EP1504997A1 - Method and machine wrapping products - Google Patents

Method and machine wrapping products Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1504997A1
EP1504997A1 EP04103739A EP04103739A EP1504997A1 EP 1504997 A1 EP1504997 A1 EP 1504997A1 EP 04103739 A EP04103739 A EP 04103739A EP 04103739 A EP04103739 A EP 04103739A EP 1504997 A1 EP1504997 A1 EP 1504997A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
package
forming
wrapping
product
gripping means
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP04103739A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1504997B1 (en
Inventor
Sandro Salicini
Stefano Cavallari
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.)
Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
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Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
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Publication of EP1504997A1 publication Critical patent/EP1504997A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
    • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
    • B65B11/28—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
    • 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
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/005—Packaging other articles presenting special problems packaging of confectionery
    • 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
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/24—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for shaping or reshaping completed packages

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a product wrapping method and machine.
  • the present invention may be used to particular advantage for wrapping an irregular- or complex-shaped confectionery product, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
  • the product To wrap a confectionery product, such a chocolate, the product, together with a respective normally rectangular sheet of wrapping material, is normally inserted inside a respective seat on a wheel, and fed cyclically through a number of folding stations.
  • the sheet of wrapping material is first folded into a U about the product so as to comprise two free portions, and the two free portions of the sheet of wrapping material are folded one on top of the other to produce a tubular wrapping having two open lateral ends, which are then folded onto the product to complete the wrapping.
  • the above wrapping method is widely used for wrapping confectionery products, by being fast and easy to implement, and by producing good-quality finished wrappings, but has been found to have drawbacks when applied to irregular- or complex-shaped confectionery products (i.e. differing widely from ordinary spherical, parallelepiped, or cylindrical shapes), in that, once the product is wrapped, the sheet of wrapping material tends to assume a regular configuration, as opposed to adopting the shape of the product inside.
  • wrapping machine 1 comprises a known input conveyor 5 for conveying a succession of products 2 to a wrapping station S1 where a respective sheet 3 of wrapping material is folded about each product 2 to produce a corresponding package 4; and, downstream from wrapping station S1, a succession of forming stations S2 (shown schematically in Figure 2) are arranged along a forming path P1 to compact sheet 3 of wrapping material of each package 4 about product 2 and mold sheet 3 of wrapping material to the shape of product 2.
  • Closed packages 4 are fed along forming path P1 and through forming stations S2 by a forming conveyor 6 having a number of forming seats 7; and, at the end of forming path P1, the closed packages 4 are transferred from seats 7 of forming conveyor 6 to a known output conveyor (not shown) of wrapping machine 1.
  • Wrapping station S1 comprises a wrapping drum 8 rotating in steps about a central axis 9 perpendicular to the Figure 1 plane, and which supports three wrapping seats 10 equally spaced about axis 9 and movable cyclically along a circular wrapping path P2.
  • Each wrapping seat 10 houses a respective product 2, and comprises two jaws 11 hinged to wrapping drum 8 and controlled by a known cam actuating device (not shown) housed inside wrapping drum 8.
  • a transfer device 12 is located between conveyor 5 and drum 8 to feed each product 2 from conveyor 5 to a respective seat 10; and a feed unit 13 is located close to transfer device 12 to supply sheets 3 of wrapping material, each for a respective product 2.
  • Transfer device 12 comprises a pusher 14 and a corresponding counter-pusher 15, which grip product 2 and respective sheet 3 of wrapping material, and feed them to respective wrapping seat 10, in which sheet 3 of wrapping material is folded into a U about product 2, so as to comprise two free portions 16 and 17 outside wrapping seat 10.
  • drum 8 rotates anticlockwise, so that seat 10 cooperates with known movable folding members 18; and, as seat 10 is transferred to folding members 18, free portion 17 of sheet 3 of wrapping material is folded onto free portion 16 by a fixed folding member 19, so as to produce a tubular wrapping having two open lateral ends (not shown in detail) which are folded in known manner by movable folding members 18 onto product 2 to complete package 4.
