EP0679579B1 - Apparatus for compacting and packaging a stack of compressible articles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the packaging of compressible products.

It relates more particularly to a device for compressing and packaging a stack of compressible products, in particular compressible insulating products, such as felts of glass wool or other similar material.

Such products pose transport and storage problems because they have a large size compared to a relatively small mass.

In order to solve these problems, various solutions have been proposed, which consist in compressing the products, then in wrapping them so as to maintain them in the compressed state during transport and storage.

However, such compression must be perfectly controlled so that the products regain their original dimensions and properties, when they are then decompressed for their use.

Thus, European Patent No 220 980 proposes to form a stack of insulating products, then to compress this stack and to pack it, usually in a plastic film, to form a module. The modules thus obtained are then brought together in groups.

According to this prior patent, the products consist individually either of an insulating felt roll, or of a stack of insulating felt panels generally having a rectangular shape. The individual or unitary product (roll or stack of panels) is generally provided with a primary envelope ensuring its maintenance in the compressed state.

In accordance with this known solution, the products are placed in a stack in a compression chamber, while being wrapped in a plastic film.

The products are introduced into the compression chamber in the direction of the stack. A compression member is provided in the compression chamber to ensure the compression of the products in the direction of stacking, which causes the formation of a surplus of packaging film which must then be rewound before ensuring sealing the film.

Furthermore, US Pat. No. 3,650,087 proposes a device for compressing and wrapping a stack of compressible products in which the stack is introduced into a compression chamber and in an introduction direction which coincides with the stacking direction.

As in the patent cited above, the stack of products is compressed in the compression chamber, and this in a direction which, here too, coincides with the stacking direction.

However, the compression of the stack takes place in such a way that it does not generate excess film, which eliminates the need to rewind the film after compression.

The invention proposes another solution which, here again, makes it possible to avoid the formation of a surplus of film which has to be rewound before sealing to form the packaging.

The device for compressing and packaging a stack of compressible products of the invention is defined by claim 1.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, the stack of products is first compressed to give it a compressed dimension of selected value and this compressed stack maintained at this compressed dimension is then introduced into a receiving chamber while carrying the film intended to form packaging.

As the direction of insertion of the stack into the receiving chamber is carried out perpendicular to the direction of the stack and the side walls of the receiving chamber provide between them a spacing substantially equal to the compressed dimension of the stack, the stack is kept at its compressed dimension in the receiving chamber.

As a result, the film is placed and sealed around a stack whose compressed dimension is perfectly calibrated.

Then the film is stretched and sealed along the fourth side of the stack, without the need to rewind the film.

Within the meaning of the invention, the term "product" means either a roll of insulating felt, or a stack of panels of insulating felt, the product advantageously being provided with a primary envelope.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressing means comprise two opposite compression walls, at least one of which is movable, and actuation means for bringing them towards or away from one another.

The pressing means are arranged above a horizontal support table intended to receive the stack of products before compression. In addition, these pressing means are advantageously placed below the receiving chamber, the opening of which is turned downwards.

In an advantageous embodiment, the support table comprises a central plate which can be moved vertically and which is capable of introducing the compressed stack into the receiving chamber.

Thus, the stack of compressed products is introduced by an upward vertical movement.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises guide means for maintaining the stack of products at its compressed dimension during its transfer to the compression chamber.

In the preferred embodiment mentioned above, these guide means comprise two pivoting flaps articulated respectively to the two compression walls and movable between a folded position in which each of them makes a substantially right angle relative to the wall of compression thus ensuring the maintenance of the products against the support table during the compression phase, and a deployed position in which each of them extends the compression wall with a view to guiding the compressed stack during its transfer.

In their folded position, the pivoting flaps hold the stack flat against the support table and, in their deployed position, they form two parallel walls which guide the compressed stack to the opening for introducing the chamber receptor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the two side walls of the receiving chamber is movable under the control of an actuating member.

Advantageously, a single side wall is movable and is adjustable in position relative to the other wall, to ensure the adjustment of the mutual spacing of the two side walls and to ensure their spacing for the release of the compressed stack a once packed.

