EP0816229B1 - Method and folding device for packaging small objects in a package provided with gathered ends - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for packaging small pieces Item in a pack with wing knots at the one Piece of packaging material partially laid around an article to be packed is, with one leg of the Packing piece protrudes beyond the article, and then one of the legs is folded.

Furthermore, the invention relates to an impact device for Pack to carry out the procedure.

A packaging process in which the legs are placed together of the piece of packaging material form a fin, which is folded over and against the packaging is pressed is known from GB-A-684252. However, no wing knots are obtained here.

A method and a wrapping device of the aforementioned Art is known for packaging caramels or confectionery (US-A-19 55 493). The article to be packaged first folded about half with a piece of packaging material in a U-shape. Then those that go beyond the article Legs (of the U-shape) hammered in one after the other, whereby the two legs overlap. After that, the lengthways Ends of the Twisted packaging piece. The twisting is done so that when the twisted ends of the articles are pulled apart is unwrapped. Traditionally, both A wing knot is provided on the sides.

This type of packaging makes the use more twistable Packaging materials ahead that retain their shape after being twisted. However, such packaging materials must have a certain minimum thickness exhibit. A too small thickness affects the Machinability of the packaging material. This minimum thickness is however greater than sufficient strength in the packaged Condition would be necessary. The requirement to be more twistable Packaging materials in the known method thus result in packaging with rotating or double wing knots to an inefficient Material utilization with regard to the required strength in the packaged final condition. This leads to an unnecessarily high one Material consumption and a high cost for that Packing material.

The well-known packaging with double twists could have not previously been made airtight or gas-tight. on the other hand exists especially from the point of view of marketing a great interest in airtight, i.e. aromaproof Packaging with wing knots.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a method and to provide a wrapping device of the type mentioned at the outset, that the manufacture of airtight packaging with wing knots while using thinner Packaging materials, including non-twistable packaging materials with increased Restoring force enabled. The device is also said to Ensure that such packaging is easy to open.

This task is achieved in the method mentioned at the outset solved that this folded leg when folded with a Cross-cold sealing area against a cross-cold sealing area of the other leg comes to rest and on this along the article adheres, and then the other leg with the adherent Part of the first flipped leg in the opposite direction to this is that the other leg against the first folded leg is pressed, forming a gas-tight Connection between the legs, and that the piece of packaging material on both sides of the cross across the article protruding longitudinal cold sealing areas is closed under Forming a gas-tight connection at the wing nodes.

The legs can be pressed against each other at the end of the folding of the second leg but also when you flip the first leg.

In terms of device technology, the aforementioned task by an impact device of the type mentioned Kind solved, in which one leg of the Packing piece also on the other opposite leg the piece of packaging material can be applied and by the outer folder other, opposite legs and one adhering to this Part of the first flipped leg in the opposite direction of the one leg that was first folded over, and one Cutting device with a knife in the peripheral area of the packing head is provided for attaching a target crack on the Piece of packaging material, the inner folder a cutting counter bearing of Knife forms.

With the method mentioned at the beginning, airtightness can now be achieved Packaging with wing knots, preferably with rotating or Double twists, manufactured and at the same time thinner packaging materials are used. The pieces of packaging material used are with cross-cold sealing areas and Longitudinal cold seal areas that have the property stick to each other and a gas or airtight To form a seal. By pressing them together Strength of the connection can be further increased. Preferably is the material of the cold seal areas such that that this after connecting under a further increase the bond hardens.

When the first leg of the piece of packaging material is turned over a cross cold seal area of this leg comes with one Cross cold seal area of the other leg in contact, see above that both cling to each other. Through the subsequent flipping of the second leg simultaneously becomes that on the second Leg-adhering area of the first leg also folded. According to an advantageous development of the invention at the end of the second folding process, the adhering to each other Areas of the two legs pressed against each other, so to increase the connection strength, so that in the transverse direction the piece of packaging material gives a gastight connection.

