EP0954475A1 - Method and device for packaging compressible materials - Google Patents

Method and device for packaging compressible materials

Info

Publication number
EP0954475A1
EP0954475A1 EP98955733A EP98955733A EP0954475A1 EP 0954475 A1 EP0954475 A1 EP 0954475A1 EP 98955733 A EP98955733 A EP 98955733A EP 98955733 A EP98955733 A EP 98955733A EP 0954475 A1 EP0954475 A1 EP 0954475A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
packaging
volume
film
compression
zone
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98955733A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Helen Charasse
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Saint Gobain Isover SA France
Original Assignee
Saint Gobain Isover SA France
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Saint Gobain Isover SA France filed Critical Saint Gobain Isover SA France
Publication of EP0954475A1 publication Critical patent/EP0954475A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B65B63/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B63/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
    • B65B63/022—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles using compressing chambers or plates moving in an endless path
    • 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
    • B65B63/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B63/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
    • 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
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/026—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs the webs forming a curtain

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the packaging of compressible materials such as insulating products based on mineral wool.
  • this packaging technique should make it possible to bring and maintain the product in a compression state as close as possible to its elastic compression limit (compression beyond which the properties of the material are degraded) but without exceeding it.
  • the cost of packaging can also be reduced by continuously compressing and packaging on an automated line. The technique and the machine employed must allow an efficient compression to be obtained quickly and automatically, to maintain this compression at the packaging stage, while preserving the characteristics of the products concerned.
  • Document WO-A-96/36356 describes a device which overcomes this drawback in which a volume of compressible material is entrained during its compression between two strips of packaging film, which are linked to each other to form the sheath in situ directly on the volume of material when the compression is maximum
  • This packaging technique guarantees that the volume of the packaged product is kept at its minimum level
  • the device used for this purpose has two converging conveyors located one above each other and driven in a synchronous movement, at a speed which can vary from 0 to 25 m / min, which comprise and drive carriages supporting flat plates, the corresponding flat plates on a conveyor and on the other remaining parallel throughout the compression
  • a distributor of a strip of plastic film arranged so as to bring a strip into contact with the p lacquer of the first lower carriage and another in contact with that of the first upper carriage.
  • Downstream of the compression zone means are installed to bond the strips to one another on the sides of the compressed volume, in particular by hot air welding.
  • WO 96/36356 has provided conforming elements for this purpose, there is a great risk that the stretched part will not be taken correctly by these elements, in a provision which does not allow welding.
  • the film manages to pass through the conformers it tends to form folds to make up for the excess length which gives an unsightly appearance to the packaging.
  • These folds also have the disadvantage of creating an extra thickness of plastic, which the energy of the hot air nozzles is not always enough to weld, resulting in a deficient connection.
  • the solution consisting in increasing the welding energy is not recommended because it risks damaging the film where there are only two thicknesses of film to be welded.
  • the invention therefore proposes to perfect this continuous packaging technique with in situ formation of the packaging sheath, and in particular to obviate the aforementioned drawbacks concerning the quality of the packaging, without naturally harming the quality of the packaging. compression.
  • the subject of the invention is a process for continuously packaging volumes of compressible material comprising:
  • (C) a packaging step in which the strips of film are bonded packaging between them on either side of the volumes.
  • This process is characterized by the fact that, before or during the joining of the two strips of film on either side of a volume V1 in the packaging step (C), the distance D between l rear end of volume V1 and the front end of volume V2 placed after it (this distance being measured at the faces in contact with the same strip of packaging film), so that it is equal to the length L of packaging film.
  • the distance D is generally at most equal to the length L, the packaging film usually being not or not very stretchable.
  • the distance D is advantageously equal to the length L during the compression step.
  • this distance D is maintained constantly equal to the length L of packaging film throughout the compression step (B) and during the packaging step (C).
  • the distance D is kept constant from the start of the compression step (B) to the bonding of the two film strips in the packaging step (C).
  • methods comprising between the compression step (B) and the packaging step (C), an intermediate phase in which this distance is reduced.
  • an intermediate phase is a simple transport step, but it can also be intended to carry out on the volume of material additional operations known to those skilled in the art.
  • a simple adjustment of the spacing between the volumes allows the portion of packaging film entrained between two consecutive volumes to be stretched when the connection is made between the two strips of film. in the packaging step, which allows a good quality connection to be made with relatively simple automatic means.
  • the pressing surfaces are brought towards each other symmetrically with respect to the median plane of the volume.
  • the method according to the invention preferably uses a step of compression in which the pressing surfaces remain constantly parallel two by two, namely from the first moments of compression and throughout their approximation, the displacement taking place in such a way that the pressing direction remains parallel to itself during the transport.
  • the packaging improvement measures proposed by the invention apply with as much success to processes using other compression techniques, in particular symmetrical compression, which may however be less preferred from the point of view of the qualities of the compressed material.
  • the distance adjustment can advantageously be carried out during step (C) by subjecting the volume
  • V1 maintained between the pressing surfaces a temporary acceleration in the direction of transport, this acceleration being calculated so as to separate the volume V1 from the volume V2 by a sufficient distance in the direction of this transport to bring the distance D to the value of the length L.
  • V2 maintained between the pressing surfaces a temporary slowdown in the direction of transport, this slowdown being calculated so as to separate the volume V2 from the volume V1 by a distance sufficient to bring the distance D to the value of the length L.
  • the volume V2 maintained between the pressing surfaces is moved at constant speed during step (B), then it is slowed down at the end of step (B), while volume V1 is ready for or is undergoing step (C).
  • the desired spacing between V1 and V2 has been reached, its initial speed is re-imposed on V2 which is kept constant throughout the step (C), the two strips of film being bonded continuously on the volumes circulating at constant speed.
  • the spacing imposed on the consecutive pressing surfaces by the temporary deceleration should be compensated by a corresponding bringing together of said surfaces at another stage of the cycle.
  • this approximation can be carried out at the start of the process, between a volume in compression and volume being loaded.
  • the volume V2 maintained between the pressing surfaces is subjected to a temporary acceleration in the direction of transport.
  • the loading step can be carried out in different ways. In a first operating mode, a single volume of material is placed between pressing surfaces in the loading step (A), while the volume which precedes it is already subjected to the compression step (B) and has its thickness reduced accordingly. The portion of film entrained between two volumes during loading is generally automatically stretched to the required length. This is the operating mode illustrated in WO-A-96/36536.
  • a second mode of operation during the loading step (A), at least two volumes of material are transported simultaneously without compression, each between two portions of packaging film. Care should therefore be taken to leave sufficient film between the two volumes so that the portion of film is simply stretched without stretching when the first volume V1 undergoes the compression step (B), and that the pressing surfaces which it are associated shift in the pressing direction with respect to the pressing surfaces associated with the volume V2 placed after it.
  • the invention proposes two variants for this operating mode.
  • the portion of film left between the two volumes is stretched in step (A), the distance between the rear end of the volume V1 and the front end of the volume V2 placed after it being equal to the length L of packaging film.
  • the distance D is kept constant from the loading step (A) to the packing step (C).
  • slack is left between the two volumes in step (A), in other words the distance D between the rear end of the volume V1 and the front end of the volume V2 is less than the length L of film packing, and this distance D is increased so that it is equal to the length L at least when binding the two strips of film in step (C).
  • the film is stretched from step (B) by bringing the pressing surfaces associated with the volume V1 closer to one another without bringing the latter closer to the volume V2 in the direction of transport.
  • the distance between the rear end of a first volume and the front end of the volume placed after it in step (A) is less than this same distance in steps (B) and (C) .
  • the manufacture of sheath-shaped packaging is facilitated, in particular by heat sealing of plastic film strips.
  • the technique will be used according to which the width of the strips of packaging film allows them to overlap on the sides of the volume of compressed material and the strips of packaging film are bonded to the sides of the volume of material arranged according to the direction of transport, advantageously by folding back the internal face of a strip of film on the external face of the other strip so as to create a connection stressed in shearing.
  • the invention also relates to a device for continuously conditioning volumes of compressible material. It comprises two converging conveyors animated by a synchronous movement in a direction of transport, arranged opposite one another, preferably one above the other, the direction of transport then being horizontal, and each carrying a train of pressing surfaces comprising an area for receiving the volume of compressible material.
  • This device includes:
  • an intermediate compression and transport zone comprising means for bringing the pressing surfaces closer to one another, - a downstream packaging area where the conveyors are parallel, with means to bind the two strips of packaging film.
  • said distance is constant throughout the compression zone and is identical in the part of the packaging zone located upstream of the means for binding the film.
  • each conveyor comprises a train of carriages supporting the pressing surfaces and comprising a guide means, such as a roller, circulating on a guide such as a rail having a part inclined in the compression zone and a part parallel to the direction of transport in the packaging area, each carriage being further connected to a chain drive system.
  • a guide means such as a roller
  • the distance separating two consecutive carriages in the direction of transport is shorter in the intermediate compression zone that in the region downstream packaging.
  • the invention proposes to use a drive system in which the effective length of the train of carriages is increased in the downstream packaging area.
  • the difference in effective length of the carriage train can be obtained by making the chain portion connecting two consecutive carriages follow a chain path in the form of a broken line in the intermediate compression zone, and by allowing this same chain portion to follow a straight path in the downstream packaging area.
  • the invention provides means for shifting the position of the pressing surface in the direction of transport, relative to the carriage which carries it in the downstream packaging zone upstream of the means for bonding the strips of packaging film to each other.
  • FIG. 1 represents a schematic sectional view of a packaging machine according to the prior art
  • FIG. 2 represents a schematic view in longitudinal section of a packaging machine according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 3 shows on an enlarged scale the drive system of the machine of Figure 2
  • - Figure 4 shows a partial sectional view along the axis IV-IV of Figure 3
  • FIG. 5 represents a partial sectional view along the axis V-V of FIG. 3,
  • FIG. 6 represents a partial sectional view along the axis VI-VI of FIG. 3,
  • FIG. 7 shows a schematic view in longitudinal section of a packaging machine according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 represents a line for packaging volumes of compressible materials according to the prior art known from WO-A-96/36536 carrying out the packaging of stacks of panels of mineral wool.
  • It essentially comprises two symmetrical converging conveyors 1, 2 arranged horizontally one above the other.
  • Each transporter carries a train of ten lower pressing surfaces
  • the packaging device includes three successive zones: an upstream loading zone 9, an intermediate compression zone 10 which begins here at the entrance to the conveyors and in which the carriages 5, 6 are guided along an inclined path bringing the plates 3 together, 4, and a downstream packaging area 11 in which the carriages 5, 6 are guided along a horizontal path.
  • the carriages 5, 6 are pulled by the chains 7, 8 to which they are linked by axes each passing through the hollow of a chain link while a smooth roller centered on the axis helps guide the chain.
  • guide means in the form of rollers 12, 13 which follow a guide 14, 15 (here a rail).
  • the paths followed by the chains 7, 8 and by the guides 14, 15 are such that during the progression of the carriages 5, 6, the plates 3, 4 remain substantially horizontal while progressing towards each other.
  • the plates always remain parallel to each other so that there is no sliding between the plates and the material which they compress.
  • the carriages are extracted from the path they followed during compression and set off again in the other direction, pushed by the chains and guided by a second guide part, respectively 16 below the guide 14 , and 17 above the guide 15.
  • a packaging film supply system 18 At the entrance to the machine, associated with each conveyor, is a packaging film supply system 18.
  • the film comes from two rollers, not shown. It has a precise width which during the tests was for each of the films 18 equal to half the perimeter of the compressed volume increased by a few centimeters to allow recovery of the films constituting each, half of the sheath which packages and traps the compressed product. .
  • the films 18 are guided by rollers 19 so as to come into contact respectively with the plates 3, 4 of the first carriages 5, 6 in the loading area.
  • a stack 20 of panels 21 is deposited on the film strip 18 in contact with a lower horizontal plate 3.
  • the packaging film projects laterally from the products to be compressed (and even possibly from the plate 3 itself).
  • the edges of the strip fold over on each side of the stack 20.
  • the film 18 is preferably driven only by the movement of the carriages, which ensures that the film stretches longitudinally under and on the stack 20 of panels 21 of mineral wool.
  • the last carriages are in the compression zone, the first two in the packaging zone, where the length of film between plates no longer varies, and the fifth, in the middle, at the transition between the two zones.
  • the packaging area are arranged at the plane of symmetry of the machine, on each side, not shown shapers whose role is to set up the edges of the film strips 18, as well as securing means 22, in particular by autogenous welding of suitable plastic films by means of hot air nozzles (temperature between 400 and 650 ° C for a high density polyethylene film), or by adding an external adhesive
  • the packets of packaged material are driven by a conveyor 23. They are associated in a chain in the packaging sheath. Between two packages, the sheath appears as an empty hose.
  • the machine can understand at this level not represented known device for welding and / or automatically cut the films to give material wrapped packages autonomy and possibly protect them if we close the package.
  • the loading of the stack 20 between two carriages 5a, 6a is done while the carriages 5b, 6b which precede them enter the compression zone, so that the film 18 is stretched between the stack 20a and the previous stack 20b during compression.
  • the length L of film 18 entrained by these two stacks is therefore greater than the horizontal spacing of the carriages 5a and 5b, respectively 6a and 6b. This portion of film remains stretched as long as the carriages 5, 6 progress at the same speed and at constant spacing, in the compression zone.
  • the improvement provided by the invention makes it possible to prevent or catch up with the formation of this slack and therefore to facilitate the operation of joining the packaging films.
  • FIG. 2 A first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2 where we have kept the references of Figure 1 to designate identical elements.
  • the device of FIG. 2 differs from that of the prior art in that it includes a system for varying the horizontal spacing of the carriages 5a, 6a, 5b, 6b along the packaging line so that that the distance D between the rear end of the stack 20b and the front end of the stack 20a placed after it is constantly equal to the length L.
  • the packaging film is therefore stretched all along the packaging line .
  • the modification is located at the level of the drive system which comprises means for varying the effective length of the train of carriages between two consecutive carriages 5a, 5b, respectively 6a, 6b, on the conveyor 1, respectively 2. This system is shown in more detail in Figure 3.
  • the carriages 5,6 are always linked to the chains 7,8 by axes passing through the hollow of a link 24.25 of the chain, equipped with a smooth guide roller which cooperates with an inclined guide rail 26,27.
  • the particular drive system will now be described only with regard to the chain 7, but it is understood that an identical system exists on the chain 8.
  • another link 29, which is here the front end of the chain portion 28 (but it could be otherwise) is itself provided with two smooth rollers, visible in particular in the sectional view of FIG.
  • a first roller 30 is centered on the axis of the link 29 and cooperates with a second inclined guide rail 31 parallel to the rail 26, located above this last in the same vertical plane; an upper roller 32 is fixed to the end of a vertical arm 33 passing through the axis of the link 29 and cooperates with a guide 34 disposed above the upper rail 31.
  • the second rail 31 and the guide 34 can be arranged below the rail 26.
  • Figure 4 shows a sectional view along the axis IV-IV of the machine of Figure 3 at another time of operation, that is to say at a time when a carriage 5 is in an extreme position at the entrance to the area 10 shown in phantom in Figure 3: when a link 29 reaches the entrance 10 of the compression zone the upper roller 32 s' engages a first portion 35 of inclined guide which it follows, bringing the link 29 to a high position.
  • the chain portion 28 between two consecutive carriages 5a, 5b then takes the form of a broken line.
  • the spacing between the rail 26 and the upper rail 31 is advantageously such that the chain portion 28 between these two rails (that is to say between the link 24 and the link 29) is horizontal, preferably of the length of a carriage.
  • the carriage 5a entering the compression zone 10 undergoes a temporary acceleration which brings it closer to the preceding carriage 5b which is in the loading zone 9.
  • the film 18 driven by the carriage 5b stretches behind it with substantially the same inclination as the inclined part of the broken chain portion.
  • the chain 7 retains this broken line conformation throughout the compression zone 10. Driven at constant speed, it turn the carriages at constant speed and constant spacing, the film 18 remaining stretched between two consecutive carriages.
  • Figure 6 illustrates the guide of the chain between the compression zones 10 and 1 1 of packaging.
  • the upper rail 31 takes a horizontal orientation while the rail
  • the upper rail 31 in turn is interrupted a little further to allow the chain 7 to reach the upper level reached by the link 29.
  • the chain portion 28 between the two consecutive carriages therefore resumes a rectilinear shape, by imposing on the carriage 5a a temporary slowdown which moves it horizontally away from the preceding carriage 5b, which located in the compression zone, so as to keep the stretch of film 18 entrained between these two carriages taut.
  • a temporary slowdown which moves it horizontally away from the preceding carriage 5b, which located in the compression zone, so as to keep the stretch of film 18 entrained between these two carriages taut.
  • the maintenance of this tension is made possible by the carriage drive system which ensures that the distance between the rear end 39 of a stack of panels on the plate 3b and the front end 40 of the stack on the next plate 3a of the same train remains constant, fixed by the length of invariable chain between the link 29 and the link 24 attached to the following carriage 5a.
  • the loading and compression are done in the same way as in the machine of figure 1, except that the horizontal spacing of two consecutive carriages is this time invariable.
  • the drive system chain of figure 7 no longer has a guide rail two continuous parts 26, 38, the chain portion 28 between two carriages being rectilinear except at the junction between the two parts 26, 38 of rail.
  • the modification compared to the known machine of the prior art is located at the level of the carriages themselves: the lower plates 3 and upper 4 are mounted on the carriages 5,6 with a degree of freedom in translation in the direction of the arrow F. In the compression zone, this degree of freedom can be blocked by any appropriate means.
  • the simple pressing force is sufficient for this purpose, but it may be preferable to provide any additional locking means.
  • the machine further comprises means for, if necessary unlocking the plate and, advancing the plate when a carriage reaches the packaging area.
  • These means can be purely mechanical, such as for example a cam rotating in a vertical plane capable of coming to bear on a lateral stop attached to the plate.
  • the carriages 5, 6 can be equipped for example with jacks controlled according to the operating parameters of the machine to push the plates 3, 4 ahead of the necessary distance in the direction of transport, when the carriages reach a location determined from the packing area.
  • these means produce their effect just at the entrance to the packaging zone 11, so that the film 18 is prevented from forming a slack at the junction of the two zones 10.11.
  • these means could be installed further downstream, but still upstream from the heat-sealing means 22, the film being momentarily stretched at the start of the packaging zone.

