EP0792803B1 - Method and machine for overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material - Google Patents
Method and machine for overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0792803B1 EP0792803B1 EP97103135A EP97103135A EP0792803B1 EP 0792803 B1 EP0792803 B1 EP 0792803B1 EP 97103135 A EP97103135 A EP 97103135A EP 97103135 A EP97103135 A EP 97103135A EP 0792803 B1 EP0792803 B1 EP 0792803B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- machine
- along
- sheets
- intermediate portion
- 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 - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 9
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 title claims description 9
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 27
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims 5
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000009999 singeing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920006352 transparent thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000009347 mechanical transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019505 tobacco product Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- B65B11/28—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
- B65B11/30—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
- B65B11/32—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method of overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material.
- the present invention is particularly advantageous for use in the tobacco industry, and in particular on machines for cellophaning tobacco products, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- a succession of products either packets or cartons, and a corresponding succession of sheets of transparent thermoplastic wrapping material, normally polypropylene, are fed to a wrapping wheel on which each sheet is wrapped about the respective product to form a wrapping, at least part of which is defined by superimposed portions of the respective sheet; and the wrapping so formed is then stabilized by heat-sealing the superimposed portions.
- transparent thermoplastic wrapping material normally polypropylene
- the heat-sealing step to stabilize the wrapping which is normally performed by bringing high-temperature heat-sealing devices into contact for a given length of time with the superimposed portions of the sheet, presents major drawbacks, mainly due to the conflicting requirements the heat-sealing devices are expected to meet. That is, to ensure perfect heat-sealing at the maximum operating speed of the cellophaning machine, the temperature of the heat-sealing devices must be kept as high as possible, preferably just below the melting point of the thermoplastic material, to heat-seal the sheet as quickly as possible.
- the heat-sealing devices are set to a temperature just above the softening point of the sheet material, and are fed, together with the products and respective wrappings, along a relatively long path, the length of which is such as to ensure good-quality sealing even at maximum operating speed, while at the same time stabilizing the wrappings with no risk of singeing or ruining the sheets, due to the relatively low temperature of the heat-sealing devices, in the event the output speed of the machine is reduced.
- GB901139 discloses an apparatus for welding package closure parts of thermoplastic films or foils, in which the packages to be closed are conveyed by a pair of belts past heating elements and, optionally, subsequently past cooling elements in the apparatus, with these belts running between the parts of the packages which are to be welded and the heating elements and, if used, the cooling elements, and in which a further locating means including a die is arranged after each of said heating elements in the direction of travel of the packages, the pressing surface of this die having a contour shape to correspond with that part of each package closure which is made up of more than one layer of film or foil.
- the heating elements are preferably in the form of rotary cylinders, with the pressing surfaces embossed thereon. If the apparatus is designed for intermittent operation, the dies will preferably be movable in timed fashion backwards and forwards transverse to the direction of conveyance and each have a flat face, the pressing surfaces thereof being likewise embossed thereon.
- the apparatus disclosed by GB901139 partially solves the aforementioned drawbacks; however, it does not ensure perfect heat-sealing at the maximum operating speed of the cellophaning machine and also at a low operating speed of the cellophaning machine.
- the above method provides for extremely rapid heat-sealing, even with the heat-sealing devices at a relatively low temperature, as well as for eliminating any drawbacks (adhesion of the wrappings to the -respective conveyors, tearing of the sheets of overwrapping material, etc.) caused by premature softening of the sheets of overwrapping material.
- the present invention also relates to a machine for overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material.
- Number 1 in the accompanying drawings indicates a cellophaning machine for overwrapping packets 2 - in the example shown, packets of cigarettes - with sheets 3 of transparent thermoplastic material, preferably polypropylene.
- Machine 1 presents an output portion 4 comprising a substantially cylindrical wrapping wheel 5, which in turn presents a number of axial peripheral conveying pockets 6 open both radially outwards and at both axial ends, and a powered shaft 7 for rotating wheel 5 in steps clockwise in Figure 1.
- each pocket 6 When arrested at a loading station 8, each pocket 6 simultaneously receives a respective sheet 3 of transparent wrapping material supplied by known supply means (not shown), and a packet 2 supplied by known supply means (not shown) which, in known manner, insert the packet 2 and respective sheet 3 into pocket 6 so as to fold sheet 3 in a U about packet 2.