By providing longitudinal cold sealing areas in the area The twist makes the wing knot gas or airtight Connection established so that a total of a gas or airtight packaging is created, which has a good aroma and Forms barrier protection for the packaged item. hereby it is possible to pack individually packaged items such as groceries Flavors in a larger multipack to wrap.

The cold seal areas are only at the points to be sealed intended. This makes it possible not in the Cold seal areas detected parts of the packaging the thickness of the packaging material especially from the point of view of dimension the required packaging strength, so that now thinner foils than before, i.e. Foils whose thickness is less than or equal to 30 µm.

Since the cold seal areas remain permanent in the sealed state Deformation behavior can now be used as packaging materials also non-twistable films with increased restoring force be used. As a result, a considerable material and cost savings achieved.

The wing knots are preferably used as double twists executed. The tensile forces generated during the screwing-in process act on the folded thighs and strengthen their connection.

The wrapping device according to the invention enables production the airtight packaging with wing knots after the Procedures described above that can be easily opened. The inner folder is the first to be wrapped Thighs not only folded over, but simultaneously with the opposite one Leg connected to which this due the cross cold sealing areas provided on both legs adheres. By then turning the second leg with the adhesive area of the first leg becomes a Sealing achieved in the transverse direction of the piece of packaging material. The Cutting device permitted in conjunction with the inner folder an advantageous, simple design, as a separate Cutting platen is not required. According to an advantageous Further development of the invention is the composite force a compression of the packaging material between the inner folder and the outer folder increased in the end position of the outer folder.

As an alternative to this, the outer folder can also be designed to be stationary are, with the in. to turn the second leg a receiving opening of a transport device Packing with the leg closely past the outer folder becomes. The transport device is preferably a turret educated.

The inner folder preferably reaches the end of the folding process a position of the first leg with respect to the to be packed Article in which its facing the outer moth Leading edge near the intended contact line of the two Thigh comes to the situation. This will result in larger air pockets in the segment between the legs and the article avoided. At the same time, this arrangement of the leading edge leads for a clean folding of the second leg using the Outdoor butterfly.

Through the target tear slot, the Packaging enables because of the cold seal areas Simply unscrew it by pulling on the wing knot is more possible. This has the advantage of packaging is reliably destroyed when opened. This is particularly so from the point of view of consumer protection at the Use of packaging for food desirable because thereby misuse of the packaging through reuse is prevented. Preferably is the target scribe slot in the overlap area Legs arranged between the wing knots so that a user-friendly, easy opening of the packaging results.

Further advantageous developments of the invention are See subclaims.

Fig. 1

den Ablauf eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 2

den Ablauf eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispieles des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 3

ein verwendetes Packstoffstück,

Fig. 4

eine fertige Verpackung mit Flügelknoten,

Fig. 5

ein Beispiel für eine Einschlagvorrichtung, die nach dem Verfahren des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels arbeitet,

Fig. 6

die Einschlagvorrichtung nach Fig. 5 zum Beginn des Umlegens des zweiten Schenkels,

Fig. 7

eine Einschlagvorrichtung, bei der das Verfahren nach dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel eingesetzt werden kann.

The invention will now be described in the following using one of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, which show in the following:

Fig. 1

the sequence of an embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 2

the sequence of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a used piece of packaging material,

Fig. 4

a finished packaging with wing knots,

Fig. 5

an example of a wrapping device that works according to the method of the first embodiment,

Fig. 6

5 at the beginning of folding the second leg,

Fig. 7

a wrapping device in which the method according to the first embodiment can be used.

Before the exemplary embodiments are described below, should briefly on the packaging material and the packaging in Final state. These are shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shown. The piece of packaging material P is a rectangular piece of film, that in single pieces or connected to others is fed to the wrapping device on a roll. each individual piece of packaging material has cross-cold sealing areas on its edges Q and longitudinal cold seal areas L. The Directions are for the direction of unwinding in the wrapping device based. The longitudinal direction corresponds to this the direction of transport of a piece of packaging material, which by the Arrow is indicated in Fig.3. The cold seal areas have the property of adhering to each other when invested to stay and are in the form of a mask on a base sheet applied. The base film consists, for example, of PP film. Because the cold seal mask stiffens the base film leads, as non-twistable base films Foils with increased restoring force can be used.

