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
  • 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
  • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
  • B65B9/13—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the preformed tubular webs being supplied in a flattened state
  • B65B9/14—Devices for distending tubes supplied in the flattened state

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for advancing a flexible tubular film and to a packaging machine comprising such a device.
• EP-A-1 053 939 and FR-A- 1 378 274 describe apparatuses for advancing a flexible tubular film which comprise a vertical core and rollers for carrying this core and advancing the tubular film arranged around from top to bottom this core in order to cover an object placed on a horizontal lower support.
• Such devices are however not suitable for the complete packaging of objects, in particular elongated objects of relatively long lengths.
• the object of the present invention is to improve the means used up to now for carrying out the operations of packaging objects, in particular with a view to making these operations simpler and more automatic and reducing production costs by increasing the yields.
• the present invention firstly has for its object and a packaging machine for wrapping objects in a flexible tubular film.
• this machine comprises a device for advancing said flexible tubular film comprising a longitudinal guide adapted to be longitudinally and completely engaged inside the tubular film, holding means adapted to carry said longitudinal guide and to allow passage or be traversed by the tubular film, and longitudinal drive means adapted to slide the tubular film longitudinally when the latter is threaded on the longitudinal guide.
• the machine according to the present invention may advantageously comprise means for receiving the objects to be packaged, adapted to constitute a reception zone extending longitudinally in the extension of said longitudinal guide, so that, during the advancement of the tubular film d 'Upstream downstream under the effect of the advancement device, the objects to be packaged engage longitudinally in the latter.
• said means for receiving the objects to be packaged comprise a gutter carried in cantilever, in its extension, by said longitudinal guide and adapted to be longitudinally and completely engaged inside the tubular film during the longitudinal advancement of the latter.
• said gutter preferably carries at least one longitudinal flap articulated longitudinally on one of its longitudinal edges, means being provided for operating this flap.
• said maneuvering means preferably comprise a spring means which acts to bring said flap above the gutter and actuation means to act on said flap against this spring means, these actuation means being retractable to allow said tubular film to pass.
• said maneuvering means are preferably placed upstream of the reception area of said longitudinal gutter.
• the machine preferably comprises retractable means for closing the tubular film which are arranged near the downstream end of said longitudinal gutter.
• said means for receiving the objects to be packaged comprise a gutter extending in the extension of said longitudinal guide and adapted to be longitudinally engaged inside the tubular film during the longitudinal advancement of this last, the downstream end of said gutter being carried by a carriage movable longitudinally to move said gutter between an advanced position in which its upstream end is placed coupled to said longitudinal guide and a retracted position in which its upstream end is placed at a distance from said guide longitudinal.
• the machine preferably comprises complementary reception means, placed below said reception zone for receiving the packages of objects packed in a portion of the tubular film during the movement of said gutter from its advanced position towards its remote position.
• the machine preferably comprises retractable gripping means suitable for gripping the packet of objects packaged between said longitudinal guide and the upstream end of said gutter when the latter is distant downstream from its advanced position.
• said longitudinal guide and the upstream end of said gutter preferably comprise complementary means of longitudinal coupling.
• the machine preferably comprises retractable means for closing the tubular film, which are arranged near the downstream end of said longitudinal guide and the upstream end of said gutter when the latter is far from its advanced position, and retractable means for closing the film tubular which are arranged downstream of the downstream end of said receiving zone.
• said means for receiving the objects to be packaged comprise groups of rollers spaced apart longitudinally, each group of rollers comprising at least two inclined rollers forming an N open upwards.
• the groups of rollers are preferably carried by mobile means making it possible to separate them.
• the machine preferably comprises means for rotating said rollers in the direction of advancement of the tubular film.
• the machine according to the present invention can advantageously comprise gripping means suitable for gripping the downstream end of the tubular film and objects and means for longitudinally moving these gripping means.
• the machine preferably comprises retractable means for closing the tubular film, which are arranged between said longitudinal guide and the first group of rollers, and retractable means for closing the tubular film which are arranged downstream of the downstream end of the reception area.
• said longitudinal guide preferably comprises a portion of downstream gutter extending longitudinally.
• said gutter preferably carries at least one longitudinal flap articulated longitudinally on one of its longitudinal edges, means being provided for operating this flap.
• said maneuvering means preferably comprise a spring means which acts to bring said flap above the gutter and actuation means to act on said flap against this spring means, these actuation means being retractable to allow said tubular film to pass.
• the machine according to the present invention preferably comprises means for cutting the tubular film, which are arranged upstream of said receiving area and downstream of said holding and driving means.
• said means for cutting the tubular film preferably comprises a retractable rotary knife.
• said longitudinal drive means can advantageously comprise external action means acting on the external face of the tubular film and internal reaction means acting on the internal face of the tubular film and provided on the longitudinal guide.
