EP0004744B1 - Vorrichtung zum Bilden von Verpackungen - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zum Bilden von Verpackungen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0004744B1
EP0004744B1 EP79300505A EP79300505A EP0004744B1 EP 0004744 B1 EP0004744 B1 EP 0004744B1 EP 79300505 A EP79300505 A EP 79300505A EP 79300505 A EP79300505 A EP 79300505A EP 0004744 B1 EP0004744 B1 EP 0004744B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cluster
clusters
articles
film
path
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP79300505A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0004744A3 (en
EP0004744A2 (de
Inventor
Robert Henry Ganz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ganz Brothers Inc
Original Assignee
Ganz Brothers Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ganz Brothers Inc filed Critical Ganz Brothers Inc
Publication of EP0004744A2 publication Critical patent/EP0004744A2/de
Publication of EP0004744A3 publication Critical patent/EP0004744A3/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0004744B1 publication Critical patent/EP0004744B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
    • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
    • B65B11/08—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path
    • B65B11/10—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for forming packages, and particularly to apparatus for automatically wrapping one or more articles into a package utilizing a con- tinous web of material and wherein the web is automatically wrapped around the article or articles to be packaged, severed into individual wraps, and the wraps being completely wrapped around the articles.
  • Package forming apparatus of the type utilizing a continuous web of plastics material are known. Some years ago a machine was developed which has been found to function satisfactorily and is in commercial use. This machine is the subject of U.S. reissue patent No. Re. 28,535, granted September 2, 1975 which describes a method and apparatus for packaging of clusters of articles, such as beverage containers, with a wrapping such as shrinkable plastic film or sheet.
  • the containers are received at one end of a production line in random succession, are converted into groups or clusters appropriate for packaging, with the maximum dimension of the cluster transverse to the direction of conveyor movement.
  • the clusters are then in the course of their continuous movement along the conveyor, enveloped with sheet material which is paid out in the longitudinal direction of conveyor movement.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved apparatus for forming packages.
  • the present invention provides apparatus for forming packages each including a cluster of articles and a surrounding wrap, said apparatus comprising conveyor means (16) for supplying clusters of articles (A) in spaced relation and means for continuously supplying a wrapping film (56) characterised in that the apparatus further comprises upper and lower conveyors (106; 68) cooperable to support fully and convey clusters (C) of articles along a predetermined path from said conveyor means to a discharge, said conveyors extending substantially the length of said path; separate, continuously circulating film drawing means (116) supported above said path and movable down between adjacent clusters to draw the film (56) down between the adjacent clusters; and continuously circulating spacer means (124) supported, separate and apart from said upper and lower conveyors, independently of said film drawing means and above said path so as to depend downwardly for movement between partially wrapped clusters for holding the film against the front and rear sides of adjacent clusters and for maintaining the spacing between adjacent clusters during movement thereof along said path.
  • the clusters which are to be wrapped are supported by both upper and lower conveyors which move in unison with the upper conveyor having retaining elements which serve to prevent tipping of the articles in the cluster and at the same time assure a clamping of the wrap film relative to the clusters during the drawing thereof.
  • the lower conveyor includes plural sets of individually mounted support elements which fully support the articles of the clusters and are at the same time individually movable with respect to the articles so as to permit the folding of the lower closure flaps beneath the cluster.
  • simple means are provided for folding a rear closure flap beneath a cluster, the simple means being an auxiliary support which simultaneously folds the portion of a rear closure flap beneath the cluster and clamps the same against the underside of the cluster in a supporting relation for the rear portion of a cluster whereby the rear one of the support elements may be released from the cluster, after which air blast means carried by the auxiliary support may direct the rear closure flap fully beneath the closure to a position where the rear support element may return to its cluster supporting position with the rear closure flap in its fully folded position.
  • the apparatus includes a wrapped package receiving platform which serves to support the front portion of a cluster while the rear of the cluster is still supported by a rear one of the support elements and the movement of the partially wrapped cluster onto the platform serves to fold the front bottom closure flap into place and at the same time tightly draws the wrap about the cluster to provide a tight package.
  • draw means are provided movable down between adjacent clusters to draw the wrap film required for wrapping each cluster, the draw means including draw elements which first serve to tension an intermediate portion of the wrap film for severing and later serve to push the wrapped package along a platform and onto a take-away conveyor.
  • a preferred feature of the draw means is that the spacing of the draw elements thereof is greater than the spacing of the clusters, there being a lost motion arrangement beneath the path of travel of the clusters for accommodating this greater spacing, and this greater spacing permitting wrapped clusters to be conveyed away from the end of the wrapping mechanism at a rapid rate to increase the spacing between wrapped clusters as compared to the spacing between unwrapped clusters.
  • a further preferred feature of the apparatus resides in a supply conveyor arrangement wherein containers or like articles are received in transversely nested rows and move through a simple path arrangement wherein unnesting automatically occurs and containers in adjacent rows becomes transversely aligned.