Abstract

The invention concerns a continuous packaging technique whereby a volume of compressible material is compressed between two convergent conveyors, the volume being initially placed and driven during the compression between two continuous packaging film strips, mutually linked on either side of the volume once the required degree of compression has been reached. The invention is characterised in that after having left between two consecutive volumes a length L of packaging film on each strip, the distance between the rear end of a first volume and the front end of the next volume is adjusted such that it is equal to the length L at the time when the two strips are mutually tied in the packaging step. The invention is useful for conditioning insulating products based on mineral wool.

Description

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF DE CONDITIONNEMENT DE MATERIAUX COMPRESSIBLES PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR PACKAGING COMPRESSIBLE MATERIALS
La présente invention concerne le conditionnement de matériaux compressibles tels que des produits isolants à base de laine minérale.The present invention relates to the packaging of compressible materials such as insulating products based on mineral wool.
Les produits à base de laine minérale, telle que la laine de verre, remplissent d'autant mieux leur fonction isolante que le pourcentage volumique d'air qu'ils renferment est élevé et sont de ce fait relativement encombrants.Products based on mineral wool, such as glass wool, fulfill their insulating function the better the higher the volume percentage of air they contain and are therefore relatively bulky.
Pour réduire les coûts de transport et de stockage de ces produits, on a coutume de les conditionner à l'état comprimé, les produits retrouvant leur volume et leurs caractéristiques d'origine une fois libérés de leur emballage. Pour être la plus avantageuse possible, cette technique de conditionnement devrait permettre d'amener et de maintenir le produit à un état de compression aussi proche que possible de sa limite de compression élastique (compression au-delà de laquelle les propriétés du matériau sont dégradées) mais sans la dépasser. Le coût du conditionnement peut également être réduit en procédant à la compression et à l'emballage de façon continue sur une ligne automatisée. La technique et la machine employées doivent permettre d'obtenir rapidement et automatiquement une compression efficace, de maintenir cette compression au stade de l'emballage, tout en préservant les caractéristiques des produits concernés. Ces exigences ne sont pas toujours satisfaites avec les techniques connues de l'art antérieur.To reduce the costs of transport and storage of these products, it is customary to package them in a compressed state, the products regaining their original volume and characteristics once released from their packaging. To be as advantageous as possible, this packaging technique should make it possible to bring and maintain the product in a compression state as close as possible to its elastic compression limit (compression beyond which the properties of the material are degraded) but without exceeding it. The cost of packaging can also be reduced by continuously compressing and packaging on an automated line. The technique and the machine employed must allow an efficient compression to be obtained quickly and automatically, to maintain this compression at the packaging stage, while preserving the characteristics of the products concerned. These requirements are not always satisfied with the techniques known from the prior art.
Ainsi, on connaît par exemple du brevet US-A-3 717 973 une machine de conditionnement en continu de produits compressibles comprenant une zone de compression avec un transporteur à bande inférieur sensiblement horizontal, et un transporteur à bande supérieur synchrone, présentant une première partie inclinée vers le transporteur inférieur et une seconde partie sensiblement parallèle au transporteur inférieur, et une zone d'emballage dans laquelle le produit comprimé est transporté entre deux nouveaux transporteurs à bande horizontaux qui pénètrent dans l'ouverture d'un emballage en forme de gaine, dont les dimensions sont nécessairement supérieures a celles du produit transporté Suivant cette technique, le maximum de compression qui a été obtenu a la fin de l'opération de compression, et qui est pourtant toléré par le matériau eu égard à ses propriétés isolantes, n'est pas conserve dans l'emballage final, ce qui représente un manque à gagner important sur le volume d'un lot de productionThus, for example, from US Pat. No. 3,717,973, a machine is known for continuously packaging compressible products comprising a compression zone with a substantially horizontal lower belt conveyor and a synchronous upper belt conveyor having a first part. inclined towards the lower conveyor and a second substantially parallel part to the lower conveyor, and a packaging area in which the compressed product is transported between two new horizontal belt conveyors which enter the opening of a sheath-like packaging, the dimensions of which are necessarily greater than those of the product transported According to this technique, the maximum compression which has been obtained at the end of the compression operation, and which is nevertheless tolerated by the material having regard to its insulating properties, is not kept in the final packaging, which represents a significant shortfall in the volume of a production batch
Le document WO-A-96/36356 décrit un dispositif qui obvie à cet inconvénient dans lequel un volume de matériau compressible est entraîné au cours de sa compression entre deux bandes de film d'emballage, qui sont liées l'une a l'autre pour former la gaine in situ directement sur le volume de matériau au moment où la compression est maximale Cette technique de conditionnement garantit que le volume du produit emballé est maintenu à son niveau minimal Le dispositif utilise à cet effet comporte deux transporteurs convergents situés l'un au-dessus de l'autre et animés d'un mouvement synchrone, a une vitesse pouvant varier de 0 à 25 m/min, qui comportent et entraînent des chariots supportant des plaques planes, les plaques planes correspondantes sur un transporteur et sur l'autre restant parallèles tout au long de la compression Associé à chaque transporteur, se trouve un distributeur d'une bande de film plastique disposé de manière a mettre une bande en contact avec la plaque du premier chariot inférieur et une autre en contact avec celle du premier chariot supérieur. En aval de la zone de compression sont installés des moyens pour lier les bandes l'une à l'autre sur les côtés du volume comprimé, notamment par soudure à air chaudDocument WO-A-96/36356 describes a device which overcomes this drawback in which a volume of compressible material is entrained during its compression between two strips of packaging film, which are linked to each other to form the sheath in situ directly on the volume of material when the compression is maximum This packaging technique guarantees that the volume of the packaged product is kept at its minimum level The device used for this purpose has two converging conveyors located one above each other and driven in a synchronous movement, at a speed which can vary from 0 to 25 m / min, which comprise and drive carriages supporting flat plates, the corresponding flat plates on a conveyor and on the other remaining parallel throughout the compression Associated with each conveyor, there is a distributor of a strip of plastic film arranged so as to bring a strip into contact with the p lacquer of the first lower carriage and another in contact with that of the first upper carriage. Downstream of the compression zone, means are installed to bond the strips to one another on the sides of the compressed volume, in particular by hot air welding.
Cette technique de formation m situ de la gaine d'emballage, si elle résout le problème du maintien du volume minimal du produit comprimé, réclame cependant des moyens relativement complexes pour réaliser une liaison de qualité entre les deux bandes de film plastique En effet, dans le mode de fonctionnement décrit dans WO 96/36356, la portion de film d'emballage entraînée entre deux volumes de matériau, que l'on souhaite la plus courte possible pour des raisons économiques, est tout d'abord tendue dans la zone de compression ou les deux volumes consécutifs progressent avec une différence d'épaisseur constante. Elle a ensuite tendance à former un « mou » dans la zone d'emballage où l'écartement entre les plaques de pressage supérieure et inférieure ne varie plus.This m situ forming technique of the packaging sheath, if it solves the problem of maintaining the minimum volume of the compressed product, requires relatively complex means to achieve a quality bond between the two strips of plastic film. the operating mode described in WO 96/36356, the portion of packaging film entrained between two volumes of material, which is desired to be as short as possible for economic reasons, is first of all stretched in the compression zone or the two consecutive volumes progress with a constant difference in thickness. It then tends to form a "slack" in the packaging area where the spacing between the upper and lower pressing plates no longer varies.
Il en résulte des difficultés importantes pour mettre les deux bandes en contact l'une avec l'autre dans la configuration souhaitée devant les moyens de thermosoudure.This results in significant difficulties in bringing the two strips into contact with each other in the desired configuration in front of the heat-sealing means.
Bien que WO 96/36356 ait prévu à cet effet des éléments conformateurs, le risque est grand que la partie distendue ne soit pas prise correctement par ces éléments, dans une disposition ne permettant pas la soudure. En outre, lorsque le film parvient à passer dans les conformateurs, il a tendance à former des plis pour rattraper la longueur excédentaire qui donnent un aspect disgracieux à l'emballage. Ces plis ont en outre l'inconvénient de créer une surépaisseur de matière plastique, que l'énergie des buses à air chaud ne suffit pas toujours à souder, d'où une liaison déficiente. La solution consistant à augmenter l'énergie de soudure n'est pas recommandée car elle risque de détériorer le film là où il n'y a bien que deux épaisseurs de film à souder.Although WO 96/36356 has provided conforming elements for this purpose, there is a great risk that the stretched part will not be taken correctly by these elements, in a provision which does not allow welding. In addition, when the film manages to pass through the conformers, it tends to form folds to make up for the excess length which gives an unsightly appearance to the packaging. These folds also have the disadvantage of creating an extra thickness of plastic, which the energy of the hot air nozzles is not always enough to weld, resulting in a deficient connection. The solution consisting in increasing the welding energy is not recommended because it risks damaging the film where there are only two thicknesses of film to be welded.
L'invention se propose donc de perfectionner cette technique de conditionnement en continu avec formation in situ de la gaine d'emballage, et en particulier d'obvier aux inconvénients précités concernant la qualité de l'emballage, sans nuire naturellement à la qualité de la compression.The invention therefore proposes to perfect this continuous packaging technique with in situ formation of the packaging sheath, and in particular to obviate the aforementioned drawbacks concerning the quality of the packaging, without naturally harming the quality of the packaging. compression.
A cet égard, l'invention a pour objet un procédé de conditionnement en continu de volumes de matériau compressible comportant :In this regard, the subject of the invention is a process for continuously packaging volumes of compressible material comprising:
(A) une étape de chargement dans laquelle les volumes sont présentés à la suite l'un de l'autre entre deux bandes continues de film d'emballage, en laissant entre deux volumes consécutifs une longueur L de film d'emballage sur chaque bande, et chaque volume et les portions de film d'emballage en regard avec lui sont placés entre deux surfaces de pressage,(A) a loading step in which the volumes are presented one after the other between two continuous strips of packaging film, leaving between two consecutive volumes a length L of packaging film on each strip , and each volume and the portions of packaging film facing it are placed between two pressing surfaces,
(B) une étape de compression dans laquelle les surfaces de pressage sont déplacées ensemble suivant une direction de transport, entraînant avec elles le film d'emballage et le volume de matériau, tandis qu'on rapproche les surfaces de pressage l'une de l'autre suivant une direction de pressage transversale à la direction de transport, et(B) a compression step in which the pressing surfaces are moved together in a direction of transport, carrying with them the packaging film and the volume of material, while the pressing surfaces are brought closer to one another. other in a direction of pressing transverse to the direction of transport, and
(C) une étape d'emballage dans laquelle on lie les bandes de film d'emballage entre elles de part et d'autre des volumes.(C) a packaging step in which the strips of film are bonded packaging between them on either side of the volumes.
