EP2121448B1

EP2121448B1 - Device for the formation of a product package

Info

Publication number: EP2121448B1
Application number: EP08702197.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Candini
Original assignee: RC SpA
Current assignee: CORAZZA SpA
Priority date: 2007-01-19
Filing date: 2008-01-09
Publication date: 2014-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2028-01-09
Also published as: PE20081770A1; CO6190634A2; WO2008087510A3; WO2008087510A2; ITBO20070028A1; AR064973A1; WO2008087510A8; EP2121448A2; EP2121448B8; CL2008000165A1

Description

Technical field

This invention relates to a machine for the formation of a product package. This machine is designed to package a a pressed stock cube.

Background art

There are prior art machines designed to package pressed stock cubes and comprising means for the infeed of the pressed stock cube, means for forming the corresponding wrappers for the product, starting from a corresponding reel of material, in particular made from aluminium foil, means for folding the wrapper around the pressed stock cube and means for discharging the package from the machine.
In these prior art machines, mainly mechanically controlled, a frequently encountered problem concerns the impossibility of using them to produce packages with a different shape and using different materials to those which the machine was designed for, in particular to obtain packages using wrapping materials made from plastic, such as polypropylene or the like which, due to the specific characteristics of these materials, require specific technical functions that are not envisaged in the aforesaid pre-existing machines designed to produce packages using aluminium foil wrapping.
DE 4202647 discloses a method for wrapping fresh produce, especially fresh food products, such as crescenza cheese, in a double wrapping packaging.
GB 911273 discloses a wrapping-machine for a stack of journals that is encircled by a band, and a fastening strip and then fed with a wrapper into a path of a folder where members make the protruding end portions of the wrapper initially folded down, then folded to triangular form and finally secured on the package bottom with a strip.
FR 2161143 discloses a machine for wrapping an object, usually parallelepipedic, by means of a sheet of paper to make a package that comprises two plates parallel planes whose spacing corresponds to a dimension of the object, and between which the objects move under five successive positions between a first insertion position and a final output station.

Disclosure of the invention

It is provided a machine for packaging a product in the form of a pressed stock cube as defined by claim 1.
In this way, it is possible to obtain a machine with a plurality of functions designed to allow the packaging of a product in wrappers of any shape and any material, all within limited overall dimensions.
Other advantageous aspects of the invention are described in others claims.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other features of the machine will be more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the device provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:

figure 1 is a schematic front view, partially in cross-section, of a preferred embodiment of a device according to this invention in combination with a corresponding machine;
figure 2 is a schematic side view, partially in cross-section, of the device and the machine according to present invention;
figure 3 is a schematic view from above, partially in cross-section, of the device with a corresponding machine according to present invention;
figure 4 is a perspective view of the rear area of the device for forming wrappers and completing the packages according to present invention;
figure 5 is a perspective view of a part of the front area of the device according to the preferred embodiment, with the package sealing means supporting plate in the overturned position;
figure 6 is a perspective view of the rear and end part of the device for the preparation of packages according to the preferred embodiment of present invention;
figure 7 is a front view of the cutting and wrapping transfer area of the device for the preparation of a product package, in a non-operative position, with the relative support open, disconnecting the device from the corresponding part of the machine to which it is connected;
figure 8 is a perspective view of the wrapper cutting blade in accordance with a preferred embodiment;
figure 9 is a plan view of a wrapper paper formed by means of this device and used to wrap the stock cube.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment 10 of the device for the preparation of a product package.
In particular, this device is designed to prepare a foodstuff product, especially a pasty foodstuff product, such as a stock cube and the like.
The device is especially suitable for preparing packages of pressed stock cubes and the like.
As will become more apparent from this description, this device is associated with an existing machine 11 designed to package the said product, replacing the appropriate parts in order to make the use of this machine more flexible.
The device 10 comprises means 12 for forming the corresponding wrapper of the product and means 14 for the final closure of the wrapper folded around the product.
As illustrated, the closing means 14 advantageously extend above the means 12 for forming the wrapper, obtaining a configuration which takes up little space and is particularly suitable for installation on frames and machines of limited dimensions.
As already stated, the device 10 can be advantageously connected to a pre-existing machine 11, with a respective support frame 11a, respective drive means, a respective unit 13 for wrapping the wrapper around the product, or pressed stock cube, and a corresponding unit 15 for the infeed of the stock cubes to be wrapped.
In the figures, the reference number 10a indicates the support frame of the device, which is connected to the support frame of the machine.
As can be seen in particular in figures 6 and 7, the device 10 is advantageously supported by a horizontally swing door 11b of the machine 11, which is shown, in figure 6, in the closed condition, which allows an operative connection between the device and the remaining parts of the machine 11. In figure 7, on the other hand, the door 11b is shown in the open position, in which the operative condition between the device and the remaining parts of the machine 11 is disconnected and in which it is possible to access the area of the machine which places the wrappers around the product and the front part of the device which comprises means for cutting the wrappers from the reel of plastic material, as will be described below. The door 11b is shown schematically by dashed lines in figures 1 to 3.
As will become more apparent from the description which follows, the means 14 for the final closure of the wrapper folded around the product advantageously define an infeed path of the package, which extends in the opposite direction to the direction in which the wrappers are infed by the means 12 which form the product wrappers.
The reference number 16 in figure 6 indicates the means for discharging the package formed by the wrapper folded around the product, which advantageously define an infeed path of the package, which extends in the opposite direction to the direction in which the wrappers are infed by the means 12 which form the product wrappers, discharging the products at the front of the machine as shown in the figures.
In addition, the means 16 for discharging the packaged product extend above the means 12 for forming the product wrappers, in particular above the section 12b, which extends perpendicular to the front face of the machine 11, as will become more apparent from the description which follows.
As shown in figure 7, the package discharge means 16 comprise in particular first and second slides 16a, 16b, which extend parallel to each other above a plate 16', which protects the underlying means for the infeed of the reels of plastic material used to make the wrappers. The slides 16a, 16b are not shown in figures 1 to 3.
As can be seen from the figures, the means for forming the product wrappers comprise a first section 12a, for the infeed of the material for the formation of the wrapper, and a section 12b, which terminates in the wrapper formation area, which extend forming an angle with respect to each other that, as shown, is preferably an angle of 90°.
The section 12b of the means for forming the product wrappers extends perpendicular to the unit 13, which wraps the wrapper around a corresponding predefined portion of product, on the packaging machine 11 to which the device is connected.
In turn, the section 12a which infeeds the reels of material for formation of the wrapper extends parallel to the front face of the machine 11, in particular parallel to the wrapping unit 13 of the packaging machine to which the device is connected.
In particular, the upstream section 12a, in which the reels of material for formation of the wrapper are infed, extends parallel to the means 15 for infeed of the pressed stock cubes on the machine 11, while the section for forming the product wrappers extends perpendicular to the infeed belt 15 of the pressed stock cubes on the machine 11.
In particular, as shown in figure 4, the means 12 for forming the product wrappers comprise means for infeeding a reel of material for formation of the product wrappers, these means comprising a respective shaft 18 for a reel 20 and corresponding drive rollers labelled 22 in the figures.
The shaft 18 holding the reel 20 is supported by a bar 18' which extends from the frame 10a of the device and which in turns supports a bar 22' which holds the drive rollers 22 for the unwound strip of wrapping material 21. The shaft 18 and drive rollers 22 are not shown in detail in figure 2, while figure 1 shows only the shaft 18 and the respective support arm 18'.