  • a machine which is specifically adapted to receive articles arranged in transverse rows and separated into clusters for wrapping in a wrap film which is preferably formed of plastics material which is heat shrinkable in a shrink oven in a conventional manner.
  • the illustrated machine is specifically constructed to receive cans arranged in two transverse rows of three cans each. It is to be understood, however, that the machine is not so limited. While the machine is primarily intended to receive articles arranged in two transverse rows, the number of articles in each row may vary from one to a much greater number as may be convenient for forming a package of such articles. Further, while the articles have been illustrated as being cans, the articles could be other types of containers including boxes, bottles and jars.
  • the articles When the articles are of circular cross-section, such as cans or bottles, the articles will be supplied to the machine along a delivery path generally designated by the numeral 10 in Figure 3, and this delivery path is of a width determined by the spacing of side guides 12 so that the articles will be arranged in columns in nested relation which is the normal relationship assumed when such articles are randomly delivered in a crowded condition.
  • the nested columns of articles are received by an aligning device which is generally identified by the numeral 14.
  • the aligning device includes an endless conveyor 16 which functions as a moving support for the articles and serves to convey the articles from right to left as viewed in Figure 3.
  • a guide assembly 18 Positioned above the conveyor 16 is a guide assembly 18, which guide assembly in the case of three columns of articles defines a straight central path and two outer paths 22.
  • the articles pass from the aligning device 14 and are received on support strips 24, there being one support strip for each column of articles.
  • the articles proceed along the support strips 24 and are engaged by an infinitely variable spacing feeder to assure the transverse alignment of the rows of articles.
  • the feeder 26 includes flight bars 28 having thereon pairs of pins 30 which engage behind the articles and assure the movement thereof along the strips 24 in transverse alignment.
  • the transversely aligned and columnized articles pass to an infeed conveyor 32 while still supported on the support strips 24.
  • the infeed conveyor 32 includes two conveyor chains 34 which have extending transversely therebetween flight bars 36.
  • Each flight bar 36 has pairs of pins 38 projecting upwardly therefrom with pins of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of a respective one of the support strips 24 for engaging a rear portion of an article in the same manner as do the pins 30 of the flight bars 28.
  • the spacing of the flight bars 36 is such that the articles are moved along the support strips 24 arranged in clusters C of, in the illustrated form of the invention, six articles, the articles being arranged in two transverse rows of three articles each.
  • the infeed conveyor 32 feeds the clusters C to the wrapping station of the machine, the wrapping station being generally identified by the numeral 40.
  • each cluster C is to be wrapped with a wrap film supplied from a continuous roll 42 of such film.
  • the film is delivered from the roll 42 by a feed mechanism 44 at a constant rate in accordance with the predetermined demands of the wrapping station 40.
  • the feed mechanism 44 includes a drive roll 46 and a back-up roll 48.
  • the drive roll 46 is carried by a support 50 and has a fixed axis of rotation.
  • the back-up. roll 48 is carried by a pivotally mounted support 52 which is connected to the support 50 by means of a spring 54 so as constantly to urge the back-up roll 48 toward the drive roll 46 and thus form a nip assuring the positive driving and feeding of the wrap film, which film is identified by the numeral 56.
  • the film 56 passes around a pair of idler rolls 58, 60 into the wrapping station 40.
  • a cluster C to be wrapped passes under a portion of the film 56 leading into the wrapping station 40. While the film is held against the top of the cluster, the film behind the cluster is drawn down past the cluster and between that cluster and the next following cluster until the necessary film to form the required wrap has been drawn. The drawn film is then severed as shown in Figure 2b with the result that the cluster C has the wrap W now disposed over the top and down the two sides thereof and the wrap includes a front bottom closure flap 62 and a rear bottom closure flap 64.
  • the flap 64 is preferably of a length no greater than the longitudinal dimension of the article and the flap 62 is of a length approaching the longitudinal dimension of the cluster. This is clearly shown in Figure 2b.
  • the flap 64 is folded beneath the rear portion of the cluster and then the cluster is moved onto a supporting platform, generally identified by the numeral 66 which simultaneously folds the front flap 62 beneath the cluster and effects tightening of the wrap W about the cluster to form the completely wrapped cluster of Figure 2g, which wrapped cluster is then delivered to a conventional shrink tunnel (not shown) where the flaps 62, 64 are first heat bonded together and then the film is heat shrunk in a conventional manner.
  • the wrapping station 40 includes a lower conveyor generally identified by the numeral 68.
  • the lower conveyor 68 includes two transversely aligned chains 70 which carry transversely aligned support plates 72.
  • Each transversely aligned pair of support plates 72 carry a pair of pivotally mounted arms 74, 76 which, in turn, carry a front support element 78 and a rear support element 80.
  • Each arm 74 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 82 carried by the respective support plate 72 and has connected to the outer end thereof the respective transversely extending front support element 78.