- Each pocket 6 feeds respective packet 2 and respective wrapping 10, which form a group indicated as a whole by 11, through at least one heat-sealing station 12 (in the example shown, stations 12 are two in number) where each group 11 is arrested to enable a respective known outer axial heat-sealing device 13 to be brought into contact with and completely heat-seal the superimposed ends of wrapping 10 before group 11 reaches an unloading station 14.
- Wrapping wheel 5 comprises two parallel, coaxial disks 15 (only one shown) fitted a given distance apart to shaft 7, and each presenting a number of peripheral cavities, each of which, together with a corresponding cavity on the other disk 15, defines a respective pocket 6.
- portion 4 also comprises a conveyor assembly 16 in turn comprising an initial or input conveyor 17, an intermediate conveyor 18, and a final or output conveyor 19.
- Conveyor 17 comprises a belt 20 looped about two pulleys 21 and 22, the first of which is mounted in a fixed position between disks 15 of wheel 5, and the second of which is a powered pulley rotating continuously clockwise (in Figure 1) about an axis 23 parallel to shaft 7, to feed the conveying branch 24 of belt 20 through station 14 and in a direction 25 substantially radial in relation to disks 15 and directed outwards in relation to wheel 5.
- Conveyor 17 also comprises a plate 26 facing the portion of branch 24 extending outside wheel 5 to define, with branch 24, a channel 27 of a height approximately equal to but no smaller than the thickness of groups 11, and defined laterally by known fixed helical folding devices 28 for folding the opposite ends of tubular wrappings 10 on to the respective ends of respective packets 2 as groups 11 travel along channel 27, and so forming closed wrappings 29.
- Belt 20 presents a number of projections 20a equally spaced along belt 20 with a spacing greater than the width of groups 11, and forms, for groups 11, a non-reciprocating extracting device capable of operating at relatively high speed.
- Conveyor 19 comprises a drum 30 fitted to a powered shaft 31 so as to rotate clockwise (in Figure 1) about an axis 32 parallel to axis 23, and presenting a central annular groove 33 along which are equally spaced a number of known seats 34, which rotate with drum 30 along a circular path P coaxial with axis 32, and each provide for receiving and retaining a respective group 11.
- Groove 33 presents a width approximately equal to but no smaller than the length of a wrapping 29, and defines, on drum 30, two lateral disks 35, each of which is fitted, at each seat 34, with a heat-sealing element 36.
- Each seat 34 therefore presents two heat-sealing elements 36 facing each other and each facing, in use, a respective longitudinal end of a respective wrapping 29.
- each group 11 Throughout its travel along the periphery of drum 30, each group 11 is kept contacting the respective pair of heat-sealing elements 36, which are normally pushed towards each other by respective known actuating devices (not shown) to heat-seal the ends of respective wrapping 29.
- Groups 11 are transferred from conveyor 17 to conveyor 19 by intermediate conveyor 18, which comprises an elongated plate 39 parallel to direction 25, coplanar with branch 24 of belt 20 and tangent to path P of seats 34; and a belt 40 looped about two pulleys 41 parallel to axis 23 and one of which is powered.
- Belt 40 presents a conveying branch 42 parallel to and facing plate 39 to define, with plate 39, a channel 43 coaxial with channel 27; and a number of projections 44 equally spaced along belt 40 with a spacing greater than the width of groups 11.
- each of which is looped about two pulleys 46 - one of which is powered - with respective axes perpendicular to axis 23, and comprises a branch 47 extending, parallel to direction 25, between plate 39 and branch 42 of belt 40.
- the surface of each branch 47 opposite to that facing branch 47 of the other belt 45 is connected in sliding manner to a respective heating plate 48 integral with the end of a linear actuator 49 for moving plate 48 towards the other plate 48 and controlling the width of channel 43 as a function of the speed of machine 1.
- plates 48 define an adjustable preheating unit 50 for heating the folded ends of wrappings 29 to a temperature below the softening temperature of the material of sheets 3.
- conveyors 17, 18 and 19 are replaced by a single conveyor presenting a single belt looped about pulley 21 and drum 30, and presenting a conveying branch extending along channels 27 and 43 and partly about drum 30 along path P.
