EP1693298A1 - Vorrichtung und Verfahren für Schrumpffolienverpackung von Behältern - Google Patents

Vorrichtung und Verfahren für Schrumpffolienverpackung von Behältern Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1693298A1
EP1693298A1 EP05101239A EP05101239A EP1693298A1 EP 1693298 A1 EP1693298 A1 EP 1693298A1 EP 05101239 A EP05101239 A EP 05101239A EP 05101239 A EP05101239 A EP 05101239A EP 1693298 A1 EP1693298 A1 EP 1693298A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
containers
pair
superimposed
shrink tunnel
shrink
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Withdrawn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
EP05101239A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Bernard Tallier
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.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Philip Morris Products SA
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 Philip Morris Products SA filed Critical Philip Morris Products SA
Priority to EP05101239A priority Critical patent/EP1693298A1/de
Priority to BRPI0608421-4A priority patent/BRPI0608421A2/pt
Priority to KR1020077018328A priority patent/KR101288663B1/ko
Priority to ES06708360T priority patent/ES2328729T3/es
Priority to JP2007555623A priority patent/JP4990800B2/ja
Priority to EP06708360A priority patent/EP1848636B1/de
Priority to AT06708360T priority patent/ATE435157T1/de
Priority to CN2006800052480A priority patent/CN101119894B/zh
Priority to PCT/EP2006/060070 priority patent/WO2006087375A1/en
Priority to PL06708360T priority patent/PL1848636T3/pl
Priority to DE602006007546T priority patent/DE602006007546D1/de
Publication of EP1693298A1 publication Critical patent/EP1693298A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
    • 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
    • B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
    • B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and apparatus for shrink-wrapping containers and finds particular application in the shrink-wrapping of packs of smokable articles such as cigarettes.
  • shrink wrap cigarette packs and other containers in an outer film of, for example, polypropylene.
  • a stream of cigarette packs which are individually wrapped in a heat-shrinkable film is conveyed through a shrink tunnel where the packs are heat-treated by convection, using hot air, and/or conduction, using hot flat plates, in order to shrink the film wrappers around the packs.
  • the individually wrapped cigarette packs are typically transferred cyclically from a piling or stacking station into the shrink tunnel in superimposed pairs.
  • a reciprocating horizontal pusher transfers vertically stacked pairs of superimposed cigarette packs from the stacking station into the shrink tunnel, where the pairs of packs are pushed against one another to form a continuous stream.
  • the cigarette packs are thus conveyed longitudinally through the shrink tunnel in two superimposed abutting rows with the upper faces of cigarette packs in the lower row in contact with the lower faces of cigarette packs in the upper row.
  • the heat-shrinkable film in contact with these inaccessible faces of the cigarette packs is disadvantageously exposed to little or no heat within the shrink tunnel.
  • US-B-6,511,405 discloses an apparatus for producing packs having an outer wrapper of improved appearance comprising a shrinking station with a top heating plate for applying heat to the upwardly directed front sides of packs in the top row and a bottom heating plate, positioned in the region between the two superimposed pack rows, for applying heat to the upwardly directed front sides of packs in the bottom row. So that they are conveyed through the shrinking station above the bottom heating plate, the packs of the top pack row are raised relative to the packs in the bottom pack row by a ramp in the region of the heating plates.
  • an apparatus for shrink wrapping a plurality of individually wrapped containers comprising: a stacking station, a shrink tunnel, and a transfer device for transferring a pair of superimposed containers individually wrapped in a heat-shrinkable film from the stacking station to the shrink tunnel, characterised in that the transfer device is adapted to engage and separate the pair of superimposed containers and to convey the separated containers from the stacking station into the shrink tunnel.
  • separation of the pair of superimposed containers by the transfer device rather than by a ramp or other hard repositioning means, not only renders the upper side or face and the lower side or face of each container accessible to one or more heating devices provided in the shrink tunnel, but also reduces or avoids the risk of the containers and/or their non-shrunken film wrappers being damaged as the containers are transferred to the shrinking station.
  • the transfer device is adapted to apply a vacuum to a portion of the surface of at least one of the pair of superimposed containers distant from the shrink tunnel. More preferably, the transfer device is adapted to apply a vacuum to a trailing side or face of the uppermost one of the pair of superimposed containers.
  • the transfer device comprises at least one suction plate or cup for engaging a portion of the surface of at least one of the pair of superimposed containers distant from the shrink tunnel.
  • the at least one suction plate or cup is mounted on a pusher mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the shrink tunnel.
  • the pusher is mounted on a carriage on a cam track.
  • the shrink tunnel comprises at least one heating plate for applying heat to the film wrappers of the separated containers. More preferably, the shrink tunnel comprises an inner heating plate mounted between the separated containers for applying heat to opposed inward facing surfaces of the separated containers. Most preferably, the shrink tunnel comprises an inner heating plate mounted between the separated containers for applying heat to opposed inward facing surfaces of the separated containers and a pair of opposed, spaced apart, parallel outer heating plates for applying heat to outward facing surfaces of the separated containers.
  • the inner heating plate is fixed, while, to reduce friction between the separated containers and the shrink tunnel, the outer heating plates are preferably adapted to move in sequence with the movement of the separated containers.
  • the shrink tunnel may advantageously further comprise a second pair of opposed, spaced apart, parallel heating plates, substantially perpendicular to the inner heating plate and the pair of outer heating plates, for applying heat to corresponding further surfaces of the separated containers.
  • the second pair of opposed, spaced apart, parallel heating plates is preferably also adapted to move in sequence with the movement of the separated containers in order to reduce friction.