• said holding means can advantageously comprise at least one external support means which cooperates with at least one internal support means carried by said longitudinal guide, between which said tubular film passes.
• said external support means and said internal support means may advantageously comprise at least one roller and one wheel respectively, arranged so that the tubular film passes and is caught between this roller and this wheel.
• said external support means and said internal support means may advantageously comprise respectively a pair of rollers and a wheel arranged so that the tubular film passes and is caught on the one hand this wheel and secondly the rollers of this pair of rollers.
• said roller and said wheel may advantageously comprise respectively a peripheral groove and an annular shoulder engaged with one in one.
• said peripheral groove and said annular shoulder preferably have axially spaced annular bearing surfaces.
• said wheel is preferably placed outside the tubular film and is connected to rotation actuation means so as to constitute said drive means.
• said drive means preferably comprise at least one rotary drive member such as a drive wheel or an endless drive belt, which acts on the face outside of the tubular film and which is connected to a rotary drive motor.
• said drive means preferably comprise at least one idler rotary member such as an idler roller, carried by said longitudinal guide, the tubular film passing between said rotary member and this idler rotary member.
• said longitudinal guide preferably comprises at least one bearing surface located opposite said rotary drive member.
• said holding means can advantageously comprise at least one lower external support means placed below said longitudinal guide and at least one upper external support means placed above said longitudinal guide, which cooperate respectively with internal support means carried by said longitudinal guide.
• said lower external support means and said upper external support means are preferably offset longitudinally to said longitudinal guide.
• said holding means can advantageously comprise at least one lower external support means placed below said longitudinal guide and at least one upper external support means placed above said longitudinal guide and opposite to said lower means external support, which cooperate respectively with internal support means carried by said longitudinal guide, as well as at least one external support means offset longitudinally to said longitudinal guide, which cooperates with at least one internal support means carried by this longitudinal guide.
• said holding means preferably comprise pairs of lower external support means placed below said longitudinal guide and offset transversely to form an N, these lower external support means respectively cooperating with means of internal support carried by said longitudinal guide and offset transversely to form a corresponding N.
• said holding means preferably comprise pairs of upper external support means placed above said longitudinal guide and offset transversely to form an N, these upper external support means respectively cooperating with means of internal support carried by said longitudinal guide and offset transversely to form a corresponding N.
• said holding means preferably comprise at least two opposite rear inner rollers and two opposite opposite inner rollers, carried by said longitudinal guide, as well as at least two opposite rear external wheels, arranged on either side. on the other of the longitudinal guide, and two opposite outer front wheels, arranged on either side of the longitudinal guide, said rollers and said wheels respectively comprising an annular groove and an annular shoulder engaged one inside the other.
• said longitudinal guide is preferably substantially tubular, its end engaging first in the tubular film being preferably pointed.
• said longitudinal guide has a substantially oval section.
• the present invention also relates to a device for advancing a flexible tubular film.
• this advancement device can advantageously comprise adjustment means suitable for adjusting the relative transverse positions of these opposite longitudinal guide parts, said means for holding said longitudinal guide and said means for longitudinally driving the tubular film.
• said adjustment means comprise return means urging said opposite longitudinal parts of said longitudinal guide in the directions which separate them and means for transversely moving said holding and driving means.
• said longitudinal guide comprises a central longitudinal beam and articulated arms connecting this beam and said longitudinal guide parts, said means for adjusting the spacing between these parts acting between this beam and these articulated arms.
• said longitudinal guide parts preferably comprise longitudinal supports which carry longitudinal envelope portions.
• the machine according to the present invention can advantageously comprise means for transverse adjustment of said receiving means.
• FIG. 1 shows a general perspective view of a packaging machine according to the invention
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a film advancement device
• FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the advancement device of Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the advancement device of Figure 2, according to IN-IN of Figure 3;
• FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the advancement device of Figure 2, according to N-N of Figure 3;
• FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of a support means and holding the advancement device of Figure 2;
• FIG. 7 shows an end view of a means of cutting or cutting the tubular film, in a retracted position
• FIG. 8 shows an end view of the cutting or cutting means of Figure 7, in an active position
• FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section of the cutting or cutting means of Figure 7;
• FIG. 10 shows a cross section of a shutter control means carried by a gutter of the machine of Figure 1, in the deployed position;
• FIG. 11 shows a cross section of the shutter control means of Figure 10, in the folded position
• FIG. 12 shows a cross section of said gutter whose flaps are deployed
• - Figure 13 shows a cross section of said gutter whose flaps are folded down;
• - Figure 14 shows a top view of another film advancement device according to the invention;
• FIG. 15 shows a cross section along XN-XN of the advancement device of Figure 14;
• FIG. 16 shows a side view of another film advancement device according to the invention.