Alternatively, provision may be made for the two side walls to be movable and adjustable to perform the two aforementioned functions.

One can thus, on the one hand, perfectly calibrate the chamber and, on the other hand, release the packed compressed battery.

Advantageously, the bottom wall of the receiving chamber is also adjustable in position.

The receiving chamber can thus adapt to the transverse dimension of the products to be treated.

Advantageously, the device comprises translation means for moving the receiving chamber between a receiving position located close to the pressing means to ensure reception of the compressed stack and its packaging, and an evacuation position located at a distance from the pressing means for ensuring the deposition of the compressed compressed stack on an evacuation member.

The film is advantageously formed of two sections joined together which take place from two reels located on either side of the receiving chamber, and whose axes are perpendicular to the stacking direction.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sealing means comprise two sealing bars capable of being brought closer to one another to join the two sections of film by forming two spaced seals, one ensuring the closing of the film stretched around the compressed stack to be packaged and the other ensuring the conformation of a new film ready to receive a new stack, as well as cutting means for cutting the film between the two seals.

Within the meaning of the invention, the term "film" should be understood broadly as designating a flexible sheet of packaging material such as for example a plastic film, for example polyethylene, a sheet of paper, for example kraft paper, etc.

The film can be formed from a sheet of width adapted to that of the stack or from several sheets or strips of narrower width.

In this regard, it is conceivable to use several narrow links, such as plastic strips.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique de côté d'un dispositif selon l'invention dans une première position d'utilisation;
• les figures 2A et 2B montrent une pile de produits, formés chacun d'un rouleau, respectivement avant et après compression et emballage;
• les figures 3A et 3B sont des vues analogues à celles des figures 2A et 2B dans le cas où les produits sont formés chacun de plusieurs panneaux empilés;
• la figure 4 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1, mais à échelle réduite; et
• les figures 5 à 11 sont des vues analogues à celle de la figure 4 représentant le dispositif dans d'autres positions successives de fonctionnement.

In the description which follows, given by way of example, reference is made to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to the invention in a first position of use;
• FIGS. 2A and 2B show a stack of products, each formed from a roll, respectively before and after compression and packaging;
• FIGS. 3A and 3B are views similar to those of FIGS. 2A and 2B in the case where the products are each formed from several stacked panels;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but on a reduced scale; and
• Figures 5 to 11 are views similar to that of Figure 4 showing the device in other successive operating positions.

The device represented in FIG. 1 comprises a horizontal support table 10 formed of two fixed lateral plates 12 framing a movable central plate 14. The latter is vertically movable under the action of an actuating cylinder 16.

The support table 10 is suitable for receiving a stack of compressible products, in the example four products P arranged to form a stack having a horizontal stacking direction DE (FIGS. 1 and 2A).

The support table 10 is advantageously provided with an adjustable stop (not shown) extending parallel to the stacking direction DE in order to ensure correct longitudinal positioning of the products on said table.

In the example considered, each of the products P is a roll consisting of a sheet of compressed insulating felt, in particular of glass wool, each roll being provided individually with a sheath or primary envelope G (FIG. 2A).

Above the support tables 10 are provided pressing means which comprise two opposite compression walls 18 arranged vertically, respectively above the two lateral plates 12. The two walls 18 are respectively connected to two actuating cylinders 20 whose lines of action are aligned.

The rods of the jacks can move between a retracted position in which the spacing between the two walls 18 is maximum and a deployed position in which this spacing is minimal.

At the start, the two rods are retracted to receive the uncompressed stack and the rods are then deployed by a determined value to compress the stack, in the stacking direction DE, and give it a selected compressed dimension DC (FIG. 2B) .

Each of the two compression walls 18 is associated with an articulated flap 22 capable of pivoting between a folded position (FIG. 1) in which each of them forms a substantially right angle relative to the corresponding wall 18 and ensures the maintenance of the products during the compression phase, and a deployed position in which each flap extends the corresponding compression wall for guiding the compressed stack (Figures 6 to 8).