The reference numbers 24 and 26, in figure 4, indicate the means for the infeed of the wrapper tear-off strips which are conveyed through guides or drive rollers 28 supported by a vertical plate 10'a of the frame 10a of the device, according to the infeed direction of the band of wrapping material 21, downstream of the shaft 18 which supports the reel of wrapping material.
The shafts 24, 26, which hold the reels 24', 26' of the wrapper tear-off strips are not shown in detail in figure 3, nor are the drive rollers 28.
The band of material 21 used to form the wrapper is coupled with first and second strips 27, 27 at the level of the coupling means which consist of a roller 30, which also pulls these materials, positioning the strips 27, 27 on the upper surface of the band 21 keeping them at an appropriate distance from each other in a transverse direction.
Downstream of the means 30 for coupling the wrapper tear-off strips with the wrapper is a storage area 32, in which the material is temporarily stored to compensate for any differences in speed between the upstream means and the downstream means. This temporary storage area 32 comprises a chamber, not shown in detail in the figures, equipped with a vertically moving drive roller around which the band 21, with the coupled tear-off strips 27, can be wound and kept between a minimum level and a maximum level which, when reached, discontinue the functioning of the device. The reference numbers 32a, 32b, in figure 1, indicate the drive rollers of the band 21, inside and outside the chamber or storage area 32.
The reference number 34, downstream of the temporary storage area 32, indicates the means for the longitudinal cutting of the band of material 21, dividing it into a first and second band 21 a, 21 b, each with a respective wrapper tear-off strip 27, and used to form the product wrapper.
All the above-mentioned means for infeeding the coupling materials, for temporary storage and longitudinal cutting 34 are positioned in the section 12a where the means for forming the wrapper extend parallel to the front face 11' of the machine 11.
The device is also equipped with means 36, 38 for inverting the wrapping material and positioned, according to the infeed direction of the band, in the first section 12a of the device, separated longitudinally from each other to define a transverse distance between the strips 21a, 21b defining respective rows of wrappers.
The means 36, 38 for inverting the material also divert the strips 21a, 21b transversally, that is to say perpendicularly to the front face 11' of the machine.
The inverting and diversion means 36, 38 comprise a bracket 36a, 38a, fixing them to the underlying support surface 37, from which corresponding oblique bars 36b, 38b extend, fitted with a front edge 36c, 38c which engages the strips 21a, 21b which are inverted to slide along the upper surface of the respective bar 36a, 36b after passing over the lower surface of the same bar 36a, 36b.
Downstream of the inversion means 36, 38, the section 12b is equipped with an additional storage area in which the material is temporarily stored, compensating for any differences in speed between the upstream means and the downstream means. These temporary storage areas comprise a chamber 43, not shown in detail in the figures, fitted at its opening 43' with rollers 43a and 43b which allow the two strips 21a 21 b to easily enter the chamber 43.
The reference number 40 in figure 5 indicates means for centering the respective strips 21a, 21b with respect to the cutting means 44, downstream, shown in particular in figure 7.
The reference number 42 indicates the drive rollers of the strips 21 a, 21b, situated immediately upstream of the cutting blade 44.
As shown in figure 8, the cutting means 44 are rotating cutting means, comprising a drum 44' supported at its ends by a rotating support 44", 44" and equipped with first and second separated blades 44a, 44a, with a transverse cutting edge from which a respective curved portion 44b, 44b extends circumferentially and is designed to create a respective protruding portion in the wrapper which defines a portion covering one end of the respective tear-off strip.
In actual fact, each part 44a', 44a" of the transverse component 44a of the cutter, which extends at the sides of the protrusion portion 44b with an R3 curvature radius, is slightly curved, consisting of a respective outer portion 441 with a wide R1 curvature radius and an intermediate portion 442 - between the outer portion 441 with an R1 curvature radius and the central portion 44b - with a respective wide R2 curvature radius, as shown in figure 8. The portion 441 preferably presents an R1 curvature radius which is smaller (i.e. it is more curved) than the R2 curvature radius of the intermediate portion 442.
The cutting blade 44 makes it possible to obtain wrappers F, as shown in figure 9.
Formed in this way, the wrapper enters the wrapping unit 13 of the machine to which the device is connected, passing through a front opening (not shown in detail in the figures), and is positioned above the pressed stock cube, transferred to the wrapping unit 13 by the infeed means 15 of the machine. The stock cube is then wrapped in the wrapper and transferred upwards to be discharged from the wrapping unit 13 towards means 14 which complete the package, consisting of a folding unit 46, which folds the side flaps of the package, and, downstream in the package infeed direction, a sealing unit 48, which seals the package longitudinally and laterally.
The packages are discharged from the machine along slides 16, 16.
The wrapper folding means 46 extend above the cutting means 44 and the sealing means 48 extend above the infeed path of the band of wrapping material close to the cutting means.
The means 14 for the final closure of the wrapper around the product are advantageously located on mobile support means between a lowered working position and a raised idle position, in order to allow access to the remaining means 12 which form the product wrappers.
In particular, these means 14 for the final closure of the wrapper around the product are positioned on a support plate 110, which rotates with respect to its side edge, shown in the lowered position in figure 6 and in the raised position in figures 5 and 7, and is held in the raised position by a pneumatic piston 112 operating between the plate 110 and a support area of the device which is located alongside the section 12b for infeed of the strips 21a, 21b.
A device is thus obtained, with reduced overall dimensions, for packaging a product as described above, which can use wrapping materials of any type, for example appropriate plastic film.
The invention described has evident industrial applications and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