  • a transfer device 20 is located between wrapping drum 8 and forming conveyor 6 to transfer package 4 from respective wrapping seat 10 to a corresponding forming seat 7.
  • transfer device 20 comprises a gripper 21 for engaging the ends of package 4, and which has two jaws 22 and 23 hinged to a frame 24 to oscillate about respective axes 25 and 26 perpendicular to the Figure 4 plane, under the control of a known cam actuating device (not shown) and in opposition to elastic members 27.
  • Jaw 22 has a pad 28 fitted idly and in rotary manner to jaw 22; jaw 23 has a pad 29 fitted in rotary manner to jaw 23; and, as package 4 is transferred from wrapping seat 10 to forming seat 7, an orienting device 30 rotates pad 29, and therefore package 4, with respect to jaw 23, to position package 4 with a given orientation with respect to forming seat 7. More specifically, orienting device 30 comprises a transmission rod 31 having one end angularly integral with pad 29, and an opposite end (not shown) connected in known manner to a cam (not shown).
  • each forming seat 7 comprises a gripper 32 for engaging a respective package 4, and which comprises two jaws 33 hinged to a frame 34, integral with conveyor 6, to oscillate about respective axes 35 perpendicular to the Figure 2 plane.
  • Jaws 33 of gripper 32 are movable from a closed gripping position ( Figure 2) to an open position ( Figure 1) under the control of a control device 36 and in opposition to a spring 37, which is connected to both jaws 33 and tends to keep jaws 33 in the closed gripping position.
  • Control device 36 comprises a cam follower roller 38 which cooperates with a known fixed cam (not shown), located along forming path P1, and controls a mechanical transmission (not shown in detail) connected to jaws 33.
  • jaws 33 of gripper 32 preferably comprise respective forming members 39 negatively reproducing the shape of the portions of product 2 with which they comes into contact.
  • FIG. 3 shows, by way of example, a sequence of processing steps performed at one forming station S2.
  • Each station S2 comprises a number of forming members 40, each of which is pressed, in use, against a respective package 4 by a relative actuating device 41. More specifically, each forming member 40 negatively reproduces at least part of the shape of the portion of product 2 with which it comes into contact.
  • package 4 is preferably engaged by two forming members 40 which are moved towards and from opposite sides of package 4 by actuating devices 41 to grip package 4.
  • the two forming members 40 act as a mold and counter -mold which, by enclosing package 4, compact sheet 3 about product 2 to mold sheet 3 to the shape of product 2.
  • Each forming station S2 comprises a gripping device 42 for engaging a respective package 4 in complementary manner with respect to gripper 32 of a corresponding seat 7, so that a gripping device 42 and gripper 32 of a seat 7 may simultaneously engage the same package 4.
  • Each gripping device 42 comprises two opposite jaws 43, each of which is moved by a respective actuating device 44, and each of which has a forming member 45 negatively reproducing the shape of the portion of product 2 with which it comes into contact.
  • jaws 33 of gripper 32 therefore move in a direction D1 substantially parallel to forming path P1
  • jaws 43 of gripping device 42 move in a direction D2 substantially crosswise to direction D1
  • forming members 40 move in a direction D3 substantially crosswise to direction D1 and direction D2.
  • package 4 is first engaged by jaws 33 (with the interposition of forming members 39) of respective seat 7 (Figure 3A), and is then also engaged by jaws 43 (with the interposition of forming members 45) of gripping device 42 (Figure 3B). Once package 4 is also engaged by jaws 43 (with the interposition of forming members 45) of gripping device 42, jaws 33 of seat 7 release package 4 (Figure 3C), and forming members 40 are pressed onto package 4 ( Figure 3D).
  • Forming members 40 then release package 4, which is again engaged by jaws 33 (with the interposition of forming members 39) of respective seat 7, and jaws 43 of gripping device 42 release package 4; at which point, conveyor 6 feeds package 4 along path P1 to the next forming station S2.
  • forming members 40 and 45 at each forming station S2 may be the same shape and/or size as forming members 40 and 45 at the other forming stations S2, or may differ to a greater or lesser degree from forming members 40 and 45 at the other forming stations S2.
  • the number of forming stations S2 and the exact shape of forming members 40 and 45 are established in each individual case (theoretically and by tests) as a function of the shape of products 2, the plasticity of sheets 3 of wrapping material, and the final shape required of finished package 4.
  • the wrapping method described is cheap and easy to implement, provides for producing packages 4 in which sheet 3 is molded to the shape of product 2 inside, and is especially suitable for wrapping irregular- or complex-shaped confectionery products (i.e. differing widely from ordinary spherical, parallelepiped, or cylindrical shapes).
  • the method described provides for optimum shaping of sheet 3 of wrapping material, when sheet 3 is made of high-plasticity material, such as foil or semirigid multilayer material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Abstract

