EP0354083B1 - Device and apparatus for treating and packaging articles such as empty containers, and palettized load thus obtained - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the conditioning and packaging of objects such as, in particular, empty containers.

The general technique of palletizing and packaging glass containers, for example bottles, is already known (see for example FR 1 510 370), in which the bottles are placed tightly against one another in superimposed layers carried by a pallet lower. The cohesion of the palletized load is ensured by a reusable packaging comprising, on the one hand, a protective coating and, on the other hand, tightening strips of small width . According to this document, load-bearing trays, for example of cardboard, separate the layers. And additional tightening of each of the layers can be achieved by means of a narrow reusable band laterally surrounding each layer. According to a variant (document FR 2 228 002), the carrier plate is a sheet of foam plastic instead of cardboard.

Document FR 1 485 252 teaches an apparatus for bundling and binding bottles, these being pressed against each other, placed on a sheet of paper, and surrounded by retaining links.

The documents FR 2 152 191, FR 2 320 881 and FR 2 501 625 also relate to the technique of palletizing bottles.

The technology of palletizing and packaging objects such as empty containers, in particular glass has several aspects: the constitution of the container beds, individually and if necessary monoblocks; the constitution of the palletized load, that is to say on the one hand the stacking of the beds on top of each other on top of a pallet and on the other part, their separation by means of separation (dividers); the packaging (or in this case and according to the expression of the trade overpacking) of the palletized load thus constituted in a plastic film.

Such a palletized overwrapped load of empty glass containers or equivalent, is carried out, for example, at the outlet of a container manufacturing unit and it thus remains constituted, for example, until the inlet of a filling, capping, labeling, etc. unit for these containers . And, between the two units, the overpacked palletized load is generally transported and stored.

Such an overpacked palletized load may include, for example, ten container beds, each of which may include between about 100 and 1,000 containers (for example for beer cans, each bed may have on the order of 300 to 400 cans ). A pallet such as those that can be used can have dimensions of the order of 1m x 1.2m. The palletized load can have a height of up to 2.5 m and a total weight of the order of a ton.

The general technique of palletizing and packaging of package objects, etc. is in itself known or general. It essentially aims to ensure the cohesion and protection of the objects, packages, etc. concerned.

Different techniques, methods, machines, devices, installations, well known to those skilled in the art, exist to achieve the accumulation of containers in order to form a bed, grab all the containers of such a bed so as to transport this bed to deposit it on a palletized load being built up, cover the vertical lateral faces and the upper horizontal face of the palletized load with a plastic film which is tightened on the load. With regard to this packaging, those skilled in the art are well aware of various variant embodiments depending on the type of film used: heat-shrinkable or stretchable; according to the procedures for covering the palletized load with the film: covering (see for example document FR 2 573 030), curtain machine (see for example document FR 2 228 669), straight or helical wrapping (see for example documents FR 2 570 675, FR 2 416 167, FR 2 572 359); according to the methods of obtaining the tightening of the film on the palletized load: heat-shrinking (see for example document FR 2 564 033), conventional stretching (see for example documents US 3 672 116, 3 867 806 and 4 050 221), pre- drawing (see for example document FR 2 281 275). These technologies are, for example, implemented by the French company THIMON.

In the specific case - concerned here - where the objects are empty containers, made of glass or equivalent, such as bottles, flasks, cans, etc., there are however a number of problems which are also specific.

Among these specific problems one can mention: the sealing, the cleanliness and the maintenance of the containers.

Conventionally in the manufacturing and filling process of the containers recalled above, it is fixed as an objective that the containers must be clean and ready for filling, at the moment when they are removed from the palletized load to be filled, that is to say that it must be possible to dispense, before filling, with an additional cleaning step (therefore rinsing and drying). This specific constraint therefore leads to ensuring the tightness of the overpack of the palletized load and its internal cleanliness.

To limit the risks, it is preferable that this tightness and cleanliness be obtained for each bed of the overwrapped palletized load, so that if a bed proves to be in an unsatisfactory state, even in part, this does not affect the other beds themselves neighbors.

Furthermore, the containers for which palletization and packaging are envisaged most often have poor stability, in particular because of their size and shape. And stacking as such is generally impossible due also to their shape (presence of necks). This constraint therefore leads to paying special attention to the maintenance of the containers constituting the palletized load.

To take account of these particular constraints and to solve these problems specific to objects such as empty containers, made of glass or equivalent, we have mainly proposed, for this kind application, two well-known techniques or family of techniques: the strapping technique, the tray technique.

The strapping technique consists in placing laterally around each bed of containers one (or more) link surrounding the containers of the bed, closed and secured to itself. This link ensures the maintenance of the bed. Between each bed is placed an interlayer which is a sheet of paper or cardboard. This technique is generally illustrated by document FR 2 501 625 . In this technique, the link used is generally a very narrow strip of polypropylene, for example of the order of half a centimeter in width, for containers which may be ten or more centimeters in height. The realization of the closed link surrounding the container bed is obtained by a device of the strapping type as implemented with strip. In installations produced according to this technique, this strapping device is incorporated into a frame-shaped head also comprising a device for gripping a bed of containers by means of deformable tubes, inflated for this purpose. The device of FR 2 501 625 corresponds to the preamble of the independent claims .