Ce procédé est caractérisé par le fait que, avant ou pendant qu'on lie les deux bandes de film de part et d'autre d'un volume V1 à l'étape (C) d'emballage, on ajuste la distance D entre l'extrémité arrière du volume V1 et l'extrémité avant du volume V2 placé à sa suite (cette distance étant mesurée au niveau des faces en contact avec une même bande de film d'emballage), de façon à ce qu'elle soit égale à la longueur L de film d'emballage.This process is characterized by the fact that, before or during the joining of the two strips of film on either side of a volume V1 in the packaging step (C), the distance D between l rear end of volume V1 and the front end of volume V2 placed after it (this distance being measured at the faces in contact with the same strip of packaging film), so that it is equal to the length L of packaging film.
Au cours de l'étape (B) de compression, la distance D est généralement au plus égale à la longueur L, le film d'emballage n'étant d'ordinaire pas ou peu étirable. Pour des raisons économiques, la distance D est avantageusement égale à la longueur L pendant l'étape de compression.During the compression step (B), the distance D is generally at most equal to the length L, the packaging film usually being not or not very stretchable. For economic reasons, the distance D is advantageously equal to the length L during the compression step.
Avantageusement, on maintient cette distance D constamment égale à la longueur L de film d'emballage pendant toute l'étape (B) de compression et pendant l'étape (C) d'emballage. De préférence, on maintient la distance D constante depuis le début de l'étape (B) de compression jusqu'à la liaison des deux bandes de film dans l'étape (C) d'emballage. Toutefois, sont également compris dans l'invention des procédés comprenant entre l'étape (B) de compression et l'étape (C) d'emballage, une phase intermédiaire dans laquelle cette distance est réduite. Généralement une telle phase intermédiaire est une simple étape de transport, mais elle peut également être destinée à réaliser sur le volume de matériau des opérations supplémentaires connues de l'homme du métier.Advantageously, this distance D is maintained constantly equal to the length L of packaging film throughout the compression step (B) and during the packaging step (C). Preferably, the distance D is kept constant from the start of the compression step (B) to the bonding of the two film strips in the packaging step (C). However, also included in the invention are methods comprising between the compression step (B) and the packaging step (C), an intermediate phase in which this distance is reduced. Generally such an intermediate phase is a simple transport step, but it can also be intended to carry out on the volume of material additional operations known to those skilled in the art.
Ainsi, selon l'invention, un simple ajustement de l'écartement entre les volumes permet à la portion de film d'emballage entraînée entre deux volumes consécutifs d'être tendue au moment où l'on réalise la liaison entre les deux bandes de film dans l'étape d'emballage, ce qui permet de réaliser une liaison de bonne qualité avec des moyens automatiques relativement simples.Thus, according to the invention, a simple adjustment of the spacing between the volumes allows the portion of packaging film entrained between two consecutive volumes to be stretched when the connection is made between the two strips of film. in the packaging step, which allows a good quality connection to be made with relatively simple automatic means.
Ce perfectionnement garantit une fiabilité améliorée du procédé, lequel peut être mis en oeuvre sur une ligne automatisée avec une cadence élevée. Dans un mode préféré de compression, on rapproche les surfaces de pressage l'une de l'autre de façon symétrique par rapport au plan médian du volume.This improvement guarantees improved reliability of the process, which can be implemented on an automated line with a high rate. In a preferred mode of compression, the pressing surfaces are brought towards each other symmetrically with respect to the median plane of the volume.
Le procédé selon l'invention utilise de préférence une étape de compression dans laquelle les surfaces de pressage restent constamment parallèles deux à deux, à savoir dès les premiers instants de la compression et pendant tout leur rapprochement, le déplacement se faisant de façon telle que la direction de pressage reste parallèle à elle-même au cours du transport. Les mesures d'amélioration du conditionnement proposées par l'invention s'appliquent avec autant de succès à des procédés utilisant d'autres techniques de compression notamment symétrique, qui peuvent cependant être moins préférées du point de vue des qualités du matériau comprimé.The method according to the invention preferably uses a step of compression in which the pressing surfaces remain constantly parallel two by two, namely from the first moments of compression and throughout their approximation, the displacement taking place in such a way that the pressing direction remains parallel to itself during the transport. The packaging improvement measures proposed by the invention apply with as much success to processes using other compression techniques, in particular symmetrical compression, which may however be less preferred from the point of view of the qualities of the compressed material.
Dans un premier mode de réalisation, l'ajustement de distance peut avantageusement être réalisé au cours de l'étape (C) en faisant subir au volumeIn a first embodiment, the distance adjustment can advantageously be carried out during step (C) by subjecting the volume
V1 maintenu entre les surfaces de pressage une accélération temporaire dans la direction de transport, cette accélération étant calculée de façon à écarter le volume V1 du volume V2 d'une distance suffisante dans la direction ce transport pour amener la distance D à la valeur de la longueur L. Dans un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, on peut avantageusement ajuster l'écartement entre les deux volumes consécutifs entre l'étape (B) et l'étape (C) ou au cours de l'étape (C), en faisant subir au volumeV1 maintained between the pressing surfaces a temporary acceleration in the direction of transport, this acceleration being calculated so as to separate the volume V1 from the volume V2 by a sufficient distance in the direction of this transport to bring the distance D to the value of the length L. In a second embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously possible to adjust the spacing between the two consecutive volumes between step (B) and step (C) or during step (C) , by subjecting the volume
V2 maintenu entre les surfaces de pressage un ralentissement temporaire dans la direction de transport, ce ralentissement étant calculé de façon à écarter le volume V2 du volume V1 d'une distance suffisante pour amener la distance D à la valeur de la longueur L.V2 maintained between the pressing surfaces a temporary slowdown in the direction of transport, this slowdown being calculated so as to separate the volume V2 from the volume V1 by a distance sufficient to bring the distance D to the value of the length L.
De préférence, dans ce deuxième mode, on déplace le volume V2 maintenu entre les surfaces de pressage à vitesse constante au cours de l'étape (B), puis on le ralentit à la fin de l'étape (B), alors que volume V1 est prêt à ou est en train de subir l'étape (C). Une fois atteint l'écartement voulu entre V1 et V2, on réimpose à V2 sa vitesse initiale que l'on garde constante pendant toute l'étape (C), la liaison des deux bandes de film étant réalisée en continu sur les volumes circulant à vitesse constante.Preferably, in this second mode, the volume V2 maintained between the pressing surfaces is moved at constant speed during step (B), then it is slowed down at the end of step (B), while volume V1 is ready for or is undergoing step (C). Once the desired spacing between V1 and V2 has been reached, its initial speed is re-imposed on V2 which is kept constant throughout the step (C), the two strips of film being bonded continuously on the volumes circulating at constant speed.
Lorsque le procédé en continu est mis en oeuvre de façon cyclique, l'écartement imposé aux surfaces de pressage consécutives par le ralentissement temporaire devrait être compensé par un rapprochement correspondant desdites surfaces à un autre stade du cycle. Dans un mode de fonctionnement particulier, on peut effectuer ce rapprochement au début du procédé, entre un volume en compression et un volume en cours de chargement. A cet effet, entre l'étape (A) de chargement et l'étape (B) de compression, on fait subir au volume V2 maintenu entre les surfaces de pressage une accélération temporaire dans la direction de transport. L'étape de chargement peut être conduite de différentes façons. Dans un premier mode de fonctionnement, un seul volume de matériau est placé entre des surfaces de pressage à l'étape de chargement (A), alors que le volume qui le précède est déjà soumis à l'étape (B) de compression et a son épaisseur réduite en conséquence. La portion de film entraînée entre deux volumes lors du chargement est en général automatiquement tendue à la longueur requise. C'est le mode de fonctionnement illustré dans WO-A-96/36536.When the continuous process is carried out cyclically, the spacing imposed on the consecutive pressing surfaces by the temporary deceleration should be compensated by a corresponding bringing together of said surfaces at another stage of the cycle. In a particular operating mode, this approximation can be carried out at the start of the process, between a volume in compression and volume being loaded. For this purpose, between the loading step (A) and the compression step (B), the volume V2 maintained between the pressing surfaces is subjected to a temporary acceleration in the direction of transport. The loading step can be carried out in different ways. In a first operating mode, a single volume of material is placed between pressing surfaces in the loading step (A), while the volume which precedes it is already subjected to the compression step (B) and has its thickness reduced accordingly. The portion of film entrained between two volumes during loading is generally automatically stretched to the required length. This is the operating mode illustrated in WO-A-96/36536.
Dans un deuxième mode de fonctionnement, au cours de l'étape (A) de chargement, au moins deux volumes de matériau sont transportés simultanément sans compression, chacun entre deux portions de film d'emballage. Il convient alors de veiller à laisser suffisamment de film entre les deux volumes pour que la portion de film soit simplement tendue sans s'étirer lorsque le premier volume V1 subit l'étape (B) de compression, et que les surfaces de pressage qui lui sont associées se décalent dans la direction de pressage par rapport aux surfaces de pressage associées au volume V2 placé à sa suite. L'invention propose deux variantes pour ce mode de fonctionnement.In a second mode of operation, during the loading step (A), at least two volumes of material are transported simultaneously without compression, each between two portions of packaging film. Care should therefore be taken to leave sufficient film between the two volumes so that the portion of film is simply stretched without stretching when the first volume V1 undergoes the compression step (B), and that the pressing surfaces which it are associated shift in the pressing direction with respect to the pressing surfaces associated with the volume V2 placed after it. The invention proposes two variants for this operating mode.
Dans une première variante, la portion de film laissée entre les deux volumes est tendue à l'étape (A), la distance entre l'extrémité arrière du volume V1 et l'extrémité avant du volume V2 placé à sa suite étant égale à la longueur L de film d'emballage. En ce cas, la distance D est maintenue constante depuis l'étape (A) de chargement jusqu'à l'étape d'emballage (C).In a first variant, the portion of film left between the two volumes is stretched in step (A), the distance between the rear end of the volume V1 and the front end of the volume V2 placed after it being equal to the length L of packaging film. In this case, the distance D is kept constant from the loading step (A) to the packing step (C).
Dans cette variante, il est avantageux, entre l'étape (A) de chargement et le début de l'étape de compression (B), au moment où les surfaces de pressage en regard vont commencer à se rapprocher l'une de l'autre, de faire subir au volume V2 maintenu entre ces deux surfaces une accélération temporaire dans la direction du transport, de façon à le rapprocher dans la direction du transport du volume V1 qui le précède et à permettre au film de prendre une orientation inclinée, sans s'étirer, entre le volume V1 comprimé et le volume V2 relativement plus épais. Dans une seconde variante, on laisse du mou entre les deux volumes à l'étape (A), autrement dit la distance D entre l'extrémité arrière du volume V1 et l'extrémité avant du volume V2 est inférieure à la longueur L de film d'emballage, et on augmente cette distance D de façon à ce qu'elle soit égale à la longueur L au moins au moment de lier les deux bandes de film à l'étape (C). De préférence, on tend le film dès l'étape (B) en rapprochant l'une de l'autre les surfaces de pressage associées au volume V1 sans rapprocher celui-ci du volume V2 dans la direction de transport.In this variant, it is advantageous, between the loading step (A) and the start of the compression step (B), when the facing pressing surfaces will begin to approach one of the other, to subject the volume V2 maintained between these two surfaces to a temporary acceleration in the direction of transport, so as to bring it closer in the direction of transport to the volume V1 which precedes it and to allow the film to assume an inclined orientation, without stretch, between the compressed volume V1 and the relatively thicker volume V2. In a second variant, slack is left between the two volumes in step (A), in other words the distance D between the rear end of the volume V1 and the front end of the volume V2 is less than the length L of film packing, and this distance D is increased so that it is equal to the length L at least when binding the two strips of film in step (C). Preferably, the film is stretched from step (B) by bringing the pressing surfaces associated with the volume V1 closer to one another without bringing the latter closer to the volume V2 in the direction of transport.