  • the inner end of the arm 74 is provided with a cam follower 84 which engages a first cam 86 for positioning the front support elements 78.
  • a spring 88 associated with the pivot 82 is a spring 88 which constantly urges the arm 74 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 82 to hold the cam follower 84 against the cam 86.
  • Rotation of the arm 74 in a clockwise direction is restricted by a pin 90 extending through a slot 92 in the plate 72.
  • the arm 76 is of a similar construction and mounting, but is of a different configuration.
  • Each arm 76 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 94 carried by its respective support plate, and is urged to rotate about that pivot in a clockwise direction by a spring 96 as shown in Figure 11.
  • the outer ends of pairs of the arms 76 are joined by the respective rear support elements 80 and the inner end of each arm 76 is provided with a cam follower 98 which engages a cam 100.
  • Each arm 76 also carries a pin 102 which is received in a slot 104 in the support plate 72 to limit the rotation of the arm by its spring.
  • the wrapping station 40 also includes an upper conveyor, generally identified by the numeral 106.
  • the upper conveyor 106 includes a pair of transversely spaced and aligned conveyor chains 108 which have extending therebetween sets of retainers, each set of retainers including a front retainer 110 and a rear retainer 112.
  • the front retainers 110 are preferably in the form of angle members and engage upper front corners of the clusters.
  • the rear retainers 112 have resilient pads 114 on the undersides thereof, which pads engage the upper surface of the rear portion of a cluster. The relationship of the retainer 110 and pad 114 with respect to a typical cluster is best shown in Figure 6.
  • the wrapping station 40 also includes a draw unit generally identified by the numeral 116.
  • the draw unit 116 functions both to draw the film 56 down between adjacent clusters and to feed wrapped clusters off of the supporting platform 66.
  • the draw unit 116 also includes a pair of transversely aligned and transversely spaced conveyor chains 118 which are suitably mounted for movement in unison. Extending between the chains 118 are pairs of draw members 120 and 122.
  • the draw member 120 leads the draw member 122 and serves as the primary drawing element to draw the film between adjacent clusters.
  • the draw member 122 cooperates with the draw member 120 when the film is below the predetermined path of movement of the clusters to tension the film to facilitate cutting thereof in a manner to be described hereinafter.
  • the draw member 120 also functions to position wrapped clusters from the supporting platform in a manner also to be described hereinafter.
  • the wrapping station 40 further includes a spacing device generally identified by the numeral 124.
  • the spacing device 124 also includes a pair of transversely spaced and transversely aligned conveyor chains 126.
  • a plurality of spacing units 128 are carried by the conveyor chains 126.
  • Each spacing unit 128 includes a pair of support plates 130, 132 carried by each of the chains 126.
  • each support plate 130 has pivotally mounted thereon an arm 134.
  • Each support plate 132 also has mounted thereon an arm 136.
  • the remote ends of the arms 134, 136 are pivotally joined together to form a scissors arrangement. Extending between the joined together outer ends of the arms 134, 136 is a spacer element 138.
  • the arm 134 has rigidly secured thereto a further arm 140 which carries a second spacer element 142.
  • the scissors arrangement of the arms 134, 136 permits the conveyor chain 126 to pass around sprockets while the rigid mounting of the arm 140, which supports the spacer element 142, permits the spacing between the support elements 138 and 142 to remain constant.
  • the spacing between spacer units 128 is the same as that of the spacing of the elements of the lower conveyor 68 and the upper conveyor 106.
  • conveyor chains 70 may be mounted on any suitable sprocket arrangement and all that is required is that the chains 70 include drive sprockets 144 which are carried by a driven shaft 146.
  • the conveyor chains 108 of the upper conveyor 106 may be supported in any desired sprocket arrangement except that the chains must have a horizontal lower run.
  • the sprockets include a drive sprocket 140 for each of the chains 108.
  • the drive sprockets 148 are carried by a drive shaft 150.
  • the spacing device 124 has the conveyor chains 126 thereof mounted on any desired sprocket arrangement which will permit the passage of the spacing units as required, and the only limitation is that the conveyor chains 126 must have a horizontal lower run. In other words, the upper runs of the chains 70 and the lower runs of the chains 108 and 126 must be parallel to one another and to the path of movement of the clusters through the wrapping station 40.
  • the sprockets for the conveyor chains 126 include drive sprockets 152 which are carried by a drive shaft 154.
  • the mounting of the conveyor chains 118 provide a different problem.
  • the general mounting of the chains 118 above the path of movement of the clusters is variable.
  • the path of the conveyor chains 118 generally in alignment with the path of movement of the clusters must be controlled as shown in Figure 5.
  • the spacing of the draw members is greater than the spacing of the elements of the upper and lower conveyors and the spacing device, there must be provided means for absorbing this extra spacing beneath the path of the clusters and this is specifically shown in Figure 7 and will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • the conveyor chains 118 are, however, driven by drive sprockets 156 which are mounted on a drive shaft 1 58. It is to be noted that the drive shafts 150, 154 and 158 are disposed adjacent one another.
