EP1923314B1 - Device and method for wrapping packages with foil - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has clamps (7a, 7b) provided to circle a conveyor belt (6) on a path, where the path is identical for both the clamps. The clamps are respectively connected with a pair of traction units (13, 14). The clamps descend laterally downward before a third clamp that is behind the conveyor belt, where packages (G1, G2) are laid at the clamps (7a, 7b) that are accelerated in a short-run manner. The packages are assembled from a number of packaged products (P) such as beverages or flour packed in bags. An independent claim is also included for a method for stamping a number of packages in a foil.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for wrapping composed of several packaged products containers in foil with a circumferentially driven in the transport direction, endless conveyor belt to which the containers are placed, a supplied via the conveyor belt, a first placed in front of a first container in the transport direction with the speed of the conveyor belt rotating first bracket to which the first container is present, at least a second before a second patch container in the transport direction with the speed of the conveyor belt circulating second bracket, and arranged with a below the supplied film, with a higher speed than the conveyor belt driven third bracket, which circumscribes the conveyor belt on a trajectory and pulls on its trajectory above the conveyor belt, the film around the adjacent to the first bracket container.

Such a device according to the preamble of claim 1 is for example from the DE 42 07 725 A1 known.

Individually packaged products, such as drinks filled in cartons or flour packaged in bags or the like, are subsequently added for better transportation summarized to larger containers. For this purpose, the products are conveyed together in a packaging machine and summarized by appropriate control of the conveyor belts to groups of desired size. Such a container can then take place, for example, by filling a plurality of products in a cardboard packaging or by wrapping in film, which is then shrunk so that the container is stable.

From the US 2002/0189204 A1 is a method for wrapping products with a shrink film and an apparatus known thereto.

Smaller packaging, especially beverage cartons, which do not form a cuboid but a polyhedron, must be filled in cartons, since their footprint is so small that they often fall over when wrapping in foil, which then leads to a production stoppage, because the entire container, the which must be evacuated from the belt, which significantly increases the cost of production.

In order to prevent the fall of the products is in the device after the DE 42 07 725 A1 provided that before and behind a container Abstützbügel be applied to the products. Then the container is wrapped by means of a third bracket together with the Abstützbügeln with foil. When the winding process is completed, the straps are pulled out laterally before the shrinking process begins.

With this configuration, the falling over can be prevented. So that the brackets can be pulled out laterally, a correspondingly longer conveying distance is necessary. In addition, disturbances are not excluded if the film is wound too tightly and thereby the frictional forces acting on the stirrups are high. Due to the correspondingly loose winding, the film requirement per container is high. In addition, only two lanes can be arranged directly next to each other, because laterally next to each lane must remain sufficient space to drive out the Abstützbügel can.

The post-published DE 10 2005 051 027 A1 discloses a device and method for wrapping a package with foil. The combined into a container Products are placed with their footprint on the film and are supported against a first circumferential strap, which revolves at the same speed as the conveyor belt and the film and thereby effectively prevents individual products fall over during the conveying process. A second strap wraps the container with the film and both brackets dive on their trajectories at the end of the conveyor belt under this. The then wrapped in foil container can be passed to a belt arranged below the conveyor, which promotes the container in a heat-shrink oven, in which the film is shrunk so that the container is stably transported.

Based on this problem, the generic device and the method described should be improved so that the wrapping of the container in film is simplified and the procedure is optimized in time.

• der erste und der zweite Bügel umrunden das Transportband auf einer Bahnkurve,
• die Bahnkurve für den ersten Bügel und den zweiten Bügel ist identisch,
• der erste Bügel steht mit einem ersten Antrieb und der zweite Bügel steht mit einem zweiten Antrieb in Verbindung,
• die Bügel, an denen die Gebinde anliegen, tauchen hinter dem Transportband zeitlich vor dem dritten Bügel nach unten ab, und
• werden hierzu zumindest kurzfristig beschleunigt.

To solve the problem, a generic device is characterized by the following features:

• the first and second brackets circle the conveyor belt on a trajectory,
• the trajectory for the first stirrup and the second stirrup is identical,
• the first bracket is connected to a first drive and the second bracket is connected to a second drive,
• the stirrups on which the containers are located dive down behind the conveyor belt before the third stirrup, and
• will be accelerated, at least in the short term.

