CN1164498A

CN1164498A - Method and device for wrapping product in wrapper of sheet material

Info

Publication number: CN1164498A
Application number: CN97103165A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·巴特利奥; G·佩德罗图
Original assignee: Soremartec SA
Current assignee: Soremartec SA
Priority date: 1996-02-16
Filing date: 1997-02-15
Publication date: 1997-11-12
Also published as: EP0790184A1; AU1256297A; IL120167A0; TNSN97034A1; TR199700114A2; TW328532B; AR005821A1; BR9700256A; CA2196966A1; JPH09221106A; KR970061702A; ID15940A; ZA971220B

Abstract

A close-fitting wrapper for a product is obtained from two sheets, the first of which is formed into a hollow shape so as to wrap around part of the product and the other of which is applied over the remaining part of the product so as to take on a shape complementary to that of the product itself and the two sheets are joined peripherally to seal the wrapper at a frusto-conical surface so as to facilitate a subsequent forming operation in which the collar part, at which the two sheets have been sealed, is deformed against the product.

Description

Method and apparatus with wrapping product in wrapper of sheet material

The present invention relates to a kind of method with wrapping product in wrapper of sheet material, it comprises the steps:

One first and one second lapping are provided,

Make first sheet material formation one shape of hollow substantially, so that make it can hold product,

Product is inserted in the cavity of first sheet material, makes first sheet material cover an appropriate section of product,

Second sheet material is covered on the part that product do not cover by first sheet material, make second sheet material be configured as one with the shape of the appropriate section complementation of product,

First sheet material is connected with second sheet material, forming a ring that extends around product, thereby and form one quite hermetically round the wrapper of product itself,

Loop section further is shaped, makes it closely folding around product.

This method can be from for example learning the EP-A-0 591 742.This part document description with a kind of product, for example praline or similar food product are wrapped in the solution in the wrapper of the airtight cooperation of being made by two sheet materials that are generally aluminium foil.First sheet material is configured as a bowl-type, so that around the main portion of living product.Another sheet material is placed on the remainder of product, thereby obtains the shape with the shape complementarity of product itself.Connect with after obtaining desirable leak tightness around its periphery at two sheet materials, the wrapper that forms like this is shaped, make first sheet material in fact cover all over products, and second sheet material is covered up.

When this method of practical application, the applicant can notice for example following special importance that factor showed:

Because two sheet materials are closely round product shaping, their interconnective periphery forms wrinkle, and this makes sealing condition more critical usually;

Use exist described different with EP-A-0 591 742, one of two sheet materials are not to wrap up round product fully, and be covered with another sheet material, especially basic identical in two sheets of sizes, rather than one obviously the way it goes under the situation greater than another;

Reduce to constitute the thickness of the sheet material of wrapper, and therefore do not reduce its overall mechanical strength, especially reduce to relate to the mechanical strength of tearing and become a kind of trend in the packaging industry, found that this trend has reached the degree that increases;

Unprecedented urgently the requirement guarantees the wrapper sealing, prevents external agency, and for example moisture and other factors enter.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of method of having improved, the method for requirement above particularly satisfying.

According to the present invention, this purpose is to realize by the method with following further feature, and first sheet material and second sheet material couple together around a frusto-conical surface and form ring, so just makes loop section crooked on the direction of described further shaping.Another theme of the present invention relates to the equipment that is used to implement said method, and it comprises:

First sheet material and second sheet material are configured as basically building mortion with the shape of the shape complementarity of the counterpart of product,

First sheet material and second sheet material are coupled together, with along described be the connecting device that the surface of frustum of a cone forms the loop section that extends around product substantially.

Generally speaking, the present invention is based on and admit the following fact, promptly, if will connect with the sealing wrapper two sheet materials one be roughly circular cone or more exactly conical butt (term " circular cone " and " frustum of a cone " also comprise solid substantially similar or that be equal to, for example pyramid or truncated pyramid) the surface on, rather than one be substantially perpendicular on the plane of two sheet materials in conjunction with the direction of (or connect) and engage the requirement of being set forth above will satisfying with flying colors in a kind of beyond thought mode.

