EP3003872B1 - Verpackungsverfahren und -maschine zum herstellen einer versiegelten packung mit innerem versteifungseinsatz - Google Patents

Verpackungsverfahren und -maschine zum herstellen einer versiegelten packung mit innerem versteifungseinsatz Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3003872B1
EP3003872B1 EP14736966.4A EP14736966A EP3003872B1 EP 3003872 B1 EP3003872 B1 EP 3003872B1 EP 14736966 A EP14736966 A EP 14736966A EP 3003872 B1 EP3003872 B1 EP 3003872B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
group
stiffener
forming
articles
packing
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP14736966.4A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3003872A1 (de
Inventor
Fulvio Boldrini
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GD SpA
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GD SpA
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Publication date
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Priority to PL14736966T priority Critical patent/PL3003872T3/pl
Publication of EP3003872A1 publication Critical patent/EP3003872A1/de
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Publication of EP3003872B1 publication Critical patent/EP3003872B1/de
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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
    • 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
    • B65B9/06—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it
    • B65B9/067—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it the web advancing continuously
    • 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
    • B65B19/025—Packaging cigarettes in webs of flexible sheet material
    • 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
    • B65B19/04—Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes
    • B65B19/10—Arranging cigarettes in layers each comprising a predetermined number
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65B19/24—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers using hollow mandrels through which groups of cigarettes are fed
    • 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
    • B65B49/00—Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents
    • B65B49/10—Folders movable in closed non-circular paths
    • 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
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/16—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by rotary members
    • 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
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
    • B65B51/30—Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
    • B65B51/306—Counter-rotating devices
    • 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
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • 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
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/24—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for shaping or reshaping completed packages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5827—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion
    • B65D75/5833—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion for tearing out a portion of the wall
    • B65D75/5838—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion for tearing out a portion of the wall combined with separate fixed tearing means, e.g. tabs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
    • B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
    • B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
    • B65D85/1036—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank
    • B65D85/1045—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a packing method and to a packing machine for producing a sealed package with an inner stiffener.
  • the present invention finds advantageous application for a sealed package of cigarettes and provided with a reclosable extraction opening, to which the following description will make explicit reference without loss of generality.
  • a rigid package of cigarettes with a hinged lid comprises an inner package which encloses a group of cigarettes and a rigid outer casing which houses the inner package in the inside thereof.
  • the inner package which is formed by folding and heat-sealing a sheet of waterproof packing material.
  • the inner package is provided with a sealed extraction opening which is normally covered by an adhesive panel of the type "open and closed"; in particular, the adhesive panel is provided with non-dry, re-stick adhesive which allows to fix several times the adhesive panel in a closing position of the cigarette extraction opening.
  • the sealed inner package is internally provided with a rigid stiffener which has essentially the function of giving greater stiffness and greater shape stability to the sealed inner package so as to prevent the sealed inner package from collapsing on itself after removing a part of the cigarettes enclosed in the inside thereof complicating the extraction of the remaining cigarettes and, in particular, making extremely complicated the opening and the subsequent closing of the adhesive panel.
  • a further function of the stiffener is to maintain the group of cigarettes in the correct conformation, as well as provide adequate mechanical protection to the group of cigarettes, during the formation of the sealed inner package (i.e. during the folding/heat sealing of the sheet of packing material).
  • a forming conveyor arranged in front of a cigarette hopper comprises a series of group-forming pockets, each of which comprises a first seat adapted to contain a group of cigarettes and a second seat which is adapted to contain a stiffener and is detached from the first seat.
  • a group of cigarettes is fed to the first seat by an outlet mouth of a hopper, a stiffener is fed in the second seat, and then, a common extractor device expels together the group of cigarettes and the stiffener from the group-forming pocket so as to fit the stiffener with the group of cigarettes.
  • Purpose of the present invention is to provide a packing method and a packing machine for producing a sealed package with an inner stiffener, which packing method and packing machine allow to fit the stiffener with a group of cigarettes effectively and efficiently and are, at the same time, easy and economical to produce.
  • FIGs 1, 2 and 3 number 1 indicates as a whole a rigid package of cigarettes.
  • the package 1 of cigarettes comprises an outer container 2 made of cardboard or rigid paperboard and cup-shaped and a sealed package 3 (better illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 ) housed inside the container 2.
  • the outer container 2 has an open top end and is provided with a lid, which is cup-shaped and is hinged to the outer container 2 along a hinge (shown in Figure 3 ) to rotate, with respect to the outer container 2, itself, between an opening position (illustrated in Figure 2 ) and a closing position (shown in Figures 1 and 3 ) of the open top end.
  • the lid when in its closing position, gives the outer container 2 a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a top wall and a bottom wall opposite and parallel one with respect to the other, a front wall and a rear wall (wherein the hinge is formed) opposite and parallel one with respect to the other, and two lateral walls opposite and parallel one with respect to the other. Between the lateral walls and the front and rear walls four longitudinal edges are defined, while between the top and bottom walls and the front, rear and lateral walls eight transverse edges are defined.