- preheating unit 50 provides for maintaining heat-sealing elements 36 at just above the softening temperature for a relatively short period of time to heat-seal and stabilize the folded ends of wrappings 10. This therefore provides not only for substantially eliminating the possibility of sheets 3 melting and/or being singed, but also for minimizing the length of the portion of the path of products 2 affected by heat-sealing elements 36, and so reducing the overall size of machine 1.
- preheating sheets 3 to a temperature of 100°C provides for reducing the normal heat-sealing time to roughly one fifth of that required with no preheating. Moreover, preheating to below the softening temperature of the material of sheets 3 prevents part of the material of sheets 3 from adhering to and so fouling belts 45.
Description
- The present invention relates to a method of overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material.
- The present invention is particularly advantageous for use in the tobacco industry, and in particular on machines for cellophaning tobacco products, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- On cellophaning machines, a succession of products, either packets or cartons, and a corresponding succession of sheets of transparent thermoplastic wrapping material, normally polypropylene, are fed to a wrapping wheel on which each sheet is wrapped about the respective product to form a wrapping, at least part of which is defined by superimposed portions of the respective sheet; and the wrapping so formed is then stabilized by heat-sealing the superimposed portions.
- On known cellophaning machines, the heat-sealing step to stabilize the wrapping, which is normally performed by bringing high-temperature heat-sealing devices into contact for a given length of time with the superimposed portions of the sheet, presents major drawbacks, mainly due to the conflicting requirements the heat-sealing devices are expected to meet. That is, to ensure perfect heat-sealing at the maximum operating speed of the cellophaning machine, the temperature of the heat-sealing devices must be kept as high as possible, preferably just below the melting point of the thermoplastic material, to heat-seal the sheet as quickly as possible. Conversely, when the machine is operated for any reason at a slower speed, in which case, the heat-sealing devices are kept contacting the sheet for a longer period of time, a temperature just above the softening point of the material would be more suitable to prevent singeing or curling of the sheet.
- On certain known cellophaning machines, the heat-sealing devices are set to a temperature just above the softening point of the sheet material, and are fed, together with the products and respective wrappings, along a relatively long path, the length of which is such as to ensure good-quality sealing even at maximum operating speed, while at the same time stabilizing the wrappings with no risk of singeing or ruining the sheets, due to the relatively low temperature of the heat-sealing devices, in the event the output speed of the machine is reduced.
- The above solution, however, presents further drawbacks of its own by requiring the use of large-size conveyors, thus resulting in an increase in the overall size of the machine and in mechanical transmission problems.
- GB901139 discloses an apparatus for welding package closure parts of thermoplastic films or foils, in which the packages to be closed are conveyed by a pair of belts past heating elements and, optionally, subsequently past cooling elements in the apparatus, with these belts running between the parts of the packages which are to be welded and the heating elements and, if used, the cooling elements, and in which a further locating means including a die is arranged after each of said heating elements in the direction of travel of the packages, the pressing surface of this die having a contour shape to correspond with that part of each package closure which is made up of more than one layer of film or foil. It is thus possible to merely set the heating elements to such a controlled temperature that heat is transferred to the closure parts of the packages in amounts such that closures of thinner cross section do not melt and closures of thicker cross sections are pre-heated and then welded and heat sealed by the application of additional heat and pressure from the associated heated pressing plungers. If the packages are to be continuously conveyed, the heated dies are preferably in the form of rotary cylinders, with the pressing surfaces embossed thereon. If the apparatus is designed for intermittent operation, the dies will preferably be movable in timed fashion backwards and forwards transverse to the direction of conveyance and each have a flat face, the pressing surfaces thereof being likewise embossed thereon.
- The apparatus disclosed by GB901139 partially solves the aforementioned drawbacks; however, it does not ensure perfect heat-sealing at the maximum operating speed of the cellophaning machine and also at a low operating speed of the cellophaning machine.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of overwrapping products, designed to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a method of overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material as recited by
Claim 1. - By enabling the wrappings to be supplied to the heat-sealing devices at a temperature very close to, but still below, the softening temperature, the above method provides for extremely rapid heat-sealing, even with the heat-sealing devices at a relatively low temperature, as well as for eliminating any drawbacks (adhesion of the wrappings to the -respective conveyors, tearing of the sheets of overwrapping material, etc.) caused by premature softening of the sheets of overwrapping material.
