Patent Application
20210122505
The present invention refers to a process and apparatus for packaging products. Specifically, the invention refers to processes and apparatuses using a support, destined to receive a product, and a plastic film destined to be coupled to the support for closing the product in a package. The invention can find application in the vacuum or modified atmosphere packaging of products of various kinds.
In the packaging field, apparatuses and associated methods for vacuum-packaging or modified-atmosphere packaging products are known: among these, processes making packages by plastic films for closing food, such as for example meat and fish to be frozen, cheese, treated meat, ready meals, and similar food are known.
The vacuum-packaging process is substantially a thermoforming process comprising providing a product (food) inside or above a rigid or semi-rigid support, for example defined by a flat tray, or a bowl or a cup. The support and the associated product are disposed inside a vacuum chamber. Inside the chamber, a thermoplastic film is sealed to an upper edge of the support; then the air present in the package is extracted so that the plastic film can adhere to the product disposed inside the support.
In order to remove the air from the packages during the forming step, several packaging processes and associated apparatuses are known.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,289B2 comprises a packaging station wherein an upper tool and a lower tool are apposed to each other for forming a closed chamber, from which air is suctioned before coupling a plastic film to the underlying tray. The plastic film is separated from a continuous film by a cutter housed inside the packaging station and by a stop plate which, during the cutting step, holds the film against the upper tool.
A second known solution, which is particularly useful for making packages wherein the product vertically projects from the tray, is described in the international patent application WO2015/091404 presenting an upper tool of a packaging station capable of varying its own geometry by forming cavities of different sizes. A suctioning system is configured for acting on the upper tool for attracting a portion of a plastic film inside the upper tool itself, while a blocking frame holds a portion of the film itself. In a second step, the upper tool is approached the lower tool wherein at least one tray with an associated product is housed. Lastly, a vacuum system enables to suction air between the film and tray for obtaining a vacuum-packaging of the product housed on the tray.
In order to have an augmented suction of the air present between the film and tray, the systems described in publications WO2009/141214 and WO2014/060507 wherein the tray is provided with a hole enabling to efficiently extracting air from the package during the forming step, are also known.
Purpose of the present invention is therefore to substantially solve at least one of the drawbacks and/or limitations of the previous solutions.
A first object of the invention consists of providing a process and apparatus for packaging capable of obtaining an augmented level of the air removed from the package during the forming step.
In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a process and an apparatus for packaging which are capable of reducing at a minimum the waste of material, particularly by limiting the amount of plastic film to be wasted.
An ancillary object of the invention consists of offering a process and apparatus for packaging which, while achieving an efficient removal of air, do not require to puncture the support which can be in the shape of a flat support or a tray.
A further object of the invention consists of providing an apparatus and process enabling to make packages for products markedly vertically projecting with respect to the support edge, without compromising the simplicity of the apparatus and of the associated packaging process. In addition, it is a further object of the invention to obtain a process and apparatus which, while satisfying the above-mentioned requirements, are anyway capable of being efficiently used also for packaging products which do not project or do not excessively project from the support.
Another ancillary object of the invention consists of providing an apparatus and process for packaging capable of safely operating and particularly meeting the object of removing air without compromising the appearance of the packaged final product.
One or more of the above described objects, which will better appear in the following description, are substantially met by an apparatus and process for packaging products according to what expressed in one or more of the attached claims and/or the following aspects, taken alone or in any combination thereof or in combination with anyone of the enclosed claims and/or in combination with any of the further aspects or features described below.
The aspects of the invention are described in the following.
In a 1st aspect, it is provided an apparatus (1) for packaging a product (P) disposed on a support (2), said apparatus (1) comprising:
In a 2nd aspect according to the aspect 1, the apparatus comprises at least one movement device (19) configured for receiving a continuous film (16) from a supplying source (20) and for positioning said film portion (15) at the upper tool, the movement device (19) exhibiting:
In a 3rd aspect according to the preceding aspect, the conveyor (4) and the movement device (19) are configured so that the advancement direction (A) of the supports (2) is parallel to the advancement direction (B) of the film (16).
In a 4th aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the apparatus comprises at least one stop element (33) configured for cooperating with the upper tool (14) and for holding the film portion (15), optionally positioned below the upper tool (14) itself.
In a 5th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the stop element (33) and upper tool (14) are movable with respect to each other at least between one released condition, wherein the stop element (33) is distanced from the upper tool, and a gripped condition, wherein the stop element is approached the upper tool and is capable of blocking a peripheral area of the film portion (15) against the upper tool (14), optionally against an abutment surface (14b) of the upper tool (14).
In a 6th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the interior of the upper tool (14) defines at least one downwardly open cavity (34) exhibiting a dome-shaped active surface (14a), or the upper tool (14) has a plate shape with a flat active surface (14a), wherein said active surface (14a) is perimetrally delimited by said abutment surface (14b) which exhibits a shape defining one or more annular-shaped surfaces.
In a 7th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the upper tool (14) comprises a base body (14′) and one or more walls (14″) emerging from the base body (14′) and defining with this latter said cavity (34).
In an 8th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the abutment surface (14b) is defined below the wall (14″) of the upper tool (14), optionally a lower portion (14c) of the wall (14″) of the upper tool defining said abutment surface (14b) is tapered from the top to the bottom.
In a 9th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 2 to 8, wherein:
In a 10th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the first gripping member (21) is configured to operate exclusively in the inlet area, optionally the first gripping member (21) is configured to keep a fixed operating position with respect to the packaging station.
In an 11th aspect according to the 9th or 10th aspect, the first gripping member (21) is not movable along the advancement direction (B) of the film (16) with respect to the packaging station (5).
In a 12th aspect according to any of the aspects from 9 to 11, the second gripping member (25) moving along the operative stroke (C) is placed downstream of the first gripping member (21) with respect to the advancement direction (B) of the film (16).
In a 13th aspect according to any of the aspects from 2 to 9 wherein:
In a 14th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the outlet area of packaged products of the packaging station (5) is opposed to an inlet area of the film (16) in the packaging station (5) itself.
In a 15th aspect according to the 13th or 14th, the first gripping member (21) is configured to operate exclusively in the outlet area, optionally the first gripping member (21) is configured to keep a fixed operative position with respect to the packaging station.
In a 16th aspect according to any of the aspects from 13 to 15, the first gripping member (21) is not movable along the advancement direction (B) of the film (16) with respect to the packaging station (5).
In a 17th aspect according to any of the aspects from 13 to 16, the second gripping member (25) moving along the operative stroke (C) is placed upstream of the first gripping member (21) with respect to the advancement direction (B) of the film (16).
In a 18th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 2 to 17, the second gripping member (25) is movable between a first position, wherein the second gripping member is apposed to the first gripping member (21), and a second position, wherein the second gripping member is distanced of said operative stroke (C) from the first gripping member.
In an 19th aspect according to the preceding aspect, wherein, in the closed condition of the second gripping member (25), when said second gripping member is in said first position, such second gripping member is configured for grippingly acting on an edge (15a) of said film portion (15) directly adjacent to a transversal band on which the first gripping member (21) is configured for acting in the respective closed condition.
In a 20th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 2 to 19, the apparatus comprises at least two second gripping members (25) each configured for moving between a respective closed condition, wherein it grippingly acts on a respective edge (15a) of said film portion (15), and a respective open condition, wherein it does not grippingly act on said respective edge.
In a 21st aspect according to the preceding aspect, each of said second gripping members is active at a respective side of the upper tool (14) and is destined to grippingly act on a respective lateral edge of said film portion.
