip of sleeve-like foil material 1. More specifically, the guide element 17 is so constructed that material has been removed from the guide element 17 at the location of the cutting elements 14 and 15 so as to make it possible to form partial cuts in the continuous strip of sleeve-like foil material 1. The locations where material has been removed from the guide element 17 are indicated at 17′ in
The free end 17b of the guide element 17a serves to accommodate a spreading element 19, which functions to open the obtained flat, sleeve-like foil envelopes 1′ in order to place the opened, sleeve-like foil envelope around a container (not shown).
As shown in
This is shown in
To facilitate the discharge of the individual foil envelope 1′ towards the container 2, discharge members 20a-20b may be provided, which are mounted in the device at the spreading element 19. The discharge members comprise one or more drivable rollers 20a, which are supported on the stationary rollers 20b and which discharge the sleeve-like foil material 1′ present therebetween from the device 10 at an accelerated rate, with the individual, opened foil envelope 1′ slipping over a container 2.
a-5c show three further schematic embodiments of the device according to the present invention, specifically relating to the cutting means 14-15.
a shows the embodiment as discussed with reference to
b schematically shows another embodiment, in which the first cutting element 14 comprises two cutting blades 14′-14″, similar to the second cutting element 15 in
In
As is clearly shown and perhaps slightly exaggerated in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1031597 | Apr 2006 | NL | national |