• FIG. 17 shows a cross section along XNII-XVII of the advancement device of Figure 16;
• FIG. 18 shows a longitudinal and vertical section of another film advancement device according to the invention
• - Figure 19 shows a cross section along IXX-IXX of the advancement device of Figure 18;
• FIG. 20 to 27 show a side view of another packaging machine according to the present invention, in an initial position, in successive operational positions;
• FIG. 28 shows an intermediate cross section of the machine of Figures 20 to 27;
• Figures 29 and 30 show a cross section of a lower part of the machine.
• Figures 20 to 27; - Figures 31, 34, 35, 37, and 40 to 44 show a side view of another packaging machine according to the present invention, in successive operational positions;
• Figures 32, 35, 38 and 39 show intermediate cross sections of the machine of Figures 31, 34, 35, 37, and 40 to 44, in a place of its length and in successive operational positions;
• Figures 33, 36 and 39 show intermediate cross sections of the machine of Figures 31, 34, 35, 37, and 40 to 44, at another location along its length and in successive operational positions;
• FIG. 46 shows a horizontal section of a device for advancing a tubular film, in the reduced position
• FIG. 47 shows a cross section of Figure 46
• - Figure 48 shows a horizontal section of the advancement device of Figure 46, in the enlarged position
• FIG. 49 represents a cross section of FIG. 48.
• a packaging machine 1 for elongated objects 2 has been shown so as to constitute a package 3 in a portion 4a of a flexible tubular film 4, for example made of plastic, from a reel 5 in which the tubular film 4 is wound flat.
• the machine 1 comprises longitudinally, in its upstream part, a device 6 for advancing the tubular film 4 and, in its downstream part, a receiving gutter 7 which defines a longitudinal zone for receiving objects to pack 2.
• the advancement device 6 comprises a longitudinal guide 8 which comprises a longitudinal inner beam 9 around which is fixed a longitudinal casing 10, possibly in several pieces, of section oval, the largest width of which is arranged horizontally, the rear or upstream end portion 10a of the envelope 10 being formed so as to be pointed and with a rounded end.
• the advancement device .6 comprises two rear upper means 11 and 12 arranged in the rear zone of its part of oval section and offset transversely to each other, on either side of the axis longitudinal, and, offset longitudinally forwards, two lower front means 13 and 14 arranged in the front zone of its oval part and offset transversely with respect to each other, on either side of the axis longitudinal.
• Each of the above support and holding means comprises two internal idle support and reaction rollers 15a and 15b with parallel axes, which are carried by the longitudinal beam 9 of the longitudinal guide 8, which are offset longitudinally and which slightly protrude through an opening 16 formed in the casing 10, as well as an external support and action wheel 17 with an axis parallel to the axes of the rollers 15a and 15b.
• the rollers 15a and 15b and the wheel 17 are arranged so that the cylindrical periphery of this wheel 17 bears both on the cylindrical periphery of the roller 15a and the cylindrical periphery of the roller 15b .
• the wheel 17 is carried by the axis of a geared motor 18 for driving, preferably with an asynchronous motor, this geared motor being fixed to the frame 19 of the machine.
• the rear support means 11 and 12 are arranged relative to each other so that the axes respectively of their rollers 15a and 15b and their wheels 17 are arranged so as to form an opening angle N for example equal to 90 ° and the point of which is directed upwards, the supports of their wheels 17 on their rollers 15a and 15b being consequently at 45 ° relative to a horizontal plane.
• the lower front support means 13 and 14 are arranged with respect to each other so that the axes respectively of their rollers 15a and 15b and their wheels 17 are arranged so as to form an N of angle d 'opening for example equal to 90 ° and the tip of which is directed downwards, the supports of their wheels 17 on their rollers 15a and 15b being consequently at 45 ° relative to a horizontal plane.
• the packaging machine 1 further comprises a longitudinal gutter 7 which extends the envelope 10 of the " longitudinal guide 8" forward.
• This gutter 7 has a short rear part 20 of oval section which corresponds to the downstream section of the longitudinal guide 8.
• This rear part 20 contains an intermediate part 21 which is engaged longitudinally on a projecting front part 22, of square section, of the beam 9 of the longitudinal guide 8. The gutter 7 is thus fitted at the rear and cantilevered towards the front.
• the gutter 7 In front of its rear part 21, the gutter 7 has a longitudinal part or zone 23 for receiving the objects 2 to be packaged, the cross section of which corresponds substantially to the lower half of the casing 10 of the longitudinal guide 9.
• the assembly formed by the longitudinal guide 8 and the gutter 7 has a center of gravity situated in front of the front support and holding means 13 and 14 so that this assembly is supported , is held longitudinally and is prevented from rotating along its longitudinal axis by the fact that, by leveraging, the rollers 15a and 15b of the lower front means 13 and 14 for support and holding are respectively pressed down on their wheel outer 17 and the rollers 15a and 15b of the upper rear means 11 and 12 for support and holding are respectively supported on the top on their outer wheel 17.
