EP1580127A1 - Apparatus for covering groups of products with tubular stretch film - Google Patents

Apparatus for covering groups of products with tubular stretch film Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1580127A1
EP1580127A1 EP05425163A EP05425163A EP1580127A1 EP 1580127 A1 EP1580127 A1 EP 1580127A1 EP 05425163 A EP05425163 A EP 05425163A EP 05425163 A EP05425163 A EP 05425163A EP 1580127 A1 EP1580127 A1 EP 1580127A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
film
rollers
section
unit
way
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Withdrawn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
EP05425163A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mauro Cere'
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.)
Aetna Group SpA
Original Assignee
Aetna Group SpA
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 Aetna Group SpA filed Critical Aetna Group SpA
Publication of EP1580127A1 publication Critical patent/EP1580127A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • B65B9/135—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 for palletised loads

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for covering groups of products with tubular stretch film.
  • hood stretch machines which cover the products with a “hood”, that is to say, a tubular length of film closed at the top end to form a sleeve-like covering that is stretched over the stacked products and allowed to return to its original size, thanks to the elastic properties of the film, in such a way as to tightly hold the products together.
  • This type of covering is used, for example, to protect stacked products comprising sacks of loose material such as cement, flour or grain and is applied by machinery typically consisting of:
  • the stretching unit is also equipped with drive means that move the unit down along the frame in such a way as to draw the film over the products, allowing it to gradually release the concertina folds until the film reaches the base of the products at the pallet.
  • the film is released completely so that it covers all the products and, if necessary, also the pallet.
  • the spreading unit usually works in close cooperation with the film opening unit, such as, for example, in the solution described in US patent 3,925,964 where a fixed, wedge-shaped element starts spreading the sides of the film tube apart and directs the tube towards a double pair of inclined conveyor belts that fully open and stretch the film tube and then place it on at least four arms that constitute the unit for stretching and vertically moving the film.
  • the film tube is spread apart by the combined action of suction devices, which start pulling the corners of the tube apart from the outside, and mechanical grippers, located on both sides of each suction device, which grip the corners of the film tube and feed it to the stretching unit below.
  • the stretching unit usually consists of four substantially L-shaped arms positioned diagonally on the frame in such a way as to enable the related vertical portion to keep the corner of the film mouth open.
  • each arm may comprise:
  • the concertina folding means are applied directly to each arm (see patents US 3,902,303 and FR 2.234.509).
  • This unit consists of a power-driven wheel or track which, when the film reaches the vertical portion of the arm, is brought into contact with the film and gathers the latter up in concertina fashion. After making the concertina folds, the wheel or track may be moved away from the film or it may also be used to guide the film downwardly along the sides of the product group.
  • the frame mounts power-driven rollers for concertina folding the film by pushing it against the second arms or into contact with an idle roller connected to the second arms.
  • the arrangement that combines suction devices and grippers is more effective than the previous arrangements, although the suction devices may, for the same reasons, still present problems initially positioning the corners of the film close to the grippers. In addition to that, the cost of the unit is much higher than in the previous arrangements.
  • the aim of this invention is to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a reliable and efficient apparatus for covering groups of products with tubular stretch film capable of precisely gripping and concertina folding the film with a limited number of operating units, thereby reducing the overall dimensions and production costs.