Now in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, only the present invention is described in the mode of non-limiting example.

Fig. 1 to 6 has described the step in succession according to method of the present invention,

Fig. 7 shows the net result of the parcel operation that is included in described in Fig. 1 to 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, product to be wrapped is made of a praline, and it is a ball that its shape can be similar to analogy.More particularly, relate to the praline of such class among the embodiment that goes out shown here, itself partly is made of the episphere on the frusto-conical portion that places cylinder or upwards disperse.It is a spherical praline P that said praline P can be similar to analogy, its have a kind of flattening, by the bottom of a flat gauge.

Say that more specifically praline illustrated in the accompanying drawings is suitable for being packaged in the close-fitting sheet material wrapper, and need not in order to make its isolation and stable being inserted in the dixie cup.This will make better explanation in the back.Relatively EP-A-0 591 742 can get the best understanding.

Character as for product P, can relate to for example a kind of praline, it constitutes by the crisp fritter shell and the chocolate dressing that add grease dough or butterfat charges are housed, dressing is for example to have nut, or similarly may add the dressing of broken coconut palm sheet, broken hazel sheet etc., make the outside face of praline P be roughly random outward appearance.

The wrinkle that this factor makes the sheet material that constitutes wrapper in forming the process of wrapper occur around the closed region is more obvious, pointed this a kind of outward appearance in back just in the previous section of this specification sheets.

Yet, should point out emphatically, the present invention can be used for character and the diverse product of shape.In the scope of confectionery industry, can relate to and be generally the hollow or filler chocolate egg of flat ball-shaped sead albumen crisp skin, various chocolate, praline etc.

In order to form wrapper closely around product P, adopt two aluminium foils or other sheet material, mark with 1 and 2 among the figure.

Preferred consideration aluminium sheet material, this is that the surface that promptly is product is a fitfull because its shape to product is easy to adapt to.Particularly preferably be,

sheet material

1 and 2 is for the sort of being defined as " bilayer ", promptly makes the resin that they can couple together preparing to be coated with one deck hot melt material and/or by involution technology (be typically and seal or ultrasonic welding) on the inner face of product P.Yet, depend on that various application requirements also can adopt the different solutions that need not " bilayer " material, be connected to the welding (splicing) that additional materials is provided from simple mechanical molding.

Up to now, the applicant can have surperficial burr by adopting, and thickness is between 7 to 12 microns, and the conjunctival aluminium foil that inner face is coated with a kind of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and so on material has obtained best result.This binding film is at the commercial SURLYN that is called.The thickness of the film that is adopted (is equivalent to 9-10g/m at 3/4 micron for SURLYN ²) to the scope of the 5-12 micron for the said polyolefins film.

The test that the applicant carries out has obtained superior results, even for final thin film (adding aluminized coating).This is with regard to the problem of its anti tear and sealing and the infiltration of prevention external agency.

In the embodiments of the invention shown here,

sheet material

1 and 2 size are basic identical.Certainly, should be able to make different selections, such as, for example in EP-A-0 591 742, described, the size of one of them sheet material greater than its towards the plane of product section in development size, also greater than another sheet material.

For clear and definite this point, herein in the illustrated embodiment, can consider to be generally the sheet material 1 of square or rectangle and each of 2 all covers half that is slightly larger than product P, and expose the relative part of product.

The two halves of the product of pointing out above (top calotte and cylinder or coniform base portion) can be counted as by the equatorial plane E in the imagination separately, and plane E is equivalent to the maximum cross-section of product.Yet should be appreciated that even product P has different shapes, for example spherical or avette, perhaps a pocket person of low position shape also is this situation.Regardless of shape of product, the general equal equatorial plane that its zone, maximum cross-section of qualification is all arranged, in this respect, people still can notice, confectionery no matter its character how, normally by part (the hollow or solid) formation of two complementations that on a kind of like this equatorial plane, link together.