• annular groove 24 In the junction zone between the longitudinal guide 8 and the gutter 7 is provided an annular groove 24.
• the packaging machine 1 further comprises a cutting means 25 which comprises a ring 26 which remotely surrounds the aforementioned junction zone and which carries a knife 27 movable in a radial plane, this knife 27 having an inner cutting end 28 and an outer end 29 which carries a roller 30.
• the crown 26 is connected to conventional rotation drive means not shown
• the knife 27 is subjected to a spring 31 acting so as to engage its cutting end 28 in the annular groove 24 as shown in FIG. 8.
• a cam 32 is capable of acting on the roller 30 of the knife 27 under the effect of a jack 33 so as to retract or spread outwards the cutting end 28 of the knife 27.
• the packaging machine 1 comprises, in front of the front end of the gutter 7, heat welding means 33 of which the retractable jaws 34 and 35 have only been shown.
• the packaging machine which has just been described can operate and be used in the following manner.
• the tubular film wound flat lay from the reel 5 is manually unwound and passed over a roller with transverse axis 5a placed in alignment with rear and away from the longitudinal guide 8.
• the rear end 10a of the longitudinal guide 8 is longitudinally engaged in the tubular film 4 and the latter is slid around and on the longitudinal guide 8 as far as the upper rear support means and holding 11 and 12.
• the tubular film 4 advancing, it then engages between the outer wheels 17 and the inner rollers 15a and 15b of the lower front support and holding means 13 and 14 and is also driven forward by the wheels 17 of the latter by their geared motors.
• the tubular film 4 passes through support, holding and driving means 11, 12, 13 and 14, their rollers 15a and 15b being in abutment against its inner face and the wheels 17 being in abutment against its face exterior.
• the gearmotors 18 are stopped to immobilize it.
• the packaging machine is then ready.
• objects 2 to be packaged are placed longitudinally in the gutter 7, so that these objects protrude at the front of the gutter 7.
• the motor-reducers 18 of the support and holding means 11, 12, 13 and 14 so as to advance the tubular film 4.
• the latter slides longitudinally forward or downstream around the longitudinal guide 8 and the gutter 7 containing the objects to be packaged 2.
• the gearmotors 18 are stopped and these welding means 33 are activated so as to crush and thermally weld the 'front end of the tubular film 4.
• the cutting means 25 are actuated so that the knife 27, by engaging in the annular groove 24, passes through and, by rotation of the crown 26, cuts circumferentially the tubular film 4 so as to obtain a portion 4a of tubular film 4 separated from the rest of the reel 5.
• the longitudinal edges of the portion 23 of the gutter 7 can be equipped with longitudinal flaps 36 and 37 respectively articulated on these edges by longitudinal axes 38 and 39.
• the flaps 36 and 37 have, at their rear end, triangular transverse flanks 40 and 41 which are provided on one side with pins 42 and 43 and on the other side with rollers 44 and 45 with longitudinal axes. Between the pins 42 and 43 is mounted a transverse spring 46 which tends to fold the flaps 36 and 37 towards each other above the gutter 7.
• the gutter 7 has an opening 50 allowing the cam 49 of the cylinder 47 to penetrate from below into the gutter 7 so that the sides of the cam 49 come into contact with the rollers 44 and 45 of the flaps 36 and 37.
• FIG 1 1 when the cam 49 of the cylinder 47 is in its lowered retracted position, it is located below and away from the gutter 7. Under the effect of the spring 46, the flaps 36 and 37 are folded above of the gutter 78. Preferably, in this folded position, the flaps 36 and 37 have a section corresponding to the upper half of the rear part 20 of the gutter 7 or of the casing 10 of the longitudinal guide 8.
• the cam 49 rises, meets the rollers 44 and 45, spreads them apart and causes the flaps 36 and 37 to open.
• the flaps 36 and 37 are preferably in a deployed position such that the longitudinal edges of these flaps, opposite to the longitudinal axes 38 and 39, are laterally outside these axes.
• the flaps 36 and 37 can be used as follows. Before supplying the gutter 7 with objects 2 to be packaged, the actuator 47 is actuated so as to bring the cam 49 to its high position and place the flaps 36 and 37 in their deployed position. As shown in FIG. 12, the gutter 7 is supplied with products 2 to be packaged, the flaps 36 and 37 constituting lateral deflectors facilitating the bringing of the products 2 to be packaged into the gutter 7.
• the actuator 47 is actuated to bring the cam 49 to its low retracted position.
• the flaps 36 and 37 come to their folded position and compact the objects 2 to be packaged, the objects 2 to be packaged thus being confined in a tubular space formed by the gutter 7 and its flaps 36 and 37 folded.