  • an apparatus for covering groups of products with tubular stretch film comprising: a frame inside which the group of products is placed; a roll of stretch film controlled by film feed means located at the top of the frame; a unit for spreading open the pleated sides of the film; means for gripping and opening the mouth of the film, located under the spreading unit; a stretching unit which receives the film from the gripping means in the spread open configuration and stretches it to a size larger than the perimeter of the product group; means for folding the film in concertina fashion in such a way as to gather up a quantity of film sufficient to cover the product group, these means acting by pressure against the stretching unit; the means for gripping and opening the film and the means for folding the film in concertina fashion are made as a single unit operating between the spreading unit and the stretching unit.
  • product group 1 will be used, without thereby limiting the scope of the inventive concept, to denote any entity consisting of a single product or two or more stacked products to be wrapped and sealed by the tubular film.
  • the apparatus is used for groups 1 of products stacked on a pallet.
  • the apparatus 3 is of the type essentially comprising the following elements of particular relevance to this specification:
  • the drawings of the preferred embodiment also partly illustrate a unit 11 for sealing the top of the unwound portion of film 2, to form a sleeve-like cover, and separating it from the rest of the film 2; the unit 11 being located at the top end of the frame 4.
  • the means 8 for gripping and opening the film 2 and the means 10 for concertina folding the film 2 are made as a single unit 12 mounted on the frame 4 and operating between the spreading unit 7 and the stretching unit 9.
  • the frame 4 preferably, but without restricting the scope of the invention, has a portal structure that enables it to support at its upper end a part of the feed means 6 which, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, comprise rubber coated rollers 6a for transporting the film 2 along the vertical of the frame 4 in the direction V.
  • Figures 1, 8, 19 and from 15 to 18 schematically illustrate the stretching unit 9, which is of known type and comprises four arms 9a, 9b, each consisting of a first, substantially vertical section 13 for receiving the film 2 and a second section 14 by which each arm 9a, 9b, is connected to the frame 4, the arms also being able to run in both directions along a vertical axis Z of the frame 4.
  • the gripping/opening and concertina folding unit 12 in turn comprises four gripping roller units 15 mounted on respective arms 16 pivoted at their free ends to the frame 4 and equipped with respective first synchronised drive means 17 (described in more detail below).
  • the arms 16 are arranged in adjacent operating pairs on opposite sides of the product group 1 to be covered.
  • each gripping roller unit 15 comprises two opposite rollers 18, 19 keyed to a shaft 20 on which they are rotatably mounted.
  • Each of these pairs of rollers 18, 19 is acted upon by sliding actuator means 21 for moving the rollers 18, 19 relative to each other between a first end position in which the rollers 18, 19 are apart (illustrated by the continuous line in Figures 4 and 5), and a second end position in which the rollers 18, 19 are in contact with each other in such a way as to grip an end edge 2b of the film 2 (see dashed line and arrow F18 in Figure 5).
  • each of the arms 16 that supports a gripping roller unit 15 comprises a first L-shaped rigid section 16a pivoted at a free end of it to a carriage 22 that is slidably mounted on the frame 4.
  • the above mentioned drive means 17 are located at the first section 16a and operate between the carriage 22 and the arm 16 in such a way as to turn the latter about the respective pivot point A and B between a first raised position in the vicinity of the spreading unit 7 and a lowered position in the vicinity of the stretching unit 9 (these two positions being indicated by arrows F17 in Figures 8 and 19, respectively).
  • Each arm 16 is also equipped with second, horizontal drive means 23 for translationally moving each arm 16 along the frame 4 towards and away from the other arm 16 constituting the aforementioned adjacent operating pair of arms 16 (see arrows F23, Figure 2).
  • each first section 16a of each arm 16 opposite the end pivoted to the carriage 22 is linked to a second, movable section 16b equipped, at its other end, with the above mentioned pair of rollers 18, 19.
  • third drive means 24 acting in conjunction with the first drive means 17 in order to permit a further rotation of the second section 16b relative to the first section 16a, between at least one first raised end position in which the pair of rollers 18 and 19 is close to the spreading unit 7 so as to grip the respective free end 2b of the film 2 (see Figure 8 again), and a second, lowered end position in which the pair of rollers 18 and 19 is close to the stretching unit 9 so as to release and concertina fold the film 2 (see arrows F24, Figure 19).