Dans ce cas, la distance entre l'extrémité arrière d'un premier volume et l'extrémité avant du volume placé à sa suite dans l'étape (A) est inférieure à cette même distance dans les étapes (B) et (C).In this case, the distance between the rear end of a first volume and the front end of the volume placed after it in step (A) is less than this same distance in steps (B) and (C) .
En maintenant ainsi les films d'emballage tendus au moment de leur assemblage dans l'étape d'emballage, on facilite la fabrication d'emballages en forme de gaine, notamment par thermosoudure de bandes de film plastique. De préférence on utilisera la technique selon laquelle la largeur des bandes de film d'emballage leur permet de se recouvrir sur les côtés du volume de matériau comprimé et on lie les bandes de film d'emballage sur les côtés du volume de matériau disposés suivant la direction de transport, avantageusement en repliant la face interne d'une bande de film sur la face externe de l'autre bande de façon à créer une liaison sollicitée en cisaillement.By thus keeping the packaging films stretched at the time of their assembly in the packaging step, the manufacture of sheath-shaped packaging is facilitated, in particular by heat sealing of plastic film strips. Preferably, the technique will be used according to which the width of the strips of packaging film allows them to overlap on the sides of the volume of compressed material and the strips of packaging film are bonded to the sides of the volume of material arranged according to the direction of transport, advantageously by folding back the internal face of a strip of film on the external face of the other strip so as to create a connection stressed in shearing.
L'invention a également pour objet un dispositif de conditionnement en continu de volumes de matériau compressible. Il comprend deux transporteurs convergents animés d'un mouvement synchrone dans une direction de transport, disposés en regard l'un de l'autre, de préférence l'un au-dessus de l'autre, la direction de transport étant alors horizontale, et portant chacun un train de surfaces de pressage comportant une aire de réception du volume de matériau compressible. Ce dispositif inclut :The invention also relates to a device for continuously conditioning volumes of compressible material. It comprises two converging conveyors animated by a synchronous movement in a direction of transport, arranged opposite one another, preferably one above the other, the direction of transport then being horizontal, and each carrying a train of pressing surfaces comprising an area for receiving the volume of compressible material. This device includes:
- une zone amont de chargement dans laquelle un distributeur d'une bande de film d'emballage est associé à chaque convoyeur et disposé de façon à diriger la bande au contact des surfaces de pressage correspondantes,- an upstream loading zone in which a distributor of a strip of packaging film is associated with each conveyor and arranged so as to direct the strip in contact with the corresponding pressing surfaces,
- une zone intermédiaire de compression et de transport comprenant des moyens pour rapprocher les surfaces de pressage l'une de l'autre, - une zone aval d'emballage dans laquelle les convoyeurs sont parallèles, équipée de moyens pour lier les deux bandes de film d'emballage.- an intermediate compression and transport zone comprising means for bringing the pressing surfaces closer to one another, - a downstream packaging area where the conveyors are parallel, with means to bind the two strips of packaging film.
Il est caractérisé en ce que dans un même train de surfaces de pressage la distance entre l'extrémité arrière de l'aire de réception d'une surface de pressage et l'extrémité avant de l'aire de réception de la surface de pressage suivante dans une partie de la zone d'emballage située en amont desdits moyens pour lier le film est au moins égale à cette même distance mesurée dans la zone de compression.It is characterized in that in the same train of pressing surfaces the distance between the rear end of the reception area of one pressing surface and the front end of the reception area of the next pressing surface in a part of the packaging area located upstream of said means for binding the film is at least equal to this same distance measured in the compression area.
De préférence, ladite distance est constante dans toute la zone de compression et est identique dans la partie de la zone d'emballage située en amont des moyens pour lier le film.Preferably, said distance is constant throughout the compression zone and is identical in the part of the packaging zone located upstream of the means for binding the film.
Avantageusement, chaque convoyeur comporte un train de chariots supportant les surfaces de pressage et comportant un moyen de guidage, tel qu'un galet, circulant sur un guide tel qu'un rail présentant une partie inclinée dans la zone de compression et une partie parallèle à la direction de transport dans la zone d'emballage, chaque chariot étant en outre relié à un système d'entraînement à chaîne.Advantageously, each conveyor comprises a train of carriages supporting the pressing surfaces and comprising a guide means, such as a roller, circulating on a guide such as a rail having a part inclined in the compression zone and a part parallel to the direction of transport in the packaging area, each carriage being further connected to a chain drive system.
Dans une première variante, où l'on rapproche deux volumes consécutifs l'un de l'autre à l'entrée dans la zone de compression, la distance séparant deux chariots consécutifs suivant la direction de transport est plus courte dans la zone intermédiaire de compression que dans la zone aval d'emballage.In a first variant, where two consecutive volumes are brought closer to each other when entering the compression zone, the distance separating two consecutive carriages in the direction of transport is shorter in the intermediate compression zone that in the region downstream packaging.
A cet effet, l'invention propose d'utiliser un système d'entraînement dans lequel la longueur effective du train de chariots est augmentée dans la zone aval d'emballage. La différence de longueur effective du train de chariots peut être obtenue en faisant suivre à la portion de chaîne reliant deux chariots consécutifs un trajet de chaîne en forme de ligne brisée dans la zone intermédiaire de compression, et en permettant à cette même portion de chaîne de suivre un trajet rectiligne dans la zone aval d'emballage.To this end, the invention proposes to use a drive system in which the effective length of the train of carriages is increased in the downstream packaging area. The difference in effective length of the carriage train can be obtained by making the chain portion connecting two consecutive carriages follow a chain path in the form of a broken line in the intermediate compression zone, and by allowing this same chain portion to follow a straight path in the downstream packaging area.
Dans une deuxième variante, où écartement entre les chariots (mesuré suivant la direction de transport) ne varie pas le long de la ligne de conditionnement, l'invention prévoit des moyens pour décaler la position de la surface de pressage dans le sens du transport, par rapport au chariot qui la porte dans la zone aval d'emballage en amont des moyens pour lier entre elles les bandes de film d'emballage. D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront de la description détaillée qui va suivre faite en regard des dessins annexés sur lesquels :In a second variant, where the distance between the carriages (measured along the direction of transport) does not vary along the packaging line, the invention provides means for shifting the position of the pressing surface in the direction of transport, relative to the carriage which carries it in the downstream packaging zone upstream of the means for bonding the strips of packaging film to each other. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings in which:
- la figure 1 représente une vue schématique en coupe d'une machine de conditionnement selon l'art antérieur,FIG. 1 represents a schematic sectional view of a packaging machine according to the prior art,
- la figure 2 représente une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'une machine de conditionnement selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,FIG. 2 represents a schematic view in longitudinal section of a packaging machine according to a first embodiment of the invention,
- la figure 3 représente à échelle agrandie le système d'entraînement de la machine de la figure 2, - la figure 4 représente une vue partielle en coupe selon l'axe IV-IV de la figure 3,- Figure 3 shows on an enlarged scale the drive system of the machine of Figure 2, - Figure 4 shows a partial sectional view along the axis IV-IV of Figure 3,
- la figure 5 représente une vue partielle en coupe selon l'axe V-V de la figure 3,FIG. 5 represents a partial sectional view along the axis V-V of FIG. 3,
- la figure 6 représente une vue partielle en coupe selon l'axe VI-VI de la figure 3,FIG. 6 represents a partial sectional view along the axis VI-VI of FIG. 3,
- la figure 7 représente une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'une machine de conditionnement selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention.- Figure 7 shows a schematic view in longitudinal section of a packaging machine according to a second embodiment of the invention.
Sur les figures sont représentés uniquement les éléments fonctionnels suffisant à la compréhension de l'invention. Des éléments tels que structure, bâtis, moteurs, mécanismes de synchronisation, bien connus de l'homme du métier n'ont pas été représentés pour faciliter la lecture des figures. Egalement par souci de clarté, certains éléments sont volontairement représentés à une taille supérieure ou inférieure à l'échelle générale de la figure. La figure 1 représente une ligne de conditionnement de volumes de matériaux compressible selon l'art antérieur connu de WO-A-96/36536 réalisant le conditionnement de piles de panneaux de laine minérale.In the figures are shown only the functional elements sufficient for understanding the invention. Elements such as structure, frames, motors, synchronization mechanisms, well known to those skilled in the art have not been shown to facilitate reading of the figures. Also for the sake of clarity, certain elements are voluntarily represented at a size greater or less than the general scale of the figure. FIG. 1 represents a line for packaging volumes of compressible materials according to the prior art known from WO-A-96/36536 carrying out the packaging of stacks of panels of mineral wool.
Elle comprend essentiellement deux transporteurs convergents symétriques 1 , 2 disposés horizontalement l'un au-dessus de l'autre. Chaque transporteur porte un train de dix surfaces de pressage inférieuresIt essentially comprises two symmetrical converging conveyors 1, 2 arranged horizontally one above the other. Each transporter carries a train of ten lower pressing surfaces
3 et supérieures 4 consistant en des plaques planes horizontales portées par un chariot 5, respectivement 6. Les chariots 5, 6 sont animés d'un mouvement synchrone entraînés par une chaîne 7, 8 à une vitesse fixée ajustable selon les besoins du procédé de conditionnement.3 and above 4 consisting of flat horizontal plates carried by a carriage 5, respectively 6. The carriages 5, 6 are driven in a synchronous movement driven by a chain 7, 8 at a fixed speed adjustable according to the needs of the packaging process.
Le dispositif de conditionnement inclut trois zones successives : une zone amont 9 de chargement, une zone intermédiaire 10 de compression qui commence ici à l'entrée des transporteurs et dans laquelle les chariots 5, 6 sont guidés suivant une trajectoire inclinée rapprochant les plaques 3, 4, et une zone aval 11 d'emballage dans laquelle les chariots 5, 6 sont guidés suivant une trajectoire horizontale.The packaging device includes three successive zones: an upstream loading zone 9, an intermediate compression zone 10 which begins here at the entrance to the conveyors and in which the carriages 5, 6 are guided along an inclined path bringing the plates 3 together, 4, and a downstream packaging area 11 in which the carriages 5, 6 are guided along a horizontal path.
Pendant l'opération de compression, les chariots 5, 6 sont tirés par les chaînes 7, 8 auxquelles ils sont liés par des axes passant chacun dans le creux d'un maillon de la chaîne tandis qu'un galet lisse centré sur l'axe permet de guider la chaîne. A l'arrière du chariot, de chaque côté sont prévus des moyens de guidage sous la forme de galets 12, 13 qui suivent un guide 14, 15 (ici un rail). Les trajets suivis par les chaînes 7, 8 et par les guides 14, 15 sont tels que lors de la progression des chariots 5, 6, les plaques 3, 4 restent sensiblement horizontales tout en progressant l'une vers l'autre.During the compression operation, the carriages 5, 6 are pulled by the chains 7, 8 to which they are linked by axes each passing through the hollow of a chain link while a smooth roller centered on the axis helps guide the chain. At the rear of the carriage, on each side are provided guide means in the form of rollers 12, 13 which follow a guide 14, 15 (here a rail). The paths followed by the chains 7, 8 and by the guides 14, 15 are such that during the progression of the carriages 5, 6, the plates 3, 4 remain substantially horizontal while progressing towards each other.