This strapping technique has, however, several drawbacks: the initial positioning and subsequent maintenance of the link on the containers of each bed is conveniently possible only if the containers have a substantial flat lateral surface. Failing this, in the case, for example, of containers with a curved and non-planar lateral surface, the link tends to slide vertically on the lateral surfaces of the containers of the bed and it then ceases to produce its holding effect. The technique of strapping leads to the use of a rather inextensible link and the securing of the link on itself either prevents its substantial tightening on the bed or implies a support on the bed, all things in themselves annoying. The tension exerted by the link is therefore generally insufficient.

The use of materials such as paper or cardboard for dividers may cause dirt (small pieces of paper or cardboard) in the containers.

The tray technique consists in placing each bed of containers in a tray comprising a bottom and side walls corresponding, functionally and respectively to the interlayer and to the link of the strapping technique. The bin can either be pre-formed, or, on the contrary, formed as the palletized load is formed. This latter variant is generally illustrated by the documents FR 2 152 191 and FR 2 320 881.

This technique of the tray also has several drawbacks, namely, its cost and the pollution that can result from the use of cardboard for producing the tray.

Consequently, it appears that the technique of palletizing and overpacking of empty containers, made of glass or equivalent, has long posed a number of problems: sealing, cleanliness, maintenance, which the proposed techniques could not resolve in a way satisfactory or only at a prohibitive cost.

The invention therefore aims to satisfactorily solve the problems of tightness, cleanliness and maintenance, in the case of palletizing and overpacking of empty containers, made of glass or equivalent, while avoiding excessive cost, whether in consumable material or in specific device (investment).

• A - d'une part, à partir d'articles arrivant sur un convoyeur ou équivalent :
  • a)d'abord dans une phase de constitution d'un lit d'articles, on accumule et on groupe des articles de façon juxtaposée, dans une zone de préparation, pour constituer un lit d'articles en attente d'empilage ;
  • b)par ailleurs, dans une phase de mise en place d'une palette, on saisit une palette libre d'un magasin de palettes, on la transporte depuis ce magasin jusqu'à une zone d'empilage, et on la dépose dans cette zone d'empilage, cette palette étant alors en attente d'empilage ;
  • c)et, dans une phase ultérieure de mise en place d'un intercalaire, on saisit un intercalaire en forme de feuille d'un magasin d'intercalaires, on le transporte depuis ce magasin jusqu'à la zone d'empilage, et on le dépose, dans la zone d'empilage, sur la palette en attente d'empilage ou un lit inférieur d'articles empilés pour constituer un intercalaire en attente ;
  • d)ensuite, dans une phase d'empilage d'un lit d'articles, on saisit le lit d'articles en attente d'empilage se trouvant dans la zone de préparation, on le transporte depuis cette zone de préparation jusqu'à la zone d'empilage et on le dépose dans la zone d'empilage sur l'intercalaire en attente ;
  • e)on répète les phases de constitution du lit d'articles, de mise en place d'un intercalaire et d'empilage d'un lit d'articles successivement pour chaque lit de la charge palettisée, du lit inférieur au lit supérieur ;
  • f) Et, par ailleurs, dans une phase d'emballage, on recouvre et on applique pour être serré sur les faces verticales et la face horizontale supérieure de la charge palettisée ainsi constituée, du film en matière plastique formant suremballage de manière à constituer la charge palettisée suremballée ;
  et
• B- d'autre part, dans des phases de maintien latéral des lits d'articles successifs, on entoure latéralement chacun des lits d'articles avec un organe de maintien latéral fermé en boucle sur lui-même ;

caractérisé en ce que l'on met en oeuvre, comme organe de maintien, une bande de film en matière plastique souple, ayant une largeur substantielle par rapport à la hauteur des articles et apte à réaliser un serrage substantiel du lit d'articles.To this end, the invention firstly proposes a method of packaging and packaging articles to constitute an overpacked palletized load, comprising several bunk beds of articles, each bed comprising a plurality of juxtaposed articles, the articles being in particular empty containers, in particular glass or equivalent, therefore articles of tormented shape, of limited intrinsic stability and requiring special protection, process in which:

• A - on the one hand, from articles arriving on a conveyor or equivalent:
  • a) firstly in a phase of constitution of a bed of articles, articles are accumulated and grouped in a juxtaposed manner, in a preparation zone, to constitute a bed of articles awaiting stacking;
  • b) moreover, in a phase of placing a pallet, a free pallet is grabbed from a pallet store, it is transported from this store to a stacking area, and it is placed in this stacking area, this pallet then awaiting stacking;
  • c) and, in a later phase of fitting an interlayer, a sheet-shaped interlayer is grabbed from an interlayer magazine, it is transported from this magazine to the stacking area, and depositing, in the stacking area, on the pallet awaiting stacking or a lower bed of stacked articles to constitute a waiting interlayer;
  • d) then, in a phase of stacking a bed of articles, the bed of articles awaiting stacking which is in the preparation zone is seized, it is transported from this preparation zone to the stacking area and it is deposited in the stacking area on the waiting interlayer;
  • e) the phases of constitution of the bed of articles, repositioning of an interlayer and stacking of a bed of articles are repeated successively for each bed of the palletized load, from the lower bed to the upper bed;
  • f) And, moreover, in a packaging phase, it is covered and applied to be clamped on the vertical faces and the upper horizontal face of the palletized load thus formed, of the plastic film forming an overpack so as to constitute the overpacked palletized load;
  and
• B- on the other hand, in the lateral holding phases of the successive article beds, each of the article beds is surrounded laterally with a lateral holding member closed in a loop on itself;

characterized in that a flexible plastic film strip having a substantial width relative to the height of the articles is used as the retaining member and capable of achieving substantial clamping of the bed of articles.