• Antreiben eines ersten Bügels entlang einer ersten Bahnkurve, die um ein mit einer Transportgeschwindigkeit in Transportrichtung angetriebenes Transportband verläuft, in Bezug auf die Transportrichtung mit Transportgeschwindigkeit,
• Antreiben eines zweiten Bügels entlang der ersten Bahnkurve,
• Antreiben mindestens eines dritten Bügels entlang einer, von der ersten Bahnkurve unterschiedlichen zweiten Bahnkurve, die um das angetriebene Transportband verläuft, mit einer Geschwindigkeit, die größer ist als die Transportgeschwindigkeit,
• Auflegen einer Folienbahn auf den vorderen Bereich des Transportbandes vor dem ersten Bügel und Mitführen der Folienbahn mit Transportgeschwindigkeit,
• Aufsetzen eines ersten Gebindes auf die mit dem Transportband transportierte Folienbahn mit Transportgeschwindigkeit derart, dass das Gebinde an dem ersten Bügel anliegt,
• Anheben der Folienbahn von dem Transportband mittels des mindestens einen dritten Bügels über das Gebinde hinweg,
• Vorbeiführen des dritten Bügels mit der angehobenen Folienbahn über das Gebinde,
• Beschleunigen des ersten Bügels am Ende des Transportbandes,
• Absenken des ersten Bügels hinter dem Transportband,
• Absenken der Folienbahn auf das Transportband mittels des mindestens einen dritten Bügels hinter dem ersten Gebinde am Ende des Transportbandes,
• Absenken des mindestens einen dritten Bügels hinter dem Transportband,
• Zurückführen beider Bügel unterhalb des Transportbandes auf ihren Bahnkurven,
• Abbremsen des ersten Bügels auf die Transportgeschwindigkeit,

Procedurally, the solution to the problem is through the following steps:

• Driving a first strap along a first trajectory, which extends around a conveyor belt driven at a transport speed in the transport direction, with respect to the transport direction at transport speed,
• Driving a second strap along the first trajectory,
• Driving at least one third strap along a second trajectory different from the first trajectory, which runs around the driven conveyor belt, at a speed that is greater than the transport speed,
• Placing a film web on the front region of the conveyor belt in front of the first bail and carrying the film web at transport speed,
• Placing a first container on the transported with the conveyor belt web at transport speed such that the container is applied to the first bracket,
• Lifting the film web from the conveyor belt by means of the at least one third bracket over the container,
• Passing the third strap with the raised foil web over the container,
• Accelerating the first strap at the end of the conveyor belt,
• Lowering the first bracket behind the conveyor,
• Lowering the film web onto the conveyor belt by means of the at least one third bracket behind the first container at the end of the conveyor belt,
• Lowering the at least one third bracket behind the conveyor belt,
• Returning both stirrups below the conveyor belt on their trajectories,
• Braking the first bracket to the transport speed,

As a result of this configuration, the products combined with the container are placed on the film with their contact surface and are supported against the first bracket or the second bracket, which revolves at the same speed as the conveyor belt and the film and thereby effectively prevents individual products fall over during the funding process. The third bracket wraps the container with the film and both brackets dive on their trajectories at the end of the conveyor belt under this. The pack then wrapped in foil can be transferred to a belt arranged downstream of the conveyor belt, which conveys the container into a shrink oven, in which the film is shrunk so that the container is stably transported. The fact that the two brackets, which abut the container are each driven by a separate drive, and the drives are independently controlled, these straps, when they have reached the end of the conveyor belt, can be accelerated before moving behind the conveyor belt dive down. As a result, the transport distance determined by the length of the conveyor belt can be reduced because the acceleration of the holding bracket (first or second bracket) takes place before it is overtaken by the film wrapping bracket (third bracket). The fact that the first and the second bracket are driven independently of each other, different sized containers or products can be driven on the system.

Preferably, in each case a servomotor are provided for driving the first and second bracket. Also, the third bracket can be driven by its own servo motor.