A method and machine (1) for wrapping a product (2), whereby a sheet (3) of wrapping material is folded about the product (2) to produce a package (4), which is then fed to at least one forming station (S2) where a number of forming members (39, 40, 45) are pressed onto the package (4); each forming member (39, 40, 45) negatively reproduces the shape of the portion of product (2) with which it comes into contact. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a product wrapping method and machine.
The present invention may be used to particular advantage for wrapping an irregular- or complex-shaped confectionery product, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
To wrap a confectionery product, such a chocolate, the product, together with a respective normally rectangular sheet of wrapping material, is normally inserted inside a respective seat on a wheel, and fed cyclically through a number of folding stations. The sheet of wrapping material is first folded into a U about the product so as to comprise two free portions, and the two free portions of the sheet of wrapping material are folded one on top of the other to produce a tubular wrapping having two open lateral ends, which are then folded onto the product to complete the wrapping.
The above wrapping method is widely used for wrapping confectionery products, by being fast and easy to implement, and by producing good-quality finished wrappings, but has been found to have drawbacks when applied to irregular- or complex-shaped confectionery products (i.e. differing widely from ordinary spherical, parallelepiped, or cylindrical shapes), in that, once the product is wrapped, the sheet of wrapping material tends to assume a regular configuration, as opposed to adopting the shape of the product inside.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a product wrapping method and machine designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, and which are cheap and easy to implement.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of wrapping a product, as claimed in Claim 1 and, preferably in any one of the following Claims depending directly or indirectly on Claim 1.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a machine for wrapping a product, as claimed in Claim 12 and, preferably in any one of the following Claims depending directly or indirectly on Claim 12.
A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a portion of a wrapping machine in accordance with the present invention;
  • Figure 2 shows a larger-scale front view of a forming conveyor of the Figure 1 wrapping machine;
  • Figure 3 shows a sequence of processing steps performed by a forming station of the Figure 1 wrapping machine;
  • Figure 4 shows a larger-scale side view of a transfer device of the Figure 1 wrapping machine.
    • With reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates as a whole a wrapping machine for wrapping a confectionery product 2 in a rectangular sheet 3 of wrapping material to produce a finished package 4. Wrapping machine 1 comprises a known input conveyor 5 for conveying a succession of products 2 to a wrapping station S1 where a respective sheet 3 of wrapping material is folded about each product 2 to produce a corresponding package 4; and, downstream from wrapping station S1, a succession of forming stations S2 (shown schematically in Figure 2) are arranged along a forming path P1 to compact sheet 3 of wrapping material of each package 4 about product 2 and mold sheet 3 of wrapping material to the shape of product 2. Closed packages 4 are fed along forming path P1 and through forming stations S2 by a forming conveyor 6 having a number of forming seats 7; and, at the end of forming path P1, the closed packages 4 are transferred from seats 7 of forming conveyor 6 to a known output conveyor (not shown) of wrapping machine 1.
    Wrapping station S1 comprises a wrapping drum 8 rotating in steps about a central axis 9 perpendicular to the Figure 1 plane, and which supports three wrapping seats 10 equally spaced about axis 9 and movable cyclically along a circular wrapping path P2. Each wrapping seat 10 houses a respective product 2, and comprises two jaws 11 hinged to wrapping drum 8 and controlled by a known cam actuating device (not shown) housed inside wrapping drum 8.
    A transfer device 12 is located between conveyor 5 and drum 8 to feed each product 2 from conveyor 5 to a respective seat 10; and a feed unit 13 is located close to transfer device 12 to supply sheets 3 of wrapping material, each for a respective product 2. Transfer device 12 comprises a pusher 14 and a corresponding counter-pusher 15, which grip product 2 and respective sheet 3 of wrapping material, and feed them to respective wrapping seat 10, in which sheet 3 of wrapping material is folded into a U about product 2, so as to comprise two free portions 16 and 17 outside wrapping seat 10.
    Once product 2 and respective sheet 3 of wrapping material are fed into respective seat 10, drum 8 rotates anticlockwise, so that seat 10 cooperates with known movable folding members 18; and, as seat 10 is transferred to folding members 18, free portion 17 of sheet 3 of wrapping material is folded onto free portion 16 by a fixed folding member 19, so as to produce a tubular wrapping having two open lateral ends (not shown in detail) which are folded in known manner by movable folding members 18 onto product 2 to complete package 4.