Fig. 4 shows a finished package with wing knots on the Cross ends, which are made by means of a double turn for one Caramel are made. The wing knots can, however also simply by pressing the longitudinal cold sealing areas in a ring of the packaging piece. The packaging form is not on caramel or food limited, but can be smaller for all types Goods are used.

With reference to Figures 1 and 5 to 7 is now a first embodiment as a packaging method and one Wrapping device that works according to this method.

5 shows a rotatable, drum-shaped packing head 40, on the circumference of which several folding units are arranged. each Folding unit has a pair of holding jaws 30 for holding one Article A with the piece of packaging material already wrapped around it in a U-shape P on.

Furthermore, each folding unit has an outward-facing one Inner butterfly 10 and an outward-facing outer butterfly 20. The inner butterfly and the outer butterfly is as a swivel arm trained, which is pivotally hinged to the folding unit. The movement of the substantially L-shaped swivel arms will depending on the position of the packing head by cams controlled.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the article A with the piece of packaging material wrapped around it in a U-shape is gripped by the holding jaws 30 such that one leg S ₁ of the piece of packaging material protrudes further over the article A than the second leg S _{2 of} the U- Shape. The inner folder 10 is arranged on the side of the longer leg S ₁ .

The facing toward the opposite outer folder 20 of the inner folder 10 comes in the swung-in state after folding the first leg S ₁ into a position in which the front edge extends along an edge region of the article received in between the holding jaws 30, so that it as Folding edge for the subsequent folding of the second leg S ₂ is used. However, the front edge 11 can also end in a different position if, for example, a central folded edge on the packaging is desired. In order to make it easier for the outer folder to project beyond the inner folder 10, the inner folder is tapered in thickness toward its front edge 11. The tapered area 12 also serves as a sliding surface for the outer folder 20 for pressing the legs against one another.

Furthermore, the inner folder 10 is in the region of its front edge 11 with a radially outwardly projecting slotted Provide nose that as a cutting counter bearing 13 for a knife 71 for making a target scribe incision on the Serves thighs.

A cutting device 70 with a knife 71 is in the peripheral region the packing head 40 arranged so that at one Turn the packing head on the nose-shaped cutting counter 13 the knife 71 is passed. When passing by the interconnected legs to form a target crack cut. Basically, however, it is also possible, the target cracks before wrapping on the To provide piece of packaging material.

In Fig. 7 is an overall view of the wrapping device in Principle shown. The delivered via a conveyor Article A are provided by a device 50 for applying a Packing material piece P gripped around an article to be packed and then handed over from this to the packing head 40. In 7, this device 50 is designed as a gripper head, with the pieces of packaging material fed from above to an article A can be placed in order to then be transferred to the packing head 40. When the article A is transferred from the gripper head 50 to the packing head 40, the piece of packaging material is U-shaped around the Article placed. This impact device enables one continuous packaging of the articles. However, it is Invention not limited to continuously operating machines but can also be used for batch workers Machines are used in which the rotating Gripper head thanks to a discontinuous device to create the packaging material around the individual articles is replaced.

The packaging of the articles will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1. For this purpose, a piece of packaging material P is first placed in a substantially U-shaped manner around an article A, one leg of the piece of packaging material projecting beyond the article on both sides of the article. The lengths of the two legs that protrude beyond the article are preferably different. The leg S ₁ to be folded first is longer than the leg S _{2 to be} folded second. Both legs each have a transverse cold sealing area Q on their opposite sides. Now the first leg S _{1 is turned over} so that it comes into contact with the article to be packaged and the other leg. The transverse cold sealing regions of the two legs adhere to one another, so that an end region E of the first leg S ₁ and the second leg S ₂ together form a fin. Then the second leg S ₂ or the fin is flipped over, so that a packaging material roll is created.