Dans ce mode de réalisation, les plaques restent toujours parallèles entre elles de sorte qu'il ne se produit pas de glissement entre les plaques et le matériau qu'elles compriment.In this embodiment, the plates always remain parallel to each other so that there is no sliding between the plates and the material which they compress.
A la fin de la compression (qui concerne sur la figure deux chariots en bas et deux en haut) le matériau comprimé est transporté sans changement de volume.At the end of the compression (which concerns in the figure two carriages at the bottom and two at the top) the compressed material is transported without change of volume.
Au bout de la ligne de conditionnement, les chariots sont extraits de la trajectoire qu'ils suivaient pendant la compression et repartent dans l'autre sens, poussés par les chaînes et guidés par une deuxième partie de guide, respectivement 16 en dessous du guide 14, et 17 au-dessus du guide 15.At the end of the packaging line, the carriages are extracted from the path they followed during compression and set off again in the other direction, pushed by the chains and guided by a second guide part, respectively 16 below the guide 14 , and 17 above the guide 15.
A l'entrée de la machine, associé à chaque transporteur, se trouve un système d'alimentation en film d'emballage 18. Le film est issu de deux rouleaux non représentés. Il possède une largeur précise qui au cours des essais était pour chacun des films 18 égale à la moitié du périmètre du volume comprimé augmentée de quelques centimètres pour permettre un recouvrement des films constituant chacun, la moitié de la gaine qui emballe et emprisonne le produit comprimé. Les films 18 sont guidés par des rouleaux 19 de manière à entrer en contact respectivement avec les plateaux 3, 4 des premiers chariots 5, 6 dans la zone de chargement. A son arrivée dans la machine, une pile 20 de panneaux 21 est déposée sur la bande de film 18 au contact d'une plaque horizontale inférieure 3.At the entrance to the machine, associated with each conveyor, is a packaging film supply system 18. The film comes from two rollers, not shown. It has a precise width which during the tests was for each of the films 18 equal to half the perimeter of the compressed volume increased by a few centimeters to allow recovery of the films constituting each, half of the sheath which packages and traps the compressed product. . The films 18 are guided by rollers 19 so as to come into contact respectively with the plates 3, 4 of the first carriages 5, 6 in the loading area. On its arrival in the machine, a stack 20 of panels 21 is deposited on the film strip 18 in contact with a lower horizontal plate 3.
Sur la plaque inférieure 3, le film d'emballage déborde latéralement des produits à comprimer (et même éventuellement de la plaque 3 elle-même). En partie haute, les bords de la bande se rabattent de chaque côté de la pile 20.On the lower plate 3, the packaging film projects laterally from the products to be compressed (and even possibly from the plate 3 itself). In the upper part, the edges of the strip fold over on each side of the stack 20.
L'entraînement du film 18 se fait de préférence uniquement par le mouvement des chariots, ce qui assure que le film se tende longitudinalement sous et sur la pile 20 de panneaux 21 de laine minérale. Sur la figure 1 , les derniers chariots sont dans la zone de compression, les deux premiers dans la zone d'emballage, là où la longueur de film entre plaques ne varie plus, et le cinquième, au milieu, à la transition entre les deux zones. Dans la zone d'emballage sont disposés au niveau du plan de symétrie de la machine, de chaque côté, des conformateurs non représentés dont le rôle est de mettre en place les bords des bandes de film 18, ainsi que des moyens de solidarisation 22, notamment par soudure autogène de films plastiques adaptés au moyen de buses à air chaud (température comprise entre 400 et 650°C pour un film en polyethylene haute densité), ou bien par apport d'une colle extérieureThe film 18 is preferably driven only by the movement of the carriages, which ensures that the film stretches longitudinally under and on the stack 20 of panels 21 of mineral wool. In Figure 1, the last carriages are in the compression zone, the first two in the packaging zone, where the length of film between plates no longer varies, and the fifth, in the middle, at the transition between the two zones. In the packaging area are arranged at the plane of symmetry of the machine, on each side, not shown shapers whose role is to set up the edges of the film strips 18, as well as securing means 22, in particular by autogenous welding of suitable plastic films by means of hot air nozzles (temperature between 400 and 650 ° C for a high density polyethylene film), or by adding an external adhesive
(hot melt notamment) ou d'un adhésif double face.(hot melt in particular) or a double-sided adhesive.
L'utilisation d'un film résistant et à haut module, c'est à dire qui ne s'allonge que très peu sous charge permet de garder à la pile de matelas de fibres minérales une taille finale qui s'écarte peu de la taille qu'elle a atteinte à la fin de la compression.The use of a resistant and high modulus film, that is to say that it does not stretch very much under load, makes it possible to keep the pile of mineral fiber mattresses a final size which deviates little from the size that it reached at the end of compression.
A la sortie de la ligne, les paquets de matériau emballés sont entraînés par un transporteur 23. Ils sont associés en chapelet dans la gaine d'emballage. Entre deux paquets, la gaine se présente comme un boyau vide. La machine peut comprendre à ce niveau un dispositif connu non représenté qui permet de souder et/ou de couper automatiquement les films pour donner aux paquets de matériaux emballés leur autonomie et éventuellement les protéger si l'on ferme l'emballage.At the exit of the line, the packets of packaged material are driven by a conveyor 23. They are associated in a chain in the packaging sheath. Between two packages, the sheath appears as an empty hose. The machine can understand at this level not represented known device for welding and / or automatically cut the films to give material wrapped packages autonomy and possibly protect them if we close the package.
Le chargement de la pile 20 entre deux chariots 5a, 6a se fait alors que les chariots 5b, 6b qui les précèdent entrent dans la zone de compression, de sorte que le film 18 est tendu entre la pile 20a et la pile précédente 20b en cours de compression. La longueur L de film 18 entraînée par ces deux piles est donc supérieure à l'espacement horizontal des chariots 5a et 5b, respectivement 6a et 6b. Cette portion de film reste tendue tant que les chariots 5,6 progressent à la même vitesse et à espacement constant, dans la zone de compression.The loading of the stack 20 between two carriages 5a, 6a is done while the carriages 5b, 6b which precede them enter the compression zone, so that the film 18 is stretched between the stack 20a and the previous stack 20b during compression. The length L of film 18 entrained by these two stacks is therefore greater than the horizontal spacing of the carriages 5a and 5b, respectively 6a and 6b. This portion of film remains stretched as long as the carriages 5, 6 progress at the same speed and at constant spacing, in the compression zone.
Par contre, à l'entrée de la pile 20b dans la zone d'emballage, l'espacement constant entre les chariots qui progressent toujours à la même vitesse constante mais cette fois suivant une trajectoire horizontale, ne permet plus au film 18 d'être tendu. La portion de film 18 entre deux volumes consécutifs forme au contraire un mou qui empêche les deux bandes de film d'être correctement solidarisées par les moyens prévus à cet effet, et ce malgré la présence des éléments conformateurs.On the other hand, at the entry of the stack 20b into the packaging area, the constant spacing between the carriages which always progress at the same constant speed but this time following a horizontal trajectory, no longer allows the film 18 to be tense. The portion of film 18 between two consecutive volumes, on the contrary, forms a slack which prevents the two strips of film from being correctly secured by the means provided for this purpose, despite the presence of the shaping elements.
Le perfectionnement apporté par l'invention permet d'empêcher ou de rattraper la formation de ce mou et par conséquent de faciliter l'opération de solidarisation des films d'emballage.The improvement provided by the invention makes it possible to prevent or catch up with the formation of this slack and therefore to facilitate the operation of joining the packaging films.
Un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention est représenté sur la figure 2 où l'on a conservé les références de la figure 1 pour désigner des éléments identiques.A first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2 where we have kept the references of Figure 1 to designate identical elements.
Le dispositif de la figure 2 se distingue de celui de l'art antérieur par le fait qu'il comporte un système pour faire varier l'espacement horizontal des chariots 5a, 6a, 5b, 6b le long de la ligne de conditionnement de telle sorte que la distance D entre l'extrémité arrière de la pile 20b et l'extrémité avant de la pile 20a placée à sa suite soit constamment égale à la longueur L. Le film d'emballage est donc tendu tout au long de la ligne de conditionnement. La modification se situe au niveau du système d'entraînement qui comporte des moyens pour faire varier la longueur effective du train de chariots entre deux chariots consécutifs 5a, 5b, respectivement 6a, 6b, sur le transporteur 1 , respectivement 2. Ce système est représenté plus en détail sur la figure 3.The device of FIG. 2 differs from that of the prior art in that it includes a system for varying the horizontal spacing of the carriages 5a, 6a, 5b, 6b along the packaging line so that that the distance D between the rear end of the stack 20b and the front end of the stack 20a placed after it is constantly equal to the length L. The packaging film is therefore stretched all along the packaging line . The modification is located at the level of the drive system which comprises means for varying the effective length of the train of carriages between two consecutive carriages 5a, 5b, respectively 6a, 6b, on the conveyor 1, respectively 2. This system is shown in more detail in Figure 3.
Les chariots 5,6 sont toujours liés aux chaînes 7,8 par des axes passant dans le creux d'un maillon 24.25 de la chaîne, équipé d'un galet lisse de guidage qui coopère avec un rail de guidage incliné 26,27. Le système d'entraînement particulier va être décrit maintenant uniquement en ce qui concerne la chaîne 7, mais il est entendu qu'un système identique existe sur la chaîne 8. Sur la portion de chaîne 28 située entre deux chariots consécutifs 5a, 5b, un autre maillon 29, qui est ici l'avant-derπier de la portion de chaîne 28 (mais il pourrait en être autrement), est lui-même pourvu de deux galets lisses, visibles en particulier sur la vue en coupe de la figure 5 : un premier galet 30 est centré sur l'axe du maillon 29 et coopère avec un second rail de guidage incliné 31 parallèle au rail 26, situé au-dessus de ce dernier dans le même plan vertical ; un galet supérieur 32 est fixé au bout d'un bras 33 vertical passant par l'axe du maillon 29 et coopère avec un guide 34 disposé au-dessus du rail supérieur 31. De façon tout à fait équivalente le second rail 31 et le guide 34 peuvent être disposés au dessous du rail 26.The carriages 5,6 are always linked to the chains 7,8 by axes passing through the hollow of a link 24.25 of the chain, equipped with a smooth guide roller which cooperates with an inclined guide rail 26,27. The particular drive system will now be described only with regard to the chain 7, but it is understood that an identical system exists on the chain 8. On the chain portion 28 located between two consecutive carriages 5a, 5b, another link 29, which is here the front end of the chain portion 28 (but it could be otherwise), is itself provided with two smooth rollers, visible in particular in the sectional view of FIG. 5: a first roller 30 is centered on the axis of the link 29 and cooperates with a second inclined guide rail 31 parallel to the rail 26, located above this last in the same vertical plane; an upper roller 32 is fixed to the end of a vertical arm 33 passing through the axis of the link 29 and cooperates with a guide 34 disposed above the upper rail 31. In a completely equivalent manner, the second rail 31 and the guide 34 can be arranged below the rail 26.