In a 22nd aspect according to the aspect 20 or 21, each of said second gripping members (25) is movable away and towards the first gripping member (21) for disposing said film portion (15) inside the packaging station (5) and below said upper tool, acting on respective lateral opposite edges of said film.
In a 23rd aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 20 to 22, the second gripping members are movable from each other according to a direction transversal to the advancement direction (B) of said film.
In a 24th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 2 to 23, the apparatus comprises at least one adjusting member supporting at least said second gripping members (25) and configured for moving these latter with respect to the upper tool according to a direction transversal to the advancement direction (B) of said film for varying the distance between the two gripping members as a function of the width of said film portion, optionally wherein an adjusting member is also associated to a first and second semi-portions of the first gripping member and is configured for modifying the distance between the two semi-portions of the first gripping member along a direction transversal to the advancement direction (B) of said film.
In a 25th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 2 to 24, the first gripping member (21) comprises:
In an 26th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 2 to 25, the second gripping member (25) comprises:
In a 27th aspect according to the preceding aspect, wherein:
In a 28th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 25 to 27, the lower plate (22) and upper plate (23) of the first gripping member (21) exhibit a perimeter having:
wherein the trailing edge (21a) exhibits a rectilinear central portion and a depression (21d) at each of said two opposite sides (21c) so that each plate (22, 23) exhibits a size, measured parallel to said advancement direction (B) of the film, greater in a central area than the two lateral areas of the plate itself; optionally wherein the perimeter of the upper plate (23) is equal to the one of the lower plate (22) and shows a polygonal shape with the rectilinear and parallel leading edge (21b) and trailing edge (21a).
In a 29th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the lower clamp (26) and upper clamp (27) of each second gripping member (25) are configured for being inserted at a respective one of said depressions (21d) present on the trailing edge (21a) of the upper and lower plates of the first gripping member (21).
In a 30th aspect according to the aspect 28 or 29, said upper and lower clamps of each second gripping member (25) exhibit a perimeter being countershaped to the shape of the respective depression (21d) present on the trailing edge of the perimeter of the upper and lower plates of the first gripping member, optionally, the lower clamp and upper clamp of each second gripping member exhibit a rectangular-shaped perimeter.
In a 31st aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 9 to 30, the apparatus (1) comprises at least one guiding element (30), optionally associated to the upper tool (14), configured for moving each second gripping member (25) along said operative stroke (C).
In a 32nd aspect according to the preceding aspect, the guiding element (30) extends according to a closed path along which at least one second gripping members is movable, optionally along which one or more of said second gripping members (25) are movable, optionally wherein said gripping members are movable along said closed path according to a single movement sense.
In a 33rd aspect according to the aspect 31 or 32, the guiding element comprises at least one selected in the group among: a belt, a chain, a rope.
In a 34th aspect according to the aspect 32 or 33, the closed path of the guiding element (30) develops along a lying plane parallel to the advancement direction (B) of said film.
In a 35th aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects from 32 to 34, the closed path comprises:
wherein only at least a part of the first tract is configured for defining said operative stroke (C) of the second gripping member.
In a 36th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 31 to 35, the guiding element (30) is engaged between two idle members of which at least one is motorized.
In a 37th aspect according to the preceding aspect, each of said idle members comprises at least one selected in the group among: a friction wheel, a toothed wheel, a roll, a drum, a cylinder.
In a 38th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 31 to 37, the apparatus (1) comprises two guiding elements (30) opposite to each other with respect to the upper tool and disposed at least partially on a respective side of this latter.
In a 39th aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the upper tool and lower tool (12, 14), in the approached condition, define at least one packaging chamber (17), optionally a fluid-tight packaging chamber.
In a 40th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 2 to 39, the apparatus (1) comprises a cutter (31) transversally movable with respect to the advancement direction (B) of the second gripping member (25) and configured for separating from said continuous film (16) said film portion (15) positioned below the upper tool (14).
In a 41st aspect according to the preceding aspect, the cutter (31) is movable along a plane extending transversally, particularly perpendicular, to said advancement direction (B) of said film.
In a 42nd aspect according to the aspect 40 or 41, the apparatus comprises an auxiliary actuator (32), optionally supported by the upper tool, active on the cutter (31), optionally wherein the cutter is movable —upon actuating said auxiliary actuator—in an ideal cutting plane brushing:
In a 43rd aspect according to the preceding aspect, the auxiliary actuator (32) is configured for moving the cutter (31) itself between:
In a 44th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 31 to 43, the apparatus comprises a control unit (100) active for commanding said first gripping actuator (24), said second gripping actuator (28) and said guiding element (30), the control unit being configured for:
In a 45th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the control unit is active in command on the auxiliary actuator (32) and it is configured for moving the cutter (31) from the rest position to the operative position, and cutting the film (16) for separating the film portion (15) positioned below the upper tool (14) from the further transversal band of the film held by the first gripping member or by the second gripping member.
In a 46th aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects from 4 to 45, the apparatus comprises at least one blocking actuator (55) active on at least one between the stop element (33) and the upper tool (14) and configured to selectively position the upper tool and the stop element in said released condition or in said gripped condition.
In a 47th aspect according to the previous aspect, the apparatus comprises a control unit (100) active in command on the locking actuator (55) and configured to selectively position the upper tool and the stop element in said released condition or in said gripping condition.
In a 48th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the control unit is configured for commanding the blocking actuator (55) and moving the stop element (33) to the respective gripped condition after the second gripping member (25) reached the end of said operative stroke (C), optionally away from the first gripping member (21), and positioned the film portion (15) below the upper tool, optionally below the active surface (14a) of the upper tool (14).
In a 49th aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the apparatus comprises a suctioning device (45) and/or a gas injection device.
In a 50th aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the upper tool (14) and lower tool (12) are movable from each other between at least the distanced condition and at least the approached condition, at which at least one packaging chamber (17), optionally a fluid-tight one, adjacent the packaging station, is defined.
In a 51st aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects from 39 to 50, the stop element (33) exhibits at least one channel (41) configured—at least in the approached condition of the upper tool and lower tool—for putting in fluid communication the packaging chamber (17) with a suctioning device (45) and/or with a gas injection device of the apparatus.
In a 52nd aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the packaging station (5) comprises a main actuator (18) configured for moving the upper tool (14) and lower tool (12) with respect to each other between said distanced condition and said approached condition.
In a 53rd aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the apparatus, particularly the packaging station, comprises at least one of:
In a 54th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 49 to 53, the stop element (33) exhibits at least one channel (41) configured for putting in fluid communication the packaging chamber (17) with at least one between: the suctioning device (45, 53) and the gas injection device.
In a 55th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 52 to 54, the apparatus comprises a control unit (100) active on the main actuator, and configured to control the main actuator (18) to position the upper and lower tools in at least one between the distanced condition and the approached condition.
In a 56th aspect according to the previous aspect wherein the control unit active in command on the main actuator (18) is the same active on the blocking actuator (55).
In a 57th aspect according to the previous aspect, said control unit (100) is configured to control the blocking actuator (55) independently of the main actuator (18).
In a 58th aspect according to any of the aspects from 47 to 57, the control unit (100) is configured to command the blocking actuator (55) to position the stop element and the upper tool in the gripped condition at least when the upper and lower tools are in the distanced condition.
In a 59th aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects from 55 to 58, the control unit (100) is active on the main actuator (18), on the suctioning device and on the conveyor, said control unit (100) being configured for:
In a 60th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 5 to 59, the stop element (33) comprises a perimetral frame (35), configured for being interposed between said lower tool (12) and said upper tool (14) and having at least one through opening (36) and at least one upper surface (33a) destined to cooperate with the abutment surface (14b) of the upper tool for blocking a perimetral area of the film portion (15) when the upper tool and stop element are in said gripped condition.