  • each second section 16b of each arm 16 is also equipped with motorising means 25 acting on the pair of rollers 18 and 19 to simultaneously rotate the rollers 18 and 19 in such a way as to concertina fold the film 2.
  • the motorising means 25 may consist of a gear motor connected, through a kinematic chain 26, to a pinion 27 which is keyed to the shaft 20 that mounts the rollers 18 and 19 and which is designed to permit the rotation of the rollers 18, 19 while they are apart in such a way as to gather up the film 2 by concertina folding it against the respective first section 13 of each arm 9a, 9b.
  • the aforementioned sliding roller 18 must be linked to a pin 28 that slides axially inside the hollow mounting shaft 20 connected to the relative sliding actuating means 21, consisting (for example) of a pneumatic actuator, in such a way as to move the sliding roller 18 towards and away from the fixed roller 19.
  • the roller 18 itself may be connected to the pin 28 through a slot 29 made in the hollow shaft 20 and whose length defines the distance travelled to come into contact with the fixed, opposite roller 19: thus, the roller 18 is always linked to the shaft 20 to permit the rotational concertina folding action.
  • the second section 16b of each arm 16 may be equipped with means 39 (for example, proximity sensors, illustrated schematically as a block) for detecting the contact between each pair of rollers 18 and 19 and the respective first vertical section 13 of the stretching unit 9 so as to grip the film 2 securely between the rollers 18 and 19 and the first section 13.
  • means 39 for example, proximity sensors, illustrated schematically as a block
  • first drive means 17 of each first L-shaped section 16a may comprise a twin lever system (see Figures 8 and 19) with levers 40 and 41 pivoted, respectively, at A and B, to the aforementioned pairs of arms 16, and joined to each other at diagonally opposite ends by a first tie rod 42.
  • levers 40 and 41 The end of one of the levers 40 and 41 is pivoted to a second tie rod 43 connected to a motor 44 causing the levers 40 and 41 to rotate in such a way as to permit the relative coordinated rotation of the first sections 16a from the raised position to the lowered position and vice versa.
  • the second drive means 23 for actuating each arm 16 may comprise the aforementioned power-driven carriage 22 that runs in a respective supporting guide 45 made on the frame 4 in such a way as to enable the pairs of arms 16 to move towards and away from each other.
  • the third drive means 24 for actuating the second section 16b of each arm 16 may comprise a cylinder 46 which is connected, at one end, to the first section 16a, and whose piston stem 46a is linked to the second section 16b in such a way as to enable the latter to rotate from the first, raised end position to the second, lowered end position and vice versa.
  • Each roller 18 and 19 has an enlarged, cylindrical outer portion 47 designed to enable the free ends 2b of the film 2 to be gripped and a flat front surface 48 designed to hold the film 2 against the respective stretching arm 9a and 9b in such a way as to gather the film up on the arm 9a, 9b itself when the rollers 18 and 19 move apart and turn.
  • the spreading unit 7 acts in conjunction with the unit 12 just described.
  • the unit 7 may comprise a pair of vertical walls 30 and 31 positioned under the aforementioned film 2 feed means 6.
  • Each of the vertical walls 30 and 31 is shaped, in vertical cross section, like an upturned V at least at its lower end so that it can spread open at least the free end portions 2b of the tubular film 2 as it is unwound in a vertical direction.
  • Each wall 30 and 31, as also schematically illustrated in Figures 4 and 12, is divided into two halves joined at the top and having the shape, in cross section, of opposing pentagons separated centrally.
  • each of the walls 30 and 31 also has, at its lower end, guide means 32 acting on the ends 2b of the film 2 in such a way as to deflect the ends 2b outwardly with respect to the respective vertical wall 30, 31, thereby forming grip areas for the rollers 18 and 19, located in the vicinity of the guide means 32.
  • the guide means 32 may comprise a pair of opposite levers 33 and 34 for the lower ends of each vertical wall 30 and 31.