And this equatorial plane is perpendicular to total direction (indicating with D in accompanying drawing 3) of the two halves combination of product P.Will be better understood below, this also is the direction of two sheet material combinations.

The first step of the operation of product wrapping P for sheet material 1 be configured as be roughly one glass or bowl shape.

Can utilize this operation of for example a kind of like this execution of instrument, it comprises the mould with a chamber, and a drift can enter this chamber.A kind of graphic representation of this scheme can be with reference to the document EP-A-0 591 742 that repeatedly mentions in this manual.

And in of the present invention one particularly preferred embodiment, sheet material 1 is by one being roughly tubulose, being formed by the forming tool 100 of a vacuum (being lower than barometric pressure) source effect, and D represents this pneumatic supply among the figure.Pneumatic supply acts in known manner, in the tubular cavity with sheet material 1 suction tool 100, the latter is configured as a corresponding cup-shape.This swabbing action is got rid of all bubbles, and these bubbles may occur in forming process, also may occur in the step that is formed wrapper by

sheet material

1 and 2 subsequently, particularly appears at by

sheet material

1 and 2 and unites in the cavity that forms.Having been found that under this low pressure or vacuum condition that (perhaps in general, deaeration) is shaped is particularly conducive to

sheet material

1 and 2 and closely wraps up around product P.

The mouth of cup-shaped sheet material 1 preferably is substantially a conical butt along a theoretic circular conical surface corresponding to the mouth of the instrument 100 of its formation, and its axis is consistent with the central axis of instrument 100.This is along

sheet material

1 and 2 total direction (direction D among the figure) orientations that connect.

As stated before, adopt butt rib vertebra face also to be equal to abundant side.

Coning angle preferably about 45 °, according to concrete application requirements, considers that especially the material of

formation sheet material

1 and 2 can be selected a bit greatly or littler.

Point out that once more in the illustrated embodiment, conicity is upwards dispersed orientation, therefore, be shaped to finish back sheet material 1 and have the open opening that makes progress.

Below, particularly will be more clearly visible in the illustrated embodiment, the reason of Xuan Zeing is like this, plans to make the edge of sheet material 1 upwards folding, so that cover at least a portion of sheet material 2 in the wrapper of finishing.

But can consider a kind of additional solution (its defending party to the application's concrete experiment is verified), sheet material 2 is folded into downwards on the sheet material 1 that is covered with product P.In this case, can be by marginal portion 102 being configured as a upwards convergence, the required complementation of mouth that the taper shape of promptly dispersing downwards obtains sheet material 1 is shaped.Be interpreted as that perhaps instrument 100 adopts a kind of shape that instrument 104 is adopted that is similar to, the shape of instrument 104 will be described below.

Though the main body of instrument 100 is the materials that are generally rigidity by a kind of, be typically metal and make, mouth 102 is preferably made by a kind of softer material (being typically a kind of inert material) usually, for example polytetrafluoroethylene.

Give the recessed substantially or cup-like shape of sheet material 1 and be for it can be held product P (bottom in the illustrated embodiment) within it, as shown in Figure 3.As can be seen from the figure, product P (with known method, not shown) is introduced in the sheet material 1, is configured as cup-shapedly, and the latter is still in mould 100.Though this selection is preferred (particularly considering the selection of vacuum source D), should not regard as basic.It is after the cup-shaped, it can be taken out from instrument that sheet material 1 is contoured to shape, and is sent to another chamber for supporting that sheet material 1 is provided with, so that insert product P.Before this or afterwards, be inserted in the forming tool, the mouth of this forming tool is similar to mouth 102, thereby makes the mouth of sheet material 1 have desirable cone shape.

Have been found that with regard to making the technology optimization described with reference to the accompanying drawings solution is preferable here.

(that is, in position shown in Figure 3) is added to another sheet material 2 on the product P under these conditions.