• a) des moyens de constitution d'un lit d'articles par accumulation dans une zone de préparation, associés à des moyens d'amenée d'articles ;
• b) au moins un magasin de palettes et des moyens pour saisir une palette libre du magasin, la transporter et la déposer dans une zone d'empilage ;
• c) au moins un magasin d'intercalaires et des moyens pour saisir un intercalaire du magasin, le transporter et le déposer dans la zone d'empilage ;
• d) des moyens d'empilage des lits d'articles comprenant des moyens de saisie, des moyens de transport et des moyens de dépose des lits d'articles de la zone de préparation à la zone d'empilage ;
• e) des moyens de suremballage de la charge palettisée constituée;
  caractériseé en ce qu'elle comporte :
• f) des moyens pour mettre en place sur les lits d'articles successifs un organe de maintien latéral fermé en boucle sur lui-même, constitué par une bande de film en matière plastique souple, ayant une largeur substantielle par rapport à la hauteur des articles et apte à réaliser un serrage substantiel des lits d'articles ;
  et
• g) des moyens de commande de façon coordonnée.

The invention then proposes an installation for implementing this method which comprises, in combination:

• a) means for constituting a bed of articles by accumulation in a preparation zone, associated with means for bringing articles;
• b) at least one pallet store and means for gripping a free pallet from the store, transporting it and depositing it in a stacking zone;
• c) at least one interlayer magazine and means for gripping a magazine interlayer, transporting it and depositing it in the stacking zone;
• d) means for stacking the beds of articles comprising gripping means, means of transport and means for depositing the beds of articles from the preparation zone to the stacking zone;
• e) means for overpacking the palletized load constituted;
  characterized in that it comprises:
• f) means for placing on the beds of successive articles a lateral holding member closed in a loop on itself, constituted by a strip of film of flexible plastic, having a substantial width relative to the height of the articles and able to achieve substantial clamping of the article beds;
  and
• g) control means in a coordinated manner.

The invention finally proposes a palletized load obtained by the process, as defined in claim 13.

There is also known, moreover (see document FR 2 300 009) a technique consisting in placing a strip of film of stretchable plastic around a group of objects. According to this document, all operations are carried out at a single workstation. And, the machine for the constitution and the installation of the headband is placed above the group of objects. Such a machine is therefore not applicable in the case of palletizing and overpacking of articles such as empty glass containers because the areas located above the containers must be able to remain free, in particular taking into account the passage of the gripping means. article beds.

We also know (see document FR 2 256 871) the installation of strips surrounding palletized loads to connect the beds together. However, the process and the machine conforming to this document are no more applicable to the specific case of palletizing and overpackaging of a palletized load.

• . Les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues schématiques, partielles, en élévation, de deux variantes possibles de charge palettisée suremballée conforme à l'invention.
• . La figure 3 est une vue schématique, en perspective, partielle, d'une variante possible de réalisation de l'invention à partir d'une gaine en un matériau thermorétractable, la même installation pouvant être mise en oeuvre avec une gaine étirable, sans dispositif de thermorétraction.
• . La figure 4 illustre plus en détail les étapes de fonctionnement d'une installation conforme à la figure 3.
• . La figure 5 en perspective une forme de réalisation d'une machine de houssage associée à des moyens d'empilage.
• . La figure 6 illustre plus en détail une variante de réalisation utilisant une gaine en matière plastique.
• . La figure 7 correspond à une variante de réalisation de la figure 4 dans laquelle le bandeau est pris par dessus et non par dessous dans le cas de la figure 4.
• . La figure 8 illustre la réalisation de la figure 7.
• . La figure 9 est une vue schématique partielle en perspective d'une installation utilisant une bande en matière plastique à plat.
• . La figure 10 est une vue schématique illustrant le fonctionnement du dispositif de la figure 9.
• . La figure 11 est une autre variante de réalisation du cas de la figure 9.
• . Les figures 12, 13, 14 et 15 sont des vues en élévation de côté (figures 12 et 14), de dessus (figures 13 et 15) d'autres variantes de réalisation de l'invention.

The other characteristics of the invention will result from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• . Figures 1 and 2 are schematic partial views, in elevation, of two possible variants of overwrapped palletized load according to the invention.
• . Figure 3 is a schematic view, in perspective, partial, of a possible alternative embodiment of the invention from a sheath of a heat-shrinkable material, the same installation can be implemented with a stretchable sheath, without device heat shrink.
• . FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail the stages of operation of an installation conforming to FIG. 3.
• . Figure 5 in perspective an embodiment of a hooding machine associated with stacking means.
• . Figure 6 illustrates in more detail an alternative embodiment using a plastic sheath.
• . FIG. 7 corresponds to an alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 in which the strip is taken from above and not from below in the case of FIG. 4.
• . FIG. 8 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 7.
• . Figure 9 is a partial schematic perspective view of an installation using a flat plastic strip.
• . FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the device in FIG. 9.
• . FIG. 11 is another alternative embodiment of the case in FIG. 9.
• . Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 are side elevational views (Figures 12 and 14), from above (Figures 13 and 15) of other alternative embodiments of the invention.

The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging and packaging articles 1 to constitute an overpacked palletized load, comprising several superimposed beds 2 of articles 1, each bed 2 comprising a plurality of articles 1 juxtaposed.

Articles 1 are in particular, and preferably with regard to the application envisaged here, empty containers, in particular of glass or equivalent, that is to say, more generally, articles of tormented shape, of intrinsic stability limited and requiring special protection.

In the process according to the invention, starting from articles 1 arriving on a conveyor 3 or equivalent, a certain number of operating phases are carried out.