At least the first and second brackets are preferably attached to two traction means running on both sides next to the conveyor belt, which may be chains in particular. As a result, a parallel position fixing and guiding the bracket is guaranteed.

Preferably, a film cutting device is arranged in the transport direction T in front of the conveyor belt. This ensures that the film web that can be fed from the roll is cut to the length necessary for wrapping the bundle after the second bow lifts the film web, which facilitates further transport and wrapping.

The film cutting device is preferably arranged in a plane below the conveyor belt. Also in a plane below the conveyor belt, the film receiving roller is preferably stored.

The wrapped in foil containers are preferably shrunk in a conveyor belt downstream shrinking device in the flow.

With the aid of a drawing, an embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below.

Figur 1a

die schematische Ansicht einer Verpackungsmaschine mit der integrierten Folieneinschlageinrichtung,

Figur 1b

eine vergrößerte Teildarstellung aus Figur 1a,

Figur 2

die schematische Ansicht des Bereiches III nach Figur 1a entgegen der Transportrichtung T,

Figuren 3a bis 3e

den Ablauf des Einschlagens eines aus mehreren nebeneinander stehenden Produkten gebildeten Gebindes in Folie,

Figuren 4a bis 4c

den Ablauf des Einschlagens eines aus mehreren hintereinander stehenden Produkten gebildeten Gebindes in Folie.

It shows:

FIG. 1a

the schematic view of a packaging machine with the integrated Folieneinschlageinrichtung,

FIG. 1b

an enlarged partial view FIG. 1a .

FIG. 2

the schematic view of the area III after FIG. 1a opposite to the transport direction T,

FIGS. 3a to 3e

the sequence of wrapping a container formed of several juxtaposed products in foil,

FIGS. 4a to 4c

the sequence of wrapping a container formed from several successive products container in foil.

In the FIG. 1a illustrated packaging machine works simplified as follows:

From a production process, not shown here, the products P are successively fed to the packaging machine. In the first area I, the products P are rotated by 90 ° and then combined from a container G _i consisting of four or more products P. In region II, the container G _{i is} gripped by a gripping and rotating device 1, accelerated to a transport speed v _T , again rotated by 90 ° and transferred at the end of region II to the film inserting device 2 arranged in region III. Here, the container G _{i is wrapped} in foil 5 and then passed over a short roller conveyor to a conveyor belt 12, which arranged the container G in a region IV Shrinking furnace 3 transports, where it is shrunk in the passage under heat effect.

Below the frame of the packaging system, a roller 4 is mounted, on which a film web 5 is wound. The film web 5 is conveyed by means of various deflection and tensioning devices, which will not be explained in more detail here, in the direction of the transport belt 6 circulating at the transport speed v _T in the film striking device 2. Before the conveyor belt 6, a film cutting device 9 is arranged, with which the film web 5 is separated into lengths that are necessary to beat a container G in the area III in foil.

The film wrapping device 2 consists essentially of the transport belt 6 driven peripherally in the transporting direction T, which is guided over a plurality of deflecting and tensioning rollers which are not individually designated here. A first, on a first trajectory B ₁ transversely (in drawing plane) on the conveyor belt 6 projecting bracket 7a is driven by a first servo motor 18. A second bracket 7b is driven by a second, not shown here servomotor. The two servomotors 18 are independently controllable. The brackets 7a, 7b are arranged on parallel next to the conveyor belt 6 chains 13, 14; 15, 16 out, which run on an identical trajectory B ₁ . The trajectories B ₁ are identical in the vertical direction. In the horizontal direction, they run parallel to each other.

On a second trajectory B ₂ , two likewise transversely (in drawing plane) on the conveyor belt 6 projecting bracket 8 a, 8 b driven at a speed v ₂ , which is relative to the transport direction T greater than the transport speed v _T with which the conveyor belt 6 rotates. The different course of the trajectories B ₁ , B ₂ above and below the conveyor belt 6 is the FIGS. 3a to e or 4a to e removed.