- The present invention also relates to a machine for overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a machine for overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material as recited by
Claim 4. - A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a schematic side view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 shows a plan view of the Figure 1 machine.
-
-
Number 1 in the accompanying drawings indicates a cellophaning machine for overwrapping packets 2 - in the example shown, packets of cigarettes - with sheets 3 of transparent thermoplastic material, preferably polypropylene. -
Machine 1 presents anoutput portion 4 comprising a substantiallycylindrical wrapping wheel 5, which in turn presents a number of axialperipheral conveying pockets 6 open both radially outwards and at both axial ends, and a powered shaft 7 for rotatingwheel 5 in steps clockwise in Figure 1. - When arrested at a loading station 8, each
pocket 6 simultaneously receives a respective sheet 3 of transparent wrapping material supplied by known supply means (not shown), and apacket 2 supplied by known supply means (not shown) which, in known manner, insert thepacket 2 and respective sheet 3 intopocket 6 so as to fold sheet 3 in a U aboutpacket 2. - During the stop at loading station 8 and in the course of the next step forwards of station 8, the ends of the U-folded sheets 3 are engaged and folded one on top of the other by known movable and fixed
folding devices respective pocket 6. - Each
pocket 6 feedsrespective packet 2 and respective wrapping 10, which form a group indicated as a whole by 11, through at least one heat-sealing station 12 (in the example shown, stations 12 are two in number) where eachgroup 11 is arrested to enable a respective known outer axial heat-sealing device 13 to be brought into contact with and completely heat-seal the superimposed ends of wrapping 10 beforegroup 11 reaches anunloading station 14. -
Wrapping wheel 5 comprises two parallel, coaxial disks 15 (only one shown) fitted a given distance apart to shaft 7, and each presenting a number of peripheral cavities, each of which, together with a corresponding cavity on theother disk 15, defines arespective pocket 6. - In addition to
wheel 5,portion 4 also comprises aconveyor assembly 16 in turn comprising an initial or input conveyor 17, anintermediate conveyor 18, and a final oroutput conveyor 19. - Conveyor 17 comprises a
belt 20 looped about twopulleys disks 15 ofwheel 5, and the second of which is a powered pulley rotating continuously clockwise (in Figure 1) about anaxis 23 parallel to shaft 7, to feed the conveyingbranch 24 ofbelt 20 throughstation 14 and in adirection 25 substantially radial in relation todisks 15 and directed outwards in relation towheel 5. Conveyor 17 also comprises aplate 26 facing the portion ofbranch 24 extending outsidewheel 5 to define, withbranch 24, achannel 27 of a height approximately equal to but no smaller than the thickness ofgroups 11, and defined laterally by known fixedhelical folding devices 28 for folding the opposite ends of tubular wrappings 10 on to the respective ends ofrespective packets 2 asgroups 11 travel alongchannel 27, and so forming closedwrappings 29. -
Belt 20 presents a number ofprojections 20a equally spaced alongbelt 20 with a spacing greater than the width ofgroups 11, and forms, forgroups 11, a non-reciprocating extracting device capable of operating at relatively high speed. -
Conveyor 19 comprises adrum 30 fitted to a poweredshaft 31 so as to rotate clockwise (in Figure 1) about anaxis 32 parallel toaxis 23, and presenting a centralannular groove 33 along which are equally spaced a number of knownseats 34, which rotate withdrum 30 along a circular path P coaxial withaxis 32, and each provide for receiving and retaining arespective group 11. Groove 33 presents a width approximately equal to but no smaller than the length of awrapping 29, and defines, ondrum 30, twolateral disks 35, each of which is fitted, at eachseat 34, with a heat-sealing element 36. Eachseat 34 therefore presents two heat-sealing elements 36 facing each other and each facing, in use, a respective longitudinal end of arespective wrapping 29. - In actual use, as
drum 30 rotates,groups 11, generally retained insiderespective seats 34 by suction, are fed to anunloading station 37 where they are transferred on to anoutput wheel 38. - Throughout its travel along the periphery of
drum 30, eachgroup 11 is kept contacting the respective pair of heat-sealing elements 36, which are normally pushed towards each other by respective known actuating devices (not shown) to heat-seal the ends of respective wrapping 29. -
Groups 11 are transferred from conveyor 17 toconveyor 19 byintermediate conveyor 18, which comprises anelongated plate 39 parallel todirection 25, coplanar withbranch 24 ofbelt 20 and tangent to path P ofseats 34; and abelt 40 looped about twopulleys 41 parallel toaxis 23 and one of which is powered.Belt 40 presents a conveyingbranch 42 parallel to and facingplate 39 to define, withplate 39, achannel 43 coaxial withchannel 27; and a number ofprojections 44 equally spaced alongbelt 40 with a spacing greater than the width ofgroups 11. - As shown in Figure 2, the opposite lateral ends of