First, in a phase of constituting a bed 2 of articles, articles 1 are accumulated and grouped juxtaposed in a preparation zone 4 to constitute a bed of articles 2 awaiting stacking. Such a phase of constituting a bed of articles 2 is generally known per se, as such, and does not require further detail. This phase can use means for constituting a bed of articles 2 by accumulation, in the preparation zone 4, associated with means for feeding articles such as the conveyor 3. These means for constituting a bed of articles may comprise, in addition to the conveyor 3, a movable barrier 5 located downstream.

Furthermore, in a phase of placing a pallet 6, a free pallet 6 is grabbed from a pallet store, not shown, it is transported from this store to a stacking area 7, this pallet 6 is then awaiting stacking. The stacking zone 7 is spaced apart but generally close to the zone for preparing the bed 4.

The installation for implementing the method therefore comprises at least one pallet magazine and means for gripping a free pallet from the magazine, transporting it and depositing it in the stacking zone 7.

In a subsequent phase of fitting a sheet-shaped insert 8, an insert 8 is taken from an insert store (not shown), it is transported from this store to the stacking area 7 and it is deposited, in the stacking zone 7, on the pallet 6 awaiting stacking or on a lower bed of stacked articles 2. This insert 8 then constitutes a standby insert.

The installation for implementing the method therefore carries at least one interlayer magazine 8 and means for gripping a magazine interlayer, transporting it and depositing it in the stacking zone 7.

Then, in a phase of stacking a bed of articles 2, the bed of articles 2 is gripped awaiting stacking and therefore being in the preparation zone 4, it is transported from this preparation zone 4 to the stacking area 7 and it is deposited in the stacking area on the interlayer 8 on standby.

To this end, the installation for implementing the method comprises means 9 for stacking article beds 2 comprising gripping means 10, transport means and means for depositing article beds 2 from the preparation zone 4 to the stacking zone 7.

According to the method, the phases of constituting a bed of articles 2, of placing an interlayer 8 and of stacking a bed of articles 2 are repeated successively for each bed of the load. palletized, from the lower bed closest to pallet 6 to the upper bed forming the upper face of the palletized load.

We already know, in itself, and separately the different phases, not only of constituting a bed of articles but also of setting up a pallet, setting up an interlayer, stacking a bed of articles as well as the repetition of these different phases to constitute a palletized load.

Means, devices and members are also known for carrying out these phases. For these reasons, there is no need to describe them further. Those skilled in the art may also usefully refer to the documents FR 320 881 and FR 2 501 625.

According to the invention, moreover, in a packaging phase - also known in this overwrapping technical field - it is covered and applied tightly on the vertical faces and the upper horizontal face of the palletized load thus formed of the plastic film forming overwrap 11 so as to constitute the overwrapped palletized load.

The installation for implementing the method therefore comprises means for overpacking the palletized load constituted capable of achieving this covering of the vertical and horizontal upper faces of the palletized load with film finally clamped on the load. This overwrapping film fulfills several functions. It contributes to the cohesion of the load by tightening the beds in a lateral direction and therefore preventing disintegration. It constitutes a continuous barrier capable of preventing re-entry into the palletized load of water vapor, dust, etc.

On the other hand, according to another aspect of the method according to the invention, in the lateral holding phases of the successive article 2 beds, each of the article beds 2 is laterally surrounded with a lateral holding member closed in a loop on himself. The loop-shaped holding member 12 is therefore placed horizontally, the article beds 2 themselves being placed horizontally. To this end, an installation for implementing the process therefore comprises means for placing on the beds of successive articles 2 a lateral holding member 12 closed in a loop on itself having the characteristics mentioned above.

Unlike the known state of the art in which the retaining member 12 is a narrow, practically inelastic ribbon and exerting no substantial tightening, the invention uses, as retaining member 12, a strip of film made of flexible plastic material, having a substantial width relative to the height of the articles 1 and capable of producing a substantial clamping of the bed of articles 2.

The installation for implementing the method is therefore characterized in that it includes means for setting up such a holding member.

The height of items 1 means the dimension counted in the vertical direction. It corresponds to the spacing between two neighboring dividers 8. The film strip used according to the invention has a width which is substantial, this width itself being substantial relative to the height of the articles 1. For example, according to a first variant, this width of the strip is the order of a significant fraction of the height of the articles or even of the order of magnitude of the height of the articles 1. According to another variant, the width of the strip is substantially greater than the height of the articles 1, for example of the order of 1.2 to 2.5 times the height of the articles 1. The strip used in the invention may have, for example, a width of the order of several centimeters to several tens of centimeters and this for articles 1, such as containers of common use, such as: bottles, cans of beer, bottles of cleaning products, bottles of perfume or cosmetic products, glass containers for pharmaceutical products, and vs... ; containers, the height of which may itself be between a few centimeters, ten or thirty centimeters.

Thus, as a result of the foregoing, the retaining member 12 thus formed ensures substantial clamping of the article bed 2. By substantial clamping of the article bed 2 is meant that the retaining member 12 is placed laterally around the bed of articles 2 not only adjusted dimensionally but as that it exerts on the bed compressive forces of general horizontal direction directed towards the center of the bed. The existence of such compressive forces directed towards the inside of a load are known per se in the overpack of palletized load and this notion of a substantial tightening of a bed of articles is within the reach of the skilled in the art. The lateral holding member 12 not only ensures positive maintenance of the articles 1 by preventing them from falling but gives the bed 2 a cohesive force. Due to the substantial width of the retaining member 12, the latter - being flexible - perfectly the shape of the lateral faces of the articles 1, whatever this is and without sliding up or down. Thus, the holding member can also at least partially cover the tapered shapes of the container necks, and this effectively.