Preferably remains after folding the first leg by means of the inner folder 10 this in its position, so that the outer folder 20 pivoted in the opposite direction in the end position of the second folding process the fin against the inner butterfly 10 presses. As a result, the contact pressure and thus the strength of the connection between the two legs increased so that along the packaging roll thus formed sets a gas-tight connection. Then the Inner butterfly and the outer butterfly swung back. The packaging roll is in the transverse direction on both sides open. Those protruding on both sides in the transverse direction beyond the article Ends that have longitudinal cold sealing areas on their inside are then pressed together, a gas-tight connection at the ends of the packaging roll to create. Basically, it is possible to use the ends squeeze into a flat hem or, forming of a wing knot to compress in a ring. Preferably However, the longitudinal ends of the packaging roll are under Formation of a double twist twisted, as a result of this apply further tensile forces to the flipped fin and solidify the connection of the legs.

From Figures 2 and 5 it can be seen that the fin on each any page of the article except the short pages to which the wing nodes are arranged can.

A further exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention and the wrapping device according to the invention is shown in FIG. 2. In contrast to the method shown in FIG. 1, in this method the outer folder 20 is stationary, while the inner folder 10 can be moved back and forth. This method is particularly suitable for discontinuously operating packaging machines, in which the individual articles A are pushed one after the other into a receiving opening 61 of a transport device 60 by means of a pusher 80. When the article A is inserted into the receiving opening 61, the piece of packaging material is placed around the article in a U-shape. While the legs S ₁ and S _{2 of} the packaging material projecting beyond the article, which are also provided here with transverse cold sealing areas, remain between an inner folder and an outer folder. After the pusher 80 has been withdrawn, the inner folder 10 is set in motion in order to fold the first leg S ₁ and at the same time bring it into abutment against the second leg S ₂ . The outer folder 20 acts as a counter-holder for the inner folder 10, so that the fin formed by an end section of the first leg and the second leg is compressed. The second leg or the fin is folded over by a movement of the transport device 60, which is preferably designed in the form of a turret 60, relative to the outer folder 20. The distance between the edge region of the receiving opening of the transport device and the outer folder 20 is so small maintained that the thickness of the fin can be passed straight through. Due to the movement of the transport device 60 designed as a turret head, the fin grazes along the outer folder 20 and is thereby folded over. Then, as in the first exemplary embodiment, the wing knots are attached to the ends of the packaging material roll formed in this way.

Preferably in the wrapping device, which after 2 works, the transport device 60 formed as a rotating disc or drum, which in the circumferential direction with a plurality of receiving openings 61 is provided. The depth of the openings can be designed in this way be that the item to be packaged almost with the Edge area, which faces the inside and outside moths, so that the article without major inclusion of air can be packed tightly and airtight or gastight.

As an alternative to a rotating turret, you can also Transport devices are used that the article receiving openings Guide translationally past the outer folder.

The procedures and wrappers described work with image centering to ensure that the pieces of packaging material delivered with regard to the items to be packed Article always in the same position.

The inventive explained using exemplary embodiments The method and the device according to the invention can used for packaging all types of small items become. However, they are particularly suitable for packaging of especially flavor-sensitive foods such as caramels or confectionery. The form of the article is not limited to spherical or round items. Rather you can just as angular or elongated items are packed, in which in addition to a gas-tight seal on an appearance with wing knots on the transverse ends of the packaging Value is placed.

Claims (17)