channel 43 are closed by twobelts 45, each of which is looped about two pulleys 46 - one of which is powered - with respective axes perpendicular toaxis 23, and comprises abranch 47 extending, parallel todirection 25, betweenplate 39 andbranch 42 ofbelt 40. The surface of eachbranch 47 opposite to that facingbranch 47 of theother belt 45 is connected in sliding manner to arespective heating plate 48 integral with the end of alinear actuator 49 for movingplate 48 towards theother plate 48 and controlling the width ofchannel 43 as a function of the speed ofmachine 1. - Together with
respective actuators 49 andrespective belts 45,plates 48 define anadjustable preheating unit 50 for heating the folded ends ofwrappings 29 to a temperature below the softening temperature of the material of sheets 3. - According to a variation not shown,
conveyors pulley 21 anddrum 30, and presenting a conveying branch extending alongchannels drum 30 along path P. - Operation of
output portion 4 ofmachine 1 is clearly understandable from the drawings and the above description with no further explanation required. - It should be stressed, however, that, even when
machine 1 is operated at maximum speed, preheatingunit 50 provides for maintaining heat-sealing elements 36 at just above the softening temperature for a relatively short period of time to heat-seal and stabilize the folded ends of wrappings 10. This therefore provides not only for substantially eliminating the possibility of sheets 3 melting and/or being singed, but also for minimizing the length of the portion of the path ofproducts 2 affected by heat-sealing elements 36, and so reducing the overall size ofmachine 1. In this connection, it should be pointed out that, if heat-sealing elements 36 are set to operate at 150°C, preheating sheets 3 to a temperature of 100°C provides for reducing the normal heat-sealing time to roughly one fifth of that required with no preheating. Moreover, preheating to below the softening temperature of the material of sheets 3 prevents part of the material of sheets 3 from adhering to and so foulingbelts 45.
Claims (11)
- A method of overwrapping products (2) in sheets (3) of thermoplastic material, the method comprising the steps of feeding a product (2) continuously along a given path together with a respective sheet (3) of overwrapping material; imparting to the sheet (3) a folded configuration about the product (2) along an initial portion (17) of said path; preheating, along an intermediate portion (18) of said path, at least part of the sheet (3) to a temperature close to the softening temperature of said material; and stabilizing, by means of heat-sealing, the sheet (3) in the folded configuration along a final portion (19) of said path; characterized in that said preheating step comprises a substep of regulating the amount of heat transmitted during preheating to said sheets (3) as a function of a traveling speed of the sheets (3) and respective products (2) along the intermediate portion (18) of said path.
- A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least part of the sheet (3) is preheated by means of heating means (50) comprising two heating plates (48) located along and on either side of said intermediate portion (18) and cooperating with respective said ends of the tubular wrappings (10); the amount of heat transmitted during preheating to said sheets (3) is regulated by adjusting a distance between the heating plates (48)
- A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said folded configuration is imparted to each sheet (3) by folding the sheet (3) about a respective product (2) to form a tubular wrapping (10) presenting open opposite ends, and by further folding the sheet (3) to close said ends; the sheet (3) being preheated and then heat-sealed at said ends.
- A machine for overwrapping products in sheets (3) of thermoplastic material, the machine comprising conveying means (17, 18, 19) having an initial portion (17), an intermediate portion (18) and a final portion (19) and being designed for continuously feeding a product (2) along a given path together with a respective sheet (3) of overwrapping material; folding means (9a, 9b, 28) for imparting to the sheet (3) a folded configuration about the product (2); heating means (50) provided along said intermediate portion (18) to preheat at least part of the sheet (3) to a temperature close to the softening temperature of said material; and heat-sealing means (36) located at said final portion (19) and for stabilizing the sheet (3) in the folded configuration; characterized in that said heating means (50) also comprise regulating means (49) for regulating the amount of heat transmitted during preheating to said sheets (3) as a function of a traveling speed of the sheets (3) and respective products (2) along the intermediate portion (18) of said path.