  • the infeed conveyor 32 and the support strips 24 terminate adjacent a pair of combined support and feed rolls 160, 162. These rolls are driven at the same peripheral speed as the infeed conveyor 32, and as the front articles of a cluster C move thereon, they are fed and supported by the rolls 160, 162. As the front articles of the cluster move off of the roll 160, the associated front support element engages beneath the articles and serves to support and convey the articles at the same speed as previously fed by the infeed conveyor 32. Then, the rear articles of the cluster pass onto the rolls 160, 162 and out of control of the infeed conveyor 32. The rolls 160, 162 feed the rear articles to the left and before the rear articles pass off of the roll 160, they are engaged by the rear support element 80. Thus, the articles of each cluster C are readily transferred from the infeed conveyor 32 to the lower conveyor 68 in an uninterrupted continuous action.
  • the front retainer 110 fully engages the front corner of the cluster at the same time as the front articles of the cluster are fully supported by the front support element so as to prevent the forward tipping of the articles.
  • the front retainer 110 loosely engages the film 56 and permits the drawing of the film over the new cluster.
  • the resilient pad 114 of the rear retainer 112 engages the upper surface of the rear portion of the cluster and serves to clamp the film 56 thereagainst. At this time, the drawing of the film for the preceding cluster has been completed and the resilient pad 114 now serves to hold the film 56 for the drawing thereof to effect wrapping of the new cluster.
  • spacer elements 138 and 142 follow the draw members 120 and 122 down between the adjacent clusters and the spacer element 142 serves to hold the film against the front of the trailing cluster as is clearly shown in Figure 6.
  • the wrapping station 40 includes a frame 170 which may be of any construction and a portion only thereof is shown in Figure 8.
  • the frame 170 includes frame members 172 which have pivotally mounted thereon support arms 174 which are joined together by a transverse connecting arm 176.
  • the connecting arm 176 carries an upper support member 178 which, in turn, carries an inverted yoke 180 including the hot wire 168.
  • a cam shaft 182 extends transversely of the machine and carries a cam 184.
  • the cam 184 is engaged by a cam follower 186 which, in turn, is carried by the support arm 174 by way of a bracket 188.
  • the frame 170 also includes frame members 190 having a first transverse rod 192 extending therebetween.
  • a spring 194 extends between the rod 192 and the support member 178 and normally holds the hot wire 168 in a retracted position and the cam follower 186 against the cam 184.
  • a guard unit 196 Since the hot wire 168 is always heated, it is necessary to protect against engagement thereof by the film after the film has been cut. To this end there is provided a guard unit 196.
  • the guard unit 196 is carried by a pair of arms 198 pivotally mounted on the rod 192.
  • the arms 198 carry a bracket 200 which supports a cam follower 202 which engages a cam 204 carried by the cam shaft 182.
  • the guard unit 196 is constantly urged toward a retracted position by means of a spring 206 which extends between a bracket 208 carried by the frame 170 and an arm 210 carried by the bracket 200.
  • the guard unit 196 includes shield plate 212 which normally overlies the hot wire 168. Further, a flap 214 extends upwardly from the shield plate 212 to wipe against the depending front flap 62.
  • the draw members 120, 122 play no part in the wrapping operation, and it is merely necessary to absorb the extra spacing of the draw members by running the conveyor chains 118 over further sprockets 216, 218, 220 and 222, as shown in Figure 7.
  • the wrapping station includes an auxiliary support 224 which is mounted for movement in an orbital path 226.
  • the auxiliary support 224 extends transversely of the machine and is carried by a pair of upstanding arms 228 each of which is secured to a pair of endless conveyors 230, 232 positioned vertically above one another and having like paths of movement.
  • the conveyor 230 is supported by a pair of sprockets 234, 236 which are driven in unison while the conveyor 32 is supported by a pair of sprockets 238, 240 which are also driven in unison and at the same rate as the sprockets 234, 236.
  • auxiliary support 224 carries an air nozzle arrangement 242 for directing an air blast generally longitudinally of the path of movement of the clusters and beneath the same.
  • the auxiliary support 224 moves into position beneath the rear portions of the rear articles of the cluster while the rear support element 80 is still supporting the articles. Once the auxiliary support 224 is in the required supporting position, the rear support element 80 retracts as shown in Figure 10. This is caused by the cam followers 98 engaging the recesses 244 in the cams 100. This assures the arms 76 being pivoted in a clockwise direction by the springs 96.
  • the air nozzle arrangement is operated only for a short period of time and is controlled by a valve arrangement to be described hereinafter.
  • the leading portion of the supporting platform is formed by a pair of transversely extending rods 248 which are fixed against rotation and which are of a slightly lesser diameter than the rollers 246 so that the leading portion of the platform 66 has a step.