According to one aspect of the invention, a strip of heat-shrinkable plastic film is used as a retaining member 12 in a variant and, once the retaining member 12 is placed on the bed of articles 2, it is heats to heat shrink. As a variant, a heat-shrinkable film is used but a stretch film and the film strip is lengthened, in particular beyond its elastic limit, when placing articles 2 on the bed. In this case, it is preferable to pre-stretch the film strip so that its elongation is carried out by pre-stretching means and not by the bed of articles 2 itself. The pre-stretching technique is within the reach of those skilled in the art having at their disposal the state of the art and in particular the document FR 2 281 275. There is therefore no need to describe this technique further here.

As has already been said, according to another aspect of the invention, the width of the holding member 12 is of the order of a significant fraction of the height of the articles 1 or of the height of the articles themselves. 1. As a variant, this width is substantially greater than the height of the articles 1. In the latter case, the retaining member 12 projects above and / or below the bed of articles 2, a protruding part 13 of the retaining member 12 being intended to overlap the pallet 6 or a bed of articles 2 lower and / or upper, in particular on another retaining member 12 lower and / or higher. In this variant (FIG. 2), the successive retaining members 12 come with overlap by their projecting part 13 form, in combination, a continuous face. And this alternative embodiment allows the lateral retaining members 12 to constitute, from the outer packaging, namely the part of the latter covering the vertical lateral faces of the palletized load.

According to another aspect of the invention, the film strip intended to constitute the lateral retaining member 12 comes from one or two reels of flat film strip 14 whose anterior transverse free edges 15 are secured (FIGS. 9, 10 and 11). This joining is carried out in particular by heat sealing.

As a variant, instead of using the flat film strip, film sheath 16 is used, in particular with lateral bellows, of which an axial section is cut transversely, this sheath or section being depolored by constituting a closed loop.

The constitution of a film strip curtain from two film reels 14 and a transverse welding of the transverse edges 15 as well as the opening of a bellows film sheath and its cross section are known techniques per se in the general field of packaging and for this reason are not described further here.

According to another aspect of the invention, the step of constituting the closed but deployed loop constituting the holding member 12 in concealed time and outside the article bed 2 is carried out, in particular in a preparation area for the said loop. And, then, or transports the holding member 12 thus produced from this preparation zone to a bed of articles 2. And, finally, the holding member 12 is threaded onto the bed of articles 2. In this In this case, the rate of the process is not limited by the time necessary for the production of the retaining member 12 in the form of a loop since the production of this retaining member 12 in the form of a loop occurs simultaneously at the same time as other operating phases. In addition, this embodiment is advantageous with regard to the space requirement since the means, devices, organs necessary for constituting the holding member 12 can be placed away from the area of preparation of the bed 2 and of the stacking zone 7, zones in which the installation comprises a certain number of organs inherent in the implementation of the method.

According to another alternative embodiment, the step of constituting the closed but deployed loop constituting the holding member 12 is carried out directly on the bed of articles 2.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lateral holding phases are carried out on the articles beds awaiting stacking in the preparation zone 4. And then the article bed 2 thus held laterally is transported from the bed preparation area 4 up to the stacking area 7 and this in the stacking phases. In this case, the lateral holding phases, for the successive beds 2 are carried out respectively prior to the stacking phases.

According to another variant, the lateral holding phases are carried out on the stacked articles beds 2 in the bed stacking area 4. And, beforehand, the article beds 2 are transported without lateral holding members 12 from the preparation area 4 to the stacking area 7, in the stacking phases. In this case, the lateral holding phases, for the successive beds, are carried out respectively after the stacking phases.

Reference is now made to the variant in which the strip of film section has a width greater than the height of the articles 1 so that it has projecting parts 13. In this case, the packaging phases (overpack) for transverse support. In fact, the overpack 11 of the packaged palletized load, on its vertical lateral faces is produced by the combination of the holding members 12 overlapping each other.

We now refer to the variant using a heat-shrinkable film. In this case, the holding members are heated for their retraction, either bed by bed as and when they are stacked, or as a whole when all the beds are stacked. In the case where bed-by-bed retraction is carried out, the heating retraction means operate so intermittent, successively for each bed. In the case where the retraction occurs in a general manner, this means that the retraction occurs when the entire load is formed and not gradually as the constitution of this load. However, the heat shrinkage can itself be carried out gradually either along vertical zones which are displaced around the load, or along zones forming a horizontal ring corresponding to the successive beds.

The invention also relates to an overpacked palletized load which is obtained by the process which has just been described. This overpacked palletized load comprises, for each bed of articles 2, a lateral retaining member 12 in the form of a strip of flexible plastic material having a substantial width relative to the height of the articles 1, this strip being capable of achieving substantial clamping of the bed. of article. Such an overpacked palletized load also includes an overpack 11. In one of the variants described above, the overpack 11 is constituted, as regards the vertical phases of the palletized load, by the lateral retaining members 12 which overlap each other. on the others.

The invention also relates to an installation for implementing the method which has just been described. In the same way that the process can be the subject of numerous variants starting from the same inventive concept such as in particular the heat-shrinkable or stretchable nature of the filler; the width of the strip of the holding member 12 which is less but a significant fraction of the height of the articles 1, equal to or greater than the height of the articles 1; the production of the holding member 12 from reels of flat film strip or from film sheath; the step of constituting the closed loop constituting the holding member 12 in masked time or in unmasked time, directly on the article bed or not, in the zone for preparing the article beds or in the zone d 'stacking or in another area separated from them; the installation for implementing the method may be subject to variant embodiments adapted to the variants of the method.