  • the sealed package 3 encloses a group 4 of cigarettes (shown in Figure 6 ) of parallelepiped shape and has a top and a front cigarettes extraction opening 5 (shown in dashed lines in Figure 4 ); the cigarette extraction opening 5 is arranged centrally, is closed by an adhesive panel 6 of the type "open & close” and affects a portion of a front wall of the sealed package 3 and a portion of a top wall of the sealed package 3.
  • the adhesive panel 6 normally adheres to the part of the sealed package 3 arranged about the extraction opening 5 to close (seal) the extraction opening 5 itself and may be temporarily lifted to free the extraction opening 5, and then allows the extraction of a cigarette through the extraction opening 5 itself.
  • the sealed package 3 is obtained by folding a sheet 7 of waterproof and heat-sealable packing material (shown in Figure 8 ), which has a rectangular shape and has an incision which is "U" shaped and defines the extraction opening 5.
  • an adhesive panel 6 is glued, which has a rectangular shape and completely covers the incision (i.e. the extraction opening 5); between the adhesive panel 6 and the sheet 7 of packing material a non-dry, re-stick adhesive is interposed (i.e. which always remains sticky), i.e. an adhesive which allows even after a long time to separate the adhesive panel 6 from the sheet 7 of packing material and then to assemble again the adhesive panel 6 to the sheet 7 of packing material for a greater number of times.
  • the non-dry, re-stick adhesive is previously applied to an inner face of the adhesive panel 6 before fitting the adhesive panel 6 to the sheet 7 of packing material.
  • the presence of the re-stick adhesive between the panel 6 and the sheet 7 of packing material determines the permanent gluing (i.e. that also in use is never separated) of the portion of the sheet 7 of packing material enclosed within the incision (i.e. in correspondence with the extraction opening 5) to the adhesive panel 6; therefore, when the adhesive panel 6 is lifted from the sheet 7 of packing material the portion of the adhesive panel 6 enclosed within the incision (i.e. in correspondence of the extraction opening 5) is lifted together with the adhesive panel 6 freeing the extraction opening 5.
  • the presence of the re-stick adhesive between the adhesive panel 6 and the sheet 7 of packing material determines a temporary gluing (i.e. that in use is separated) between the portion of the sheet 7 of packing material surrounding the incision (i.e. that surrounds the extraction opening 5) and the adhesive panel 6 so as to normally maintain the adhesive panel 6 into contact with the sheet 7 of packing material to close (seal) the extraction opening 5.
  • the adhesive panel 6 is provided with a graspable tab 8, which is free of re-stick adhesive on the side facing the sheet 7 of packing material (i.e., the surface facing the sheet 7 of packing material) and is arranged in the vicinity of the extraction opening 5 and below the extraction opening 5 itself.
  • the graspable tab 8 is likely to facilitate the gripping of the adhesive panel 6 at the time of lifting the adhesive panel 6 itself; in other words, to lift the adhesive panel 6, a user can easily grab a graspable tab 8, which is in no way fixed to the sheet 7 of packing material in contrast to the rest of the adhesive panel 6.
  • the sealed package 3 is stabilized, or is maintained in the folded configuration, by a fin shaped central heat seal 9 (or longitudinal heat seal 9) arranged at a front wall and lateral walls of the sealed package 3 and by means of two fin shaped lateral heat seals 10 (or transverse heat seals 10) that are arranged at the lateral walls of the sealed package 3.
  • the fin shaped central heat seal 9 determines the formation of a tubular package having two open ends at the lateral walls of the sealed package 3 and is initially perpendicular to the front wall of the sealed package 3; subsequent to its formation, the fin shaped central heat seal 9 is folded 90° onto the front wall of the sealed package 3 (as illustrated in Figures 4 and 7 ).
  • the two fin shaped lateral heat seals 10 determine the lateral closure of the tubular package and are initially perpendicular to the corresponding lateral walls of the sealed package 3 (as shown in Figure 7 ); subsequently to the formation thereof, the two fin shaped lateral heat seals 10 are folded 90° onto the corresponding lateral walls of the sealed package 3 (as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 ).
  • each fin shaped lateral heat seal 10 is obtained by determining the formation of two triangular end tabs 11 which protrude from opposite sides from the corresponding lateral wall of the sealed package 3; after folding each fin shaped lateral heat seal 10 by 90° onto the corresponding side wall of the sealed package 3, the two triangular end tabs 11 are folded 180° onto the corresponding side wall of the sealed package 3 and over the previously folded fin shaped lateral heat seal 10.
  • each triangular end tabs 11 is heat-sealed to the corresponding side wall of the sealed package 3 to remain in the desired position illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 ; alternatively, each triangular end tabs 11 may be maintained in the desired position illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 only by the presence of the outer container 2 which surrounds the sealed package 3.
  • the sealed package 3 comprises a stiffener 12, which is made of cardboard or rigid paperboard (entirely similar to the cardboard or rigid paperboard forming the outer container 2), is "U" shaped and is arranged within the sealed package 3 contacting the group 4 of cigarettes.