  • the front flap 62 is folded beneath the front portion of the cluster.
  • the front support element 78 retracts, as is clearly shown in Figure 11, due to the cam followers 84 going down ramp portions 250 of the cams 86.
  • the springs 88 cause pivoting of the arms 74 to effect this retraction.
  • the front flap 62 continues to be folded beneath the cluster. Shortly before the rear flap 64 approaches the first rod 248, an air blast from an air nozzle tube 252 is directed against the underside of the flap 64 and holds it tightly against the underside of the cluster. Due to the step arrangement of the leading edge of the platform 66, the leading edge of the flap 64 passes up over the adjacent portion of the flap 62 and over the leading rod 248, as shown in Figure 12.
  • the rear support element 80 may now be retracted since tipping of the rear articles of the cluster is prevented by the spacer element 138.
  • the spacer element 138 now becomes substantially the sole means for advancing the cluster.
  • the resilient pad 114 moves out of engagement with the top of the cluster and the cluster is supported solely by the supporting platform 66.
  • the front flap 62 is folded completely beneath the cluster and at the same time, due to the frictional resistance against movement of the flap 62 over the first rods 248, the wrap W is drawn tightly around the cluster C to form a tight package.
  • this spacing unit 128 begins to elevate and at the same time the related draw member 120 moves around a sprocket 396 into engagement with the lower rear portion of the wrapped cluster, as shown in Figure 7.
  • the draw member 120 now takes over the responsibility of discharging the wrapped cluster off of the supporting platform 66 and moving the same onto a discharge conveyor 254 which is part of a shrink tunnel (not shown).
  • the discharge conveyor 254 may be of any construction and includes drive sprockets 256 carried by a drive shaft 258. The operation of the wrapping station is now completed.
  • the conveyor chains 34 of the infeed conveyor 32 extends around a suitable pattern of sprockets which include drive sprockets 260, carried by a drive shaft 262.
  • the top run of the infeed conveyor 32 is the only effective run, and the path of movement of the top runs are controlled by guide bars 264, as shown in Figure 6.
  • the paths of conveyor chains 108 above the paths of movement of the clusters are controlled by sets of guide bars 266.
  • the paths of movement of the lower runs of the conveyor chains 126 above the path of movement of the clusters are controlled by guide bars 268.
  • the discharge conveyor 254 which leads into the shrink tunnel, may be considered to be the source of drive, and the shaft 258 thereof carries a sprocket 270 which is coupled to a sprocket 272 carried by a transverse shaft 274 by a chain 276.
  • the shaft 274 On the near side of the wrapping station 40 the shaft 274 carries a sprocket 278 with which there is meshed a chain 280.
  • the chain 280 drives a sprocket 282 carried by the drive shaft 158.
  • a chain 284 extends from another sprocket (not shown) on the shaft 158 to a sprocket 286 carried by the drive shaft 154 to drive the drive shaft 154.
  • the drive shaft 154 carries a sprocket 288 which drives a sprocket 290 on the drive shaft 150 by means of a chain 292. This completes the drive for the upper part of the wrapping station. It is pointed out here, however, that the relative sizes of sprockets have been varied only for purposes of illustration and the sprockets 148 and 152 are to rotate at the same rate when they are the same diameter and the sprocket 156 is to rotate at a higher speed because of the greater rate of travel of the conveyor chains 118.
  • the drive shaft 146 is driven from the drive shaft 274 by a sprocket 292 on the shaft 274 and a sprocket 294 on the shaft 146, the sprockets 292 and 294 being interconnected by a chain 296.
  • the conveyor chain 70 must be driven at the same rate as the conveyor chains 108 and 126.
  • the drive shaft 274 also drives a drive shaft 298 by a drive which is mounted on the near side of the machine. To this end the drive shaft 274 has a sprocket 300 driving by way of a chain 302 a sprocket 304 carried by the shaft 298.
  • the drive shaft 298 provides the drive for the rear of the machine.
  • the drive shaft 298 by means of sprockets 306 and 308 and a chain 310 drives a speed reducer 312.
  • the speed reducer 312 has an output shaft 314 carrying a sprocket 316 driving a chain 318 which, in turn, drives a sprocket 320 carried by a shaft 322 on which the drive roll 45 is mounted.
  • the film 56 is delivered from the roll 42 at the same rate as is required in the wrapping of the clusters.
  • the speed reducer 312 is variable for this purpose.
  • the drive shaft 298 also carries a sprocket 324 which drives a sprocket 326 through a chain 328.
  • the sprocket 326 drives a sprocket 330 of the toothed belt type and by way of a belt 332 drives a sprocket 334 coupled to the support and feed roll 162 for driving the same. This drive is also on the far side of the machine.
  • the support and feed roll 162 drives the support and feed roll 160 by means of a toothed belt and sprocket drive arrangement 336.
