CN111137488A - Device for wrapping a product with a film of wrapping material - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for wrapping a product with a wrapping material, such as a film of stretchable material or with a tape, comprising: a base (2) supported by wheels (3, 4); a guide post (5) fixed to the base (1); -a carriage (6) configured to carry a reel (7) for feeding the wrapping material, slidable along the column (5); a push handle (8) for pushing the base (1) around the product, thereby causing the same wrapping as the wrapping material fed by the reel (7). The device also comprises a transmission unit (10) connected to at least one (3) of the wheels (3, 4) and configured to convert its movement about the respective rotation axis into a sliding movement of the carriage (6) along the column (5).

Description

Device for wrapping a product with a film of wrapping material

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for wrapping a product with a film of wrapping material, and in particular to a manually operated device for wrapping a product with a film of stretchable material or with adhesive tape.

Background

It is known to wrap a product or group of products, typically arranged on a tray, with a film of polyethylene-based extensible material. Accordingly, product wrapping devices have been developed that are capable of operating in an automated or semi-automated manner using films of the aforementioned stretchable materials.

In particular, wheeled devices are known with an unwinding group on which a reel of extensible material or adhesive tape can be mounted. The device can be moved manually around the product to be wrapped, typically a tray of products.

For correct wrapping, such devices are generally provided with alternate reel lifting units, the operation of which can be performed manually, for example by means of a crank member, or electrically by means of a special motor member and mechanical transmission assembly, for such lifting in a phase relationship adapted to the wrapping of the material around the product itself.

In particular, the operation of the reel lift unit makes such a device complex and relatively more expensive.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems by devising a wrapping device provided with an optimized system for spiral wrapping of a reel of wrapping material around a product.

According to the invention, said object is achieved by a wrapping device according to claim 1.

The device according to the invention comprises a base supported by wheels, on which a guide post is fixed, on which a carriage is mounted, slidably arranged to carry a reel for feeding the wrapping material. A push handle is provided for pushing the base around the product so as to cause wrapping of the wrapping material supplied by the reel around the product.

The invention provides a transfer unit connected to at least one of the wheels fixed to the base and configured to convert a corresponding rotary motion into a sliding motion of the carriage along the column for spiral wrapping of the material around the product.

Thus, only the rotation of the advancing wheel by the operator can actuate the movement, lifting and lowering system of the carriage carrying the reel of wrapping material.

Preferably, the assembly comprises an engagement device configured to control the sliding movement of a carriage carrying the wrapping reel so as to effect spiral wrapping.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the transmission unit, in particular the above-mentioned engagement device, can be selectively operated in one direction or in the opposite direction by means of a command lever associated with the push handle.

Thus, it is very easy for the operator to manually control both the advance and the lifting of the reel.

Furthermore, the proposed solution is very economical, since it does not require the supply of external energy sources other than manual operation, and requires very little maintenance, limited only to the natural wear of the moving parts.

The transfer unit preferably comprises a first moving member and a second moving member arranged to be rotated by at least one wheel, a first driven member and a second driven member. The engagement device is designed to selectively actuate the first or second driven member, while the conversion device is configured to convert a rotational motion selectively transmitted to the first or second driven member into a translational sliding motion of the reel holder carriage.

Preferably, the first and second moving members are constituted by toothed elements, such as pinions or hubs, keyed on an axle integral with the body of at least one wheel.

The first and second driven members may be formed by respective keyed idler pulleys on the aforementioned shafts.

The engagement device is in turn preferably constituted by a fork-shaped member selectively movable along the aforesaid axis, on command of the command lever, for engaging the first driven member on the first mobile member or the second driven member on the second mobile member.

Advantageously, elastic contrast means, for example of the spring type, may be provided, acting on the first driven member and on the second driven member to disengage them from the first moving member and from the second moving member when the command lever is deactivated (released).

The above-mentioned transformation device may comprise a first idle pulley and a second idle pulley for transforming the rotary motion transmitted by the selective activation operated by the engagement device into a translational motion by interposing flexible transmission means associated with the carriage, the translational motion having a lifting or lowering direction corresponding to the aforesaid selective activation.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, a conversion apparatus may be provided comprising a flexible annular member, suitably wrapped around a transfer member, and each driven member of a transfer unit.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, alternatively, a conversion device may be provided, comprising separate flexible means for each driven member of the transfer unit.

In particular, the aforementioned shifting apparatus may include first and second flexible members for transmitting selectively actuated motions originating from the first and second driven members, respectively. For example, the first and second flexible members are chains.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the carriages with the means of the reel to be unwound are fixed to the above-mentioned flexible members in a crosswise manner so as to selectively actuate the raising or lowering of the carriages and then the raising or lowering of the reels, along the respective columns. Thus, the lifting or lowering of the carriage with the reel can be selectively actuated by only manual advancement of the carriage.