  • any suitable known heating plates may be employed in the shrink tunnel of the apparatus of the invention, for example, heating plates heated by electric resistors.
  • the apparatus of the present invention may further comprise means for, in use, supplying hot air into the shrink tunnel in order to shrink the film wrappers of the separated containers instead of or in addition to one or more heating plates.
  • the transfer device utilizes negative pressure, applied, by way of a suction unit, to the trailing side or face of the uppermost container of a superimposed pair of containers formed in a vertical stacking station, to engage and lift the uppermost container vertically and thereby separate the pair of containers.
  • a vacuum of between about 0.6 bar and about 1 bar is preferably applied by the transfer device to the uppermost cigarette pack in order to separate the cigarette packs.
  • the suction unit of the transfer device may, for example, comprise a suction plate including a plurality of holes or one or more suction cups through which, in use, a vacuum is drawn.
  • the suction unit is preferably mounted on a horizontal pusher, which in turn is mounted on a carriage on a fixed cam track.
  • a horizontal pusher which in turn is mounted on a carriage on a fixed cam track.
  • the transfer device may alternatively also utilize negative pressure applied by way of a suction unit to engage the lowermost container of the superimposed pair of containers.
  • a first container wrapped in a heat-shrinkable film is preferably lifted upwards to a pre-determined height in the stacking station by a reciprocating vertical pusher, where it is held in position in a known manner, while the pusher returns to its initial position.
  • the vertical pusher then lifts a second container wrapped in a heat-shrinkable film upwards to the same pre-determined height in the stacking station where it is held in position with the lower face or side of the first container supported on the upper face or side of the second container.
  • the engagement and separation of the thus formed pair of superimposed containers by the transfer device takes place directly after the superimposition of the containers, during the time taken by the vertical pusher to travel back to its original position to collect a container to form the first container of a subsequent pair of superimposed containers.
  • medium and high speed shrink wrapping machines for cigarette packs operate with a rate of between about 400 to 600 packs per minute. Accordingly, where the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention is used to shrink wrap cigarette packs, the carriage and hence horizontal pusher of the transfer device may, for example, operate at about half this rate.
  • the transfer device is also provided with a supply of compressed air to blow the container or containers off of the suction unit into the shrink tunnel.
  • the heating device delivers heat through at least one central heater plate located between the pair of separated superimposed containers. More preferably, the heating device delivers heat through at least one fixed horizontal heater plate located between the pair of separated superimposed containers, which also serves as a support or steering plate for at least one of the containers.
  • the heating device may be of any suitable known type, for example, a plate heated by electric resistors.
  • the shrink tunnel further comprises heating plates that move in sequence with the separated containers, that is, for example, vertically spaced apart, parallel top and bottom heating plates for heat treating the upper surface of the uppermost container and the lower surface of the lowermost container, respectively, that index up and down in time with the movement of containers directly underneath or over them respectively.
  • the shrink tunnel of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention may further comprise two horizontally spaced apart, parallel side heating plates, perpendicular to the top and bottom plates, that move in sequence with the pair of separated superimposed containers for heating the side faces thereof.
  • the height of the stacking station of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is preferably increased by about the height of one container compared to conventional stacking stations to about the height of three containers.
  • the apparatus of the invention further comprises a pre-sealing unit mounted in a lower portion of the stacking station for, in use, point sealing opposed folded ends of the unshrunken film wrapper around the lowermost of the three containers therein.
  • the pre-sealing unit comprises a pair of opposed hollow, reciprocating pneumatic cylinders mounted in opposite sides of the stacking station, which, in use, are heated with hot air.
  • the pneumatic cylinders are preferably positioned to spot heat two points on opposed sides of the lowermost pack where, due to the manner in which heat-shrinkable film is conventionally folded around cigarette packs, five thicknesses of film are folded.
  • the apparatus of the present invention further comprises a choke detection device mounted in the stacking station.
  • the choke detection device comprises a pair of opposed spring-loaded fingers hingedly mounted on either side of the upper end or exit of the stacking station at right angles thereto.
  • accidental insertion of an additional container into the stacking station forces the spring loaded fingers to pivot upwardly against the sides of the stacking station thereby generating, by way of a sensor, a signal for the apparatus to stop.
  • the spring-loaded fingers also advantageously reduce bouncing of the individually wrapped containers as they are fed into the stacking station.
  • one side of the stacking station of the apparatus of the invention is hinged to the remainder thereof in order to allow easy access to the interior stacking station to, for example, remove accidentally inserted additional containers.
  • a method for shrink wrapping a plurality of individually wrapped containers comprising: stacking at least two containers individually wrapped in a heat shrinkable film in a stacking station to obtain a pair of superimposed containers, applying a vacuum to at least one of the pair of superimposed containers to separate the superimposed pair of containers, and transferring the separated containers into a shrink tunnel.
  • the method comprises applying a vacuum to a trailing side or face of an uppermost one of the pair of superimposed containers.
  • the method preferably comprises a vacuum of between about 0.6 bar and about 1 bar.
  • the method of the invention further comprises applying heat to opposed inward facing surfaces of the separated containers in the shrink tunnel through a heating plate mounted between the separated containers.
EP05101239A 2005-02-18 2005-02-18 Vorrichtung und Verfahren für Schrumpffolienverpackung von Behältern Withdrawn EP1693298A1 (de)

