EP2627165A2

EP2627165A2 - Apparatus for manufacturing wrappers containing material for growing plants

Info

Publication number: EP2627165A2
Application number: EP11773702.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Aldo Maggion; Giovanni Maggion
Original assignee: Techmek Srl
Current assignee: Techmek Srl
Priority date: 2010-10-11
Filing date: 2011-10-07
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Also published as: IT1402234B1; WO2012049095A2; ITTV20100134A1; WO2012049095A3

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for manufacturing wrappers containing material for growing plants. The apparatus comprises a conveying duct (3) for conveying the growing material, said conveying duct comprising a first end (31) and a second end (32). A terminal portion of said conveying duct, comprising said second end, is surrounded at least partially by a sliding containing sheath (6). The apparatus comprises dragging means (7) adapted to make the sheath slide along the conveying duct, toward the second end of this latter. The dragging means are positioned at the terminal portion of the conveying duct, upstream of said second end.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WRAPPERS CONTAINING MATERIAL FOR

GROWING PLANTS DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing wrappers containing material for growing plants.

In the horticulture and nursery sectors the use of wrappers containing material for growing plants is known.

These wrappers, also known as paper pots, are generally used for sowing seeds and rooting seedlings destined to be transplanted.

Typically, they are made of biodegradable material, have substantially cylindrical geometry and are open at the top and bottom to prevent thwarting the development of the seedling grown.

The growing material, inserted in said wrappers, can comprise organic material, such as peat or coconut, potting compost or sand.

In the state of the art, there are available apparatus for manufacturing wrappers containing material for growing plants.

In general, these apparatus are arranged to form a containing sheath, starting from a roll of tape, and to fill said sheath with the growing material.

The diameter of the containing sheath can vary according to requirements, for example, from 0.5 cm up to 15 cm and more.

The sheath filled with material is cut into portions of the required length, each of which constitutes a paper pot.

Some prior art apparatus provide for the use of a system of mechanical clamps to drive the sheath filled with material toward the cutting area.

These apparatus have some drawbacks.

It has been found in practice that, in order to be handled mechanically, the sheath filled with material must have sufficient mechanical rigidity to avoid breakage or deterioration of the sheath, while simultaneously guaranteeing correct grip by the mechanical clamps.

The material inside the sheath must therefore have a sufficiently high average density to obtain the required mechanical rigidity.

This causes a relatively high consumption of material with consequent increase in the total industrial costs of the manufacturing process.

The use of mechanical clamps to drive the sheath filled with material does not generally allow it to be fed with continuous movement toward the cutting area. The total manufacturing process times are therefore relatively high, with consequent decrease in productivity.

Given that these apparatus typically use mechanical regulation systems, it is difficult to accurately control the advancing speed of the sheath filled with material and, consequently, the length of the portions into which it is divided in the cutting area.

To overcome this drawback, it is possible to provide appropriate sensors to detect the advancing speed of the sheath, when this latter reaches the cutting area. Naturally, this implies an increase in the installation costs of the apparatus.

In other prior art apparatus, the sheath filled with material is driven through the use of a pair of opposed pulleys, positioned in proximity of the cutting area.

Experience has shown how these apparatus do not solve the drawbacks described above effectively and are characterized by relatively high costs in relation to their use at industrial level.

Therefore, the main aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing wrappers containing material for growing plants which allows the drawbacks described to be overcome.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows reduction of the times and total costs for manufacturing paper pots, compared to conventional apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows reduction of the consumption of material used, with the same number and length of wrappers manufactured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows the length of the wrappers manufactured to be controlled with precision.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that has a relatively simple structure and that is easy to produce industrially and to install, at relatively limited costs. This aim and these objects, and other objects which will be apparent from the description below and from the accompanying drawings, are achieved, according to the invention, by an apparatus for manufacturing wrappers containing material for growing plants, according to claim 1, proposed hereunder.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by referring to the description provided below and to the accompanying figures, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

- Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; - Fig. 2 schematically shows a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 schematically shows an enlarged detail of the view of Fig. 2;

- Fig. 4 schematically shows a sectional view AA' of the portion of apparatus shown in Fig.

2;

- Fig. 5 schematically shows an enlarged detail of the view of Fig. 4;

- Fig. 6 schematically shows a portion of another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; and

- Fig. 7 schematically shows a sectional view of the portion of apparatus shown in Fig. 6. With reference to the aforesaid figures, the present invention relates to an apparatus 1 for manufacturing wrappers containing material for growing plants, or paper pots.

The growing material (indicated by the reference 50 in Figs. 2-3) is preferably constituted by peat or coconut, but can be an organic material of other type or an inorganic material, such as potting compost or sand.

The apparatus 1 comprises a duct 3 for conveying the material 50 from a feed section 4 to a filling section 5 of the apparatus 1.