At the same time, when such selective actuation is not initiated, the carriage can be locked stationary in any position. In particular, according to a particular aspect of the invention, when the engagement device is not selectively activated, the first driven member and the second driven member may be arranged in a mutual engagement so as to securely lock the carriage along the column of the apparatus.

Drawings

The details of the invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the wrapping device illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a wrapping device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a transfer unit employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged perspective cut-away view of a detail of the unit depicted in FIG. 2;

figures 4a, 5a, 6a and 4b, 5b, 6b and 4c, 5c, 6c show respectively a schematic view of the device according to the invention, a front view of the lifting unit shown in figure 2 and a part of the command lever employed in the device according to the invention, in different operating conditions;

figures 7a, 8a, 9a and 7b, 8b, 9b show respectively a perspective view of the same command lever used in the device according to the invention and a side view of a portion thereof, in different operating conditions;

fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a different embodiment of a transfer unit employed in the device according to the invention.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged perspective cut-away view of a detail of the unit depicted in FIG. 10;

fig. 12a, 13a, 14a and 12b, 13b, 14b and 12c, 13c, 14c show a schematic view of the device according to the invention, a front view of the lifting unit shown in fig. 10 and a part of the command lever employed in the device according to the invention, respectively, under different operating conditions.

Detailed Description

With particular reference to these figures, the numeral 1 generally designates a wrapping device according to the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment, particularly illustrated in fig. 1 to 9b, the device 1 comprises a base 2 on which wheels 3, 4 are mounted for advancing the device itself, so that a wrapping material, for example a film or a tape of stretchable material, is spread around a certain product or group of products.

Hereinafter, the term "product" is used, meaning both a single sample and a plurality of samples of the product to be wrapped together.

Preferably, the base 2 is mounted on a pair of wheels 3 of larger diameter and on a pair of wheels 4 of smaller diameter, which pivot and idle, designed to guide the base 2 on a substantially circular track around the products to be wrapped.

The device 1 further comprises a substantially vertically extending column 5 fixed to the base 2. The post 5 slidably carries a carriage 6 suitable for housing a reel 7 for feeding the wrapping material.

The device 1 further comprises a push handle 8 for manually pushing the supply of the base 2 carrying the column 5. The handle 8 is associated with a command lever 9 for controlling the sliding movement of the carriage 6 along the column 5, as described in detail below.

According to the invention, the device 1 also comprises a transmission unit 10, preferably connected to one of the wheels 3, 4 and configured to transmit the rotation movement of said wheel around the respective shaft and convert it into a sliding movement of the carriage 6 along the column 5, according to the direction of ascent or descent, in a controlled manner.

The transmission unit 10 may comprise a first moving member, such as a pinion 12, which is preferably connected to the shaft body 11 of the wheel 3 by means of a flexible transmission device 13, such as a chain. The pinion 12 is keyed on a shaft 14, on which a second moving member, for example a hub 15, is also keyed.

The pinion 12 and the hub 15 preferably present laterally facing operative portions of the transfer unit 10 itself, such as a central toothed portion, for initiating the above-mentioned sliding movement of the carriage 6 along the column 5.

The above-mentioned operating portion of the transfer unit 10 preferably comprises a first driven member, for example a first pulley 16, and a second driven member, for example a second pulley 17, and an engaging device 18, for example constituted by a fork member interposed between the first pulley 16 and the second pulley 17.

The first pulley 16 and the second pulley 17 idle and are mounted slidably along the shaft 14, preferably with respective engagement teeth, preferably arranged laterally, in each case facing the above-mentioned engagement device 18.

Contrast means 19, for example of the elastic type, preferably spring-loaded, are interposed between each pulley 16, 17 and pinion 12 and hub 15, respectively, to keep the same pulley 16, 17 in idle setting on shaft 14, separate from the aforesaid engagement device 18.

The command lever 9 is provided for actuating one of the pulleys 16, 17 and the selective engagement of the pinion 12 and the hub 15, respectively.

The command lever 9 is connected to the engagement device 18, in fact to the above-mentioned fork member, by connection means, for example by a wire, so as to selectively actuate the sliding movement of the carriage 6.

In particular, fork member 18, when actuating command lever 9, can selectively actuate first pulley 16 or second pulley 17, moving them towards the direction along shaft 14 or in the opposite direction, so as to mesh them with pinion 12 or with hub 15, respectively.

Thus, selective actuation of the engagement device 18 causes the integral pulley to be actuated accordingly to the respective transmission member, and in turn, in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft 14, actuatable by the rotation of the wheel 3 into a movement about its axis, caused by the advance of the apparatus 1 after the operator pushes the handle 8.