When sheet material 2 is provided, the top that its mouth from cup-shaped sheet material 1 that is adapted to product P is stretched out.Preferably utilize an aspirator 104 to act on sheet material 2, so just guarantee that sheet material 2 remains on desirable position, so that by an instrument 106 sheet material 2 self is shaped, instrument 106 can be made of same instrument 104, for example sheet material 2 is positioned on the product P.

Among the embodiment shown here, particularly with reference to figure 4, instrument 104 has general tubular structure, supposes that it also is connected in the vacuum source D that acts on the lower tool 100.Suppose that sheet material 2 is kept by the low pressure of instrument 104 slightly by the mouth down with 106 instruments of representing 104, the pressure that is lower than instrument 100 that the pressure in the instrument 104 is suitable.

Certainly, this is one of various possible solutions.For example, can consider sheet material 2 along continuous straight runs are transported on the product P, and utilize a push piece to hold it in this position, push piece is contained in the top area top of product P, so that keeping sheet material 2 in case of necessity.

Also have other solution, but all only relate to CONSTRUCTED SPECIFICATION, itself and enforcement purpose of the present invention and irrelevant.

Observe Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 especially as can be seen, be generally rigid material, for example metallo-instrument 104 has a mouth, its outer shape has a frusto-conical surface (remind once more, this term also comprises butt rib vertebra and similar geometric), the inside conical butt complementation of the mouth 102 of this frusto-conical surface and instrument 100, in other words, the mouth 106 of instrument 104 is made like this, and when making its mouth 102 that enters instrument 100, two butt conical surfaces are in the anterior state that cooperates.

Can find out best that in Fig. 5

sheet material

1 and 2 is directed into together, the above-mentioned face that may scribble resin or lacquer is contacted with each other, this equipment is clipped together the periphery of

sheet material

1 and 2 as an integral body.Like this,

sheet material

1 and 2 peripheral part just are on the mouth 102 and 106 frusto-conical surface that limit jointly by first instrument 100 and second instrument 104.

As mentioned above, but the preferred materials (for example polytetrafluoroethylene) that adopt a kind of slight deformation of the mouth 102 of instrument 100.In a kind of additional mode, the mouth 106 of (by a kind of hard material, for example metal) instrument 104 has slot part at a moment, for example a circular groove 107 (shown in Figure 4, though owing to the ratiometric reason is not high-visible).When instrument 100 and 104 is pressed together in the axial direction, pressure should make instrument 104 mouth 106 cutting part 107 with the mouth 102 of instrument 100 be deformed into one for example with the shape of circular groove complementation.Certainly, the

sheet material

1 and 2 that is clipped between the mouth 102 and 106 of instrument 100 and 104 is also got corresponding profile, and Here it is, and vertical section appreciiable in Fig. 5 can be referred to as wrinkling profile.

The shaping of attempting the peripheral part that connects together by

sheet material

1 and 2 improves the sealing between two sheet materials, thereby improve the air-tightness of formed wrapper, overcome because the problem that underlying cause brought, promptly, owing to be shaped around product P,

sheet material

1 and 2 parts that need connect together itself form wrinkle usually.

Said, two

sheet materials

1 and 2 aspectant marginal portion can be sealed in every way, so that wrapper is airtight, can adopt pure mechanical connection, make pleating more firm owing to what have part of carving 107 to cause, perhaps adopt additional materials bonding (splicing), perhaps adopt heat-sealing (this is preferred at present), preferably fusing (utilizing direct heating or ultrasonic vibration) by impelling the hot melt coating on the inside face that is provided at

sheet material

1 and 2.

Realize the latter, only need make instrument 104 be the hot melt instrument of currently used type, the aluminium foil (so-called double-deck aluminium) that for example will scribble hot melt material is added to and contains liquid or paste, for example the mouth of the cup-shaped receptacle of yogurt or similar products.For this reason, instrument 104 has continuous heating arrangement, and this device illustrates with the form of resistance 108 in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, obviously, diagram just here, concrete details right and wrong Changshu is for expert of the art known, need not in this explanation, particularly, they are with to understand this purpose of the present invention irrelevant.