In a 61st aspect according to the preceding aspect, the perimetral frame (35) exhibits opposite recesses (35a) which, when the gripping element (33) is in said gripped condition and each second gripping member (25) is at the end of said operative stroke (C) away from the first gripping member (21), are each configured for housing at least partially a respective second gripping member (25).
In a 62nd aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 6 to 63, the upper tool (14) comprises:
In a 63rd aspect according to the preceding aspect, the apparatus comprises a control unit (100) connected to the attracting device (51) and to the heater (50) and is configured for performing a step of deforming said film portion:
In a 64th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the control unit active in command on the heater (50) and on the attracting device (51) is the same active in command on at least one between: the main actuator (18), the blocking actuator (55), the first gripping member, the second gripping member, the auxiliary actuator.
In a 65th aspect according to the 63rd or 64th aspect, said step of deforming the film portion (15) is performed before or simultaneously with the step of suctioning the gas from the packaging chamber and/or of injecting the gas into the packaging chamber (17).
In a 66th aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the apparatus (1) comprises the supplying source (20) of said continuous film (16) which comprises a supplying group configured for progressively supplying a continuous film to said first and second gripping members, optionally wherein the supplying group (20) comprises at least one supplying roll (20a) having a respective motor or brake controlled by said control unit (100).
In a 67th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 6 to 66, each active surface (14a) is perimetrally delimited by the abutment surface (14b) defined below the upper tool (14) and exhibiting an annular shape, said abutment surface (14a) being configured for blocking the film portion cooperatively with the stop element during the gripped condition of this latter.
In a 68th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 49 to 67, the stop element (33) comprises a perimetral frame (35) having:
In a 69th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 4 to 68, wherein:
In a 70th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 60 to 69, at least the upper tool and stop element are configured for disposing each cavity (34) of the upper tool aligned with and above the respective opening (36) present in the stop element.
In a 71st aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 60 to 70, the perimetral frame (35) of the stop element (33) exhibits at least one recess (35a), placed at the upper surface (33a) at an end of the frame (35) opposite to the first gripping member (21) and configured for receiving at least part of the respective second gripping member (25) when this latter is at the end of stroke away from the first gripping member and when the stop element (33) is in said gripped condition, wherein the stop element (33) is approached the upper tool (14) for blocking a peripheral area (15a) of the film portion (15) against the abutment surface (14b) of the upper tool, optionally wherein the frame (35) comprises two of said recesses (35a), each on a respective side and at a respective angle area of the perimetral frame (35).
In a 72nd aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the conveyor (4) comprises:
In a 73rd aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 5 to 72, the stop element (33) is part of the packaging station (5) and is configured so that—at said approached condition of the upper tool and lower tool—the stop element (33) itself is disposed between one/the abutment surface (14b) defined below the upper tool (14) and one/the abutment surface (39a) defined above the lower tool (12), optionally inside the packaging chamber (17) defined by the upper and lower tools (12, 14) at the approached condition.
In a 74th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 4 to 73, the lower tool (12) comprises:
In a 75th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the perimetral portion (39) of the lower tool and the insert (38) are movable with respect to each other—due to the action of at least one aligning actuator (40) —between a first position, wherein the channel (41) is fluidically communicating with a volume inside the packaging chamber (17), and a second position, wherein the channel (41) is not fluidically communicating with a volume inside the packaging chamber (17).
In a 76th aspect according to aspect 74 or 75, the lower tool (12) is provided with a plurality of seats (13) and wherein one or more auxiliary cutters (46) movable transversally to the advancement directions (A, B), particularly movable vertically, for separating from each other adjacent film portions, are provided.
In a 77th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the auxiliary cutters (46) are housed by the lower tool (12) for example at the perimetral portions (39), and configured for moving between a rest condition, wherein are completely inside the lower tool, and an active condition, wherein they move at a suitable instant towards the upper tool through suitable slots (47) made on the frame (35) of the stop element (33).
In a 78th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 6 to 77, the upper tool comprises:
In a 79th aspect according to the preceding aspect, such auxiliary cutters (46) are housed by the upper tool (14), for example at the walls (14″) delimiting the cavities (34), and configured for moving between a rest condition, wherein they are completely inside the upper tool, and an active condition, wherein they move towards the lower tool through suitable slots made on the frame (35) of the stop element (33).
In a 80th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 39 to 79, the packaging chamber, defined in the packaging station in the approached condition of the upper and lower tools, is delimited at least by respective walls of the upper tool (14) and of the lower tool (12), and optionally by the stop element (33).
In a 81st aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 4 to 80, the stop element (33)—at least in the approached condition of the upper and lower tools—is configured for defining, cooperatively with at least one support received by the lower tool and with at least one film portion received by the upper tool, a housing chamber (17a) of at least one product (P), inside the packaging station.
In a 82nd aspect according to the preceding aspect, wherein a radially inside wall of the stop element—at least in the approached condition of the upper and lower tools—is configured for defining, cooperatively with said at least one support received by the lower tool and with said at least one film portion received by the upper tool, the cited housing chamber (17a) of at least one product (P).
In a 83rd aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the apparatus comprises a control unit (100) active in command on the main actuator (18), the blocking actuator (55), the conveyor (4) and on the movement device (19), the control unit (100) being configured for:
In an 84th aspect according to the previous aspect, the control unit (100) is also active in command on the attracting device (51) and on the heater (50), the control unit (100) being configured for:
In an 85th aspect according to any of the preceding aspects, the stop element (33) is configured to move relatively to the upper tool (14) from the released position to the position to the gripped position at least when said lower and upper tools are in the distanced condition.
In a 86th aspect according to the aspect 83 or 84, the control unit (100) is also connected to the suctioning device, aligning actuator (40) and/or gas injection device; said control unit being configured for:
In a 87th aspect, it is provided a process of packaging a product (P) disposed on a support (2), optionally by using said apparatus (1) according to anyone of the preceding aspects, said process comprising:
wherein the upper and lower tools (14, 12) are movable with respect to each other between at least one distanced condition, at which the lower tool and upper tool are configured for enabling the film portion (15) and support (2) to enter the packaging station (5), and at least one approached condition, positioning a film portion (15) at the upper tool (14), particularly below the upper tool (14), the step of positioning the film portion (15) comprising the following sub-steps:
In a 88th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the advancement direction (A) of the supports (2) is parallel to the advancement direction (B) of said film (16), and wherein said film cutting step is performed by means of a cutter (31) movable along a plane extending transversally to, particularly perpendicular, to said advancement direction (B) of said film.
In a 89th aspect according to the aspect 87 or 88, the process comprises a step of blocking the film portion (15) to the upper tool (14) by a stop element (33), such blocking step enables to hold the film portion (15) below the upper tool (14) and in contact with the abutment surface (14b) of said upper tool (14).
In a 90th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the process comprises at least one of the following steps:
In a 91st aspect according to the preceding aspect, the step of tightly fixing the film portion (15) to the support (2) in order to form a finished package comprises:
In a 92nd aspect it is provided a process according to anyone of the aspects from 87 to 91, using an apparatus according to anyone of the aspects from 1 to 86.