Le fonctionnement du système est illustré sur la figure 4 qui représente une vue en coupe selon l'axe IV-IV de la machine de la figure 3 à un autre instant du fonctionnement, c'est-à-dire à un instant où un chariot 5 est en position extrême à l'entrée de la zone 10 représentée en pointillé sur la figure 3 : lorsqu'un maillon 29 arrive à l'entrée de la zone 10 de compression le galet supérieur 32 s'engage sur une première portion 35 de guide incliné qu'il suit, amenant le maillon 29 jusqu'à une position haute.The operation of the system is illustrated in Figure 4 which shows a sectional view along the axis IV-IV of the machine of Figure 3 at another time of operation, that is to say at a time when a carriage 5 is in an extreme position at the entrance to the area 10 shown in phantom in Figure 3: when a link 29 reaches the entrance 10 of the compression zone the upper roller 32 s' engages a first portion 35 of inclined guide which it follows, bringing the link 29 to a high position.
Dans cette position haute, représentée sur la figure 5, le galet 30 s'engage dans le rail de guidage supérieur 31 , alors que le maillon 24 suivant reste au niveau du rail de guidage 26.In this high position, shown in FIG. 5, the roller 30 engages in the upper guide rail 31, while the next link 24 remains at the level of the guide rail 26.
La portion de chaîne 28 entre deux chariots 5a, 5b consécutifs prend alors une forme de ligne brisée. L'écartement entre le rail 26 et le rail supérieur 31 est avantageusement tel que la portion de chaîne 28 entre ces deux rails (c'est-à-dire comprise entre le maillon 24 et le maillon 29) est horizontale, de préférence de la longueur d'un chariot.The chain portion 28 between two consecutive carriages 5a, 5b then takes the form of a broken line. The spacing between the rail 26 and the upper rail 31 is advantageously such that the chain portion 28 between these two rails (that is to say between the link 24 and the link 29) is horizontal, preferably of the length of a carriage.
Pendant le passage du maillon 29 en position haute, le chariot 5a entrant dans la zone 10 de compression subit une accélération temporaire qui le rapproche du chariot 5b précédent qui est dans la zone 9 de chargement. Comme précédemment, le film 18 entraîné par le chariot 5b se tend derrière lui avec sensiblement la même inclinaison que la partie inclinée de la portion de chaîne brisée. La chaîne 7 conserve cette conformation de ligne brisée dans toute la zone 10 de compression. Entraînée à vitesse constante, elle entraîne à son tour les chariots à vitesse constante et espacement constant, le film 18 restant tendu entre deux chariots consécutifs.During the passage of the link 29 in the high position, the carriage 5a entering the compression zone 10 undergoes a temporary acceleration which brings it closer to the preceding carriage 5b which is in the loading zone 9. As before, the film 18 driven by the carriage 5b stretches behind it with substantially the same inclination as the inclined part of the broken chain portion. The chain 7 retains this broken line conformation throughout the compression zone 10. Driven at constant speed, it turn the carriages at constant speed and constant spacing, the film 18 remaining stretched between two consecutive carriages.
La figure 6 illustre le guidage de la chaîne entre les zones 10 de compression et 1 1 d'emballage. A l'extrémité de sortie de la zone 10 de compression, le rail supérieur 31 prend une orientation horizontale alors que le railFigure 6 illustrates the guide of the chain between the compression zones 10 and 1 1 of packaging. At the outlet end of the compression zone 10, the upper rail 31 takes a horizontal orientation while the rail
26 reste incliné. Le rail supérieur 31 s'interrompt à son tour un peu plus loin pour permettre à la chaîne 7 de rejoindre le niveau supérieur atteint par le maillon 29.26 remains tilted. The upper rail 31 in turn is interrupted a little further to allow the chain 7 to reach the upper level reached by the link 29.
A ce moment, la chaîne est guidée par le galet supérieur 32 qui circule dans une nouvelle portion de guide 36 horizontale cette fois, dont l'extrémité 37 correspond à la fin de la zone 10 de compression.At this moment, the chain is guided by the upper roller 32 which circulates in a new horizontal guide portion 36 this time, the end 37 of which corresponds to the end of the compression zone 10.
Dans le prolongement débute la zone 1 1 d'emballage, dans laquelle la chaîne ayant atteint le niveau supérieur est guidée horizontalement par les galets 26,30 des maillons 24,29, qui circulent dans un rail unique horizontal 38 en continuité avec le rail 26. A l'entrée de la zone 1 1 d'emballage, la portion de chaîne 28 entre les deux chariots consécutifs reprend donc une forme rectiligne, en imposant au chariot 5a un ralentissement temporaire qui l'éloigné horizontalement du chariot 5b précédent, lequel se trouve dans la zone de compression, de façon à maintenir tendue la portion de film 18 entraînée entre ces deux chariots. Dans le mode de réalisation de la figure 2, le maintien de cette tension est rendu possible par le système d'entraînement des chariots qui assure que la distance entre l'extrémité arrière 39 d'une pile de panneaux sur la plaque 3b et l'extrémité avant 40 de la pile sur la plaque 3a suivante du même train reste constante, fixée par la longueur de chaîne invariable entre le maillon 29 et le maillon 24 attaché au chariot 5a suivant.In the extension begins the packaging area 1 1, in which the chain having reached the upper level is guided horizontally by the rollers 26,30 of the links 24,29, which circulate in a single horizontal rail 38 in continuity with the rail 26 At the entrance to the packaging area 11, the chain portion 28 between the two consecutive carriages therefore resumes a rectilinear shape, by imposing on the carriage 5a a temporary slowdown which moves it horizontally away from the preceding carriage 5b, which located in the compression zone, so as to keep the stretch of film 18 entrained between these two carriages taut. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the maintenance of this tension is made possible by the carriage drive system which ensures that the distance between the rear end 39 of a stack of panels on the plate 3b and the front end 40 of the stack on the next plate 3a of the same train remains constant, fixed by the length of invariable chain between the link 29 and the link 24 attached to the following carriage 5a.
Dans le mode de réalisation de la figure 7, au lieu de maintenir cette distance en éloignant les chariots eux-mêmes à l'entrée dans la zone d'emballage, on déplace simplement les plaques inférieure 3 et supérieure 4.In the embodiment of FIG. 7, instead of maintaining this distance by moving the carriages themselves away when entering the packaging area, the lower plates 3 and upper plates 4 are simply moved.
Le chargement et la compression se font de la même façon que dans la machine de la figure 1 , à ceci près que l'espacement horizontal de deux chariots consécutifs est cette fois invariable.The loading and compression are done in the same way as in the machine of figure 1, except that the horizontal spacing of two consecutive carriages is this time invariable.
A la différence du système de la machine de la figure 2, le système d'entraînement à chaîne de la figure 7 ne comporte plus qu'un rail de guidage en deux parties 26,38 continues, la portion de chaîne 28 entre deux chariots étant rectiligne hormis à la jonction entre les deux parties 26 , 38 de rail.Unlike the system of the machine of Figure 2, the drive system chain of figure 7 no longer has a guide rail two continuous parts 26, 38, the chain portion 28 between two carriages being rectilinear except at the junction between the two parts 26, 38 of rail.
La modification par rapport à la machine connue de l'art antérieur se situe au niveau des chariots eux-mêmes : les plaques inférieure 3 et supérieure 4 sont montées sur les chariots 5,6 avec un degré de liberté en translation dans la direction de la flèche F. Dans la zone de compression, ce degré de liberté peut être bloqué par tout moyen approprié. La simple force de pressage est suffisante à cet effet mais il peut être préférable de prévoir un moyen de blocage additionnel quelconque. La machine comprend en outre des moyens pour, le cas échéant débloquer la plaque et, faire avancer la plaque lorsqu'un chariot parvient dans la zone d'emballage. Ces moyens peuvent être purement mécaniques, tels que par exemple une came en rotation dans un plan vertical susceptible de venir en appui sur une butée latérale attachée à la plaque. Dans une variante, les chariots 5, 6 peuvent être équipés par exemple de vérins commandés selon les paramètres de fonctionnement de la machine pour pousser les plaques 3, 4 en avant de la distance nécessaire dans la direction de transport, lorsque les chariots atteignent un emplacement déterminé de la zone d'emballage. Dans le mode de réalisation représenté sur la figure 7, ces moyens produisent leur effet juste à l'entrée de la zone 11 d'emballage, de telle sorte que l'on empêche le film 18 de former un mou à la jonction des deux zones 10,11.The modification compared to the known machine of the prior art is located at the level of the carriages themselves: the lower plates 3 and upper 4 are mounted on the carriages 5,6 with a degree of freedom in translation in the direction of the arrow F. In the compression zone, this degree of freedom can be blocked by any appropriate means. The simple pressing force is sufficient for this purpose, but it may be preferable to provide any additional locking means. The machine further comprises means for, if necessary unlocking the plate and, advancing the plate when a carriage reaches the packaging area. These means can be purely mechanical, such as for example a cam rotating in a vertical plane capable of coming to bear on a lateral stop attached to the plate. In a variant, the carriages 5, 6 can be equipped for example with jacks controlled according to the operating parameters of the machine to push the plates 3, 4 ahead of the necessary distance in the direction of transport, when the carriages reach a location determined from the packing area. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, these means produce their effect just at the entrance to the packaging zone 11, so that the film 18 is prevented from forming a slack at the junction of the two zones 10.11.
En variante, ces moyens pourraient être installés plus en aval, mais toujours en amont des moyens 22 de thermosoudure, le film étant momentanément distendu au début de la zone d'emballage.As a variant, these means could be installed further downstream, but still upstream from the heat-sealing means 22, the film being momentarily stretched at the start of the packaging zone.
Dans une autre variante, où l'on met deux piles de panneaux en place entre les bandes de film d'emballage dans la zone de chargement, on prévoit de laisser entre deux piles consécutives une longueur L de film supérieure à l'espacement horizontal des chariots 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a. Du fait de la progression à espacement constant des chariots, la longueur L de film se tend automatiquement lors du rapprochement des surfaces de pressages dans la direction de pressage dans la zone de compression. L'invention, qui vient d'être décrite dans le cas particulier d'une compression symétrique, n'est nullement limitée à ce mode de réalisation et s'applique à toutes les techniques de compression connues pour le conditionnement de matériaux compressibles. In another variant, where two stacks of panels are placed between the strips of packaging film in the loading area, provision is made to leave between two consecutive stacks a length L of film greater than the horizontal spacing of the carriages 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a. Due to the progression at constant spacing of the carriages, the length L of film is automatically stretched when the pressing surfaces are brought together in the pressing direction in the compression zone. The invention, which has just been described in the particular case of symmetrical compression, is in no way limited to this embodiment and applies to all known compression techniques for the packaging of compressible materials.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé de conditionnement en continu de volumes de matériau compressible comportant :1. A method of continuously packaging volumes of compressible material comprising:
(A) une étape de chargement dans laquelle les volumes sont présentés à la suite l'un de l'autre entre deux bandes continues de film d'emballage en laissant entre deux volumes consécutifs une longueur L de film d'emballage sur chaque bande, et chaque volume et les portions de film d'emballage en regard avec lui sont placés entre deux surfaces de pressage,(A) a loading step in which the volumes are presented one after the other between two continuous strips of packaging film, leaving between two consecutive volumes a length L of packaging film on each strip, and each volume and the portions of packaging film facing it are placed between two pressing surfaces,
(B) une étape de compression dans laquelle les surfaces de pressage sont déplacées ensemble suivant une direction de transport, entraînant avec elles le film d'emballage et le volume de matériau, tandis qu'on rapproche les surfaces de pressage l'une de l'autre suivant une direction de pressage transversale à la direction de transport, et(B) a compression step in which the pressing surfaces are moved together in a direction of transport, carrying with them the packaging film and the volume of material, while the pressing surfaces are brought closer to one another. other in a direction of pressing transverse to the direction of transport, and