Priority Applications (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05101239A EP1693298A1 (de) 2005-02-18 2005-02-18 Vorrichtung und Verfahren für Schrumpffolienverpackung von Behältern
BRPI0608421-4A BRPI0608421A2 (pt) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 aparelho e método para embalar recipientes por encolhimento
KR1020077018328A KR101288663B1 (ko) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 용기를 수축포장하는 장치 및 방법
ES06708360T ES2328729T3 (es) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 Aparato y metodo para empaquetar al vacio en plastico embalajes.
JP2007555623A JP4990800B2 (ja) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 容器を収縮包装するための機器及び方法
EP06708360A EP1848636B1 (de) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 Vorrichtung und verfahren für mit schrumpffolie verpackte behälter
AT06708360T ATE435157T1 (de) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 Vorrichtung und verfahren für mit schrumpffolie verpackte behälter
CN2006800052480A CN101119894B (zh) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 收缩包装容器的设备和方法
PCT/EP2006/060070 WO2006087375A1 (en) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 Apparatus and method for shrink wrapping containers
PL06708360T PL1848636T3 (pl) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 Urządzenie i sposób do pakowania za pomocą obkurczania
DE602006007546T DE602006007546D1 (de) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 Vorrichtung und verfahren für mit schrumpffolie verpackte behälter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05101239A EP1693298A1 (de) 2005-02-18 2005-02-18 Vorrichtung und Verfahren für Schrumpffolienverpackung von Behältern

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1693298A1 true EP1693298A1 (de) 2006-08-23