• the flaps 36 and 37 also make it possible to facilitate the advancement of the tubular film 4 around the gutter 7 since the latter slides over the folded flaps 36 and 37 and prevents objects 2 to be packaged from hindering this advancement.
• the advancement device 6 described above could comprise means for supporting and / or holding complementary to the longitudinal guide 8.
• the advancement device 6 could comprise, in the area of the rear support and support means 11 and 12, a rear rear support and support means comprising for example an inner roller with transverse axis, support or of reaction, carried by the beam 9 and an outer wheel with transverse axis, of support or action, adapted to come to bear on this roller and allowing the tubular film 4 to pass between them.
• a complementary means of support and holding could be constructed as the support and holding means 11, 12, 13 and 14, and include two inner rollers.
• this advancement device 51 comprises a longitudinal guide 52 which. comprises a longitudinal inner beam 53 surrounded by a longitudinal envelope 54 of oval section and pointed backwards.
• the advancement device 51 comprises two opposite rear means 55 and 56 and two opposite front means 57 and 58, arranged laterally to the longitudinal guide and designed to support and hold the longitudinal guide 52 and to drive the tubular film 4 forward.
• Each of the support and holding means 55 to 58 comprises an idler internal support and reaction roller 59 with a vertical axis carried by the beam 53 and an external support and action wheel 60 with a vertical axis carried by the axis of a gear motor 61 fixed to the frame 62 of the packaging machine.
• the outer wheel 60 has a peripheral groove 63 on the edges of which are annular shoulders 64 and 65 radially projecting, these shoulders 64 and 65 forming an N open towards the outside.
• the roller 59 has a peripheral shoulder 66 projecting from an N-shaped section, the point of which is directed outwards.
• the roller 59 and the wheel 60 are coupled through a lateral opening 54a of the casing 54 so that the peripheral shoulder 66 of the roller 59 penetrates into the groove 63 of the outer wheel 60, the opposite sides of the shoulder 66 being respectively supported on the sides of the shoulders 64 and 65 by axially spaced surfaces.
• the rear support and holding means 55 and 56 are arranged so that their inner rollers 59 are in front with respect to their outer wheel 60 and the front support and holding means 57 and 58 are arranged so that their inner rollers 59 are behind their outer wheel 60.
• the outer wheels 60 of the support and holding means 56 to 58 determine a rectangle in the corners of which are taken the inner rollers 59 so that the guide longitudinal 52 is suspended and held in all directions and cannot rotate along its longitudinal axis.
• the tubular film 4 when the tubular film 4 is engaged on the longitudinal guide 52, it passes between the inner rollers 59 and the outer wheels 60 of the support and holding means 55 to 58 and can be driven forward by the outer wheels 60 under the effect of the geared motors 61.
• the rear support and holding means 55 and 56 and / or the front support and holding means 57 and 58 could comprise two internal rollers cooperating with the wheel 60, these two rollers being offset longitudinally.
• 67 comprises a longitudinal guide 68 which comprises an inner longitudinal beam 69 and a longitudinal envelope 70 of oval section and pointed backwards.
• This advancement device 67 further comprises two upper support and drive means 71 and 72 and two lower support and drive means 73 and 74.
• Each of the support and drive means 71 to 74 comprises two pulleys 75 and 76 with parallel axes offset longitudinally and on which is installed an endless band 77 extending longitudinally and one action of which is supported on the surface outside of the envelope 70, along a longitudinal reaction zone, one of these pulleys being carried by the axis of a geared motor for rotational drive 78 carried by a frame 67a.
• the support and drive means 71 to 74 are arranged so that the strands of their endless band 77 constitute, in cross section, a rhombus which circumscribes the longitudinal envelope 70.
• the longitudinal guide 68 is carried and cannot rotate along its longitudinal axis.
• the advancement device 67 comprises two opposite means 79 and 80 provided respectively above and below the longitudinal guide 68 and placed behind the support and drive means 71 to 74
• Each of the holding means 79 and 80 comprises two idle rollers 81 and 82 with horizontal and transverse axes, offset longitudinally and carried by the longitudinal beam 69 of the longitudinal guide 68, as well as an outer wheel 83 with vertical axis which rests on the rollers 82 and 83 through an opening 84 formed in the envelope 70.
• the tubular film 4 engaged around the longitudinal guide 68 passes longitudinally through the holding means 79 and 80, passing between their inner rollers 81 and 82 and their outer wheel 83 and passing between the belts drive 77 of the support and drive means 71 to 74 the longitudinal envelope 70.
• the belts 77 of the latter drive forward the tubular film 4 which slides longitudinally forward on the casing 70 of the longitudinal guide 68
• the adhesion of the belts 77 on the outside face of the tubular film 4 must be greater than the friction of the inside face of the tubular film 4 on the outside surface of the envelope 70.