Have been found that for being lower than the pressure (vacuum) of atmosphere, this is extraordinary in the instrument 100 (seeing, also is like this) for being applied from wrapper and centering on product P enclosed areas deaeration in instrument 104.This has just been avoided the wrapper finished to have air between the inside face of the outside face of product P and osed top wrapper, and air can cause the inflation of rotten or undesirable product of wrapping of product, and this back one factor can make wrapper tear.

After

sheet material

1 and 2 sealed with described method, product P was wrapped in the sheet material wrapper with clearer feature that illustrates in Fig. 6.In practice, the upper and lower part of product P is covered tightly by

sheet material

2 and 1 respectively, and their peripheral part involution to form a what is called " ring of Saturn ", promptly centers on a ring 10 that stretches out of product P together.

With for example opposite in the effect shown in the solution of EP-A-0 591 742, described ring or ring of Saturn 10 are not the planes, but cylindrical-conical, and cone angle alpha is limited by the mouth 102 of instrument 100 and 104 and 106 cone angle alpha.

This special shaping of ring 10 means that folding in order to center on product P when it, when further being shaped to obtain net shape shown in Figure 7,

sheet material

1 and 2 is along not having obvious stress on its bonded assembly zone.The experiment confirm that the applicant did, this factor is for the sealing that guarantees wrapper and the danger of tearing in the subsequent operation is reduced to minimum is very important.

Therefore, the special shaping of ring 10 is shaped it in advance on the direction that ultimate demand is shaped, and in other words, has made ring 10 produce a what is called to its final position and " has induced ".

And then as mentioned above, among the embodiment that goes out shown here, the sheet material 1 in the final wrapper is folding against the loop section of product P and sheet material 2 at ring 10 places.In other words, with reference to figure 6, ring 10 is upwards folding.

This selection is not indispensable.In fact can consider definite additional solution, for example make ring 10 folding downwards, thereby

The top of product P is covered by sheet material 2,

The lower edge of product part is covered by sheet material 1 and the sheet material 2 that closely is folded on the sheet material 1,

Product base portion is down only coated by sheet material 1.

In this case, ring 10 Fig. 6 with shown in form one " inducing " on the opposite direction, therefore, encircling 10 is not K/UP, but is bent downwardly (shape that still forms a frustum of a cone).

This result can obtain at least in two ways, that is:

With the mouth 102 of the complementary forming tool 100 of the mode shown in scheming and 104 and 206 surface (advising in front), so the mouth 106 of instrument 104 has a downward open expansion mouth with a kind of, and the taper mouth 102 of instrument 100 inserts wherein; Perhaps simply

Identical with shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 5 of reservation instrument 100 and 104 geometric configuration, but make reverse the carrying out of mode of introducing product P, with respect to 180 ° of position shown in Figure 3 upsets, promptly its upper cover part is inserted into product P in the instrument 100 down rather than under the condition up at instrument 100.

The subsequent treatment of ring 10 (no matter how directed it is) also can obtain in various mode.Ring 10 can only be shaped against product P, also can before being shaped against product P ring cutting be become shape shown in Figure 7.If

sheet material

1 and 2 is not same color, from aesthetic view point, solution shown in Figure 7 is suitable especially, and for example sheet material 1 is green, and sheet material 2 is golden or argenteous.In this case, sheet material 1 has the effect of a kind of leaf of imitation, and product P is wrapped among a slice leaf seemingly.Be appreciated that in all cases solution for example shown in Figure 7 all can be saved the pleating dixie cup that is commonly used for for example graphic packing of product.

As for centering on product puckered ring part 10, can adopt a variety of commonly known technology, for example use a kind of instrument of in European patent EP-B-0 082 952, having described that is similar to, when sealing, just lift with relieving and make instrument 100 at instrument 104,104 impose on ring 10 with after the clamping action, make product P can pass chamber from position shown in Figure 5.