The feed section preferably comprises a hopper 41, adapted to receive the material 50.

In the feed section 4, the material 50 is inserted into the duct 3, at a first end 31 thereof.

To push the material 50 along the conveying duct 3, there are preferably provided pusher means 42, advantageously positioned at the first end 31 of the duct 3.

The pusher means 42 preferably comprise a pumping apparatus capable of causing suction of the material 50 by the hopper 41 and related movement along the duct 3.

The pusher means 42 can comprise a further mechanical pusher apparatus positioned at the hopper 41.

In proximity of the filling section 5, the duct 3 has a terminal portion 320 which comprises the second end 32.

At least the terminal portion 320 of the duct is adapted to be surrounded by a containing sheath 6, capable of sliding along the outer surface 33 of the duct 3.

The sheath 6 is preferably constituted by paper, nonwoven, a biodegradable material or a material perforable by the roots of the plants grown in the paper pots.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sheath 6, wrapped around the terminal portion 320 of the duct 3, is formed "continuously" during the process for manufacturing the paper pots.

To this end, the apparatus 1 preferably comprises unwinding means 10 of a tape 6B of material, destined to form the sheath 6. These unwinding means can advantageously comprise a drum 101 on which the tape 6B is wound and actuator means (not shown) adapted to rotate the drum in the direction of unwinding of the tape.

As shown in Fig. 1, downstream of the drum 101, (taking as reference the direction of movement of the tape 6B) the unwinding means 10 can advantageously comprise tensioning means 102 adapted to maintain the tape 6B taut during unwinding thereof.

The apparatus 1 preferably also comprises winding means 11, for example a system of mechanical guides, adapted to wrap the tape 6B, coming from the unwinding means 10, around the conveying duct 3.

Preferably, there are also provided welding means or gluing means 12, for example a roller or a blade for hot gluing, adapted to join overlapped portions of the tape of material 6B, wrapped around the conveying duct 3.

In this manner, the sheath 6 is obtained, wrapped around the duct 3 and free to slide along the outer surface thereof, toward the end 32.

At the filling section 5, the material 50 is delivered from the end 32 of the duct 3 and is inserted in the sheath 6.

As the sheath 6 slides along the duct 3, it can therefore be filled continuously.

Downstream of the filling section 5, (taking as reference the direction of movement 30 of the material 50 along the duct 3), the apparatus 1 comprises a cutting section 8 adapted to receive the sheath filled with material 6A and to cut it into portions of the required length, in such a manner as to form the wrappers or paper pots.

Preferably, the cutting section 8 comprises a movable rotating blade (not shown), arranged in such a manner as to cut the sheath filled with material 6A, along a cutting plane substantially perpendicular to the advancing direction of this latter.

According to the invention, the apparatus 1 comprises dragging means 7 adapted to make the sheath 6 slide along the conveying duct 3 toward the second end 32.

The dragging means 7 are positioned at the terminal portion 320 of the duct 3, upstream of the second end 32 (taking as reference the direction of movement 30 of the material 50 along the duct 3).

The dragging means 7 drag the sheath 6 in such a manner as to allow continuous and homogeneous filling thereof, at the same time following the movement of the sheath filled with material 6 A toward the cutting section 8.

The sheath filled with material 6A can thus advance continuously toward the cutting section 8, without requiring further mechanical handling. If necessary, in case the distance between the end 32 of the duct 3 and the inlet of the cutting section 8 is relatively high, one or more rollers or sliding chutes can be provided, adapted to support the sheath filled with material 6A in its travel toward the cutting section.

The fact that the sheath filled with material 6A is not handled mechanically by clamps or dragging pulleys allows the average density of the material inserted therein to be reduced, compared to conventional apparatus.

A consequence is a significant reduction in the consumption of material, with the same number and type of paper pots manufactured.

Preferably, the dragging means 7 comprise one or more dragging pulleys operatively associated with a section of the terminal portion 320 of the duct 3.

According to a preferred embodiment, the dragging means 7 comprise a pair of pulleys 71 and 72, positioned opposed relative to the duct 5.

The pulleys 71-72 can have rotation axes substantially parallel with one another, perpendicular to the advancing direction of the material 50 and perpendicular or parallel to the surface 90 on which the apparatus 1 rests.

Alternatively, the pulleys 71-72 can have rotation axes that are not parallel. For example, they can be arranged substantially in a V-shape relative to the longitudinal axis of the duct 3.

Each pulley 71-72 advantageously comprises a dragging surface 700 adapted to come into contact with the sheath 6 which advantageously slides between this surface 700 and the outer surface 33 of the duct 3.

During rotation thereof, each pulley 71-72, finding a mechanical stop in the duct 3, can exert a dragging force F on the sheath 6 in such a manner as to make this latter slide along the outer surface 33 of the duct 3, toward the end 32.