A machine (11) for packaging a product in the form of pressed stock cube; the machine comprising a support frame (11a), drive means, a unit (13) for wrapping the wrapper around the pressed stock cube, and a corresponding unit (15) for the infeed of the stock cubes to be wrapped, and a device (10) for the formation of a product package comprising means (12) for forming the wrappers of the product; characterised in that the device (10) for the formation of a product package comprises a further support frame (10a) connected to the support frame (11a) of the machine and supporting the means (12) for forming the wrappers of the product and means (14) for the final closure of the wrapper around the product; in that the means (14) for final closure extends above the means (12) for forming the wrappers of the product; in that the means (14) for the final closure of the wrapper around the product define a package infeed path which extends in the opposite direction to the direction in which the wrappers are infed by the means (12) for forming the wrappers of the product; in that the means for forming the product wrappers, which define a path (12b) for the infeed of the wrappers, extends transversally to the direction of product infeed by the means (15) for infeed of the product to be wrapped; and in that the means for the final closure of the wrapper folded around the product, which define a path for the infeed of the package extends transversally to the direction of product infeed by the means (15) for infeed of the product to be wrapped.
A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the section for forming the product wrappers extends perpendicular to the infeed unit in the form of a belt (15) of the pressed stock cubes on the machine (11).
A machine according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the means (14) for the final closure of the wrapper around the product are located on support means (110) mobile between a lowered working position and a raised idle position, in order to allow access to the means (12) which form the product wrappers.
A machine according to claim 3, characterised in that the means (14) for the final closure of the wrapper around the product are positioned on a support plate (110), which rotates with respect to its side edge, and is held in the raised position by a pneumatic piston (112) operating between the plate (110) and a support area of the machine which is located alongside the section (12b) for infeed of the strips (21a, 21b).
A machine according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that wrapper enters the wrapping unit (13) of the machine to which the machine is connected, passing through a front opening, and is positioned above the pressed stock cube, transferred to the wrapping unit (13) by the infeed means (15) of the machine; and in that the stock cube is then wrapped in the wrapper and transferred upwards to be discharged from the wrapping unit (13) towards means (14) which complete the package, consisting of a folding unit (46), which folds the side flaps of the package, and, downstream in the package infeed direction, a sealing unit (48), which seals the package longitudinally and laterally; in particular the wrapper folding means (46) extending above the cutting means (44) and the sealing means (48) extending above the infeed path of the band of wrapping material close to the cutting means.
A machine according to claim 5, characterised in that the wrapper folding means (46) extend above the cutting means (44) and the sealing means (48) extend above the infeed path of the band of wrapping material close to the cutting means.