DE2256241A1 - PACKAGING MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

The invention "relates to a device for packaging. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for wrapping and sealing trays containing perishable Carry goods, for example meat, fruit and vegetables, with a film, for example a transparent packaging film or a packaging film or metal foil.

The invention provides a method for packaging objects by arranging a sheet of packaging film next to the item and moving the item relative to the sheet in order to put the wrapping film with the item in it To bring contact and to put the film around the object, created, which is characterized in that one first the "slide of four equally spaced around the object arranged points from towards the center of the object around it and then the remaining ones Fold the film into four clenched ribs

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seals, each of which extends from the edge of the object to a common point.

The invention also provides apparatus for packaging articles for carrying out the aforesaid Method, which is characterized by a device for feeding the film and a clamping device for the film, a lifting device for the object, arranged below the means for feeding and clamping the film, a above the devices for feeding and clamping the film arranged first set of folding tools or folding blades, the radially from a closed position arranged vertically above the lifting device, in which they adjoin one another or almost adjacent to one another to form a closed surface and with the boundary lines forming the shape of a cross, are movable to an open position remote from the space above the lifting device, "and a second Set of folding tools or scrapers, each of which is radial is movable from an open position to a closed position in which each tool is directly attached and located exactly above one of the boundary lines between two adjacent folding tools of the first set.

A tray to be packaged is usually rectangular in shape, usually with an edge length of one by one (square), one by one and a half, or one by two. In practice, however, objects can have a wide variety of shapes can be packaged with the device according to the invention, for example round bowls containing food, heads of cabbage and even chicken. The folding tools and the associated devices, as they are described below " should match the shape of the bowls and different sets of tools may be required for different bowl shapes be. In the case of a complete packaging machine, for example for use in a supermarket, the machine a plurality of stations may be provided, each one

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Have lifting device and folding tools, and it can have a common conveyor for supplying the trays and conveying may be provided by the device, as well as means for scanning the length and size of the trays and switching them on

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the appropriate packaging station. The devices used for this purpose for controlling and scanning are carried out in the usual way and do not require any detailed explanation here.

The devices for feeding and clamping the film can be any suitable means, the foil for example from a supply roll to the wrapping station and satisfactorily during wrapping or packaging hold tight. The feeder may include one or more powered rollers, some with brakes may be provided to prevent overflow or overtaking in the barrel. The guiding of the leading edge of the foil can be done by a mechanical gripping hook, a suction wand or the like. Suitable clamping devices for the Foil are horizontal rings or clamping bars that are arranged above the lifting device; if desired, can the film between two matching rings or between Identically sized rods which are compressed by any conventional means are clamped. Such rings or rods can have inner surfaces with anti-skid or high friction or with coatings, for example made of rubber. In addition to the film clamping device, brushes can be provided to hold the film over the package smooth out.

It can be a device for severing or cutting off film from a supply roll, for example a hot wire, provided around a piece of foil, or a section of foil, used to wrap each package or object to be used. .

The foil used can be of any conventional type, for example a metal foil. Plastic films however, preference is given to the self-sealing or heat-sealable, and may be heat-shrinkable or otherwise shrinkable. In the case of self-sealing and in the heat of shrinkable films, the device can have heating chambers, heating tables or heating tunnels or the like, in order to bring about a supply of heat if necessary.

The folding tools can be shaped so that they are adapted to the shape of the package to be packed. In the case of a square package, a preferred shape for the Folding blades of the first set are those of a right-angled, isosceles triangle. The second set of folding tools is generally elongated with one end adapted to fold a fold of depending film into a neat one Fold the rib together. To this end are the ends of the second set of folding tools or the lower strippers are preferably designed to be re-entrant. A set of two opposite holding devices for the package can hold the lifted package to leave a free gap between the bottom of the package and the table of the lifting device.

While the first set of folding tools or the folding blades in the closed position, preferably in the are essentially in one plane, this is not the case with the second set of folding tools or the strippers n'necessarily the case. In the case of the second set, for example, it may be possible for two opposing pairs provided by folding tools lying in two adjacent planes which are each located in a plane for themselves. If a pair is designed to be in front of the other closes so the result can be a neat clump of the end of the ribs below the center of the package be. The exact amount of agglomeration depends on the size

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of the film section or piece of polishing used for packaging away. ,

The movement of the folding tools takes place radially with respect to the axis of the lifting device for the object or the package; in planes perpendicular to this, the movement can be straight or curved. The device is preferred designed so that the second set of folding tools is slidably mounted on the first. When using devices with holding devices for. the package can the mode of operation, for example, be such that a set of holders swings into the holding position on an arc and grabs and positions the package in a controlled manner. shovel the first set into position on an arc, whereupon the scrapers of the second set radially and are moved in a straight line by sliding on the folding blades of the first set.