    A transfer device 20 is located between wrapping drum 8 and forming conveyor 6 to transfer package 4 from respective wrapping seat 10 to a corresponding forming seat 7. As shown in Figure 4, transfer device 20 comprises a gripper 21 for engaging the ends of package 4, and which has two jaws 22 and 23 hinged to a frame 24 to oscillate about respective axes 25 and 26 perpendicular to the Figure 4 plane, under the control of a known cam actuating device (not shown) and in opposition to elastic members 27. Jaw 22 has a pad 28 fitted idly and in rotary manner to jaw 22; jaw 23 has a pad 29 fitted in rotary manner to jaw 23; and, as package 4 is transferred from wrapping seat 10 to forming seat 7, an orienting device 30 rotates pad 29, and therefore package 4, with respect to jaw 23, to position package 4 with a given orientation with respect to forming seat 7. More specifically, orienting device 30 comprises a transmission rod 31 having one end angularly integral with pad 29, and an opposite end (not shown) connected in known manner to a cam (not shown).
    As shown in Figure 2, each forming seat 7 comprises a gripper 32 for engaging a respective package 4, and which comprises two jaws 33 hinged to a frame 34, integral with conveyor 6, to oscillate about respective axes 35 perpendicular to the Figure 2 plane. Jaws 33 of gripper 32 are movable from a closed gripping position (Figure 2) to an open position (Figure 1) under the control of a control device 36 and in opposition to a spring 37, which is connected to both jaws 33 and tends to keep jaws 33 in the closed gripping position. Control device 36 comprises a cam follower roller 38 which cooperates with a known fixed cam (not shown), located along forming path P1, and controls a mechanical transmission (not shown in detail) connected to jaws 33.
    To grip a respective package 4, jaws 33 of gripper 32 preferably comprise respective forming members 39 negatively reproducing the shape of the portions of product 2 with which they comes into contact.
    Figure 3 shows, by way of example, a sequence of processing steps performed at one forming station S2. Each station S2 comprises a number of forming members 40, each of which is pressed, in use, against a respective package 4 by a relative actuating device 41. More specifically, each forming member 40 negatively reproduces at least part of the shape of the portion of product 2 with which it comes into contact. At each forming station S2, package 4 is preferably engaged by two forming members 40 which are moved towards and from opposite sides of package 4 by actuating devices 41 to grip package 4. In other words, the two forming members 40 act as a mold and counter -mold which, by enclosing package 4, compact sheet 3 about product 2 to mold sheet 3 to the shape of product 2.
    Each forming station S2 comprises a gripping device 42 for engaging a respective package 4 in complementary manner with respect to gripper 32 of a corresponding seat 7, so that a gripping device 42 and gripper 32 of a seat 7 may simultaneously engage the same package 4. Each gripping device 42 comprises two opposite jaws 43, each of which is moved by a respective actuating device 44, and each of which has a forming member 45 negatively reproducing the shape of the portion of product 2 with which it comes into contact.
    As shown in Figure 3, jaws 33 of gripper 32 therefore move in a direction D1 substantially parallel to forming path P1, jaws 43 of gripping device 42 move in a direction D2 substantially crosswise to direction D1, and forming members 40 move in a direction D3 substantially crosswise to direction D1 and direction D2.
    In actual use, on being fed by forming conveyor 6 to a forming station S2, package 4 is first engaged by jaws 33 (with the interposition of forming members 39) of respective seat 7 (Figure 3A), and is then also engaged by jaws 43 (with the interposition of forming members 45) of gripping device 42 (Figure 3B). Once package 4 is also engaged by jaws 43 (with the interposition of forming members 45) of gripping device 42, jaws 33 of seat 7 release package 4 (Figure 3C), and forming members 40 are pressed onto package 4 (Figure 3D). Forming members 40 then release package 4, which is again engaged by jaws 33 (with the interposition of forming members 39) of respective seat 7, and jaws 43 of gripping device 42 release package 4; at which point, conveyor 6 feeds package 4 along path P1 to the next forming station S2.
    It should be pointed out that forming members 40 and 45 at each forming station S2 may be the same shape and/or size as forming members 40 and 45 at the other forming stations S2, or may differ to a greater or lesser degree from forming members 40 and 45 at the other forming stations S2. The number of forming stations S2 and the exact shape of forming members 40 and 45 are established in each individual case (theoretically and by tests) as a function of the shape of products 2, the plasticity of sheets 3 of wrapping material, and the final shape required of finished package 4.
    The wrapping method described is cheap and easy to implement, provides for producing packages 4 in which sheet 3 is molded to the shape of product 2 inside, and is especially suitable for wrapping irregular- or complex-shaped confectionery products (i.e. differing widely from ordinary spherical, parallelepiped, or cylindrical shapes).
    The method described provides for optimum shaping of sheet 3 of wrapping material, when sheet 3 is made of high-plasticity material, such as foil or semirigid multilayer material.