The pulleys 16, 17 are in turn connected to a conversion device 20 configured to convert the rotary motion transmitted to one of the pulleys 16, 17 into a translational sliding motion of the carriage 6 along the column 5.

The transformation device 20 comprises, for example, a first 21 and a second 22 idle pulley around which flexible transmission means 23, preferably of the belt type, can be wrapped to ensure that the rotary motion transmitted by selective activation operated by the engagement device 18 of the transmission unit 10 is transformed into a translational motion, with a raising or lowering direction, corresponding to the above selective activation.

In fact, the cited flexible means 23 are wrapped around the first transfer pulley 21 so as to have a first branch 24 and a second branch 25.

The aforesaid branches 24, 25 are wound around the first pulley 16 and the second pulley 17, respectively, to be coupled again around the second idle pulley 22. In this way, the translational movement resulting from the rotational movement transmitted by the selective drive of the first pulley 16 is opposite, in particular in the lifting direction of the carriage 6 (see in particular fig. 4a and 4b), with respect to the translational movement resulting from the selective drive of the second pulley 17 (see fig. 6a and 6b), resulting in a lowering movement of the same carriage 6.

On the other hand, when the engaging device 18 is deactivated with respect to the pulleys 16, 17 and then moves away from them, it causes them to idle on the shaft 14, preferably engaging each other, and thus causes the carriage 6 to be locked stationary at the level at which it is located.

The operation of the device for wrapping a product with a film of wrapping material according to the invention is evident from the preceding disclosure.

In the preparation step, the reel 7 is arranged on the carriage 6 of the device, ready to be wrapped with a certain product.

The operator initiates a wrapping cycle to secure one end of the wrapping material around the product. The operator then pushes the device, which engages the handle 8 for this purpose.

Initially, the command lever 9 is deactivated, so that the engagement unit 18 is disconnected from the operating members of the transfer unit 10, in particular from the pinion 12 and the hub 15, so that the carriage 6 carrying the reel 7 rests on the column 5 (see fig. 5a, 5b, 8a, 8 b).

In order to perform the spiral wrapping, the sliding of the carriage 6 is then actuated along the column 5, which must therefore act appropriately on the command lever 9 in one direction or in the opposite direction, in order to activate selectively the engagement device 18 for engaging the first pulley 16 or the second pulley 18.

Depending on the case, the activation of the command lever 9, while the device 1 advances, causes the raising or lowering of the carriage 6 slidable on the column 5 (see figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 7a, 7b and 6a, 6b, 6c, 9a, 9b, respectively), thanks to the connection of the engagement means 18 with the switching means 20.

According to different embodiments, shown by way of example in fig. 10, 11, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13a, 13b, 13c, 14a, 14b, 14c, a switching device 200 may be provided, comprising separate flexible means for each driven member of the transfer unit 100.

More specifically, the shifting apparatus 200 includes first and second flexible members 210 and 220 for transmitting selectively actuated motion originating from the first and second driven members 160 and 170, respectively.

In particular, the first flexible member 210 and/or the second flexible member 220 are endless transmission elements, such as chains.

Thus, the first flexible member 210 is wrapped around the first driven member 160 and the corresponding pulley, which is not shown in fig. 10 for simplicity. Likewise, the second flexible member 220 is wrapped around the second driven member 170 and corresponding additional pulleys, which are also not shown.

Thus, according to the wrapping, a first branch 211 and a second branch 212 are defined for the first flexible member 210, and a first branch 221 and a second branch 222 for the second flexible member 220.

According to the embodiment shown, the carriage 60 carrying the coil 7 is fixed in a crossed manner to the aforementioned flexible members 210, 220 to selectively actuate the raising or lowering of the reel 7 along the column 5 (not shown in fig. 10 for the sake of simplicity). More precisely, the carriage 60 is fixed integral with a single branch of each flexible member 210, 220, chosen in such a way as to ensure that the carriage 60 itself is integral with the branch, which, if operated by the respective driven member 160, 170, is wrapped so as to translate in the opposite direction.

Also in this case, the operation of the device can be understood from the foregoing description.

In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the carriage 60 is fixed to a portion of the second branch 212 of the first flexible member 210 and a portion of the first branch 221 of the second flexible member 220. In a completely similar manner to that shown in the embodiment described above, when the first driven member 160 is selectively actuated by the engagement device 180 and the operator pushes the apparatus 1 forward, the first flexible member 210 transmits the motion received from the first driven member 160, so that in the case shown, the carriage 60 is lifted due to the connection to the second branch 212. At the same time, by means of the connection of the carriage 60 to the first branch 221, the second flexible member 220 can be dragged in the same lifting movement of the carriage 60, the second driven member 170 freewheeling on the shaft 140.