The edges and sockets of the Paltschaufeln should be rounded to prevent the film from tearing.

It should be noted that if the film is draped generously around the package, even after the two Sets of folding tools have been closed, a "tail" or end of the foil hanging down in the center of the package can be left. If desired, this can be tamped down, for example by a tamping stamp set in the Lifting device for the package. The tamping down or cleaning up of the end may include twisting or twisting the package accompanied by a stamp.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. Drawings shown. These show in:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a packaging machine according to the invention;

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FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of five of the eight folding tools and one of the two colders the machine of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows a detail in a perspective view of the end of a folding tool of the second set or link stripper and

Figure 4 is a top perspective view of an alternative arrangement of the second set of folding tools.

In Figure 1, the device is built on a frame 10, which is used to the various functional parts to wear. The exact constructional details are omitted in Figure 1 for the sake of clarity, but it may be assumed that. all of the various attached parts detailed below are attached to this Frame are attached.

At one end of the frame is a supply roll 11 for the packaging film with feed testing devices 12 and a hot wire foil cutter 13 is arranged. A slide carriage 14 can be moved towards and away from the roller 11 will. The front end of the slide 14 carries jaws 15 for gripping the leading edge of the one coming from the roller 11 Foil, and these jaws are set when the sliding carriage 14 is moved forwards with the aid of a wedge-shaped attachment 16 which is mounted on the frame 10 is opened. The rear end of the sliding carriage 14 is secured by means of an articulated rod 17 connected to a reciprocating lever 18 which is attached to the frame 10 via a hinged rod 19. the The position of the articulated rod 19 is controlled by a handlebar 20 that is fixedly connected to an Eammrad 21; the comb wheel 21 is fixed in its position, however, freely rotatable on the frame 10. The comb wheel 21 meshes with 'a gear 22, whose

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Angular position is determined by a lever 23 which is fastened to it and which picks up one of a set of control cams 24 'which are mounted coaxially on an ¥ elle 25 which rotates in the frame 10 during operation of the machine ¹ .

The cams 24 control the opening movement of the various components of the packaging station of the machine, which mainly consists of the following parts: a hydraulic lifting device 26 for, the package or the object; a conveyor 27; Clamping rings 28; four first EaIt tools or EaItschaufeln 29; four second old tools or scrapers 30; zv three package or article holders 60; a central fastening unit 31 for the Ealtwerkzeuge; an actuating linkage 32 for the EaItwerkzeuge 29 and an operating linkage 33 for the EaItwerkzeuge 30. A A similar linkage (not shown) actuates the holders 60 mounted on arms 61.

The details of the old tools are clearer from Eigur 2, which shows an assembled representation in a slightly exploded 'perspective view' from above the main ingredients shows. The four first Ealtwerkzeuge or Ealtschaufeln 29 are each carried by a strut 34, the upper end of which is hingedly mounted on the frame 10, in the hinge 35. A crank arm 36 bounces off each Strut 34 in front, and these four crank arms engage together in a common groove in a vertically movable (not shown) Box. This sleeve surrounds part of the operating linkage 33 and is moved up and down by the operating linkage 32. In your measure, like the operating linkage 32 is actuated (by the cams 24), the sleeve moves up and down and the four first tools 30 are grounded spread apart or joined together. The parcel holder 60 can be done in a similar manner by a suitable linkage are actuated by the cam 24.

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At the edges of two of the first folding tools or folding blades 29 are a pair of second folding tools or sliders 30 slidably mounted, which can be equipped with shoes and shoe extensions to the location control the film immediately before folding. This is shown in Figure 3, which is a plan view of the shoe and a shoe extension 71 is shown. Their movement is controlled by the positions of the crank arms 37, the each are hingedly mounted on strut 34. The four ends of the crank arms 37 remote from the folding tools 30 are all connected to a cross piece (not shown) which is mounted on a link rod of the linkage 33. if therefore the linkage 33 is actuated (by scanning one of the cams 24), the more attached to the cross-piece move inner ends of the crank arms 37 up or down together, and accordingly the four second folding tools move 30 together or apart. The holders 60 hold the package while the elevator 26 descends to to release the tools 29.