  • the drive shaft 298 drives a further shaft 338 by means of sprockets 340, 342 and a chain 344.
  • the shaft 338 may be that element which has been previously described as the rod 192.
  • the shafts 338 and 262 have suitable sprockets thereon connected by a chain 346 for driving the infeed conveyor 32.
  • an idler sprocket of the infeed conveyor 32 may be carried by the shaft 298.
  • the shaft 338 also drives the cam shaft 182 by means of sprockets 348 and 350 and chain 352.
  • the drive of the auxiliary support 224 is driven from the shaft 338.
  • a shaft 304 which is driven from the shaft 338 by means of the sprockets 356, 358 and a chain 360.
  • the shaft 304 carries the sprocket 238.
  • the sprockets 234, 236 and 240 are carried by shafts 362, 364 and 366, respectively.
  • the shafts 304, 362, 364 and 366 carry sprockets 365, 370, 372 and 374, respectively, all lying in a single plane and interconnected by an encircling chain 376.
  • the infeed conveyor 32 has for each chain thereof an idler sprocket 378 carried by a shaft 380, and the shaft 380 serves as a drive for the feeder 26 by way of sprockets 382, 384 and chain 386.
  • the conveyor 16 may be suitably driven in any manner, either by a separate drive or from the drive of Figure 13, including the drive shaft 380.
  • the conveyor 16 includes a drive drum 388 mounted on a drive shaft 390 carrying a sprocket 392 driven by a chain 394.
  • cam shaft 182 is provided with two further cams 398 and 400.
  • the cam 398 is associated with a valve 402 which controls the supply of air under pressure from air line 404 to an air line 406 leading to the nozzle 242.
  • valve 408 which controls the flow of air from the air line 404 to the air line 410 leading to the air nozzle tube 252.
  • the illustrated machine is particularly adapted for wrapping articles (cans) of a predetermined height
  • the wrapping station 40 may be adapted to the wrapping of like clusters but wherein the articles forming the clusters are of a different height.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Claims (22)

1. Einrichtung zum Herstellen von Pakkungen, von denen jede eine Gruppe von Artikeln und eine Packhülle aufweist, mit einer Fördervorrichtung (16) zum Zuführen von Gruppen von Artikeln (A) im Abstand voneinander und mit einer Vorrichtung zum kontinuierlichen Zuführen einer Einwickelfolie (56), dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Einrichtung ferner enthält: ein oberes und unteres Fördermittel (106, 68), die derart zusammenwirken, daß die Gruppen (C) von Artikeln vollständig getragen und entlang einer vorbestimmten Bahn von der Fördervorrichtung (16) zu einer Entladestelle befördert werden, wobei die Fördermittel sich im wesentlichen über die Länge dieser Bahn erstreckenden: eine davon getrennt angeordnete, kontinuierlich umlaufende Folienabzugsvorrichtung (116), die oberhalb dieser Bahn gehalten und zwischen benachbarten Gruppen nach unten bewegbar ist und so die Folie (56) nach unten zwischen benachbarte Gruppen zieht; und eine kontinuierlich umlaufende Abstandsvorrichtung (124), die unabhängig und im Abstand von dem oberen und unteren Fördermittel (106, 68), unabhängig von der Folienabzugsvorrichtung (116) und oberhalb dieser Bahn derart gehalten ist, daß sie für eine Bewegung zwischen die teilweise eingewickelten Gruppen zum Halten der Folie an den Vorderund Rückseiten benachbarter Gruppen und zum Aufrechterhalten des Abstandes zwischen benachbarten Gruppen während deren Bewegung längs der Bahn nach unten hängt.
2. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Folienabzugsvorrichtung (116) einen Vielzahl von Abzugselementen (120, 122) aufweist, die in einer Bahn in Gleichklang zwischen benachbarten Gruppen und nach unterhalb dieser Bahn derart beweglich sind, daß sie zwischen benachbarten Gruppen eine bestimmte Länge der Folie abziehen und so die Seiten der Gruppe umschließen und die Einwickellappen für die Unterseite bilden.
3. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein bestimmtes Abzugselement (120) aus dieser Vielzahl sich zuerst nach unten zwischen und unterhalb die benachbarten Gruppen bewegt und so die Folie nach unten zwischen benachbarte Gruppen und danach nach oben zieht, so daß sie relativ zu einer eingewickelten Gruppe eine Schubposition einnimmt und die eingewickelte Gruppe aus der Einrichtung abgeben kann.
4. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die eingewickelte Gruppe die vorderste von benachbarten Gruppen _ist, zwischen denen das betreffende Abzugselemeht hindurchgeht.
5. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 2, 3 oder 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abzugselemente paarweise (120, 122) befestigt sind, und daß die Bewegungsbahn einen Bereich enthält, in welchem dann, wenn die erforderliche Folie abgezogen ist, diese zwischen den zwei Abzugselementen jedes Paares gespannt gehalten ist, und daß Schneidmittel (168) vorgesehen sind, die die gespannte Packhülle zwischen zwei im Abstand angeordneten Abzugselementen greifen und durchschneiden.
6. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abzugselemente jedes Paares eine Aufwärtsbewegungsbahn besitzen, die einen horizontalen Bereich umfasst, in welchem ein vorlaufendes Element (120) jedes Paares eine eingewickelte Gruppe erfasst und diese eingewickelte Gruppe aus der Maschine entlädt.
7. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das obere und das untere Fördermittel (106, 68) mit die Gruppe ergreifenden Elementen versehen ist, die in einem gleichen ersten Abstand voneinander angeordnet sind, und daß die Abzugselemente in einem zweiten und größeren Abstand voneinander angeordnet sind.
8. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das obere Fördermittel (106) mehrere Sätze von Halteelementen (114, 110) aufweist, von denen jeder Satz der Halteelemente ein winkelförmige Vorderseitenhalteelement (110), das mit einer vorderen oberen Ecke einer Gruppe von Behältern, die von einer Folie überdeckt ist, in Eingriff bringbar ist, und ein Rückseitenhalteelement (114) aufweist, das einen oberen hinteren Bereich einer Gruppe überdeckt und die Folie dagegen drückt.
9. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das untere Fördermittel (68) ein endloses Förderelement (70) aufweist, das mehrere Sätze von Tragelementen besitzt, von denen jeder Satz von Tragelementen eine vorderes und ein hinteres Tragelement (78, 80) aufweist, die an demselben endlosen Förderelement getrennt angeordnet sind und zum Unterlegen und Halten der vorderen und hinteren Bereiche der Gruppen angeordnet sind.
10. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das vordere Halteelement (78) derart befestigt ist, daß es nur die Artikel unmittelbar hält, und daß eine Vorrichtung (96, 244) zum Steuern der Bewegung der hinteren Tragelemente vorgesehen, ist, damit diese von einer zugeordneten Gruppe vorübergehend wegbewegbar sind, um so das Positionieren eines hinteren Lappens der Packhülle zu ermöglichen, die an die Unterseite des hinteren Teils jeder Gruppe und über das betreffende hintere Tragelement gebracht werden soll.
11. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 9 oder 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Hilfstragelement (224), das in eine die Gruppe tragende Position bewegbar ist, hinter jedem der hinteren Tragelemente (80) an einem bestimmten Punkt längs der Bahn vorgesehen ist.
12. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Vorrichtung (228, 230, 232) den Hilfsträger (224) zur Bewegung längs dieser Bahn und zum Ziehen des hinteren Lappens nach vorne unter die zugeordnete Gruppe befestigt hält.
13. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 11 oder 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hilfsträger (224) mit einer Luftblasvorrichtung (242) versehen ist, um den hinteren Lappen nach vorne unter die Gruppe zu blasen, damit dieser vom betreffenden hinteren Tragelement ergriffen wird.
14. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Plattform (66) zur Aufnahme der eingewickelten Gruppen vorgesehen ist, daß die vorderen Tragelemente (78) zum Außereingriffkommen mit einer Gruppe zu einem Zeitpunkt, zu dem ein vorderer Bereich der Gruppe von der Plattform gehalten ist, befestigt sind, und daß die Plattform in Verbindung mit der Bewegung der Gruppe längs der Bahn eine Vorrichtung zum Ziehen eines vorderen Lappens der Packhülle nach hinten bildet, so daß die Packhülle vervollständigt und um die Gruppe festgezogen wird.
15. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Luftblasvorrichtung (252) vorgesehen ist, die nahe der Plattform zum Halten eines hinteren Packhüllenlappens zum Boden der Gruppe hin angeordnet ist, um so die Bewegung des hinteren Lappens auf die Plattform zu erleichtern.
16. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abstandsvorrichtung (124) Paare von Abstandselementen (138, 142) und eine Vorrichtung (126) enthält, die diese Paare von Abstandselementen zur Bewegung zwischen benachbarte Gruppen, nachdem die Folie zwischen sie hindurchgezogen worden ist befestigt hält.
17. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung, die diese Paare von Abstandselementen (138, 142) festhält, endlose Förderelemente (126) und scherenartige Träger (134, 136) aufweist, die einen festen Abstand zwischen den Abstandselementen jedes Paares aufrechthalten, wobei die Abstandselemente sich längs einer kreisbogenförmigen Bahn bewegen können.
18. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das obere und untere Fördermittel (106, 68) und die Abstandsvorrichtung (124) jeweils die Gruppe ergreifende Elemente (110, 112, 78, 80, 138, 142) aufweisen, die in einem gleichen ersten Abstand angeordnet sind, und daß die Abzugsvorrichtung (116) Abzugselemente (120, 122) enthält, die in einem zweiten und größeren Abstand voneinander angeordnet sind.
19. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Abstand der Abzugselemente (120, 122) größer ist als der Abstand der Gruppen (C) und daß die Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit der Abzugselemente größer ist als die Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit der Gruppen, wodurch die geschobene Gruppe beschleunigt wird.
20. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 19, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Artikel (A) einen kreisförmigen Querschnitt aufweisen und daß die Fördervorrichtung eine Vorrichtung (10) zum Zuführen der Artikel in zwischeneinander greifende Spalten enthält, wobei in Querrichtung benachbarte Artikel in Längsrichtung gegeneinander versetzt sind, und eine Ausrichtvorrichtung (14) zum Bewegen benachbarter Artikel in Querreihen aufweist, wobei die Ausrichtvorrichtung eine Führungsvorrichtung (18) enthält, die eine getrennte Bahn (22) für jede Spalte von Artikeln bestimmt, und wobei die Bahnen in ihrer Länge entsprechend der Längsversetzung der in Querrichtung benachbarten zwischeneinander greifenden Artikeln variiert.
21. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 20, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine einzige Fördervorrichtung (16) vorgesehen ist, die unterhalb aller Bahnen angeordnet ist und die benachbarten Artikel mit verschiedenen Geschwindigkeiten vorwärtsbewegt.
22. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 20 oder 21, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Artikel in drei Spalten angeordnet sind und daß die Bahnen (22) eine mittige geradlinige Bahn und zwei äußere kreisbogenförmige Bahnen aufweisen.
EP79300505A 1978-03-31 1979-03-28 Vorrichtung zum Bilden von Verpackungen Expired EP0004744B1 (de)

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US89237778A 1978-03-31 1978-03-31
US892377 1978-03-31

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EP0004744A2 EP0004744A2 (de) 1979-10-17
EP0004744A3 EP0004744A3 (en) 1979-10-31
EP0004744B1 true EP0004744B1 (de) 1983-02-16

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EP79300505A Expired EP0004744B1 (de) 1978-03-31 1979-03-28 Vorrichtung zum Bilden von Verpackungen
EP81107023A Ceased EP0049377A1 (de) 1978-03-31 1979-03-28 Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von im Durchschnitt kreisförmigen Artikeln in longitudinal bewegenden Reihen in einem Verpackungsapparat

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EP (2) EP0004744B1 (de)
JP (1) JPS555380A (de)
AU (1) AU532583B2 (de)
CA (1) CA1107632A (de)
MX (1) MX149750A (de)
ZA (1) ZA791322B (de)

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US4689934A (en) * 1985-03-08 1987-09-01 The Mead Packaging Corporation Apparatus for and method of applying wrap to article clusters
AU634232B2 (en) * 1989-05-17 1993-02-18 Molins Plc Wrapping machines
IT1258028B (it) * 1992-07-31 1996-02-20 Dimac Spa Gruppo di alimentazione, taglio ed avvolgimento di film su macchine condizionatrici di prodotti
IT1263438B (it) * 1993-06-18 1996-08-05 Baumer Srl Metodo ed apparecchiatura per il trasporto dello spezzone di avvolgimento nelle fasi di avvolgimento degli articoli nelle macchine imballatrici di articoli con spezzoni di materiale avvolgente.
DE102006054469B3 (de) * 2006-11-18 2007-12-20 Franz-Josef Meurer Einrichtung und Verfahren zum Einschlagen eines Gebindes in Folie
EP3064440B1 (de) * 2015-03-02 2017-09-13 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Produktverpackungseinheit für eine verpackungsstrasse
DE102019120676A1 (de) * 2019-07-31 2021-02-04 Khs Gmbh Vorrichtung und Verfahren für die Bildung von Gebinden aus Einzelpackungen
DE102019120679A1 (de) * 2019-07-31 2021-02-04 Khs Gmbh Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Bildung von Gebinden aus Einzelpackungen
CN114852434B (zh) * 2022-05-12 2024-05-31 歌尔股份有限公司 自动分板包装机构和自动分板包装生产线

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DE1786487C3 (de) * 1966-01-24 1973-08-02 Aktiebolaget Plaatmanufaktur, Malmö (Schweden) Vorrichtung zum Sammeln und Befördern einer Gruppe von Verpackungseinheiten, beispielsweise Flaschen, Dosen u.dgl. in eine Station zum gruppenweisen Einhüllen solcher Verpackungseinheiten in Verpackungsmaterial. Ausscheidung aus: 1561939
USRE28535E (en) * 1970-06-22 1975-09-02 Packaging machine and method

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AU532583B2 (en) 1983-10-06
EP0004744A3 (en) 1979-10-31
CA1107632A (en) 1981-08-25
JPS555380A (en) 1980-01-16
AU4541979A (en) 1979-10-04
EP0049377A1 (de) 1982-04-14
MX149750A (es) 1983-12-15
EP0004744A2 (de) 1979-10-17
ZA791322B (en) 1980-04-30

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