Also, in the same way as the phases of constituting a bed of articles 2, of setting up a pallet, of setting up a interlayer, constitution of the bed, etc ... are known per se or within the reach of the skilled person, it is the same means, organs, devices to perform these phases.

Naturally, the installation as just described comprises means for controlling the various constituent parts in a coordinated manner so as to ensure their sequential operation in an appropriate manner.

The means of constituting a bed of articles 2 may comprise the conveyor 3 and a movable dam 5 downstream.

The means for stacking the beds of articles 2 comprise for example a gripping head 10 with gripping rods inflatable by compressed air, a gripper capable of moving the head 10 in particular horizontally and vertically and means for controlling and coordinating these movements and operations. The gripper can for example be a sort of handling robot comprising a vertical column and a horizontal arm, the arm being able to pivot around a vertical axis on the one hand and passing through the column and being able to slide vertically.

In the case where the method uses a thermoplastic film to constitute the lateral retaining members 12, the means for positioning the retaining members 12 then comprise heating means 17 ensuring the heat shrinkage of the strips of heat shrinkable film constituting the members holding 12. Such heating means for heat shrinking are well known per se in the packaging technique with heat shrink film. It can be a retraction frame projecting hot air or even flames coming from a burner or infrared radiation, without this list being exhaustive.

In the case where the method uses a stretch film, the means for positioning the holding members 12 comprise means for longitudinal stretching of the strip of stretch film constituting these holding members 12. Such stretching means longitudinal can either be conventional stretching means by braking between a film reel support pin and a drive load of the film or pre-stretching means with rollers, positively motorized or passive such that the upstream roller - relative to the direction of travel of the film strip - rotates at a peripheral speed lower than the peripheral speed of the downstream roller.

The installation may also include two support pins for two flat film reels 14 and transverse cutting and welding jaws 18. Such an arrangement comprising film reel support pins and transverse cutting and welding jaws are also known in itself in the packaging technique with heat-shrinkable or stretch film and, for this reason, need not be described further.

In another variant implementing a sheath 16, the installation comprises a pin 19 supporting a flattened sheath coil 16, means for moving the film sheath, means for moving the film sheath and means for cross section of the film sheath. Such a type of device capable of storing film sheath flattened on a reel in order to move it, open it, cut it transversely, etc. is generally known to those skilled in the art in the so-called hooding techniques. We can refer for example to document FR 2 573 030 as well as to many other documents relating to this technology.

As already mentioned with regard to the method, the constituent means for producing a holding member in closed loop 12 can be located in a zone for preparing said loop, a zone which is separated from the zones for preparing bed 4 and stacking 7. In this case, there is provided a movable carriage 20 provided with gripping members 21 of the holding member 12 such as the fingers, moved by drive means (not shown) under the dependence control means able on the one hand to transport the retaining member 12 from the preparation area of said loop to the bed of articles 2 and, on the other hand, to thread the loop-shaped strip 12 onto the bed 2.

We already know in the packaging industry the production of such trolleys or equivalent provided with retractable fingers or any equivalent member such as vacuum chamber, suction cup, etc.

Therefore, many alternative embodiments can be envisaged which are all in the spirit of the present invention.

In another variant, the constituent means for producing a holding member 12 are situated, on the contrary, close to the zone for preparing the bed of articles 4 or the stacking zone 7.

Finally, the installation according to the invention is such that the overwrapping means and the means for positioning the lateral holding members 12 can be at least partly common and this in the case where the film strip constituting the member holding 12 is wider than the height of articles 1, as already mentioned above.

We now refer to the figures.

In FIG. 1 is shown the alternative embodiment in which the holding member 12 has a width which is a fraction of the height of the articles 1, a specific overpack 11 then being provided on the overpacked palletized load. In the case of FIG. 2, the retaining members 12 have a width greater than the height of the articles 1. These retaining members 12 overlap by their projecting part 13 and the palletized load can be devoid of additional overpack 11, the overpack being formed by the combination of the lateral holding members 12 in superposition.

In Figure 3 is shown schematically the alternative embodiment using a heat-shrinkable film sheath with the establishment of the lateral holding member 12 directly on the palletized load being formed. This figure shows more precisely the carriage 20 with fingers 21 coming to take the lateral retaining member 12 open in order to move it (arrow A) from below the heat-shrinkable sheath open up to the top of the palletized load being formed. Then, the carriage 20 is moved vertically downwards so that the lateral holding member 12 is placed around the last bed of articles 2 put in place. The heating means 17 are then produced in the form of a retraction frame comprising a part 22 forming a frame carried by drive means vertically sliding up or down. In the case of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3, the carriage 20 comes to take the lateral holding member 12 from below, the fingers 21 being directed upwards.

Figure 4 shows in more detail this alternative embodiment and illustrates in particular jaws of cross section 23 of the sheath and a lifting table 24 supporting the palletized load in progress so that the bed of articles 2 which has just been deposited on the pallet can be threaded onto the lateral retaining member 12 deployed. Likewise, pressers 25 located laterally, which can be moved horizontally so as to come against the lateral faces of the article bed 2 on which the holding member 12 has just been threaded, may be provided. '' ensure temporary maintenance of the member 12 before it is retracted by the heating means 17. Once the pressers in place, the fingers 21 can be retracted, which is still possible since the holding member 12 is loosely placed around the bed of articles 2. Then it is possible to use the heating means 17 which ensures the heat-shrinking of the holding member 12. This holding member 12 is thus heat-shrunk, the 25 pressers can be discarded.