    Claims (22)

    1. A method of wrapping a product (2), comprising the step of folding a sheet (3) of wrapping material about the product (2) to produce a package (4); the method being characterized by comprising the step of feeding the package (4) to at least one forming station (S2) where a number of forming members (39, 40, 45) are pressed onto the package (4); each forming member (39, 40, 45) negatively reproducing at least part of the shape of the portion of product (2) with which it comes into contact.
    2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, at the forming station (S2), the package (4) is engaged by two forming members (39, 40, 45) which are moved towards and from opposite sides of the package (4) to grip the package (4).
    3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the package (4) is fed to a number of forming stations (S2) arranged successively along a forming path (P1); at each forming station (S2), a number of respective forming members (39, 40, 45) being pressed onto the package (4).
    4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the package (4) is fed along the forming path (P1) and through the forming stations (S2) by a forming conveyor (6) having a respective forming seat (7), which houses the package (4) and has first gripping means (32) for gripping the package (4).
    5. A method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the first gripping means (32) comprise two opposite jaws (33), each of which comprises a forming member (39) negatively reproducing the shape of the portion of product (2) with which it comes into contact.
    6. A method as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein, at least one forming station (S2), the package (4) is first engaged by the first gripping means (32); the package (4) is then engaged by second gripping means (42) of the forming station (S2), the first gripping means (32) release the package (4), a number of forming members (40) are pressed onto the package (4), the package (4) is again engaged by the first gripping means (32), and, finally, the second gripping means (42) release the package (4) to enable the first gripping means (32) to feed the package (4) along the forming path (P1).
    7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the second gripping means (42) comprise two opposite jaws (43), each of which comprises a forming member (45) negatively reproducing the shape of the portion of product (2) with which it comes into contact.
    8. A method as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the first gripping means (32) are movable in a first direction (D1) substantially parallel to the forming path (P1), the second gripping means (42) are movable in a second direction (D2) substantially crosswise to the first direction (D1), and the forming members (40) of the forming station (S2) are movable in a third direction (D3) substantially crosswise to the first (D1) and second (D2) direction.
    9. A method as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the step of folding the sheet (3) of wrapping material about the product (2) comprises feeding the product (2) together with the sheet (3) of wrapping material to a respective wrapping seat (10) to fold the sheet (3) of wrapping material into a U about the product (2), so that the sheet (3) of wrapping material has two free portions (16, 17) outside the wrapping seat (10); folding the two free portions (16, 17) of the sheet (3) of wrapping material one on top of the other to produce a tubular wrapping having two open lateral ends; and folding the open lateral ends of the tubular wrapping onto the product (2) to complete the package (4).
    10. A method as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the sheet (3) of wrapping material is made of high-plasticity material.
    11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the sheet (3) of wrapping material is made of foil.
    12. A machine for wrapping a product (2), comprising a wrapping station (S1) for folding a sheet (3) of wrapping material about the product (2) to produce a package (4); the machine (1) being characterized by comprising at least one forming station (S2) located downstream from the wrapping station (S1) and having a number of forming members (39, 40, 45), each negatively reproducing at least part of the shape of the portion of product (2) with which it comes into contact, and actuating means (36, 41, 44) for pressing the forming members (39, 40, 45) onto the package (4).