In a 93rd aspect, it is provided a process of packaging products (P) disposed on supports (P), by using the apparatus (1) according to one or more of the aspects from 1 to 86, said process comprising the following steps:
In a 94th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the process is a vacuum-packaging process and wherein the step of releasing the film portion (15) from the active surface (14a) is performed after a predetermined time interval from the start of the removing step, or rather when a predetermined vacuum level is reached in a volume extending between the film portion (15) and support (2);
or wherein the process is a modified-atmosphere packaging process wherein the step of releasing the film portion (15) from the active surface (14a) is performed after completing the injection of a predetermined gas mixture into a volume extending between the film portion (15) and the support (2).
In a 95th aspect according to the aspect 93 or 94, the step of positioning the film portion (15) comprises:
In a 96th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 93 to 95, wherein immediately before and/or during one of the gas removing step and the gas injection step, comprises:
and wherein the step of tightly fixing the film portion (15) to the support in order to form a finished package, comprises:
In a 97th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 93 to 96, wherein, as soon as the film portion (15) is blocked at least with respect to the upper tool by the stop element (33), auxiliary cutters (46) act for separating film portions adjacent to each other, optionally film portions and adjacent supports.
In a 98th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 93 to 97 wherein, during the step of attracting the film portion (15), a heater (50) provides to maintain hot the active surface (14a) at a predetermined temperature which promotes the deformability of the film itself.
In a 99th aspect according to anyone of the aspects from 95 to 98, wherein the second gripping elements (25), reached the end of the advancement stroke along the advancement direction (B) and being the stop element and upper tool in a gripped condition on the film portion (15), are housed at least partially in respective recesses present on the upper surface and in angle areas of the stop element.
Some embodiments and some aspects of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the attached drawings, given only in an indicative and therefore non-restrictive way, wherein:
Figures from 1 to 3 are schematic views of embodiment variants of a packaging apparatus according to the present invention wherein a film is supplied—from a supplying source—to a packaging station of the same apparatus wherein the film is heat-sealed to a tray;
Figures from 11A to 11C are detailed views of the apparatus of
Figures from 17 to 20 are schematic views of a first embodiment of a packaging station illustrated in different operative conditions;
Figures from 21 to 23 are respective schematic views of a second embodiment of a packaging station illustrated in different operative conditions;
Figures from 28 to 33 are schematic views of a further embodiment variant of a packaging apparatus according to the present invention wherein a film is supplied to a packaging station of the same apparatus wherein the film is heat-sealed to a flat support.
It is observed, in the present detailed description, that corresponding parts illustrated in the several figures are indicated by the same numeral references. The figures could illustrate the object of the invention by not-to-scale representations; therefore, parts and components illustrated in the figures, regarding the object of the invention, could only refer to schematic representations.
Product
The term product P means an article or a composition of articles of any type. For example, the product can be of a food-type and can be at a solid, liquid or gel state, in other words as two or more of the said aggregation states.
Support
The term support 2 means both a flat support and a tray comprising at least one base 2a and at least one lateral wall 2b emerging from the external perimeter of the base 2a and optionally a terminal flange 2c radially emerging outwardly from the upper perimetral edge of the lateral wall 2b; the support defines an upper surface on which a product P abuts and/or a volume inside which the product can be housed.
The tray 2 can comprise an upper edge portion radially emerging from a free edge of the lateral wall opposite to the base: the upper edge portion emerges from the lateral wall according to a direction exiting the volume of the tray itself.
The flat support can be in any shape, for example, rectangular, diamond, circular, or elliptical; analogously, the tray with a lateral wall can exhibit a base of any shape, for example rectangular, diamond, circular or elliptical. The tray can be formed by a specific manufacturing process distinct from the packaging process or can be made in-line with the packaging process.
The support can be made at least partially of a paper sheet material. The term paper material means paper or paperboard; particularly, the sheet material useable for manufacturing the support can exhibit a grammage comprised between 30 and 600 g/m2, particularly comprised between 35 and 300 g/m2, still more particularly between 50 and 250 g/m2. The considered paper material extends between a first and second prevalent development surfaces. The sheet paper material used for manufacturing the support can, in an embodiment variant thereof, be covered, for at least part of the first and/or second prevalent development surfaces by a coating of plastic material, for example a food-grade film. If the coating is disposed in order to cover at least partially the first prevalent development surface, the coating itself will define an internal or upper surface of the support. Viceversa, if the coating is disposed on the second prevalent development surface, the coating itself will define an external or lower surface of the support. The coating can be thermally treated in order to act as an element for engaging and fixing portions of the support. Moreover, the coating can be used for defining a kind of water and/or moisture barrier useful to avoid to weaken the tray and to prevent a loss of structurality thereof with a following uncontrolled deformation of the paper material forming this latter component.
Advantageously, although in a non-restrictive way, the coating could comprise an extrusion-coating on one or both (internal and/or external sides) of the paper material defining the support with thicknesses which can vary from 10 to 50 μm of a coating material (in other words, polythene). The plastic material of the coating can be for example selected among at least one of the following materials: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PE, PET.
Alternatively, the support can be made at least partially of mono-layer and multi-layer thermoplastic materials. Preferably, the support is provided with gas barrier properties.
Preferably, the support is made of a multi-layer material comprising at least one gas barrier layer, and at least one heat-sealable layer for enabling to seal the coating film to the surface of the support.
Additional layers, such as adhesive layers, for better adhering the gas-barrier layer to adjacent layers, can be present in the gas barrier material for the support, and are preferably present particularly based on specific resins used for the gas barrier layer. For a multi-layer structure, a portion thereof can be formed as a foam. An easily-openable frangible layer can be placed adjacent the heat-sealable layer for making easier to open the final package. The overall thickness of the support typically will reach, although in a non-restrictive way, 5.00 mm, preferably will be comprised between 0.04 and 3.00 mm, and more preferably between 0.05 and 1.50 mm, still more preferably between 0.15 and 1.00 mm.
The support can be integrally made of a paper material (optionally the coating is of a plastic material film) or can be integrally made of a plastic material. In a further embodiment variant, the support is made at least partially of paper material and at least partially of a plastic material; particularly, the support is internally made of a plastic material and externally coated at least partially by a paper material.
Actuator
The term actuator means any device capable of receiving a command from a control unit and capable of causing a movement on a body. The actuator can be of an electric, pneumatic, mechanical (a spring, for example), type or also of any other type.
Control Unit
The apparatus, herein described and claimed, comprises at least one control unit adapted to control the operative conditions implemented by the apparatus itself. Clearly, the control unit can be only one unit or can be formed by a plurality of distinct control units according to design choices and operative needs.
The term control unit means an electronic-type component which can comprise at least one of: a digital processor (CPU), a memory (or memories), an analog-type circuit or a combination of one or more digital processing units with one or more analog-type circuits. The control unit can be “configured” or “programmed” for executing some steps: this can be physically obtained by any means enabling to configure or program the control unit. For example, if a control unit comprises one or more CPUs and one or more memories, then one or more programs can be stored in suitable memory banks connected to the CPU or CPUs; the program or programs contain instructions which, when are executed by the CPU or CPUs, program or configure the control unit for executing the operations described with reference to the control unit. Alternatively, if the control unit is or comprises an analog-type circuitry, then the circuit of the control unit can be designed to include a circuitry configured, in use, for processing electric signals for executing the steps regarding the control unit. The control unit can comprise one or more digital units, for example of a microprocessor-type, or one or more analog units, or a suitable combination of digital and analog units; the control unit can be configured for coordinating all the actions necessary for executing an instruction and a set of instructions.