• some of the support and drive means 71 -74 with belts could be replaced by means with driven wheels bearing on the outside face of the tubular film 4.
• this advancement device 85 comprises a longitudinal guide 86 which comprises a longitudinal inner beam 87 surrounded by a longitudinal envelope 88 of oval section and pointed backwards.
• This advancement device 85 comprises a lower rear support and holding means 89, a rear upper support and holding means 90 and a lower front support and holding means 89a, longitudinally offset from the former.
• Each of the means 89 and 90 above comprises two internal idle support and reaction rollers 91 and 92, with transverse axes offset longitudinally and carried by the longitudinal beam 87 and an external support and action wheel 93 with axis transverse, carried by the end of the drive shaft of a geared motor 94 fixed to the frame 95 of the machine.
• the outer wheel 93 has a peripheral groove 96 on the edges of which are annular shoulders 97 and 98 radially projecting, these shoulders 97 and 98 forming an N open towards the outside.
• the rollers 91 and 92 respectively have a peripheral shoulder 99 projecting in N section, the tip of which is directed outwards.
• the rollers 91 and 92 are coupled to the wheel 93 through an opening 100 formed in the casing 88 so that the peripheral shoulder 99 of the rollers 91 and 92 penetrates into the groove 96 of the wheel
• the front support and holding means 89a differs from the support and holding means 90 by the fact that it only comprises an internal support and reaction roller 101 and an external support and action wheel 102, respectively with peripheral grooves and shoulders coupled through an opening 103 of the longitudinal casing 88, the outer wheel 102 being carried by the axis of a drive gear motor. 94.
• This plea 89a could also include two inner rollers.
• the support and holding means 89, 90 and 89a are arranged so that the median radial planes of their rollers 91 and 92 and of their wheel 93 are located in the longitudinal and vertical plane of symmetry or median of the longitudinal guide 86, the lower support and holding means 89 being placed symmetrically opposite the upper support and holding means 90 and the lower support and holding means 89a being shifted forward .
• the longitudinal guide 86 is suspended and held in all directions and cannot rotate along its longitudinal axis, its front part being only carried from below by the outer wheel 102 of the front support and holding means 89a.
• an upper front support and holding means could also be provided above the longitudinal guide 86, for example symmetrically to the lower front support and holding means 89a.
• the tubular film 4 when the tubular film 4 is engaged on the longitudinal guide 86, it passes between the inner rollers 91, 92 and 101 and the outer wheels 93 and 102 respectively of the support and holding means 89, 90 and 89a and can be driven forward under the effect of the geared motors 94 connected respectively to the outer wheels 93 and 102.
• rollers and wheels may have an annular peripheral ring, for example made of rubber or another adherent and / or slightly elastically compressible material.
• the packaging machine 200 comprises a advancement device 201, the structure of which can correspond to any of the advancement devices previously described, with the aim of advancing a tubular film 202 stored in a reel 203.
• the advancement device 201 comprises a longitudinal guide 204 around which the tubular film can advance longitudinally.
• the envelope of this longitudinal guide 204 is extended forward by a portion of longitudinal gutter 205.
• the packaging machine 200 has circular cutting means 206 corresponding to the cutting means described above.
• the packaging machine 200 further comprises a longitudinal gutter 207 which extends longitudinally to the advancement device 201 and the downstream part of which is fixed on a support 208.
• the upper part of this support 208 is slidably mounted on a longitudinal slide 209.
• the support 208 and the gutter 209 have complementary means allowing the longitudinal displacement of the support 208 and consequently of the gutter 207.
• 207 has a cylindrical part 207a.
• the support 208 carries a retractable finger 210, connected to drive means known per se, arranged so that it can come to bear on the cylindrical part 207a of the gutter 207 and be removed therefrom.
• the packaging machine 200 has upstream heat welding means 211 corresponding to those described above, of which only the retractable jaws are shown.
• the packaging machine 200 has holding members constituting a clamp 212 whose jaws are retractable and actuable by means known per se.
• the welding means 21 1 and the clamp 212 could be coupled.
• the packaging machine 200 Downstream of the retaining member 212, the packaging machine 200 comprises a complementary complementary receiving gutter 213 which extends longitudinally below and at a short distance from the displacement zone of the gutter 207.
• This gutter is pivotally mounted on a longitudinal axis 213a connected to drive means known per se and adapted so that it can occupy a horizontal position visible in FIG. 29 and a tilted position visible in FIG. 30.
• the packaging machine 200 Downstream of the lower complementary gutter 213, the packaging machine 200 comprises downstream welding means 216, of which only the retractable jaws are shown.
• the packaging machine 200 can operate in the following manner.
• the retaining finger 210 is in its separated position.
• the gutter portion 205 and the gutter 207 then constitute a longitudinal zone 214 for receiving elongated objects to be packaged 215.