Figure 5 schematically shows the layout of a machine using a sheath 16, the representation being only schematic and not of detail. As can be seen, in this embodiment, and unlike the prior art, the palletized load which is to receive the sheath is placed not vertically below it in line with the open sheath but next to it, the displacement of the deployed lateral holding member 12 being produced by means of the carriage 20 with the gripping member 21.

Figure 6 shows in more detail the carriage 20 and the members 21 associated with a machine implementing a sheath 16. This figure also shows horizontal side plates forming a support 26 constituting horizontal guides for the carriage 20 moved by one or more motors 27. And, the plates 26 can, in turn, be mounted vertically to slide on brackets 28, fixed, by means of endless chains or equivalent.

Figure 7 is comparable to Figure 4 with the difference that the carriage 20 has its fingers 21 directed not upwards but downwards. This arrangement makes it possible in particular to dispense with a lifting table such as 24.

FIG. 8 shows in more detail the corresponding device and in particular the arrow B shows the 180 ° pivoting of the carriage 20 which originally has its fingers 21 turned upwards to grasp a deployed lateral holding member 12 coming from the sheath 16 and which subsequently has his fingers 21 turned downwards vertically and above the palletized load being produced.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment in which the film strip constituting the lateral holding member 12 is produced from a film reel such as 14, using a carriage 20 and fingers 21 carried by plates such as 26 driven by a motor such as 27 and carried by a bracket such as 28 as has been described in relation to FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 shows the implementation of the invention in the case where the lateral holding member 12 is produced from a film curtain coming from two film reels 14 with welded transverse edges 15. In this case, also, a carriage 20 can be provided with fingers 21, in this case directed upwards. For the rest, this variant can also use pressers such as 25.

FIG. 11 illustrates this variant in more detail and shows the presence of the heating means 17 in the form of a heat-shrinking frame.

Figures 12 and 13 show an installation according to the invention and, in more detail, the means of constituting the article bed 2 and gripping means 10 as well as the different location of zones 4 and 7. In the case Figures 12 and 13, the film used is a stretch film and there are provided fingers 29 forming conformers capable of deforming the film strip from the two reels of film 14 to prevent the drawing force from being absorbed by the articles 1 of the bed 2.

In the case of FIGS. 14 and 15, another variant is shown in which the lateral holding member 12 is produced from a strip of film coming from the two reels 14 placed at the top between the bed preparation zones 4 and stacking 7. In this case, we take advantage of the horizontal movement of movement of the bed of articles 2 from the preparation zone 4 to the stacking zone 7 in order, in passing, to put in place the lateral holding member 12.

Naturally, other alternative embodiments can also be envisaged.

Claims (21)

1. Process for packaging and wrapping goods (1) to form an overwrapped palletised load, consisting of a plurality of superimposed layers (2) of goods (1), each layer (2) comprising a plurality of juxtaposed goods, the goods being, in particular, empty containers, especially made of glass or the like, ie. goods of irregular shape, of limited intrinsic stability, requiring special protection, wherein:

   A- on the one hand, starting with goods (1) arriving on a conveyor (3) or the like:

   a) first of all, in a phase of constructing a layer (2) of goods the goods (1) are collected and assembled in a juxtaposed arrangement, in a preparation zone (4), to form a layer of goods awaiting stacking;

   b) moreover, in a phase of positioning a pallet (6), a free pallet (6) is taken from a pallet store, conveyed from this store to a stacking zone (7) and deposited in this stacking zone (7), this pallet (6) then awaiting stacking;

   c) and, in a subsequent phase of putting a divider or insert (8) in position, a divider (8) in the form of a sheet is taken from a divider store, transported from this store to the stacking zone (7) and deposited, in the stacking zone (7), on the pallet (6) awaiting stacking or a lower layer (2) of stacked goods to form a waiting divider (8);

   d) then, in a stacking phase for a layer of goods, the layer (2) of goods awaiting stacking which is in the preparation zone (4) is taken and transported from this preparation zone (4) to the stacking zone (7) and deposited in the stacking zone (7) on the waiting divider (8);

   e) the phases of constructing the layer (2) of goods, putting a divider (8) in position and stacking a layer (2) of goods are repeated successively for each layer (2) of the palletised load, from the bottom layer to the top layer;

   f) and, furthermore, in a wrapping phase, the palletised load thus produced is covered with plastics film which is applied tightly to the vertical sides and the upper horizontal surface of the load, so as to form an overwrap (11) in order to produce the overwrapped palletised load; and