The device further comprises a receiving chamber 24 situated above the central plate 14 of the support table and delimiting an opening 26 directed downwards for the introduction of the compressed stack displaced by the central plate 14 actuated by the jack 16 .

The chamber 24 is delimited by a bottom wall 28 opposite the opening 26 and connected to an adjustment cylinder 30. It is further limited by two opposite side walls 32, one of which is connected to a adjustment cylinder 34, which makes it possible to adapt the spacing E of the walls 32 as a function of the compressed dimension of the stack to be received.

The device of Figure 1 further comprises two reels 36 and 38 located on either side of the chamber 24, whose axes are perpendicular to the stacking direction DE, and from which take two sections of film d 'packaging F, sealed together at a joint J' which is located substantially in the middle of the opening 26. The two sections of film F are arranged between the opening 26 and the pressing means.

To join the two sections and form the joint J 'are provided two sealing bars 40 arranged parallel to each other and capable of being brought closer to one another to form the joint J' or of being then separated one on the other in the position shown in Figure 1.

In the example, the two sections F are plastic films, for example polyethylene, and the bars 40 are intended to join the two sections by a heat-sealed joint.

The device also comprises translation means 42 capable of moving the receiving chamber 24 between a receiving or admission position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 1) and a discharge position (shown in broken lines in the figure). 1).

In this latter position, the receiving chamber 24 is located above a discharge member 44 comprising a horizontal plate 46 movable vertically under the action of a jack 48 or any other actuating means.

The operating principle of the device will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 to 11.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the four products P are arranged on the support table 10, the compression walls 18 being spaced apart and the flaps 22 being in the folded position.

In this starting position, the dimensions of the receiving chamber 24 are fixed once and for all by adjusting the position of the jacks 30 and 34.

The film, formed by the union of the two sections F, is stretched in front of the opening of the receiving chamber 24.

During a subsequent phase (FIG. 5), the rods of the jacks 20 are deployed by a determined value in order to bring the compression walls 18 closer together and thus form a compressed stack which has a compressed dimension DC of chosen value, in the direction of stacking. The products thus compressed then rest only on the central plate 14 of the support table 10.

During the next phase (FIG. 6), the two flaps 22 are pivoted to bring them into a deployed position in which each flap is practically aligned with a compression wall 18 and with a side wall 32.

In a subsequent operation (FIG. 7), the actuator 16 is deployed to move the support plate 14 and the compressed stack vertically upwards and at the same time drive the packaging film F. The stack is moved in an insertion direction DI which is perpendicular to its stacking direction DE.

During this transfer movement, the flaps 22 guide the stack of products which moves parallel to itself.

At the end of stroke of the jack 16, the stack of products, still maintained at its compressed dimension, reaches the bottom of the receiving chamber 24 (FIG. 8). The compressed pile is thus surrounded by the film, along one side C1 (bottom wall 28), and two lateral sides C2, C3 (side walls 32), as shown in FIG. 2B.

The jack 16 is then retracted to return the central plate 14 to the starting position, while the flaps 22 are actuated and folded back to their starting position (FIG. 9).

Simultaneously, the two sealing bars 40 (which until now had remained apart) are brought together to ensure the formation of a joint J along a fourth side C4 of the stack, as shown in Figure 2B. The two sections of film F are thus joined by two seals J 'and J located respectively on the side C1 and on the side C4 of the stack.

The sealing bars 40 each form two seals close to each other, one (J) ensuring the closure of the package and the other (J ') ensuring the joining of the two sections of film F for the formation of a new continuous packaging film.

The bars also include means (not shown) for cutting the film between the two seals, and this in a manner known per se.

During the next phase (FIG. 10), the translation means 42 are actuated to move the receiving chamber 24 (which takes with it the packed compressed battery) to the evacuation position above the evacuation member 44 At this stage, the jack 34 is retracted, which makes it possible to separate one of the two side walls 32 and to automatically release the packaged stack which is received on the plate 46. During this phase, the jacks 20 are retracted to separate the compression walls 18 from one another.

In a later phase (FIG. 11), the jack 48 is retracted to lower the plate 44 and transfer the packed stack to a conveyor belt for example.