    13. A machine as claimed in Claim 12, wherein, at the forming station (S2), the package (4) is engaged by two forming members (39, 40, 45), which are moved from opposite sides of the package (4) towards the package (4) by the actuating means (36, 41, 44) to grip the package (4).
    14. A machine as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, and comprising a number of forming stations (S2) arranged successively along a forming path (P1); at each forming station (S2), a number of respective forming members (39, 40, 45) being pressed onto the package (4).
    15. A machine as claimed in Claim 14, and comprising a forming conveyor (6) for feeding the package (4) along the forming path (P1) and through the forming stations (S2); the forming conveyor (6) comprising a respective forming seat (7) having first gripping means (32) for housing and gripping the package (4).
    16. A machine as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the first gripping means (32) comprise two opposite jaws (33), each of which comprises a forming member (39) negatively reproducing the shape of the portion of product (2) with which it comes into contact.
    17. A machine as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the forming seat (7) comprises a frame (34) integral with the forming conveyor (6) and to which the jaws (33) are hinged; elastic means (37) connected to the two jaws (33) and for keeping the jaws (33) in a closed gripping position; and control means (36) for moving the jaws (33) from the closed gripping position to an open position in opposition to the elastic means (37).
    18. A machine as claimed in Claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein at least one forming station (S2) comprises second gripping means (42) for engaging the package (4) in complementary manner with respect to the first gripping means (32).
    19. A machine as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the second gripping means (42) comprise two opposite jaws (43), each of which comprises a forming member (45) negatively reproducing the shape of the portion of product (2) with which it comes into contact.
    20. A machine as claimed in Claim 18 or 19, wherein the first gripping means (32) are movable in a first direction (D1) parallel to the forming path (P1), the second gripping means (42) are movable in a second direction (D2) crosswise to the first direction (D1), and the actuating means (41) move the forming members (40) of the forming station (S2) in a third direction (D3) crosswise to the first (D1) and second (D2) direction.
    21. A machine as claimed in one of Claims 12 to 20, wherein the wrapping station (S1) comprises a wrapping wheel (8) having at least one wrapping seat (10) movable cyclically along a circular wrapping path (P2); a first transfer device (12) for feeding the product (2) together with the sheet (3) of wrapping material to the respective wrapping seat (10), so as to fold the sheet (3) of wrapping material into a U about the product (2), so that the sheet (3) of wrapping material has two free portions (16, 17) outside the wrapping seat (10); a fixed first folding member (19) for folding one free portion (17) of the sheet (3) of wrapping material onto the other free portion (16), so as to produce a tubular wrapping having two open lateral ends; movable second folding members (18) for folding the open lateral ends of the tubular wrapping onto the product (2), so as to complete the package (4) enclosing the product (2); and a second transfer device (20) for transferring the package (4) from the wrapping seat (10).
    22. A machine as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the second transfer device (20) comprises a gripper (21) having two jaws (22, 23) and for engaging the package (4); a first jaw (22) having a first pad (28) fitted idly and in rotary manner to the first jaw (22); a second jaw (23) having a second pad (29) fitted in rotary manner to the second jaw (23); and an orienting device (30) being provided to rotate the second pad (29) with respect to the second jaw (23) as the package (4) is transferred from the wrapping seat (10).
    EP04103739A 2003-08-06 2004-08-04 Method and machine wrapping products Expired - Lifetime EP1504997B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    ITBO20030480 2003-08-06
    IT000480A ITBO20030480A1 (en) 2003-08-06 2003-08-06 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR THE WRAPPING OF A PRODUCT