The film web 5 is fed in the direction of the conveyor belt 6, cut in the cutting device 9 and their free end on the various rollers 10 then conveyed to the beginning of the conveyor belt 6 and placed here on the conveyor belt 6, from which it is taken and at transport speed v _T pulled along becomes. About the gripping and rotating device 1, the previously accelerated at transport speed v _T container G _{1 is placed} on the lying at the beginning of the conveyor belt 6 film web 5, wherein it at the same time on the bracket 7a at the beginning of the conveyor belt 6 on its trajectory B. _{1 is} running and with transport speed v _{T is} driven, is applied. The container G ₁ is then continued on the bracket 7a adjacent transport speed v _T (see. FIG. 3b ). The on his trajectory B ₂ at a higher speed v ₂ driven bracket 8a passes in the vertical direction in front of the conveyor belt 6 upwards over, lifts the film 5 and pulls them along the trajectory B ₂ to the container G ₁ around. At the end of the wrapping process (cf. Figures 3c . 4c ), the container G ₁ engages with the conveyor 11, which takes over the support function, so that the bracket 7a can be returned behind the conveyor belt 6 down on its trajectory B ₁ , while the bracket 7a is accelerated by the servo motor 18 to ensure that it is not overtaken by the bracket 8a. The container G ₁ is transported further, until the second bracket 8a dives under the conveyor belt 6, wherein a portion of the film 5 then protrudes beyond the contact area of the container G ₁ . The container G ₁ is then transferred by the conveyor 11 from the conveyor belt 6 to the conveyor belt 12, wherein the protruding portion of the film 5 is pulled around the uprising portion of the container G ₁ and the container G ₁ is then transferred to the consolidation furnace. 3

The cutting of the film 5 is preferably carried out after the bracket 8a has lifted the film 5 from the conveyor belt 6, and that is when sufficient film 5 is peeled off to fully beat the container G _i . For smaller containers, it is nevertheless possible to cut the film 5 before lifting by the bracket 8a, 8b. It is then fed through the various rollers 10 the conveyor belt 6.

The brackets 7a, 7b; 8a, 8b run back below the conveyor belt 6 forward to the beginning and the next container G _i can be supported by the bracket 7a and - as described above - are beaten in foil by means of the bracket 8a. In the area below the conveyor belt 6 of the previously accelerated for timely descent bracket 7a is again delayed so far that he is in front of the next container G _{2 can} reappear with the transport speed v _T , so that the container G ₂ applies. The total number of brackets 7a, 7b; 8a, 8b is dependent on the length of the conveyor belt 6 and the transport speed v _T , with the aim of achieving the highest possible number of cycles.

Characterized in that the bracket 7a, 7b; 8a, 8b on their trajectories B ₁ , B _{2 run} around the conveyor belt 6, the conveyor belt 6 is laterally free, so that any number of conveyor belts 6 to increase the capacity of the entire system can be arranged and operated parallel to each other side by side and not closer here shown switch the containers G _i are then distributed to the individual webs.

In order to keep the gaps S ₁ , S ₂ between the conveyor belts 6, 17 and 6, 12 as narrow as possible, the trajectories B ₁ and B ₂ at the point where the bracket 7 a, 7 b, 8 a, 8 b appear or dive, identical. Each bracket 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b thus passes the conveyor belt in this situation at the same point.

FIG. 2 shows that two of several parallel juxtaposed products formed container G ₁ can be performed side by side. Below the conveyor belt 6, a cutting device not shown here is provided at the beginning of the conveyor belt, which separates the film 5 in the transport direction T center, so that two film strips are beaten on the two containers G ₁ .

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Gripping and turning device

2

Film wrapping device

3

shrink oven

4

role

5

Film / film web

6

conveyor belt

7a

hanger

7b

hanger

8a

hanger

8b

hanger

9

cutter

10

role

11

promoter

12

conveyor belt

13

Traction device / chain

14

Traction device / chain

15

Traction device / chain

16

Traction device / chain

17

conveyor belt

B ₁

trajectory

B ₂

trajectory

G ₁

container

G ₂

container

G ₃

container

G _i

container

P

product

S ₁

gap

S ₂

gap

T

transport direction

v _T

transport speed

v ₂

Speed of the stirrups 8a, 8b

Claims (11)