(C) une étape d'emballage dans laquelle on lie les bandes de film d'emballage entre elles de part et d'autre des volumes, caractérisé en ce que, avant ou pendant qu'on lie les deux bandes de film de part et d'autre d'un volume V1 à l'étape (C) d'emballage, on ajuste la distance entre l'extrémité arrière du volume V1 et l'extrémité avant du volume V2 placé à sa suite, de façon à ce qu'elle soit égale à la longueur L de film d'emballage. (C) a packaging step in which the strips of packaging film are bonded to each other on either side of the volumes, characterized in that, before or during the two strips of film are linked together and other of a volume V1 in the packaging step (C), the distance between the rear end of the volume V1 and the front end of the volume V2 placed after it is adjusted, so that it is equal to the length L of packaging film.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1 , caractérisé en ce que l'on maintient ladite distance constamment égale à la longueur L pendant toute l'étape (B) de compression et dans l'étape (C) d'emballage jusqu'à la liaison des deux bandes de film.2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the said distance is constantly maintained equal to the length L throughout the compression step (B) and in the packaging step (C) up to the connection. of the two film strips.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'au cours de l'étape (B) de compression, les surfaces de pressage restent constamment parallèles deux à deux, la direction de pressage restant parallèle à elle-même au cours du transport.3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that during the compression step (B), the pressing surfaces remain constantly parallel in pairs, the pressing direction remaining parallel to itself during of transportation.
4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'au cours de l'étape (C), avant de lier les deux bandes de film, on fait subir au volume V1 maintenu entre les surfaces de pressage une accélération temporaire dans la direction de transport.4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during step (C), before binding the two strips of film, the volume V1 maintained between the pressing surfaces is subjected to an acceleration temporary in the direction of transport.
5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce qu'entre l'étape (B) et l'étape (C) ou au cours de l'étape (C), on fait subir au volume V2 maintenu entre les surfaces de pressage un ralentissement temporaire dans la direction de transport.5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that between step (B) and step (C) or during step (C), is subjected at the volume V2 maintained between the pressing surfaces a temporary slowing in the direction of transport.
6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce qu'au début de l'étape (B) de compression, on fait subir au volume V2 maintenu entre les surfaces de pressage une accélération temporaire dans la direction du transport.6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that at the start of the compression step (B), the volume V2 maintained between the pressing surfaces is subjected to a temporary acceleration in the direction of transport.
7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'au cours de l'étape (A) de chargement, au moins deux volumes de matériau sont transportés simultanément sans compression, chacun entre deux portions de film d'emballage, la distance entre l'extrémité arrière du volume V1 et l'extrémité avant du volume V2 placé à sa suite étant égale à la longueur L de film d'emballage, et en ce que cette distance est maintenue constante depuis l'étape (A) de chargement jusqu'à l'étape d'emballage (C).7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the loading step (A), at least two volumes of material are transported simultaneously without compression, each between two portions of packaging film , the distance between the rear end of the volume V1 and the front end of the volume V2 placed after it being equal to the length L of packaging film, and in that this distance is kept constant from step (A ) from loading to the packing step (C).
8. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce qu'au cours de l'étape (A) de chargement, au moins deux volumes de matériau sont transportés simultanément sans compression, chacun entre deux portions de film d'emballage, la distance entre l'extrémité arrière du volume V1 et l'extrémité avant du volume V2 placé à sa suite étant inférieure à la longueur L de film d'emballage, et en ce que l'on augmente ensuite cette distance de façon à ce qu'elle soit égale à la longueur L au moins au moment de lier les deux bandes de film à l'étape (C). 8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that during the loading step (A), at least two volumes of material are transported simultaneously without compression, each between two portions of film packaging, the distance between the rear end of the volume V1 and the front end of the volume V2 placed behind it being less than the length L of packaging film, and in that this distance is then increased so as to that it is equal to the length L at least when binding the two strips of film in step (C).
9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la largeur des bandes de film d'emballage leur permet de se recouvrir sur les côtés du volume de matériau comprimé et en ce que à l'étape (C) on lie les bandes de film d'emballage sur les côtés du volume de matériau orientés suivant la direction de transport. 9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width of the strips of packaging film allows them to overlap on the sides of the volume of compressed material and in that in step (C) ties the strips of packaging film on the sides of the volume of material oriented in the direction of transport.
10. Dispositif de conditionnement en continu de volumes (20) de matériau compressible comprenant deux transporteurs convergents (1 ,2) animés d'un mouvement synchrone dans une direction de transport, disposés en regard l'un de l'autre et portant chacun un train de surfaces (3,4) de pressage comportant une aire de réception du volume, ce dispositif incluant : - une zone amont (9) de chargement dans laquelle un distributeur d'une bande de film d'emballage (18) est associé à chaque convoyeur (1 ,2) et disposé de façon à diriger la bande (18) au contact des surfaces de pressage (3,4) correspondantes, - une zone intermédiaire (10) de compression comprenant des moyens (14,15) pour rapprocher les surfaces de pressage (3,4) l'une de l'autre,10. Device for continuously packaging volumes (20) of compressible material comprising two converging conveyors (1, 2) animated in a synchronous movement in a direction of transport, arranged opposite one another and each carrying a pressing surface train (3,4) comprising a volume reception area, this device including: - an upstream loading zone (9) in which a distributor of a strip of packaging film (18) is associated with each conveyor (1, 2) and arranged so as to direct the strip (18) in contact with the corresponding pressing surfaces (3,4), - an intermediate compression zone (10) comprising means (14,15) for bringing the pressing surfaces (3,4) closer to one another,
- une zone aval (11) d'emballage dans laquelle les convoyeurs (1 ,2) sont parallèles, équipée de moyens (22) pour lier les deux bandes (18) de film d'emballage, caractérisé en ce que dans un même train de surfaces de pressage (3,4) la distance entre l'extrémité arrière de l'aire de réception d'une surface de pressage (3b,4b) et l'extrémité avant de l'aire de réception de la surface de pressage suivante (3a,4a) dans une partie de la zone (11) d'emballage située en amont des moyens (22) pour lier le film, est au moins égale à cette même distance dans la zone (10) de compression.- a downstream packaging zone (11) in which the conveyors (1, 2) are parallel, equipped with means (22) for binding the two strips (18) of packaging film, characterized in that in the same train of pressing surfaces (3,4) the distance between the rear end of the receiving area of a pressing surface (3b, 4b) and the front end of the receiving area of the next pressing surface (3a, 4a) in a part of the packaging zone (11) located upstream of the means (22) for binding the film, is at least equal to this same distance in the compression zone (10).
11. Dispositif selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que ladite distance est constante dans toute la zone (10) de compression et identique dans la partie de la zone (11) d'emballage située en amont des moyens pour lier les bandes de film.11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said distance is constant throughout the compression zone (10) and identical in the part of the packaging zone (11) located upstream of the means for binding the strips of film .
12. Dispositif selon la revendication 10 ou 11 , caractérisé en ce que les surfaces de pressage (3,4) sont parallèles entre elles et la direction de pressage est parallèle à elle-même dans la zone (10) de compression.12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the pressing surfaces (3,4) are mutually parallel and the pressing direction is parallel to itself in the compression zone (10).
13. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 12, caractérisé en ce que chaque convoyeur (1 ,2) comporte un train de chariots13. Device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that each conveyor (1, 2) comprises a train of carriages
(5,6) supportant les surfaces de pressage (3,4) et comportant un moyen de guidage tel qu'un galet (12,13) circulant sur un guide (14,15) tel qu'un rail présentant une partie inclinée dans la zone (10) de compression et une partie parallèle à la direction de transport dans la zone (11) d'emballage, chaque chariot étant en outre relié à un système d'entraînement à chaîne (7,8).(5,6) supporting the pressing surfaces (3,4) and comprising a guide means such as a roller (12,13) circulating on a guide (14,15) such as a rail having an inclined part in the compression zone (10) and a part parallel to the direction of transport in the packaging zone (11), each carriage being further connected to a chain drive system (7,8).
14. Dispositif selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce que la distance séparant deux chariots consécutifs (5a, 5b ; 6a, 6b) suivant la direction de transport est plus courte dans la zone (10) de compression que dans la zone (1 1 ) d'emballage. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the distance separating two consecutive carriages (5a, 5b; 6a, 6b) in the direction of transport is shorter in the compression zone (10) than in the zone (1 1 ) packaging.
1 5. Dispositif selon la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que le trajet de la portion de chaîne d'entraînement (28) entre deux chariots consécutifs (5a, 5b) a la forme d'une ligne brisée dans la zone (10) de compression et est rectiligne dans la zone (1 1 ) d'emballage. 1 5. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the path of the drive chain portion (28) between two consecutive carriages (5a, 5b) has the form of a broken line in the area (10) of compression and is straight in the packaging area (1 1).
16. Dispositif selon la revendication 15, caractérisé en ce que la zone (10) de compression est équipée d'un second guide (31) tel qu'un rail incliné parallèle au guide (26) et la portion de chaîne d'entraînement (28 ) entre deux chariots consécutifs (5a, 5b) comporte un maillon (29) équipé d'un moyen de guidage (30) tel qu'un galet circulant sur le second guide (31) dans la zone (10) de compression.16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the compression zone (10) is equipped with a second guide (31) such as an inclined rail parallel to the guide (26) and the portion of drive chain ( 28) between two consecutive carriages (5a, 5b) comprises a link (29) equipped with a guide means (30) such as a roller circulating on the second guide (31) in the compression zone (10).
17. Dispositif selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce que la distance séparant deux chariots consécutifs (5a, 5b) suivant la direction de transport est constante dans toute la zone (10) de compression et toute la zone (11) d'emballage et en ce qu'il comporte dans la zone (11) d'emballage en amont des moyens (22) pour lier les bandes de film d'emballage, des moyens pour décaler la position de la surface de pressage (3,4) dans le sens (F) du transport par rapport au chariot (5,6) qui la porte.17. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the distance separating two consecutive carriages (5a, 5b) in the direction of transport is constant throughout the compression zone (10) and the entire packaging zone (11) and in that it comprises, in the packaging zone (11) upstream of the means (22) for binding the strips of packaging film, means for shifting the position of the pressing surface (3,4) in the direction (F) of transport in relation to the carriage (5,6) which carries it.
18. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 17, caractérisé en ce que la zone (11) d'emballage comprend des moyens (22) pour lier en continu les bords des deux bandes (18) de film d'emballage sur les côtés des volumes (20) orientés suivant la direction de transport. 18. Device according to any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the packaging zone (11) comprises means (22) for continuously bonding the edges of the two strips (18) of packaging film on the sides of the volumes (20) oriented in the direction of transport.
EP98955733A 1997-11-25 1998-11-24 Method and device for packaging compressible materials Withdrawn EP0954475A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9714797A FR2771375A1 (en) 1997-11-25 1997-11-25 Continuous packaging procedure for volumes of compressible material
FR9714797 1997-11-25
PCT/FR1998/002513 WO1999026846A1 (en) 1997-11-25 1998-11-24 Method and device for packaging compressible materials