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP1504997A1 true EP1504997A1 (en) 2005-02-09
    EP1504997B1 EP1504997B1 (en) 2008-04-02

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    EP04103739A Expired - Lifetime EP1504997B1 (en) 2003-08-06 2004-08-04 Method and machine wrapping products

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    EP (1) EP1504997B1 (en)
    AT (1) ATE391081T1 (en)
    DE (1) DE602004012808T8 (en)
    IT (1) ITBO20030480A1 (en)

    Cited By (2)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US20100307106A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2010-12-09 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A Machine for wrapping sticks of food products
    IT201600112578A1 (en) * 2016-11-08 2018-05-08 Xpack S R L Uninominale METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE WRITING OF PRODUCTS

    Citations (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    GB227764A (en) * 1924-09-17 1925-01-22 William Rose Improvements in, or relating to, apparatus or machines for wrapping, or applying labels to, caramels, blocks, packages, or the like
    DE676709C (en) * 1936-08-30 1939-06-09 Lauenstein & Co G M B H Device for smoothing the cover of wrapped rotating bodies
    EP1046579A1 (en) * 1999-04-23 2000-10-25 Soremartec S.A. A method and a device for wrapping a product in a wrapper of sheet material and respective wrapped product

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    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    GB227764A (en) * 1924-09-17 1925-01-22 William Rose Improvements in, or relating to, apparatus or machines for wrapping, or applying labels to, caramels, blocks, packages, or the like
    DE676709C (en) * 1936-08-30 1939-06-09 Lauenstein & Co G M B H Device for smoothing the cover of wrapped rotating bodies
    EP1046579A1 (en) * 1999-04-23 2000-10-25 Soremartec S.A. A method and a device for wrapping a product in a wrapper of sheet material and respective wrapped product

    Cited By (3)

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    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US20100307106A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2010-12-09 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A Machine for wrapping sticks of food products
    US8281554B2 (en) * 2009-06-05 2012-10-09 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. Machine for wrapping sticks of food products
    IT201600112578A1 (en) * 2016-11-08 2018-05-08 Xpack S R L Uninominale METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE WRITING OF PRODUCTS

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    ATE391081T1 (en) 2008-04-15
    DE602004012808D1 (en) 2008-05-15
    DE602004012808T8 (en) 2010-05-27
    EP1504997B1 (en) 2008-04-02
    ITBO20030480A1 (en) 2005-02-07
    DE602004012808T2 (en) 2009-04-30

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