Vice versa, when the second driven member 170 is selectively actuated by the engagement device 180 and the operator pushes the device 1 forward, the second flexible member 220 transmits the motion received from the second driven member 170, so that again in the case illustrated, the lowering of the carriage 60 is caused by the connection to the first branch 221. By means of a second branch 212 of the carriage 60 connected to the first flexible member 210, such same member can be dragged in the same lowering movement of the carriage 60, arranged to idle on the shaft 140.

Finally, when the engagement device 180 is not activated, as in the previously described embodiment, the first driven member 160 and the second driven member 170 idle on the shaft 140, preferably engaged with each other, and therefore the carriage 60 is safely blocked, resting on the column 5.

For the rest, the device according to the further embodiments described above is structurally and functionally similar to the embodiments described above. Therefore, the same numerals are used in the drawings to designate technical features having substantially the same structure and the same function.

In various possible embodiments, therefore, the device according to the invention allows to operate the spiral wrapping of the product on the wheels 3, 4 only in the case of an advancing movement of the device itself.

The wrapping device disclosed by way of example can be subject to several modifications and variations according to different requirements.

In the practical implementation of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs have no limiting effect on the objects identified by way of example for each element.

Claims (13)

1. Device for wrapping a product with a film of wrapping material, for example a stretchable material, or with a tape, comprising: a base (2) supported by wheels (3, 4); a guide post (5) fixed to the base (2); -a carriage (6, 60) configured to carry a reel (7) for feeding the wrapping material, sliding along the column (5); -a push handle (8) for pushing the base (2) around the product, thereby causing a wrapping of the wrapping material supplied by the reel (7) around the product, characterized in that it comprises a transfer unit (10, 100) connected to at least one (3) of the wheels (3, 4) and configured to convert a rotary motion of the at least one wheel (3) around a respective rotary shaft into a sliding motion of the carriage (6, 60) along the column (5).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer unit (10, 100) comprises an engagement device (18, 180) configured to selectively control the sliding movement according to a raising or lowering direction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a command lever (9) associated with the push handle (8) and configured to command the engagement device (18, 180).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the transfer unit (10, 100) comprises: a first moving member (12, 120) and a second moving member (15, 150) arranged to be rotated by the at least one wheel (3, 4); a first driven member (16, 160) and a second driven member (17, 170), the engagement apparatus (18, 180) selectively actuating the first driven member (16) or the second driven member (17, 170); a conversion device (20, 200) configured to convert a rotary motion selectively transmitted to the first driven member (16, 160) or the second driven member (17, 170) into the translational sliding motion of the carriage (6, 60).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said first moving member (12, 120) and said second moving member (15, 150) are constituted by toothed elements keyed on an axle (14, 140) integral with an axle body (11) of said at least one wheel (3, 4).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that said first driven member (16, 160) and said second driven member (17, 170) are realized by means of respective keyed pulleys that idle on said shaft (14).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that said engagement means (18, 180) are constituted by a fork member selectively movable along said shaft (14, 140) upon command of said command lever (9) for engaging said first driven member (16, 160) on said first moving member (12, 120) or said second driven member (17, 170) on said second driven member (15, 150).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises elastic contrast means (19, 190) acting on said first driven member (16, 160) and on said second driven member (17, 170) so as to disengage them from said first moving member (12, 120) and from said second moving member (15, 150) when said command lever (9) is deactivated.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said conversion means (20) comprise a first idle pulley (21) and a second idle pulley (22) for converting said rotary motion transmitted by selective activation operated by said engagement means (18) into a translational motion corresponding to said selection with a lifting or lowering direction, by interposing flexible transmission means (23) associated with said carriage (6).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said flexible transmission means (23) are wrapped around said first idle pulley (21) so as to present a first branch (24) and a second branch (25), said first branch (24) and said second branch (25) being wrapped around said first pulley (16) and said second pulley (17), respectively, so as to be re-coupled around said second idle pulley (22).

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shifting device (200) comprises a first annular flexible member (210) and a second annular flexible member (220) wrapped to the first driven member (160) and the second driven member (170), respectively.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said carriage (60) configured to carry said reel (7) to be unwound is fixed in a crossed manner to said first flexible member (210) and to said second flexible member (220), selectively actuating the raising or lowering of said carriage (60) along said column (5).

13. The device according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that, when the engagement means (18, 180) are not selectively activated, the first driven member (16, 160) and the second driven member (17, 170) are in mutual engagement, blocking the carriage (6, 60) in such a way as to be stationary along the column (5).

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