We now refer again to FIG. 2A which shows the four products P (in the example each formed of a roll) arranged in an uncompressed stack. After compression and packaging, the compressed stack has a compressed dimension DC as shown in Figure 2B, which caused ovalization of the rollers.

We see that the film is formed of two sections F joined along the joint J 'at the upper side C1 and along the joint J at the lower side C4.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the four products P are each formed from a multiplicity of rectangular sheets of insulating felt Q provided with an individual sheath G. The compression and packaging process is the same as in the cases where the products are rolls.

The pile is then compressed in the stacking direction DE to form a compressed pile having a compressed dimension DE (FIG. 3B), from which there results a compression of each felt plate Q according to its thickness.

It will be understood that the device of the invention makes it possible to exactly calibrate the compressed dimension of the stack and to stretch a film around the compressed stack which thus keeps its chosen compressed dimension. In addition, the device can be easily adapted to products of different dimensions.

In all cases, a stack of products is obtained, compressed and packaged, which is perfectly calibrated and has a reduced bulk with a minimum loss of space, which then facilitates the transport and storage of the stack.

Claims (10)

1. Device for compressing and wrapping a stack of compressible products, characterised in that it comprises:

   - pressing means (18, 20) disposed above a horizontal support table (10) and able to compress the stack of products (P) in a horizontal stacking direction (DE) in order to give it a compressed dimension (DC) of a chosen value;

   - a receiving chamber (24) disposed above the horizontal support table (10), able to receive the compressed stack of products and having an opening (26) turned downwards for introducing the compressed stack in an introduction direction (DI) perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE), and a base wall (28) opposite the opening and two side walls (32) forming between them a space (e) substantially equal to the compressed dimension (DC) of the stack;

   - means (36, 38) for disposing at least one wrapping film (F) across the opening (26) of the receiving chamber (24);

   - transfer means (14, 16) for introducing the compressed stack into the receiving chamber (24) so that the compressed stack brings with it the film (F) which covers the stack on three sides (C1, C2, C3), leaving two lengths of film projecting from the receiving chamber (24);

   - guide means (22) for keeping the stack compressed at its compressed dimension (DC) during its transfer to the receiving chamber (24); and

   - sealing means (40) for joining the two lengths of film (F) in a tensioned fashion along a fourth side (C4) of the stack which extends parallel to the direction of stacking (DE).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the pressing means comprise two opposite compression walls (18), at least one of which is movable, and actuating means (20) for moving them closer together or further apart from each other.
3. Device according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the support table (10) comprises a central plate (14) which is movable vertically and able to introduce the compressed stack into the receiving chamber (24).
4. Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the guide means comprise two pivoting flaps (22) articulated respectively on the two compression walls (18) and movable between a folded down position in which each of them forms substantially a right angle with respect to the compression wall (18), thus holding the products against the support table during the compression phase, and a folded out position in which each of them extends the compression wall (18) for the purpose of guiding the compressed stack during its transfer.
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at least one of the two side walls (32) of the receiving chamber (24) is movable under the control of an actuating component (34).
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterised in that a single side wall (32) is movable and is adjustable in position with respect to the other wall in order to adjust the mutual spacing (E) of the two walls and to move them apart for the purpose of releasing the compressed stack once wrapped.
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the base wall (28) of the receiving chamber (24) is adjustable in position.
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises translation means (42) for moving the receiving chamber (24) between a receiving position situated close to the pressing means (18) in order to receive the compressed stack and wrap it, and a discharge position situated at a distance from the pressing means (18) in order to deposit the wrapped compressed stack on a discharge member (46).
9. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the film (F) is formed by two lengths joined together which are unwound from two reels (36, 38) situated on each side of the receiving chamber (24), and whose axes are perpendicular to the stacking direction.
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the sealing means comprise two sealing bars (40) able to be brought closer to each other in order to join the two lengths of film (F), forming two spaced-apart joins, one (J) closing the tensioned film around the compressed stack to be wrapped and compressed, and the other (J') forming a new wrapping film ready to receive a new stack, and cutting means for cutting the film between the two joins (J, J').

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