1. Device for wrapping packages (G₁) composed of a plurality of packed products (P) in film or foil (5) comprising

   a) a continuous conveyor belt (6), which is driven to revolve in the transport direction (T) and on which the packages (G₁) can be deposited,

   b) a film or foil (5) guided by the conveyor belt (6),

   c) a first clamp (7a) which revolves upstream of a first deposited package (G₁) in the transport direction (T) at the speed V_T of the conveyor belt (6) and on which the first package (G₁) rests,

   d) at least one second clamp (7b) which revolves upstream of a second deposited package (G₂) in the transport direction (T) at the speed V_T of the conveyor belt (6) and on which a second package (G₂) rests,

   e) at least one third clamp (8a, 8b) arranged below the supplied film or foil (9) and driven at a higher speed than the conveyor belt (6), which third clamp, on a path (B₂), circles the conveyor belt (6) and, on its path (B₂) above the conveyor belt (6), draws the film or foil (5) around the package resting on the first clamp (7a),
   characterised in that

   f) the first and the second clamp (7a, 7b) circle the conveyor belt (6) on a path (B₁),

   g) the path (B₁) for the first clamp (7a) and the second clamp (7b) is identical,

   h) the first clamp (7a) is connected to a first drive (13) and the second clamp (7b) is connected to a second drive (14),

   i) the clamp (7a, 7b), on which the package (G₁, G₂) rests, dips down behind the conveyor belt (6) before the at least one third clamp (8a, 8b) in terms of time, and

   j) the clamp (7a, 7b) is at least briefly accelerated for this purpose.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that a servomotor (18) is provided, in each case, to drive the first and second clamp (7a, 7b).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one third clamp (8a, 8b) can be driven by a servomotor (17).
4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least the first and the second clamp (7a, 7b) are fastened to two traction means (15, 16; 17, 18) extending on both sides next to the conveyor belt (6).
5. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by a film or foil cutting device (9) arranged in the transport direction (T) upstream of the conveyor belt (6).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the film or foil cutting device (9) is arranged in a plane below the conveyor belt (6).
7. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the film or foil (5) can be supplied from a roll (4).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the roll (4) is mounted in a plane below the conveyor belt (6).
9. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the traction means (14, 15; 16, 17) are chains.
10. Method for wrapping packages (G₁) composed of a plurality of packed products (P) in film or foil (5) comprising the following steps:

    a) driving a first clamp (7a) along a first path (B₁) which extends around a conveyor belt (6) driven at a transporting speed V_T in transport direction (T), in relation to the transport direction (T) at a transporting speed V_T.

    b) driving a second clamp (7b) along the first path (B₁).

    c) driving at least one third clamp (8a, 8b) along a second path (B₂) which is different from the first path (B₁) and which extends around the driven conveyor belt (6), at a speed v₂ which is greater than the transporting speed V_T.

    d) placing a film or foil line (5) on the front region of the conveyor belt (6) upstream of the first clamp (7a) and guiding the film or foil line (5) at the transporting speed V_T.

    e) depositing a first package (G₁) on the film or foil line (5) transported by the conveyor belt (6) at the transporting speed V_T in such a way that the package (G₁) rests on the first clamp (7a),

    f) lifting the film or foil line (5) from the conveyor belt (6) by means of the third clamp (8a) over the package (G₁),

    g) guiding the at least one third clamp (8a) with the lifted film or foil line (5) past and over the package (G₁),

    h) accelerating the first clamp (7a) at the end of the conveyor belt (6),

    i) lowering the first clamp (7a) behind the conveyor belt (6),

    j) lowering the film or foil line (5) onto the conveyor belt (6) by means of the third clamp (8a) behind the first package (G₁) at the end of the conveyor belt (6),

    k) lowering the at least one third clamp (8a) behind the conveyor belt (6),

    l) guiding back the two clamps (7a, 8) below the conveyor belt (6) on their paths (B₁, B₂),

    m) braking the first clamp (7a) to the transporting speed V_T.
11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that the film or foil line (5) is severed after it is lifted by means of the at least one third clamp (8a, 8b).

Images