Skin or Film
A skin or film of plastic material is applied to the supports, particularly a polymeric one, in order to obtain a package fluid-tightly housing the product. Since the object consists of obtaining a vacuum package, the film applied to the support is typically a flexible multi-layer material comprising at least one first external heat-sealable layer capable of being sealed to the internal or upper surface of the support, optionally a gas barrier layer and a second heat-resistant external layer.
Since another object consists of obtaining a modified-atmosphere package (MAP) or a natural-atmosphere package (lidding), the film applied to the support (the film of plastic material, particularly a polymeric one) is typically of a mono-layer or multi-layer type, having at least one heat-sealable layer, possibly capable of heat-shrinking due to the heat. Moreover, the applied film can comprise at least one gas barrier layer and optionally a heat-resistant external layer.
With reference to the attached drawings, 1 generally indicates a packaging apparatus. The apparatus 1 is used for packaging products P of different kind (food products or of any other kind, for example) disposed on a support 2 acting as a holder and/or container for the product P itself. Even though the attached figures show a single product correspondingly associated to each support 2, it is not excluded the possibility of disposing plural products P on a single support and then of packaging them by the apparatus 1, in a single package. The attached figures illustrate, in a non-restrictive way, an apparatus 1 used for vacuum-packaging products. However, it is not excluded the possibility of using the apparatus 1 for performing packaging processes of any other type, for example, under a modified-atmosphere or of another type.
The apparatus 1 comprises a supporting frame 3 acting as a base for several components of the apparatus itself. The supporting frame 3 can comprise a single structure constrained to the ground or more structures constrained to the ground and juxtaposed to each other. As it is visible in the attached figures, the supporting frame 3 can, for example, exhibit a horizontally elongated shape supporting a conveyor 4 configured for moving one or more supports 2 along a predetermined advancement direction A. The particular structure of the conveyor 4 for the supports can be of a different type, however capable of enabling to move the supports themselves to the interior of the packaging station 5. For example, the conveyor 4 can comprise an inlet belt or another conveying member 9 which, actuated according to a step-by-step motion is capable of exhibiting a predetermined number of supports at the inlet of the packaging station 5 wherein one or more suitable members transfer the supports to the interior of the station 5 itself and, once completed the packaging cycle, move the finished packaged towards a further outlet belt or conveying member 11.
To summarize, the trays 2, which can be preformed or in-line formed from a respective band material, are conveyed by means of the inlet conveying means 9 to arrive in proximity of the packaging station 5, and then are withdrawn by means of the front portion 8 of the guiding structure 6 and are moved by this latter to the interior of the packaging station 5 for forming finished packages; meanwhile, the same number of finished packages are moved by the rear portion 10 of the guiding structure 6 towards the outlet conveying member 11. Therefore, the guiding structures 6 are disengaged from the trays and finished products, enabling to execute the effective packaging cycle and avoiding to interfere with the components of the packaging station 5, even though they return to a start position by a motion opposite to the advancement direction A of the trays 2.
If there are a plurality of supports to be moved into the packaging station 5, the apparatus can comprise a conveyor 4 as hereinbefore described, or a system for laterally dragging one more supports 2 active on the side of the support/supports and grippingly acting on the lateral edge of these latter.
In order to perform the packaging cycle, the packaging station 5 exhibits a lower tool 12 configured for receiving one or more of said supports 2, as it will be better described in the following, the lower tool 12, in a first embodiment, can comprise one or more seats 13 adapted to receive one or more trays (see
In a second embodiment, the lower tool 12 can comprise a plate, without seats, configured for abuttingly receiving and bearing the flat support (see Figures from 28 to 33); in such configuration, the lower tool 12 can comprise a plate exhibiting a width substantially equal to or greater than the width of the flat support; it is observed that the widths are measured perpendicular to the advancement direction A of the supports 2.
Moreover, the packaging station 5 comprises an upper tool 14 configured for receiving at least one portion 15 of the film 16 (typically completely made of a plastic material or comprising one or more layers of plastic material, as previously described) to be associated to said one or more supports for obtaining the finished packages. It is observed that the upper tool 14 and lower tool 12 are movable with respect to each other between at least one distanced condition (the condition illustrated in Figures from 1 to 6 and 29, for example), at which the lower tool and upper tool enable the film portion 15 and the tray/trays 2 to enter the packaging station 5, and at least one approached condition (illustrated in
Then, it is provided a movement device 19 for receiving the film portion 15 from a source 20 for supplying the continuous film 16, and for positioning such film portion in the upper tool 14: particularly, as it is visible in the attached figures, the movement device 19 is configured for withdrawing the film portion from an inlet area to the packaging station 5, and for moving such film portion 15 to the interior of the station 5 and below the upper tool 14, arriving to a position wherein the film portion 15 is overlapped the support or supports the guiding structure 6 has positioned in the lower tool 12. The movement device 19 exhibits at least one first gripping member 21 configurable between a respective closed condition, wherein such first gripping member 21 grippingly acts on said film 16, and a respective opened condition wherein such first gripping member 21 does not act on said film. As it is visible from the attached drawings (see
Moreover, the movement device 19 comprises at least one second gripping member 25 also configurable between a respective closed condition, wherein such second member grippingly acts on said film (particularly of said film portion 15), and a respective opened condition, wherein such second member 25 does not grippingly act on said film. For this purpose, the second gripping member 25, shown in the attached drawings, comprises a lower clamp 26 and an upper clamp 27 relatively movable between the opened condition (
In order to enable to position the film portion 15 below the upper tool, the second gripping member 25 is also movable with respect to the first gripping member along an advancement direction B of the film 15, 16. More particularly, the conveyor 4 and movement device 19 are configured so that the advancement direction A of the supports is horizontal and parallel to the advancement direction B of the film portion 15 or film 16 (see
More particularly: the second gripping member 25 is movable between a first position, wherein the second gripping member is apposed to the first gripping member 21 (see
As already described, in the closed condition of the second gripping member 25, the upper clamp 27 is apposed to the lower clamp 26 for grippingly closing at least one edge 15a of the film portion 15: it is observed that when the second gripping member 25 is in the first position, it is apposed to the first gripping member 21 (
The second gripping member 25 is moved with respect to the first gripping member 21 by means of a guiding element 30, optionally associated to the upper tool 14.
In a first embodiment, the guiding element 30 defines a closed path along which the second gripping member 25 is movable along a single direction of motion. Preferably, the closed path develops along a lying plane parallel to the advancement direction B of said film and, under conditions of use of the machine, parallel to a vertical direction.
In the first embodiment, the guiding element 30 can comprise at least one selected in the group among: a belt, a chain, a rope or another pulling member capable of being disposed as a loop. The gripping member 25 is fixed to the guiding element 30 whose movement enables a consequent movement of the second gripping member 25 along the closed path. The closed path guiding element is configured for moving the second gripping member 25 along said operative stroke C; in such first embodiment, however, only a movement tract of the closed path is adapted to define the operative stroke C. More particularly, the closed path comprises a first rectilinear tract 29a and a second tract 29b also rectilinear and distanced from each other, which are connected by a first and second joining tracts 29c and 29d; indeed, the tracts 29c and 29d are arc tracts adapted to connect respective longitudinal end portions of the first and second tracts 29a, 29b. As it is visible in the attached figures, the first and second rectilinear tracts 29a, 29b are opposite and distanced by said arc tracts. At least only one part of the first rectilinear tract 29a is configured for defining the operative stroke C of the second gripping member 25. De facto, the first rectilinear tract 29a defines the operative stroke C, while the remaining tracts (29b, 29c and 29d) represent recirculating tracts of the second gripping member 25, adapted to enable to reposition this latter at the end of the stroke C.