- A machine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the heating means (50) comprise two heating plates (48) located along and on either side of said intermediate portion (18) and cooperating with respective said ends of the tubular wrappings (10); said regulating means (49) comprise actuating means (49) connected to said heating plates (48) to adjust a distance between the heating plates (48) as a function of a traveling speed of said intermediate portion (18).
- A machine as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein said folding means (9a, 9b, 28) comprise first folding devices (9a, 9b) for folding each sheet (3) about a respective product (2) to form a tubular wrapping (10) presenting open opposite ends; and a second folding device (28) for further folding the sheet (3) to close said ends; said heating means (50) operating on said ends.
- A machine as claimed in Claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein said heating means (50) also comprise two continuously-moving belts (45) interposed between said heating plates (48) to laterally define a channel (43) for feeding the products (2) along said intermediate portion (18).
- A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims from 4 to 7, wherein said initial portion is defined at least partly by a straight, continuously-moving first conveyor (17); said second folding device being located along said continuously-moving first conveyor (17).
- A machine as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said intermediate portion (18) is defined by a straight, continuously-moving second conveyor.
- A machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 4 to 9, wherein said final portion (19) is defined by a conveyor drum (30) movable continuously about its axis (32); said conveyor drum (30) being tangent to said intermediate portion (18).
- A machine as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said drum (30) comprises a number of seats (34), each for receiving a respective product (2); said heat-sealing means (36) comprising two heat-sealing elements (36) for and movable with each said seat (34).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT96BO000090A IT1285569B1 (en) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-02-28 | METHOD AND MACHINE FOR OVERWRAPPING PRODUCTS WITH SHEETS OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL |
ITBO960090 | 1996-02-28 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0792803A1 EP0792803A1 (en) | 1997-09-03 |
EP0792803B1 true EP0792803B1 (en) | 2003-05-21 |
Family
ID=11341148
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP97103135A Expired - Lifetime EP0792803B1 (en) | 1996-02-28 | 1997-02-26 | Method and machine for overwrapping products in sheets of thermoplastic material |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0792803B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3739514B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1083376C (en) |
DE (1) | DE69722056T2 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1285569B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IT1310493B1 (en) | 1999-09-27 | 2002-02-18 | Gd Spa | AUTOMATIC MACHINE PROVIDED WITH AN OPERATING WHEEL WITH WIRELESS CONTROL. |
US20060130433A1 (en) * | 2004-12-22 | 2006-06-22 | Philip Morris Usa Inc. | Multi-stage heater plates for sealing and shrinking overwrap |
ITBO20080076A1 (en) * | 2008-02-06 | 2009-08-07 | Gd Spa | MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING PRODUCTS IN ENCLOSED MATERIALS. |
DE102022105780A1 (en) | 2022-03-11 | 2023-09-14 | Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Device for sealing and/or shrinking outer wrappings of packages |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1130351B (en) * | 1959-12-16 | 1962-05-24 | Hesser Ag Maschf | Device for welding the sealing folds of thermoplastic packaging |
GB1134500A (en) * | 1965-05-20 | 1968-11-27 | Heinz Hermann Focke | Improvements in or relating to packaging machines |
US4362593A (en) * | 1980-11-17 | 1982-12-07 | Nordson Corporation | Walking-beam band sealer |
-
1996
- 1996-02-28 IT IT96BO000090A patent/IT1285569B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1997
- 1997-02-26 EP EP97103135A patent/EP0792803B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-02-26 DE DE69722056T patent/DE69722056T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-02-26 JP JP04264797A patent/JP3739514B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-02-28 CN CN97109966A patent/CN1083376C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPH09323709A (en) | 1997-12-16 |
IT1285569B1 (en) | 1998-06-18 |
CN1083376C (en) | 2002-04-24 |
ITBO960090A1 (en) | 1997-08-28 |
EP0792803A1 (en) | 1997-09-03 |
JP3739514B2 (en) | 2006-01-25 |
CN1168849A (en) | 1997-12-31 |
DE69722056D1 (en) | 2003-06-26 |
ITBO960090A0 (en) | 1996-02-28 |
DE69722056T2 (en) | 2004-01-29 |
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