The sequence in the mode of operation of the machine in operation is as follows:

A package to be packed is placed on a feed conveyor (not shown) and from it onto the Sponsor 27 funded. Conventional devices controlled by photocells then stop the conveyor 27 when the package is in a central position below the clamping rings 28. At this stage the clamping rings 28 are apart removed, and the slide 14 moves forward between them, gripping the film from the supply roll with the jaws 15 and moves back again, the film across the clamping rings 28 above the package to be wrapped is pulled. The clamping rings 28 are then gently closed and the hydraulic lifting device 26 is actuated, around the package, up into the foil and through the clamping rings

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to staple. At this point the folding tools 29 and 30 all spread apart and open, so that the package now provided with the film draped over it is level is lifted just above the level that the tools 29 and take 30 in the closed state. During this process, the jaws 15 leave one edge of the foil wrapping go and the hot wire 13 separates the poIie aft and "forms the other edge. The clamping rings 28 are held lightly against one another in order to tension the film. The holders 60 are advanced to hold the package at about this point in the functional sequence.

The 32 "linkage is actuated to do the four first folding blades 29 to bring together * ind thereby the Fold the foil under the package, leaving folds of foil through the cross-shaped slits sag between the folding blades 29.

Then the linkage 33 is actuated to move the second folding tools or Hiederstreifer 30 together, whereby Ground the folds together and form four neat ribs underneath the package. The effect of the stripper pulls the film out of the clamping rings 28.

Then the rods 32 and 33 are operated (by further turning the cams 24) to the folding tools 29 and 30 apart, thereby releasing the package, and the package elevator 26 is lowered to lift the Put the package back on the conveyor 27, from which it is then is removed from the packing station, whereupon it (by conveyors not shown) is discharged from the machine. If desired, the machine can have a heating tunnel through which the packaged package travels between the conveyor 27 and the discharge.

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It goes without saying that the packaging machine of FIG. 1, in addition to the individual parts shown, also has motors, Includes control switches and valves and the like to ensure the coordinated functioning of the items in the above-described manner to enable. The arrangement and construction of these devices, not shown, is however, it is well known in the art and can easily be made by the manufacturer of such a machine. Examples of these types of components are microswitches or other sensors that detect when the film is out of stock slowly comes to an end or who check, for example, that the sliding carriage 14 has gripped the film and transported its leading edge over the package.

Various modifications can be made to the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2: E.g. the simple feeding of a supply roll via a feeding checking device can be replaced by a system consisting of a supply roll, loose rolls, one or more spreader rolls (for example with two helical lines from raised cloth extending symmetrically from the center, wrapped rollers) and a pair of pinch rollers, one of which one can be driven to pull film from the supply roll. The driven roller and the supply roller can be provided with electromagnetic or "other braking devices" to prevent overrun, as well as speed adjustment devices, to feed the film relative to the speed of the jaws 15 faster or slower.

In order to pull the film across the package, the slide carriage 14 can be driven in a different way; for example· Instead of the pinion and lever linkage shown, a continuously driven endless chain can be used extend along the frame of the machine in an elongated loop. The carriage can carry two pawls, each

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are operated electromagnetically, which allow the Sled either running forwards or backwards grips running strand of the chain. The slide movement can be controlled by means of known measures. The jaws 15 on the guide edge of the slide can be rod "of known type can be replaced 13 by means of vacuum belts.

The clamping rings 28 "can be formed by two pairs of clamping rods be replaced. ■

The hydraulic lifting device 26 for the 3? Aket can be replaced by a package lifter attached to a vertical drive linkage works, which can be driven, for example, by a motor. The table of Lifting device for the package can be a stamping tempej or wear or have used an ice plate to help seal the finished film. His Actuation can, for example, via a Bowdenzugverbindüng ^ between suitable actuating devices and the ram take place yourself. The ram can only be vertical movable, or it can be vertically movable and rotatable about a vertical axis. The ram can be heated or heated be.

The package holder 60 can be of a suitable shape to meet a particular package, for example curved for packing cabbages.