The above described loop shape is obtained by engaging the guiding element with two idle members of which at least one is motorized (see the motor 30a, an electric motor for example, illustrated in
The guiding element 30 can stably bear only one second gripping member 25 or a plurality of second gripping members. The attached figures illustrate, in a non-restrictive way, a configuration of the apparatus exhibiting two second gripping members 25 for each gripping element 30. Still referring to the attached figures, the apparatus exhibits two guiding elements 30 opposite to each other with respect to the upper tool 14 and disposed at least partially on a respective side of this latter. The guiding elements 30 bear a same number of second gripping members distanced by a same pitch: each second gripping member of a gripping element is configured for cooperating with a second gripping member of the opposite guiding element so that there is always at least one pair of second gripping members 25 (each second member of the pair being placed in a respective of the two guiding elements) which can effectively act on a same film transversal band defined perpendicular to the advancement direction B.
In a second preferred embodiment, the second gripping member 25 reciprocally moves on a horizontal track, associable to the upper tool, due to the action of a longitudinal actuator associable also to the upper tool 14 and active on the/each second gripping member 25 for reciprocally moving this latter along the direction B. In this way, the second gripping member 25 can selectively move away from and towards the first gripping member 21 along said advancement direction B of the film 15, 16.
Also in this second embodiment of the guiding element, it is possible to provide two second gripping members 25 substantially identical with reference at least to the presently described features. In this case, each second gripping member 25 is active at a respective side of the upper tool 14 and is configured for moving between a respective closed condition, wherein grippingly acts on a lateral edge of said film, and a respective opened condition, wherein does not grippingly act on said film lateral edge. Each second gripping member 25 is linearly movable (by the action of the same longitudinal actuator 30 or by an action of a further longitudinal actuator 30 synchronously operating with the first one) reciprocally away from and towards the first gripping member along said operative stroke C parallel to the advancement direction B of said film for disposing the film portion 15 inside the packaging station 5 and below said upper tool 14, by acting on respective lateral opposite edges 15a of said film.
Advantageously, moreover the apparatus can comprise at least one adjusting member bearing at least said second gripping members 25 and configured for moving these latter with respect to the upper tool along a direction transversal to the advancement direction B of the film in order to vary the distance between the two second gripping members as a function of the width of said film portion. Preferably, the adjusting member is placed between each guiding element and at least one between the upper tool 14 and lower tool 12; in this way, each second gripping member 25, by means of the adjusting member, is movable towards and away from the lower and upper tools for enabling said member 25 to adapt to different dimensions (width) of the film useable for closing the support 2. In an embodiment of the invention not illustrated in the attached figures, an adjusting member is associated also to the first and second semi-portions of the first gripping member 21 and is configured for modifying the distance between the two semi-portions of the first gripping member along a direction transversal to the advancement direction B of the film; by means of the adjusting member, it is further possible to adapt the first gripping member 21 to the different dimensions (width) of the film useable for closing the supports.
In a further embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first and at least one second gripping members replaceable with respective first and second gripping members having different shapes and dimensions; in this way, it is possible to adapt the gripping members 21 and 25 to the different widths of the film for avoiding to use the above described one or plural adjusting members.
In a configuration that has been described above, the movement device 19 is configured to withdraw the film portion from an inlet area to the packaging station 5 and to move the portion 15 inside the station 5 and below the upper tool 14; in the configuration described above, the first gripping member 21 is placed at an inlet area of the packaging station while the second gripping member 25 is movable along the operative stroke C away from said first member 21 downstream of this latter with respect to the advancement direction B.
However, it is not excluded the possibility of providing a movement device 19 having a first gripping member 21 arranged at an outlet area of the packaged products of the packaging station 5 is not excluded; the second gripping member 25, which can be borne directly by the upper tool 14, is in this case movable away from and approaching the first gripping member 21 along an operative stroke C of sufficient extension to position the film portion 15 below the upper tool 14. In the latter described configuration, the second gripping member 25 is configured to withdraw the continuous film 16 at an inlet area of the packaging station 5 and bring the portion 15 below the upper tool 14 by means of a movement along the stroke C towards the first gripping member 21 (located at the outlet area of the packaged products of the same packaging station opposed to the film inlet area); the second gripping member 25, moving along the operating stroke C, operates upstream of the first gripping member 21 with respect to the advancement direction B of the film 16. In this variation of the device 19, the first gripping member 21 is configured to operate exclusively in the outlet area of the packaging station: the first gripping member 21 is therefore not movable with respect to the packaging station 5 along the advancement direction B of the film 16. For example, the first gripping member can be constrained to the end of the upper tool placed at the aforementioned product outlet area.
Referring now to the figures with reference to a further specific structural description, each lower plate 22 and upper plate 23 of the first gripping member 21 exhibit a respective active flat face 22a, 23a (
More specifically, the cutter 31 is configured for being transversally movable with respect to said advancement direction B and therefore is capable of separating the film portion 15 from the continuous film 16 from the supplying source 20. In the example illustrated in the attached figures, the cutter 31 is movable along an ideal plane extending transversally, particularly perpendicular, to the advancement direction B. An auxiliary actuator 32, optionally supported by the upper tool, is active on the cutter 31 so that—upon actuating said auxiliary actuator—the cutter moves along an ideal cutting plane brushing the trailing edge 21a of the first gripping member 21 (
According to a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus 1 comprises a stop element 33 (see
Referring again to the attached drawings, it is observed that the upper tool 14 can, for example, comprise a base body 14′ and at least one wall 14″ emerging from the base body and defining, with this latter, one or more of the cited cavities 34 (for example 2, 3, 4 or more cavities) adapted to receive, in the packaging step, the portion of the product P emerging from the lower tool 12: the abutment surface 14b—which is annularly shaped for a single cavity or is multi-annularly shaped for plural cavities—is defined below the wall 14″ of the upper tool and is destined, as said before, to abuttingly act (still by interposing the film portion 15) on the upper surface 33a of the stop element 33. The upper tool 14 comprises also at least one heater 50 configured for heating at least one active surface 14a, optionally both the abutment surface 14b and active surface 14a of the upper tool. The heater 50 can be of any type, for example electric (formed by one or more resistors), hydraulic (formed by one or more channels for a heating fluid), electromagnetic (formed by radiating circuits), or also of another type. Moreover, the upper tool 14 comprises an attracting device 51 configured for attracting at least part of the film portion 15 contacting said active surface 14a of the upper tool. The attracting device can comprise any solution capable of attracting the film portion 15 in order to contact the active surface 14a of the upper tool 14, particularly in order to contact the surface of the dome/s defined in the upper tool itself. For example, the attracting device 51 can comprise a plurality of suctioning openings 52 distributed, optionally evenly, at the active surface and fluidically communicating with a suctioning device (45, 53) for suctioning a gas from the packaging chamber 17.
From the structural point of view, the stop element 33 comprises a perimetral frame 35 configured for interposing between the lower tool and upper tool: the perimetral frame 35 exhibits at least one through opening 36 and defines the upper surface 33a destined to cooperate with the abutment surface 14b of the upper tool for blocking the film portion against the upper tool, when the upper tool and stop element are in a gripped condition. As it is observed from the attached drawings, the perimetral frame 35 of the stop element 33 can define a plurality of through openings 36 which are in a number based on the number of supports received, during each cycle, by the lower tool 12. In addition, the perimetral frame 35 of the stop element 33 exhibits at least one recess 35a placed at the upper surface 33a and at an end of the frame 35, opposite to the position of the first gripping member 21. Preferably, two recesses 35a are provided, each on a respective side of the perimetral frame 35, in other words at a respective angle area of the perimetral frame 35, and each configured for receiving at least part of the respective second gripping member 25 when this latter is at the end of stroke, away from the first gripping member 21 and when the stop element 33 is in said gripped condition, wherein the stop element 33 is approached the upper tool 14 for blocking the edge 15a (or peripheral area 15a) of the film portion 15 against the abutment surface 14b of the upper tool 14. As it is visible in the attached figures, the upper tool 14, of the described non-restrictive example, can define in the interior thereof one or more downwardly opened cavities 34.