  • levers 33 and 34 are linked to and driven by an actuating cylinder 35 in such a way as to move between a retracted idle position, in which the levers 33 and 34 are within the area defined by the respective vertical wall 30 and 31 (see continuous line in Figure 7), and an advanced working position in which the levers 33 and 34 are turned in opposite directions outside the area defined by the respective vertical wall 30 and 31 (see dashed line and arrows F35 in Figure 7) in such a way as to fold the edges 2b of the film 2 outwardly for the rollers 18 and 19.
  • the two levers 33 and 34 are connected and driven by the actuating cylinder 35 which turns them about two parallel axes in opposite directions towards the outside of the respective vertical wall 30, 31 so as to fold the edges 2b of the film 2 outwards so they can be gripped by the rollers 18 and 19.
  • each vertical wall 30 and 31 there may be provided, on both sides of each vertical wall 30 and 31, a rod 37 for coming into contact with the film 2 unwound and extending in a direction parallel with the walls 30 and 31 to a point in the vicinity of the lower ends of the vertical walls 30 and 31 themselves.
  • Each rod 37 may be connected at one end to the respective wall 30 and 31 and is inclined towards the surface of the wall 30, 31 itself in such a way as to define, with its free end, a contact for the film 2 when the guide means 32 spread open the free edges 2b.
  • each vertical wall 30 and 31 may have positioned near it a respective plate 49 and 50 that can be moved by suitable means 51 (for example, a cylinder) between a retracted idle position in which each plate 49 and 50 is within the area defined by the respective vertical wall 30 and 31 (see dashed line in Figures 2 and 6) and an advanced working position in which each plate 49 and 50 is turned towards the inside of the frame 4 so as to correctly part the pleated sides 2a of the of the film 2 being unwound.
  • suitable means 51 for example, a cylinder
  • An apparatus structured in the manner described above works as follows, starting from a situation in which the product group 1 is positioned inside the frame 4 and the film is fed by the feed means 6 in the vertical direction V in the configuration illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.
  • the film 2 comes into contact with the shaped vertical walls 30 and 31 designed to spread the film 2 open, in particular at the pleated sides 2a, thanks also to the plates 49 and 50 which move forward to the advanced working position at least during the downward feed of the film 2 (see Figures 11 and 12).
  • the four pairs of rollers 18 and 19 are moved towards each other to the working position so as to grip the respective ends 2b of the film 2 and, in sequence, the first drive means 17 are activated in order to lower the four units 15 towards the stretching unit 9 and in such a way as to start opening the mouth of the film 2.
  • the third drive means 24 are also activated in order to move the second section 16b further down.
  • the stretching unit 9 that is to say the four arms 9a and 9b and the respective second sections 16b move towards each other (see arrows F9a and F9b, Figures 15 and 16) until the gripping roller units 15 and the respective first sections 13 come into contact with each other. Stable contact between them is detected by the detection means 39.
  • rollers 18 and 19 and the vertical sections 13 are in stable contact, the rollers 18 and 19 are opened by the sliding actuator means 21, keeping the film 2 in contact with the respective first vertical section 13 and, the motorising means 25 are then activated to fold in concertina fashion the predetermined quantity of film 2 sufficient to cover the product group 1 (see Figures 17 and 18).
  • the film 2 is sealed and cut at its upper end in such a way as to form a sleeve-like cover to be placed over the product group 1 (see Figure 17 again).
  • the stretching unit 9 stretches the film 2 according to a known process and moves down vertically along the sides of the product group 1 in such a way as to cover it, while the unit 12 moves back to the raised position to pick up and open another portion of film 2.
  • An apparatus structured in this way therefore, fulfils the preset aims thanks to the combination into a single unit of separate components and units which, prior to the invention, were controlled independently of each other.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Shaping By String And By Release Of Stress In Plastics And The Like (AREA)
EP05425163A 2004-03-26 2005-03-23 Apparatus for covering groups of products with tubular stretch film Withdrawn EP1580127A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO20040173 2004-03-26
ITBO20040173 ITBO20040173A1 (it) 2004-03-26 2004-03-26 Apparecchiatura per la copertura di gruppi di prodotti con film tubolare estensibile