Claims

1. method with wrapping product in wrapper of sheet material, it comprises the steps:

One first (1) and one second (2) lapping are provided,

Make first sheet material (1) formation one shape of hollow substantially, so that make it can hold product (P),

Product (P) is inserted in the cavity of first sheet material (1), makes first sheet material (1) cover an appropriate section of product (P),

Second sheet material (2) is covered on the part that product do not cover by first sheet material (1), make second sheet material be configured as one with the shape of the appropriate section complementation of product (P),

First sheet material (1) is connected with second sheet material (2), is a ring (10) that extends around product (P) with shape, thereby and form one quite hermetically round the wrapper of product (P) itself,

Loop section (10) further is shaped, makes it airtight folding around product,

It is characterized in that: first sheet material (1) couples together around a frusto-conical surface with second sheet material (2) and forms ring (10), so just makes loop section (10) crooked on the direction of described further shaping.

2. the method for claim 1, it is characterized in that: the coning angle of frustum of a cone (α) is about 45 °.

3. method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: along a basic orientation (D) sheet material (1) and (2) are directed to together, the axis of frusto-conical surface is consistent with described direction (D).

4. one kind as each described method in the claim 1 to 3, it is characterized in that: earlier it is being cut before against product (P) puckered ring part (10).

5. one kind as each described method in the claim 1 to 4, it is characterized in that: a kind of Connection Step of the group by being selected from following formation is connected first sheet material (1) to form ring (10) with second sheet material (2):

Mechanical molding,

The additional materials involution,

Heat-sealing,

Ultrasonic welding.

6. one kind as each described method in the claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that: scribble one deck hot melt material on the face that the needs of first sheet material (1) and second sheet material (2) connect together.

7. one kind as each described method in the claim 1 to 6, and it is characterized in that: sheet material (1) and sheet material (2) are selected from metallic material, are preferably aluminium.

8. one kind as each described method in the claim 1 to 7, it is characterized in that: sheet material (1) and sheet material (2) are selected different colors.

9. one kind as each described method in the claim 1 to 8, and its special type is: sheet material (1) is connected in sheet material (2) under vacuum condition, to avoid entering air between product (P) and formed wrapper.

10. be used to implement equipment, it is characterized in that comprising according to the method for claim 1:

First sheet material (1) and second sheet material (2) are configured as basically building mortion (100,104) with the shape of the shape complementarity of the counterpart of product (P),

First sheet material (1) and second sheet material (2) are coupled together, with along described be the connecting device that the surface of frustum of a cone forms the loop section (10) that extends around product (P) substantially.

11. equipment as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that: complementary surface (102,106) is a frusto-conical surface, and coning angle is about 45 °.

12. as claim 10 or 11 described equipment, it is characterized in that: described parts are to be configured as the complementary surface (102,106) that first sheet material (1) and second sheet material (2) are clipped together.

13. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterized in that: the parts that one of described complementary surface (102) is made by a yielding material limit, another (106) have surface groove part (107), when complementary surface (102) with first sheet material (1) and second sheet material (2) when clipping together, because the distortion on yielding surface (102), areal deformation part (107) are out of shape and first sheet material (1) and second sheet material (2) are shaped.

14. equipment as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that: the parts of being made by yielding material (102) comprise a deformable material, for example the insert of polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON).

15. as each described equipment in the claim 10 to 14, it is characterized in that: building mortion (100,104) has the structure of a general hollow and the vacuum generating device that links to each other (D), and vacuum generating device (D) can be got rid of air by this hollow structure.

16. as each described equipment in the claim 10 to 15, it is characterized in that: building mortion comprises the forming element (100,104) of two complementations.

17. as each described equipment in the claim 10 to 16, it is characterized in that: connecting device has continuous heating arrangement (108), it can heat complementary surface (102,106) at least one among, impelling the fusing of first sheet material (1) and second sheet material (2), thereby they are linked together.

18. as each described equipment in the claim 10 to 17, it is characterized in that: building mortion (100,104) is the general tube shape structure.