More particularly, the recess 35a is adapted to substantially receive the lower clamp 26 of the second gripping member 25: the depth of the recess 35a enables to house only the lower clamp 26. The upper tool 14 also exhibits a respective recess 14d opposite to the recess 35a of the stop element 33, which is configured for receiving the upper clamp 27 of the second gripping member 25 always when the stop element 33 is approached the upper tool 14. Particularly, the upper tool 14 comprises at least two recesses 14d, each for each second present gripping member 25.
The cooperation of the recesses 14d and 35a enables the gripping member 25 to hold—in the approached position of the stop element 33 and upper tool—the film portion 15 and enables to place such portion in contact with the abutment surface 14b of the upper tool.
It is observed that the recess 14d (the pair of recesses) on the upper tool 14 is a part of this latter which cannot contact the film portion 15 in a closed condition of the packaging station 5, in other words in a condition wherein the upper and lower tools abut each other. The recess 14d of the angle portion of the upper tool 14 is distanced from a respective angle area of the film portion 15 which consequently cannot be constrained (heat-sealed) to the underlying support 2. However, it is noted that the recess 14d is placed at a predetermined distance from an upper perimetral edge of the support so that the upper tool can tightly heat-seal the film portion to the support; advantageously, the recess 14d enables to define a film angle not constrained to the support which can define an easily gripped film area—in the packaging field known also as easy peel—for opening the package.
If the stop element 33 exhibits a plurality of through openings 36, and the upper tool 14 exhibits a plurality of cavities 34, the apparatus 1 is configured for placing the stop element and upper tool so that the through openings 36 are aligned and in a number equal to the corresponding cavities 34 present on the upper tool, in order to enable the upper portion of a possible product outwardly projecting from the lower tool to freely pass through. In the illustrated example, there are several cavities 34 aligned with the through openings 36 formed in the perimetral frame 35 cooperatively with the bars 35′ of the stop element, and—if present—aligned with the seats 13 of the lower tool 12.
As previously said, the upper tool 14, lower tool 12 and stop element 33 are configured and assembled to the supporting frame 3 for disposing each cavity 34 of the upper tool 14 aligned with and above the respective opening 36 present in the stop element; in the variant of the lower tool configured for receiving one or more trays 2, the opening 36 can be positioned in turn above the respective seat 13 of the lower tool 12.
Turning now to a detailed description of the lower tool 12, it comprises—in the first embodiment—at least one insert 38 defining a corresponding one of said seats 13 for a tray 2. As it is visible in the attached figures, the lower tool can define a plurality of seats or a single seat according to the number of trays 2 to be packaged during each cycle. The seat 13, defined by the insert 38, is shaped for suitably receiving and stably positioning the respective tray 2: for example, if the trays 2 have a lateral wall 2b and an upper flange 2c, the seat 13 exhibits a shape of a cavity countershaped to the upper portion of the lateral wall of the tray with an abutment area destined to receive the flange of the tray. If the support 2 exhibits, on the contrary, a flat shape, the insert could for example exhibit a seat formed by a slight depression in the center of a flat area or a seat simply formed by an abutment flat area of the flat support itself. Moreover, the lower tool 12 comprises a supporting perimetral portion 39, outside said insert 38, and having an abutment upper surface 39a configured for contactingly receiving the stop element; in said approached condition of the upper and lower tools, the stop element 33 is placed between the abutment surface 14b defined below the upper tool 14 and the abutment surface 39a defined above the lower tool 12, and particularly above the perimetral portion 39.
It is observed that the insert can be removably engaged with the supporting perimetral portion, for enabling to substitute the insert 38 when the type or shape of the trays 2 are changed for the packaging cycle. In case of plural inserts 38, plural perimetral portions 39 perimetrally disposed with respect to each insert 38 can be provided. The perimetral portion 39 and insert 38 are movable from each other—upon operating at least one aligning actuator 40—between a first position, wherein the perimetral portion 39 holds the upper surface 33a of the stop element 33 above an upper surface 38a of the insert 38 (see
In the second embodiment of the lower tool 12, this can comprise a plate exhibiting a flat upper surface for receiving the supports 2 (see Figures from 28 to 33, for example).
As said, the upper tool 14 comprises a base body 14′ and a wall 14″ emerging from the base body and defining with this latter a number of cavities 34 equal to the number of openings 36 of the stop element 33. As it can be observed from Figures from 19 to 23, a lower portion 14c of the wall 14″ defines the abutment surface 14a of the upper tool 14; in
Lastly, it is observed that astride a cavity 34 and another one (when the upper tool is provided with a plurality of cavities) there are one or more auxiliary cutters 46 movable transversally to the directions A and B, particularly movable—under conditions of use of the apparatus 1—vertically, for separating from each other adjacent film portions of the supports 2. The auxiliary cutters 46 can be housed by the upper tool as illustrated in Figures from 28 to 34, or by the lower tool, for example in the perimetral portion 39 as illustratively shown for example in
First Embodiment Variant of the Apparatus 1
The above described apparatus 1 comprises both the movement device 19 and stop element 33, both associated to the packaging station 5.
With such embodiment, the film 16 is continuously unwound from a supplying source 20 and delivered to the movement device 19 which moves the film above the support/s, between the upper tool 14 and lower tool 12.
Second Embodiment Variant of the Apparatus 1
On the contrary,
In this second embodiment, the movement of the film portion 15 is performed by the transferring device 80; the apparatus 1 comprises only the stop element 33 configured for receiving the film portion 15 from the transferring device 80 and then for putting in contact the film portions 15 with the upper tool: the apparatus 1 does not comprise the movement device 19, the function thereof, in this second embodiment variant, is performed by the transferring device 80.
Packaging Process
After this mainly structural description, then a packaging process using the above described apparatus 1, in other words the apparatus 1 according to one or more of the attached claims, will be described.
Particularly, it is described in the following a cycle of the packaging process executed by the apparatus 1: the cycle, described in the following, is periodically repeated enabling to package products disposed on the supports 2.
First of all, a predetermined number of supports 2 are advanced along the advancement direction A by the conveyor 4. Particularly, the inlet conveyor 9 transports a predetermined number of supports 2 from a supports loading station 60 or from a forming station 70 aligned with the supports 2 (such stations are respectively illustrated in
Meanwhile, the guiding structures move the supports 2 to the interior of the packaging station 5, the movement device 19 receives a film portion 15 from the source 20 for supplying the continuous film 16, and positions such film portion at the upper tool: particularly, the movement device 19 withdraws the film portion from an area at the inlet of the packaging chamber and moves such film portion to the inside of the station 5 and below the upper tool, arriving to a position wherein the film portion 15 is overlapped the support/s which the guiding structure 6 positions at the lower tool 12.