Naturally, the direction of rotation of each pulley 71 and 72 depends on the related positioning relative to the duct 3. For example, in the embodiment of Fig. 3, it is evident that the pulleys 71 and 72 must rotate respectively according to the directions of rotation II (clockwise) and 12 (counter-clockwise) to drive the sheath 6 toward the end 32 of the duct 3. The surface 700 of the pulleys 71-72 can be machined, for example through a knurling process, to obtain an adequate coefficient of friction with the surface of the sheath 6, in this manner facilitating dragging thereof.

Alternatively, as shown in Figs. 6-7, the surface 700 can be coated with a layer of material, such as rubber, or a material with an abrasive surface, adapted to facilitate dragging of the sheath 6. The surface 700 can be the surface of a nip shaped in a substantially complementary manner relative to the shape of the outer surface 33 of the duct 3 (Figs. 1-5).

Alternatively, the surface 700 can be a substantially flat surface, preferably coated with a layer of rubber 701, as shown in Figs. 6-7.

It must be noted how, in this latter case, the mechanical stop offered by the duct 3 causes a deformation of the layer of rubber 701 which, in the area of contact with the sheath 6, assumes a shape substantially complementary relative to the shape of the outer surface 33 of the duct 3, thus facilitating dragging of the sheath.

Preferably, the apparatus 1 comprises operating means (not shown) of the pulleys 71-72. The aforesaid operating means can comprise at least a electric stepper motor.

This solution is particularly advantageous, given that it allows control of the rotation speed of the pulleys 71-72, and therefore the advancing speed of the sheath 6, without the need to provide a dedicated control system.

It is therefore easy to precisely control the length of the portions into which the cutting section 8 divides the sheath filled with material 6A.

To this end, it is possible to use an open loop control system that simply provides for operation, at regular intervals, of the blade arranged in the cutting section 8.

Alternatively, to operate the pulleys 71-72 it is possible to use one or more conventional electric motors, provided with a device to control the rotation speed of the pulleys 71-72 and/or the advancing speed of the sheath 6 and/or the advancing speed of the sheath filled with material 6A.

It has been seen in practice how the apparatus 1 according to the present invention allows the set objects to be reached.

The apparatus according to the invention allows a reduction in the consumption of material for manufacturing paper pots, which consequent reduction in the industrial costs of the manufacturing process, compared to apparatus of conventional type.

To manufacture the paper pots, the apparatus according to the invention allows a continuous process to be used. This allows a reduction in the total process times, improving the productivity thereof.

The apparatus according to the invention allows easy and precise control of the length of the wrappers manufactured using relatively simple and economical control systems.

The apparatus according to the invention has a relatively simple structure and is therefore easy and economical to produce at industrial level.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for manufacturing wrappers containing material for growing plants, said apparatus comprising:

a conveying duct (3) for conveying said material, said conveying duct comprising a first end (31) and a second end (32), at least a terminal portion (320) of said conveying duct, comprising said second end, being adapted to be wrapped by a containing sheath (6) capable of sliding along the outer surface of said conveying duct; and

a feed section (4), at which said material is inserted into the first end of said conveying duct; and

a filling section (5), at which said material is delivered from the second end of said conveying duct and is inserted inside said sheath;

characterized in that it comprises dragging means (7) adapted to make said sheath slide along said conveying duct, toward said second end, said dragging means being positioned at the terminal portion of said conveying duct, upstream of said second end.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said dragging means comprise at least a dragging pulley (71, 72), operatively associated with the terminal portion of said conveying duct.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least a dragging pulley comprises a dragging surface (700) adapted to come into contact with said sheath and to determine sliding of said sheath toward the second end of said conveying duct.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said dragging surface (700) is machined in such a manner as to facilitate dragging of said sheath.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said dragging surface (700) is coated with a layer of material adapted to facilitate dragging of said sheath.

6. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said dragging surface (700) is a substantially flat surface or is the surface of a nip of said at least a dragging pulley.

7. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said dragging means comprise a pair of dragging pulleys (71, 72), positioned substantially opposed relative to said conveying duct.

8. The apparatus according to one or more of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that it comprises operating means of said at least a pulley, said operating means comprising at least a electric stepper motor or at least a electric motor provided with a device to control the rotation speed of said at least a dragging pulley and/or the advancing speed of said sheath and/or the advancing speed of the sheath (6A) filled with said material.

9. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cutting section (8) adapted to receive and cut the sheath (6A) filled with said material.

10. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

- unwinding means (10) of a tape (6B) of material configured to form said containing sheath; and

- winding means (11), adapted to wrap the tape, coming from said unwinding means, around said conveying duct; and

- welding means or gluing means (12), adapted to join overlapped portions of the tape of material wrapped around said conveying duct in such a manner as to form said sheath.