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1580127A1 true EP1580127A1 (en) 2005-09-28

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EP05425163A Withdrawn EP1580127A1 (en) 2004-03-26 2005-03-23 Apparatus for covering groups of products with tubular stretch film

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP1580127A1 (it)
IT (1) ITBO20040173A1 (it)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1818260A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-15 AETNA GROUP S.p.A. Apparatus for covering groups of products with stretch film
CN102976090A (zh) * 2012-12-19 2013-03-20 山东金宇实业股份有限公司 一种冷却线用抓胶装置

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT201900024781A1 (it) * 2019-12-19 2021-06-19 Officina Bocedi S R L Macchina per il rivestimento di pallet

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2234509A1 (it) * 1973-06-25 1975-01-17 Keramo Nv
US3925964A (en) * 1974-05-11 1975-12-16 E Mollers Maschinenfabrik Fa Arrangement for pulling a tube of heat-shrinkable plastic downwardly over a stack of goods
US4050219A (en) * 1976-02-19 1977-09-27 Comptex, Inc. Bagging machine
DE3918311A1 (de) * 1988-06-03 1989-12-07 Beumer Maschf Bernhard Verfahren und vorrichtung zum umhuellen von stueckgut, insbesondere stueckgutstapeln, mit einer stretchfolienhaube
DE3908957A1 (de) * 1989-03-18 1990-09-20 Beumer Maschf Bernhard Verfahren und vorrichtung zum umhuellen von stueckgut mit kunststoffolie
DE4326872A1 (de) * 1993-08-11 1995-02-16 Alten K Dichtung des Spaltes zwischen dem Rand einer Gebäudeöffnung und dem Heck eines andockenden Fahrzeuges
US6032439A (en) * 1997-07-26 2000-03-07 Maschinenfabrik Mollers Gmbh U. Co. Apparatus and method of covering a stack of articles
WO2001083301A1 (de) * 2000-04-28 2001-11-08 MSK-Verpackungs-Systeme Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Verfahren und vorrichtung zum umhüllen von stück- oder packgut
WO2002058997A1 (de) * 2001-01-25 2002-08-01 MSK-Verpackungs-Systeme Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Vorrichtung zum umhüllen eines gutstapels

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2234509A1 (it) * 1973-06-25 1975-01-17 Keramo Nv
US3925964A (en) * 1974-05-11 1975-12-16 E Mollers Maschinenfabrik Fa Arrangement for pulling a tube of heat-shrinkable plastic downwardly over a stack of goods
US4050219A (en) * 1976-02-19 1977-09-27 Comptex, Inc. Bagging machine
DE3918311A1 (de) * 1988-06-03 1989-12-07 Beumer Maschf Bernhard Verfahren und vorrichtung zum umhuellen von stueckgut, insbesondere stueckgutstapeln, mit einer stretchfolienhaube
DE3908957A1 (de) * 1989-03-18 1990-09-20 Beumer Maschf Bernhard Verfahren und vorrichtung zum umhuellen von stueckgut mit kunststoffolie
DE4326872A1 (de) * 1993-08-11 1995-02-16 Alten K Dichtung des Spaltes zwischen dem Rand einer Gebäudeöffnung und dem Heck eines andockenden Fahrzeuges
US6032439A (en) * 1997-07-26 2000-03-07 Maschinenfabrik Mollers Gmbh U. Co. Apparatus and method of covering a stack of articles
WO2001083301A1 (de) * 2000-04-28 2001-11-08 MSK-Verpackungs-Systeme Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Verfahren und vorrichtung zum umhüllen von stück- oder packgut
WO2002058997A1 (de) * 2001-01-25 2002-08-01 MSK-Verpackungs-Systeme Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Vorrichtung zum umhüllen eines gutstapels

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1818260A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-15 AETNA GROUP S.p.A. Apparatus for covering groups of products with stretch film
CN102976090A (zh) * 2012-12-19 2013-03-20 山东金宇实业股份有限公司 一种冷却线用抓胶装置
CN102976090B (zh) * 2012-12-19 2015-05-20 山东金宇实业股份有限公司 一种冷却线用抓胶装置

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