1. Method of wrapping small-size articles in a wrapping with wing knots, in which a piece (P) of wrapping material is laid partly around an article (A) to be wrapped, wherein a respective limb (S₁, S₂) of the piece of wrapping material projects beyond the article at each of the two ends thereof and subsequently one of the limbs (S₁) is turned over, characterised in that this turned-over limb comes to bear by a transverse cold-sealing region (Q) against a transverse cold-sealing region (Q) of the other limb during the turning over and adheres to this along the article, and subsequently the other limb (S₂) together with the adhering part of the limb turned over first is turned over in opposite direction to this, that the other limb (S₂) is pressed against the limb (S₁) which is turned over first, with formation of a gas-tight connection between the limbs and that the piece of wrapping material is closed at both ends of the longitudinal cold-sealing regions (L), which project beyond the article in transverse direction, with formation of a gas-tight connection at the wing knots.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the closing of the piece of wrapping material is effected by twisting.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that on turning over of the first limb (S₁) this comes to bear against the article (A) and in the same process an end portion (E) of the first limb (S₁) comes into contact by its transverse cold-sealing region (Q), which extends along the entire length of the piece of wrapping material to be gas-tightly sealed, with the transverse cold-sealing sealing region (Q), which is provided at the other, second limb (S₂) and extends in transverse direction thereof, and adheres to this.
4. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at the conclusion of the turning-over process of the second limb (S₂) this is pressed down from the outside in direction towards the first limb (S₁).
5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that a flat plate member is temporarily arranged between the article (A) and the outer side of the end portion (E) of the first limb (S₁) as a counter-support for the pressing down at the conclusion of the second turning over process.
6. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the twisting of the longitudinal cold-sealing regions (L) is carried out after the second turning over and as a double twist wrapper.
7. Method according to at least one of claims 1 and 3 to 6, characterised in that the longitudinal cold-sealing regions (L) of the piece (P) of wrapping material are gas-tightly connected by pressing together.
8. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that before the turning over of the limbs the piece of wrapping material is laid against the article (A) so as to extend partly, preferably approximately halfway, around the article, wherein the limb (S₁) to be tumed over first projects further beyond the article (A) than the other limb (S₂).
9. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that an intended-tear-open protection is applied to the piece of wrapping material.
10. Wrapping device for wrapping small-size articles in a wrapping with wing knots, with a device for placing a piece of wrapping material around an article to be wrapped, wherein limbs of the piece of wrapping material project at both ends beyond the article, a wrapping head (40) with holding jaws for the article, an inner folding means (10) for laying one limb against the article and an outer folding means (20) for turning over the other limb, for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterised in that the one limb (S₁) of the piece (A) of wrapping material is also placeable against the other, opposite limb (S₂) of the piece (A) of wrapping material by the inner folding means (10) and the other, opposite limb (S₂) and a part adhering thereto of the limb (S₁) turned over first can be turned over by the outer folding means (20) in opposite direction to the one limb (S₁) turned over first, and a cutting device (70) with a knife (71) is provided in the circumferential region of the packing head (40) for application of an intended-tear-open point at the piece (A) of wrapping material, wherein the inner folding means (10) forms a cut counter-bearing (13) of the knife (71).
11. Wrapping device according to claim 9, characterised in that the inner folding means (10) remains in contact with an outer side of the limb (S₁), which is turned over first, when the other limb (S₂) is turned over.
12. Wrapping device according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the inner folding means (10) and the outer folding means (11) press together the wrapping material disposed therebetween in an end setting of the outer folding means (20) after the turning over of the second limb (S₂).
13. Wrapping device according to at least one of claims 10 to 12, characterised by a folding unit which comprises holding jaws (30) for holding an article as well as the piece of wrapping material partly wound therearound, wherein the folding unit further comprises the inner folding means (10) and the outer folding means (20), which are each constructed as a pivot arm movable relative to an article held between the holding jaws (30).
14. Wrapping device according to claim 13, characterised in that several folding units each with an outwardly facing inner folding means (10) and an outwardly facing outer folding means (20) are arranged at the circumference of a rotatable, drum-shaped wrapping head (40).
15. Wrapping device according to at least one of claims 10 to 14, characterised in that the outer folding means (20) is arranged to be stationary and the inner folding means (10) is movable relative to the outer folding means (20).
16. Wrapping device according to at least one of claims 10 to 15, characterised in that a transport device, preferably a turret head (60) with article receiving regions (61) for reception of the wrapped articles, is arranged on the side of the inner and outer folding means (10, 20) opposite the device (50) for placing a piece of wrapping material, wherein the article receiving regions (61) are movable closely past the outer folding means (20) for turning over the second limb.
17. Wrapping device according to at least one of claims 10 to 16, characterised in that the knife (71) of the cutting device (70) can be brought into engagement with at least one of the limbs (S₁, S₂).

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