• Objects to be packaged 215 are deposited, for example automatically using suitable means, longitudinally in this longitudinal zone of reception 214, that is to say in the gutter 207, taking care that the upstream end portion of the objects 215 extends in the gutter portion 205.
• the following operation consists in activating the advancement device 201 so as to advance downstream the tubular film 202, around the gutter portion 205 and the gutter 207, passing over the objects 215 deposited, this until that the tubular film 202 reaches the downstream end of the gutter 207 and envelops its cylindrical end 207a.
• the following operation consists in operating the retaining finger 210 so that it comes to pinch the downstream part of the tubular film 200 between its end and the cylindrical part 207a of the gutter 207.
• the circular cutting means 206 are activated, so as to separate the downstream portion 202a from the tubular film 202 containing the objects 215.
• the following operation consists in moving the support 208 downstream to drive the gutter 207 carrying the objects 215 and the portion of tubular film 202a held by the finger 210, until the portion of film 202a is extracted from the gutter 205 and the free upstream end of the gutter 207 is placed just downstream of the clamp 212, the gutter 207 then being in an intermediate longitudinal position.
• the following operation consists in activating the upstream welding means 21 1, so as to crush and thermally weld the upstream end of the portion of tubular film 202a, and to raise the finger 210.
• the following operation consists in activating the clamp 212 so as to clamp the upstream part of the tubular film portion 202a and the upstream part of the objects 215 that it contains.
• the following operation consists in moving the support 208 downstream to move the gutter 207 downstream, until this gutter 207 is completely extracted from the portion of tubular film 202a and reaches a remote position.
• the portion of tubular film 202a and the objects 215 which it contains are deposited longitudinally on the lower complementary receiving gutter 213, progressively.
• the following operation consists in activating the downstream welding means 216 so as to crush and thermally weld the downstream end of the portion of tubular film 202a.
• the following operation consists in pivoting the lower complementary gutter 213 around its longitudinal axis 213a so as to evacuate by gravity the package 217 obtained.
• FIGs 31 to 45 we will now describe another packaging machine 300 contituée as follows.
• this packaging machine 300 comprises an advancement device 301 for advancing a tubular film 302 stored in a reel 303, the advancement device 301 comprising a longitudinal guide 304 provided at its upstream part with a gutter portion 305 and circumferential cutting means 306 being provided upstream of this gutter portion.
• the packaging machine 300 comprises, downstream of the advancement device 301, a multiplicity of reception groups 307, in the example three in number, spaced longitudinally and comprising respectively two rollers 308 and 309 carried by supports 310 and 311 respectively mounted on runners 312 and 313, arranged so that the rollers 308 and 309 are arranged at 90 ° relative to each other so as to constitute an N open upwards and that the runners 312 and 313 are arranged at 90 ° relative to each other by forming an N open downwards.
• a multiplicity of reception groups 307 in the example three in number, spaced longitudinally and comprising respectively two rollers 308 and 309 carried by supports 310 and 311 respectively mounted on runners 312 and 313, arranged so that the rollers 308 and 309 are arranged at 90 ° relative to each other so as to constitute an N open upwards and that the runners 312 and 313 are arranged at 90 ° relative to each other by forming an N open downwards.
• the supports 310 and 311 carry motors 308a and 309a for driving the rollers 308 and 30 in rotation.
• the supports 310 and 31 1 and the slides 312 and 313 are equipped with complementary drive means such as the rollers 308 and 309 are movable simultaneously between a raised or raised position in which their lower end portions extend close to each other, so that the rollers 308 and 309 of the reception groups 307 define a reception zone 314 s 'extending longitudinally opposite and downstream of the advancement device 301, and a low position in which they are lowered and spaced from each other.
• the packaging machine 300 further comprises, downstream of the reception groups 307, a support 315 the upper part of which is mounted on a longitudinal slide 316 and which carries a clamp 317 and welding means 318, the jaws of the clamp 317 and those of the welding means 318 being coupled so as to be actuated simultaneously.
• the gutter portion 215 is equipped with two longitudinal flaps 319 articulated on its longitudinal edges 320, these flaps 319 being maneuverable between an open position and a folded position by means corresponding for example to those described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
• the packaging machine 300 described above can operate in the following manner.
• the rollers 308 and 309 of the reception groups 307 are in their high position and define the longitudinal reception zone 314, the flaps 319 carried by the gutter portion 305 are open , the support 315 is in its upstream position, and the clamp 317 and the welding means 318 being open.
• the advancement device 301 is activated so as to advance the tubular film 302 downstream.
• the tubular film 302 envelops the objects 321.
• its rollers 308 and 309 are moved downwards so as to separate them laterally from the objects 321 to allow the tubular film 302 to pass.
• the same operations are carried out on the third reception group 307, and so on for the following reception groups, the number of reception groups 307 depending on the length of the objects 321 and the spacing between them depending the rigidity of these objects.