Family

ID=34938764

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05101239A Withdrawn EP1693298A1 (de) 2005-02-18 2005-02-18 Vorrichtung und Verfahren für Schrumpffolienverpackung von Behältern
EP06708360A Not-in-force EP1848636B1 (de) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 Vorrichtung und verfahren für mit schrumpffolie verpackte behälter

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06708360A Not-in-force EP1848636B1 (de) 2005-02-18 2006-02-17 Vorrichtung und verfahren für mit schrumpffolie verpackte behälter

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1693298A1 (de)
JP (1) JP4990800B2 (de)
KR (1) KR101288663B1 (de)
CN (1) CN101119894B (de)
AT (1) ATE435157T1 (de)
BR (1) BRPI0608421A2 (de)
DE (1) DE602006007546D1 (de)
ES (1) ES2328729T3 (de)
PL (1) PL1848636T3 (de)
WO (1) WO2006087375A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102006024559A1 (de) * 2006-05-23 2007-11-29 Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Zigarettenpackungen
CN115027724A (zh) * 2022-06-29 2022-09-09 湖北中烟工业有限责任公司 一种卷烟封装工艺

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7661527B2 (en) * 2006-10-27 2010-02-16 Alain Cerf Tray for stacking containers
CN105197309B (zh) * 2014-06-05 2017-09-26 上海烟草机械有限责任公司 烟草包装机的烟包美容机构
KR102318435B1 (ko) 2021-01-21 2021-11-03 주식회사 모던엠텍 담배 보루 적재 및 필름 포장 장치

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2179018A (en) * 1983-11-30 1987-02-25 Molins Plc Sealing wrapped packets
DE3824924A1 (de) * 1988-07-22 1990-01-25 Bat Cigarettenfab Gmbh Verfahren und einrichtung zum einschlagen von packungen
EP1103465A1 (de) * 1999-11-29 2001-05-30 Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Klappschachteln für Zigaretten
US6511405B1 (en) * 1999-09-15 2003-01-28 Focke & Co (Gmbh & Co) Process and apparatus for producing cigarette packs

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6155034A (ja) * 1984-08-22 1986-03-19 Hitachi Ltd 薄板の供給装置
JPH0798589B2 (ja) * 1987-01-30 1995-10-25 北川精機株式会社 板状物の送り出し方法
IT1257810B (it) * 1992-05-26 1996-02-13 Gd Spa Metodo per la separazione di due file di pacchetti di sigarette
IT1309272B1 (it) * 1999-05-27 2002-01-16 Gd Spa Metodo e macchina per l'incarto di un prodotto in un foglio di incarto di materiale termoretraibile
JP3867564B2 (ja) * 2001-12-06 2007-01-10 株式会社村田製作所 積み重ねワークの分離方法および分離装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2179018A (en) * 1983-11-30 1987-02-25 Molins Plc Sealing wrapped packets
DE3824924A1 (de) * 1988-07-22 1990-01-25 Bat Cigarettenfab Gmbh Verfahren und einrichtung zum einschlagen von packungen
US6511405B1 (en) * 1999-09-15 2003-01-28 Focke & Co (Gmbh & Co) Process and apparatus for producing cigarette packs
EP1103465A1 (de) * 1999-11-29 2001-05-30 Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Klappschachteln für Zigaretten

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102006024559A1 (de) * 2006-05-23 2007-11-29 Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Zigarettenpackungen
US7908825B2 (en) 2006-05-23 2011-03-22 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) Method and device for producing cigarette packs
CN115027724A (zh) * 2022-06-29 2022-09-09 湖北中烟工业有限责任公司 一种卷烟封装工艺

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE435157T1 (de) 2009-07-15
EP1848636A1 (de) 2007-10-31
ES2328729T3 (es) 2009-11-17
EP1848636B1 (de) 2009-07-01
JP4990800B2 (ja) 2012-08-01
PL1848636T3 (pl) 2010-01-29
KR101288663B1 (ko) 2013-08-07
CN101119894A (zh) 2008-02-06
BRPI0608421A2 (pt) 2010-01-05
CN101119894B (zh) 2010-05-19
DE602006007546D1 (de) 2009-08-13
WO2006087375A1 (en) 2006-08-24
KR20070108172A (ko) 2007-11-08
JP2008529910A (ja) 2008-08-07

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