Still more particularly, the first gripping member 21 is initially in a closed condition and grippingly acts on said film by suitably operating the first actuator 24; the second gripping member 25 is also in the respective closed condition juxtaposed to the first gripping member by suitably operating the second gripping actuator 28. During this first step, the second gripping element/s are in the first position and apposed to the first gripping member 21, so that the film edge 15a on which each second gripping member acts, is immediately adjacent the transversal band 16a on which the first gripping member acts for avoiding waste of film in the following process steps. Particularly, in this condition, the second gripping member/s act on a corresponding one of the lateral edges of the film portion, extending at the depressions placed on each side of the trailing edge of the first gripping element.
In order to enable to position the film portion 15 below the upper tool, the first gripping member is moved to an opened condition, and each second gripping member 25 (held in a closed condition) is moved with respect to the first gripping member according to the advancement direction B along the guiding element. Each second gripping member 25 follows the predetermined operative stroke C for positioning the film portion 15 below the overall active surface 14a of the upper tool 14.
At this point, the stop element 13 cooperates with the upper tool 14 for holding against the upper tool 14 the film portion 15 positioned below the upper tool itself: substantially, the stop element 33 and upper tool 14 are moved to the gripped condition, wherein the stop element 33 is approached the upper tool 14 and blocks an area of the film portion 15 against an abutment surface 14b of the upper tool 14. As it is visible in the attached figures, the film portion 15 is blocked below the upper tool and particularly, for example, below the domes present in the upper tool 14. During this step, the second gripping elements are housed at least partially in the respective recesses present on the upper surface of the stop element, in order to still again minimize the waste of film.
After the blocking action of the stop element 33, the attracting device 51 can be activated (activated only for the vacuum-packaging processes) which attracts at least part of the film portion 15 in contact with said active surface 14a of the upper tool, particularly with the surface of the dome/s defined in the same upper tool. For example, the suctioning device 53 can be activated for suctioning a gas from the openings 52 in order to determine a negative pressure between the film portion 15 and active surface 14a and therefore the film portion in contact with this latter is attracted. At this point, the cutter 31, cuttingly acts for separating the film portion 15 from the continuous film 16. It is observed that the cutter can act any time after blocking the film portion 15 by the stop element 33, in other words also before or during the above described film attracting step. It is observed that during the just described step of deforming the film portion, the heater 50 provides to hold the active surface 14a, heated at a predetermined temperature promoting the deformability of the film itself. The heater can be activated before starting the step of deforming the film in order to take the film portion to suitable thermal conditions.
After blocking the film portion 15 and when the supports are entering into the packaging station 5, the upper tool and lower tool are moved to an approached condition in order to form the packaging chamber 17. In the configuration wherein, the lower tool defines the seats 13 (first embodiment), the perimetral portion 39 and insert 38 in a first step, are in the first position wherein the perimetral portion holds the upper surface 33a of the stop element 33 above the upper surface 38a of the insert 38, enabling the channel 41 present inside the stop element 33 to communicate with an internal volume of the packaging chamber (see
At this point, the process can perform the steps of vacuum-packaging the products (skin-type packages) or the steps for defining modified-atmosphere packages.
With reference to the vacuum-packaging, the vents 42 communicate with the channel 41 which—in the approached condition of the tools—fluidically communicates with at least one respective suctioning line present in the lower tool 12 (present in each perimetral portion 39, for example) and communicating with the suctioning device 45 capable of removing a gas from the packaging chamber. During this step, the suctioning device 45 is activated, causing through the channel 41, the removal of the gas from the packaging chamber, and particularly from the volume of the chamber between the film portion and the underlying tray/s 2.
After a predetermined time interval from the start of the just described suctioning step, in other words once is reached a predetermined vacuum level in the volume extending between the film portion 15 and support 2, the attracting device is turned off so that the film portion can be laid down on the product (see
In case of a modified-atmosphere packaging, the vents 42 communicate with the channel 41 which—in the approached condition of the tools—fluidically communicates with at least one respective gas injection line communicating with the injection device capable of blowing a gas into the packaging chamber. During this step, the injection device is activated for determining, through the channel 41, the injection of gas into the packaging chamber, and particularly in the volume of the chamber extending between each film portion and the underlying tray/s 2. In the configuration of the lower tool provided with seats 13 for receiving trays, while the perimetral portion 39 and insert 38 are in the respective first position, the film portion 15 cannot contact the upper surface of the perimetral edge of the underlying support (the flange of the tray or perimetral edge of the tray) because the film trapped between the stop element and abutment surface of the upper tool remains distanced from the abutment area and from the seat present in the lower tool. Meanwhile, the step of blowing air through the channel 4 can continue. At a certain point, the perimetral portion and insert are moved to the second position (for example by raising the insert 38 with respect to the perimetral portion 39), wherein the perimetral portion 39 of the lower tool 12 is disposed so that the upper surface 33a of the stop element 33 is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the insert 38, closing said channel 41 and bringing in contact at least a perimetral edge of the film portion with the perimetral flange or edge of the tray. In this step, the perimetral edge of the film portion 15 is tightly heat-sealed to the perimetral flange or edge of the tray.
Still during this step or also before it as soon as the film portion is blocked at least with respect to the upper tool by means of the stop element, also the present auxiliary cutters 46 can act, if the packaging station 5 is destined to make a plurality of packaged products in a single cycle, in order to separate packages adjacent to each other.
Lastly, the packaging station 5 is moved again to the distanced condition. Therefore, the guiding structure/s 6 are moved so that the front portion of the same transports new supports 2 to the interior of the packaging station and the rear portion 10 of the guiding structure/s provides to move a same number of finished packages towards the outlet conveying member 11. At this point, the finished packages can be extracted, and a new manufacturing cycle starts again according to the previous description.
Apparatus 1 Comprising a Control Unit 100
Lastly, the apparatus 1 comprises a control unit 100 configured for:
As hereinbefore described, the control unit 100 is configured or programmed so that, while the guiding structures 6 provide to move the supports 2 to the interior of the packaging station 5, the movement device 19 is commanded to receive a film portion 15 from the source 20 for supplying the continuous film 16 and to position such film portion at the upper tool 14. Still more particularly, the control unit 100 initially commands the first gripping member 21 in the closed condition on said film due to a suitable operation of the first actuator 24 and commands the second gripping member 27 also in the respective closed condition juxtaposed to the first gripping member due to a suitable operation of the second gripping actuator 28. Then, the control unit commands the first gripping member in an opened condition and therefore commands each second gripping member 25 (held in the closed condition) to move with respect to the first gripping member according to the advancement direction B along the guiding element. Particularly, the control unit commands the longitudinal actuator so that each second gripping member 25 goes through the predetermined operative stroke C in order to position the film portion 15 below the overall active surface of the upper tool.
The control unit is configured for holding the packaging station opened in the distanced condition of the tools at least during the just described steps.
The control unit 100 is also configured for performing the following steps which occur when the packaging station 5 is still open (even though, as an alternative, it would be possible to bring the packaging station with the tools apposed to each other before performing the following steps):
Lastly, the control unit 100 is configured so that —after blocking the film portion 15 and when the supports 2 enter the packaging station 5—the upper tool 14 and lower tool 12 are moved to an approached condition in order to form the packaging chamber, by commanding the main actuator 18.
Particularly, the control unit 100 is configured or programmed for:
Lastly, the control unit 100 is configured for commanding the main actuator 18 and bringing again the packaging station 5 to the distanced condition and commanding the positioning actuator 7 to move the guiding structure/s 6 so that the front portion 8 of the same transports new supports 2 to the interior of the packaging station 5, while the rear portion 10 of the guiding structure/s provides to move an equal number of finished packages towards the outlet conveying member 11.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102017000043164 | Apr 2017 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2018/052674 | 4/18/2018 | WO | 00 |