The effect of the second folding tools, as in Figure 2 is to bunch up excess film into a tight circular bundle in the center of the package. Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment. In this figure each tool consists of a base 50, 51, 52, 53 and an attached upper folding rail 54, 55, 56, 57. The bases

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50 to 53 are on one level. The folding rails 54 and 56 are in one plane and so are the folding rails 55 and 57 are in one plane, but the folding rails 55 and 57 are further removed from their associated bases than the folding rails 54 and 56.

The drive and attachment of these tools is similar to that in Figure 2, with the exception that the folding rails 54 and 56 are designed so that they meet first before the folding rails 55 and 57 meet.

When using tools as in FIG. 4, the folding rails 54 and 56 first move together and clench zv / ei opposing folds of sagging excess film together in two ribs. The bases 50, 52 meet almost and squeeze the superfluous film into a flat bundle, and the folding rails 54 and 5 work in the same way V / s together. Then the other two folding tools move together. The bases 51 and 53 squeeze the excess Slide into a flat bundle against the sides of the bases 50, 52 while the folding rails 55, 57 are so formed flattened bundles towards the top of the folding rails 54, 56 and squeeze. With a suitable setting in relation to the size of the film relative to the size of the package, folding tools, as shown in Figure 4-, give a very clean end result.

In some cases it is possible to produce a finished package with a flat base despite the presence of four agglomerated ribs and possibly the central bundle of foil; this can be achieved when the tray has a recessed bottom; For example, packaging trays for four fruits (oranges, apples, tomatoes) can have four depressions in their bottom and an elevation in the middle, corresponding to a depression when viewed from below.

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It should be noted that the entire packaging process using the package holder 60 is independent of gravity and if desired in the opposite direction than described and can be performed.

The device can also be used for semi-automatic operation, in which the film is normally placed between clamping rings 28 and the product is pushed through the film membrane by hand until the bottom of the membrane is reached
The package is at the same height as the tools 29 and 30. The tool rods 32 and 33 can be operated by hand or by means of levers 24. The system is suitable for packing heads of cabbage, chickens, etc. without peel,
and is generally more convenient to perform with the packaging station operating in reverse than shown.

In favorable places near the tools 29 and 30 brushes may be arranged to smooth the film over the package. These brushes can by the effect the force of gravity or by the action of solenoids, which are energized by microswitches triggered by cams 24 v / earth, v / earth swiveled into or out of their operating positions.

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Claims (8)

K 790/72 PATE H T A "If PROBLEMS f 1 Λ method of packing items by arranging a sheet of wrapping film nebeji the item and moving the article relative to the sheet to bring the packaging film into contact with the article , and to place the film around the object, characterized in that that you first the film from four equally spaced points around the object from against the Smooth the middle of the object back and forth and then clump the remaining folds of the film into four Ribs compacted, each of which extends from the edge of the object extends to a common point. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after the agglomeration of the remaining film folds to rip any excess film flat at the common point. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that after wrapping the object, it is heat-sealed or shrunk in the arm. 4. Apparatus for packaging objects for performing the method according to claim 1, characterized by a device (11, 12, 14, 15) for feeding the film and 309821/0322 ORIGINAL INSPECTED a heating device (28) for the film, a lifting device (26) for the object, which is arranged under the devices for feeding and clamping the foil, a first set of folding tools or folding blades (29) arranged above the devices for feeding and clamping the film, the radially from a closed position arranged vertically above the lifting device, in which they adjoin one another or almost adjoin one another to form a closed surface and where the boundary lines form the shape of a cross, can be moved into an open position remote from the space above the lifting device, and a second set of folding tools or lower stripes (30), each of which can be moved radially from an open position to a closed position, in which each tool (30) is located directly on and exactly above one of the boundary lines between two adjacent folding tools (29 ) of the first sentence. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by to holding devices (60) for the object belonging to the folding tools, which hold the object in the immediate vicinity exactly Hold on to the folding tools (29). 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that each of the folding tools (30) of the second set is slidably mounted on a folding tool (29) of the first set. 7. Device according to claims 4 to 6, characterized by a storage for a supply roll (11) made of packaging film, a device for peeling off film from the supply roll, a device (13) for severing a Film section from the supply roll, as well as a device (14, 1.5) for moving the separated film section to a position midway above the object lifter (26). 309821/032? 8. Device according to claims 4 fcis 7, characterized by a tamping stamp device arranged in the cement on the lifting device (26) for the object. 9, device according to claims 4 to 8, characterized by devices for supplying heat to the packaging film to bring about a heat sealing effect or a heat shrinking effect. 309821