   B- on the other hand, in phases of laterally securing the successive layers (2) of goods, each of the layers of goods is laterally surrounded by a lateral retaining member (2) closed up on itself to form a loop,

   characterised in that the retaining member (12) used consists of a strip of flexible plastics film having a substantial width in relation to the height of the goods and adapted to achieve substantial gripping of the layer of goods.
2. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining member used consists of a strip of heat-shrink plastics film, and once the retaining member (12) is in place on the layer (2) of goods it is heated to bring about heat shrinkage; or a strip of stretchable plastics film may be used and this strip of film is elongated, in particular beyond its elastic limit, when it is put into place over the layer of goods.
3. Process according to claim 2, characterised in that pre-stretching of the strip of film is carried out so that elongation of said film is carried out by pre-stretching means and not by the layer of goods itself.
4. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the retaining member (12) used consists of a strip of plastics film the width of which is a substantial fraction of the height of the goods or is equal to the height of the goods (1) or is substantially greater than the height of the goods.
5. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the retaining member (12) projects above and/or below the layer (2) of goods, a projecting part of the retaining member (12) being intended to overlap with the pallet (6) or layer (2) of goods above or below, more particularly with another retaining member above and/or below, the successive overlapping retaining members (12) combining to form a continuous surface.
6. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the retaining member (12) used consists of a strip of plastics film obtained from one or two spools (14) of flat film strip the front transverse free edges (15) of which are joined together, or a strip of plastics film obtained from a sheath (16) of film, notably with lateral openings, from which an axial length is cut transversely, this sheath or length being deployed to form a closed loop.
7. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the step of forming the closed but deployed loop which constitutes the retaining member (12) is carried out outside useful time and away from the layer (2) of goods, notably in a zone for preparing said loop; the retaining member (12) thus produced is then taken from this preparation zone to a layer (2) of goods; and finally the retaining member (12) is fitted over the layer (2) of goods.
8. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the step of producing the closed but deployed loop which constitutes the retaining member (12) is carried out directly on the layer (2) of goods.
9. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the phases of lateral securing are carried out on the layers (2) of goods awaiting stacking, in the preparation zone (4) thereof; and the layer (2) of goods thus secured laterally is then conveyed from the preparation zone (4) to the stacking zone (7), in the stacking phases; the phases of lateral securing for the successive layers (2) being carried out respectively before the stacking phases.
10. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the phases of lateral securing are carried out on the layers (2) of goods stacked in the stacking zone (7); and, beforehand, the layers (2) of goods free from any laterally securing means (12) are conveyed from the preparation zone (4) to the stacking zone (7), during the stacking phases; the lateral securing phases for the successive layers (2) being carried out respectively after the stacking phases.
11. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the phases of wrapping and transverse securing are carried out at least partly in common, the overwrapping of the wrapped palletised load, on its vertical sides, being carried out by the combination of the retaining members (12) overlapping with one another.
12. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the heating of the retaining members (12) for the purpose of shrinking them is carried out either layer by layer as the layers are stacked, or all together when all the layers have been stacked.
13. Overwrapped palletised load comprising a plurality of superimposed layers (2) of goods (1), each layer (2) comprising a plurality of juxtaposed goods (1), the goods being in particular empty containers, especially made of glass or the like, ie. goods of irregular shape, of limited intrinsic stability, requiring special protection, characterised in that it is obtained by means of the process according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and comprises, for each layer (2) of goods, a lateral retaining member (12) in the form of a strip of flexible plastics having a substantial width in relation to the height of the goods and adapted to achieve substantial gripping of the layers of goods.
14. Load according to claim 13, characterised in that the overwrap (11) is formed, as regards the vertical sides of the palletised load, by the lateral retaining members (12) overlapping with one another.
15. Installation for carrying out the process according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a combination of:

    a) means for forming a layer (2) of goods by collecting them in a preparation zone (4) combined with means for delivering the goods;

    b) at least one pallet store and means for taking a free pallet (6) from the store, transporting it and depositing it in a stacking zone (7);

    c) at least one divider store and means for taking a divider from the store (8), transporting it and depositing it in the stacking zone (7);

    d) means (9) for stacking the layers (2) of goods comprising gripping means, transporting means and means for removing the layers of goods from the preparation zone (4) to the stacking zone (7);

    e) means for overwrapping the palletised load thus formed;
    characterised in that it comprises:

    f) means for placing, on the successive layers of goods, a lateral retaining member (12) closed on itself to form a loop, consisting of a strip of flexible plastics film, having a substantial width in relation to the height of the goods (1) and adapted to achieve substantial gripping of the layers of goods (1); and

    g) coordinated control means.
16. Installation according to claim 15, characterised in that the means for forming a layer of goods comprise a conveyor (3) and a barrier (5) which is movable downstream; the means (9) for stacking the layers (2) of goods comprise a gripping head with inflatable gripping pads, a prehensile member adapted to move the head especially horizontally and vertically and means for controlling and coordinating the movements and operations.
17. Installation according to any one of claims 15 and 16, characterised in that the means for putting into position the retaining members comprise heating means (17) which ensure heat shrinkage of the strips of heat shrink film which constitute the retaining members (12), or means for longitudinally stretching the stretchable film strips which constitute the retaining members (12).
18. Installation according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterised in that the means for putting the retaining members (12) into position comprise one or two support journals for one or two flat film spools, and jaws (18) for transverse cutting and welding of the film strip or strips, or a support journal for a spool of a flattened sheath of film, means for deploying the sheath of film, means for moving the sheath of film and means for transversely cutting the sheath of film.
19. Installation according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterised in that the means for producing a retaining member (12) in the form of a closed loop are located in a preparation zone for said loop at a distance from the preparation zone (4) for the layer and the stacking zone (7); and in that a movable carriage 20 is provided, equipped with gripping means (21) such as fingers which are moved by drive means under the control of control means which are adapted, on the one hand, to transport the retaining member from the preparation zone for said loop to the layer of goods and, on the other hand, to fit the strip in the form of a loop over the layer.
20. Installation according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that the means for producing a retaining member in the form of a closed loop are located close to the preparation zone (4) for a layer of goods or the stacking zone (7).
21. Installation according to any one of claims 15 to 20, characterised in that the overwrapping means and the means for putting the lateral retaining members into position are at least partly common.

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