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0954475A1 true EP0954475A1 (en) 1999-11-10

Family

ID=9513768

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98955733A Withdrawn EP0954475A1 (en) 1997-11-25 1998-11-24 Method and device for packaging compressible materials

Country Status (16)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0954475A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001509762A (en)
KR (1) KR20000069726A (en)
CN (1) CN1244844A (en)
AR (1) AR017674A1 (en)
AU (1) AU1246799A (en)
BR (1) BR9806997A (en)
CA (1) CA2282080A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2771375A1 (en)
HR (1) HRP990217A2 (en)
HU (1) HUP0001258A2 (en)
NO (1) NO993576L (en)
PL (1) PL334706A1 (en)
TR (1) TR199901763T1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999026846A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA9810573B (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE60117911T2 (en) * 2000-12-20 2006-12-21 Tissue Machinery Co. S.P.A. Method and apparatus for packaging stacks of paper or the like in a wrapping film
AU2003233071A1 (en) * 2002-04-30 2003-11-17 Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll Gmbh And Co. Ohg Device for the production of a packaging unit and device for carrying out said method
US7306093B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2007-12-11 Eastman Chemical Company Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging
GB0524468D0 (en) * 2005-12-01 2006-01-11 Harrison Bedding Ltd Spring units
CN101883722A (en) * 2007-10-12 2010-11-10 普里吉斯创新包装公司 Inflation and sealing device with disengagement mechanism
IT1393004B1 (en) * 2009-02-13 2012-04-02 Dolphin Pack S R L PACKAGING MACHINE DESIGNED FOR THE COMPRESSION AND PACKAGING OF EXPANDED MATERIAL BLOCKS
DE102011107290A1 (en) * 2011-07-06 2013-01-10 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) Method and device for handling objects
DE102021102034A1 (en) * 2021-01-29 2022-08-04 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) Method and device for handling (flat) objects

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3717973A (en) 1971-01-08 1973-02-27 Certain Teed St Gobain Packaging compressible material
US3932983A (en) * 1974-09-26 1976-01-20 R. A. Jones & Co. Inc. Tamper and confiner for product bucket
KR900000821B1 (en) * 1983-05-24 1990-02-17 와다나베 고오조우 Apparatus of producing compressed roll of paper
US6042830A (en) 1992-08-05 2000-03-28 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Viral agent associated with mystery swine disease
ZA963563B (en) * 1995-05-15 1996-11-19 Saint Gobain Isover Process and device for compressing and packaging compressible products

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9926846A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO993576D0 (en) 1999-07-22
HRP990217A2 (en) 2000-04-30
WO1999026846A1 (en) 1999-06-03
BR9806997A (en) 2000-03-14
HUP0001258A2 (en) 2000-08-28
ZA9810573B (en) 1999-06-04
CN1244844A (en) 2000-02-16
PL334706A1 (en) 2000-03-13
AU1246799A (en) 1999-06-15
AR017674A1 (en) 2001-09-12
JP2001509762A (en) 2001-07-24
KR20000069726A (en) 2000-11-25
CA2282080A1 (en) 1999-06-03
NO993576L (en) 1999-07-22
TR199901763T1 (en) 2000-02-21
FR2771375A1 (en) 1999-05-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0825951B1 (en) Method and device for compressing and packaging compressible products
EP0938427B1 (en) Form, fill and seal machine for bags, with transverse sealing sections, and resulting bags
FR2460843A1 (en) MACHINE FOR FORMING PACKETS AND CLOSING THEM BY WELDING THE EDGES OF A TUBULAR ENVELOPE
FR2630995A1 (en) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CIRCUMFERENTIAL ENVELOPE LABELS TO CONTAINERS
FR2688470A1 (en) Method and device for packaging objects in a continuous process
FR2606366A1 (en) PASS-THROUGH PACKAGING PROCESS AND MACHINE
FR2612879A1 (en) APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING A MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF A FILM
FR2494177A1 (en) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEALING ITSELF THERMOPLASTIC FILM
FR2614603A1 (en) ROTARY JAWING ASSEMBLY FOR PACKAGING MACHINES, IN PARTICULAR FOR PACKAGING MACHINES FOR CONTINUOUS OR LIKE PACKAGING TUBULAR PACKAGING
FR2674818A1 (en) Machine for packaging articles by means of a heat-shrinkable material
EP0954475A1 (en) Method and device for packaging compressible materials
FR2467144A1 (en) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING PAPER CELLS IN CARDS FORMALLY FORMED
EP1369213A2 (en) Apparatus for separating attachment points connecting piled cardboard sheets
FR2580597A1 (en) Shock absorbing device for package and method and apparatus for manufacturing such a device
FR2615701A1 (en) METHOD FOR DEPOSITING CONTINUALLY EXTRUDED FORMATION ON CONTINUOUS DRIVE CONVEYOR AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD
FR2565201A1 (en) METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR PACKAGING A PACKET USING A PACKAGE SHEET AND PACKAGED PACKAGES OBTAINED
FR2716158A1 (en) Machine and method for packaging products in sealed reclosable packages.
FR2649953A1 (en) PACKING MACHINE, IN BOXES, GROUPS OF ARTICLES
FR2533892A1 (en) Chain of sacks made of plastic material
WO2019122756A1 (en) Welding device and method for welding heat-shrink films coating batches of objects in a bundling facility
CH680919A5 (en) Wrapping machine esp. for portions of food products in film wrapping
EP0298792B1 (en) Device for the application of a protective sheet to an alveolar plate
FR2458498A1 (en) METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR STACKING BAGS, IN PARTICULAR PLASTIC MATERIAL
FR2948922A1 (en) Products i.e. parallelepipedic shaped window joinery works, packing installation, has conveying device for conveying products on edge along conveying direction, and movable module moving between active position and isolated position
FR2648783A1 (en) METHOD FOR PACKAGING VARIOUS ARTICLES USING STRETCHABLE PLASTIC FILM AND MACHINE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19990708

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB IE IT LI NL SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: SI PAYMENT 19990708

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Withdrawal date: 20000527