• the circular cutting means 305 are actuated so as to separate the advanced portion 302a from the tubular film 302 and the clamp 317 is actuated so that it takes between its jaws the portion of tubular film 302a and the portion of downstream end of the objects 321 which it contains and so that the downstream welding means 318 press and thermally weld the downstream end of the portion of tubular film 302a, downstream from the end of the objects 321.
• the following operation consists in moving the support 315 downstream and in rotating the rollers 308 and 309, so that the portion of tubular film 302a and the longitudinal objects 321 which it contains moves to a remote position in which the upstream end of the objects 321 have just protruded from the upstream welding means 322.
• the upstream welding means 322 are actuated so as to press and thermally weld the upstream end of the portion of tubular film 302a.
• a packet 323 is then obtained containing longitudinal objects 321 in the portion of tubular film 302a.
• rollers 308 and 309 of the receiving groups 307 are moved downwards so as to release a vertical space in which the packet 323 is evacuated by gravity.
• This advancement device 400 comprises a longitudinal guide 401 which comprises a longitudinal central beam 402, of rectangular section placed vertically.
• the beam 402 carries laterally, on either side, front gussets 403 and 404 and rear gussets 405 and 406 on which are respectively mounted front arms 407 and 408 and rear arms 409 and 410, via d 'front vertical axes 412 and 413 and rear vertical axes 414 and 415.
• the longitudinal guide 401 further comprises longitudinal supports 416 and 417 which are elongated on either side of the central beam 402 and which are respectively mounted on the free ends of the arms 407 and 409 by means of vertical axes 418 and 419 and on the free end of the arms 408 and 410 by means of vertical axes 420 and 421.
• the vertical axes 412, 414, 418 and 419 determine a horizontally deformable parallelogram making it possible to vary the distance between the central beam 42 and the longitudinal support 416 and, on the other hand, the vertical axes 413, 415, 420 and 421 define a deformable parallelogram making it possible to vary the difference between the central beam 402 and the longitudinal support 417.
• the front arms 407 and 408 have teeth which are concentric with the axes 412 and 413 and which engage with racks arranged on either side. on the other on a front slide 422 disposed in a longitudinal passage 423 formed through the central beam 402.
• the rear arms 409 and 410 have teeth centered on axes 414 and 415 and engaged with racks provided on either side of a rear slide 424 disposed in a longitudinal passage 425 formed through the beam central 402.
• the longitudinal supports 416 and 417 are coupled so as to move simultaneously while approaching or moving away from the central beam 402, at the same time as the slides 422 and 424 move longitudinally in the passages 423 and 424 in the same meaning.
• the slides 423 and 424 are stressed respectively by springs 426 and 427 which are arranged in the passages 423 and 425 of the central beam 42 so as to move them longitudinally in the direction which separates the longitudinal supports 416 and 417 from the central beam
• the longitudinal supports 416 and 417 respectively carry four inner trains 428 and 429 of two rollers each, offset two by two horizontally and arranged two by two at
• the supports 416 and 417 carry longitudinal envelope portions 430 and 431, spaced apart, such that the longitudinal guide 401 has a substantially oval section whose section varies as a function of the lateral position of the longitudinal supports 416 and 417 relative to the longitudinal beam 402.
• the advancement device 400 comprises on the one hand four external rollers 432 bearing against the rollers of the trains 428 and four external rollers 434 bearing against the rollers of trains 429.
• the four rollers 432 and the four rollers 434 are respectively carried by rotary drive blocks 435 and 436 which are fixed on slides 437 and 438 mounted on fixed transverse bars "439.
• the slides 437 and 438 are coupled to a transverse adjustment screw 440 which has an annular shoulder 441 engaged in a groove 442 of a chassis portion 443 in order to immobilize it in the direction of its axis.
• This screw 440 has threads 444 and 445 with inverted pitch engaged with the slides 437 and 438, the screw 440 carrying at one of its ends a handwheel 446.
• the front parts of the envelope portions 430 and 431 carry combs 447 and 448 which have transverse teeth 449 and 450 which are capable of penetrating more or less between each other when the longitudinal envelope portions 430 and 431 approach or move away, so as to determine a gutter or a portion of gutter of variable section, in the extension of the oval section mentioned above.
• the advancement device 400 described with reference to FIGS. 46 to 49 could just as easily include any of the holding and driving means described above and could also be associated with any means suitable for carrying any object to be introduced. in a portion of tubular film.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)

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• 2002
  • 2002-07-22 FR FR0209277A patent/FR2842502B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-07-21 AU AU2003273460A patent/AU2003273460A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-07-21 WO PCT/FR2003/002304 patent/WO2004009446A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2003-07-21 EP EP03755620A patent/EP1529003A2/de not_active Withdrawn

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