  • the stiffener 12 comprises a front wall 13 of rectangular shape arranged into contact with a front wall of the group 4 of cigarettes, two lateral walls 14, which are connected to opposite sides of the front wall 13 and are arranged into contact with the lateral walls of the group 4 of cigarettes, and a bottom wall 15 arranged into contact with the bottom wall of the group 4 of cigarettes.
  • the front wall 13 which has a top, U-shaped window, and facilitates the extraction of the cigarettes from the group 4 of cigarettes as it leaves exposed a top area of the front wall of the group 4 of cigarettes at the extraction opening 5.
  • the stiffener 12 comprises two lateral stabilizing tabs 16 which are connected to the lateral walls 14 and are folded 90° onto an outer surface of the bottom wall 15 (or from the opposite side with respect to the group 4 of cigarettes), and a central stabilizing tab 17 which is connected to the bottom wall 15 and is folded 180° onto the outer surface of the bottom wall 15 (or from the opposite side with respect to the group 4 of cigarettes) and over the two lateral stabilizing tabs 16 previously folded.
  • the two lateral stabilizing tabs 16 are connected to the corresponding lateral walls 14 of the stiffener 12 along two transverse fold lines and the central stabilizing tab 17 is connected to the bottom wall 15 of the stiffener 12 along a further transverse fold line which is initially parallel to the other two transverse fold lines.
  • the function of the stiffener 12 is to give greater stiffness and greater shape stability to the sealed package 3 so as to prevent the sealed package 3 from collapsing on itself after removing a part of the cigarettes enclosed in the sealed package 3 itself making the extraction of the remaining cigarettes complicated and, in particular, making the opening and the subsequent closing of the adhesive panel 6 extremely complicated.
  • the functions of the stiffener 12 are to provide adequate mechanical protection to cigarettes and to simplify/improve the handling of the group 4 of cigarettes (i.e. to prevent the group 4 of cigarettes from coming apart).
  • the packing machine 18 comprises a packing unit 19 which provides the initial sealed package 3 by forming the group 4 of cigarettes and folding and heat sealing the sheet 7 of packing material about the group 4 of cigarettes and an end packing unit 20 (known and illustrated in a very schematic way) which forms the outer container 2 by folding one after the other a collar and a blank about the sealed package 3.
  • the initial packing unit 19 comprises a group-forming station 21 wherein the group 4 of cigarettes is formed, an application station 22 wherein the group 4 of cigarettes is fitted with a stiffener 12, and a packing station 23 wherein the sheet 7 of packing material is wrapped about the group 4 of cigarettes to form the sealed package 3.
  • the group-forming station 21 comprises a vertical hopper 24 provided with a plurality of lower outlet mouths, and a group-forming conveyor belt 25 which supports a plurality of group-forming pockets 26 and travels with continuous motion for moving the group-forming pockets 26 themselves along a group-forming path P1 (shown in figure 16 ) which extends in front of the outlet mouths of the hopper 24.
  • the group-forming conveyor 25 comprises a belt which is closed as a ring and wraps about two motorized end pulleys; accordingly, the group-forming path P1 is "U" shaped and has a lower rectilinear branch which extends horizontally and is arranged in front of the outlet mouths of the hopper 24, and a top rectilinear branch which passes through the application station 22 and ends at a transferring device 36 which transfers each group 4 of cigarettes enclosed in a group-forming pocket 26 in a wrapping seat 27 of a packing conveyor 28 which travels with continuous motion in parallel and in synchronism with the group-forming conveyor 25 for moving the seats 27 of packing material along a rectilinear and horizontal packing path P2.
  • the two motorized end pulleys are movable with a reciprocating linear motion parallel to the rectilinear sections of the group-forming path P1; at the same time, the rotation speed of the two motorized end pulleys is variable in time, in synchronism with their reciprocating linear motion.
  • the combination of the pulleys reciprocating linear motion with the variation of the rotation speed of the pulleys themselves allows to temporarily stop the group-forming pockets 26 that are arranged in front of the outlet mouths of the hopper 24 (i.e.
  • the group-forming pockets 26 that are arranged in the lower rectilinear branch of the group-forming path P1) to allow transferring the groups 4 of cigarettes from the outlets mouths of the hopper 24 to the group-forming pockets 26; at the same time, the combination of the reciprocating linear motion of the pulleys with the variation of the rotation speed of the pulleys themselves allows to keep constant the feeding speed of the group-forming pockets 26 in the top branch of the rectilinear group-forming path P1, so that the group-forming pockets 26 which are arranged in the top rectilinear branch of the group-forming path P1 are always in phase and synchronized with the packing seats 27 of the packing conveyor 28 (fed with continuous motion along the packing path P2).
  • the application station 22 comprises an application belt conveyor 29 that is arranged next to the group-forming conveyor 25 so as to feed the stiffener 12 in parallel to the top rectilinear branch of the group-forming path P1.
  • the application conveyor 29 is provided with suction and holds the stiffener 12 by suction into contact with a lower surface of the conveyor belt; in other words, and as clearly shown in figure 18 and 19 , the application conveyor 29 is arranged over the group-forming conveyor 25 and the stiffener 12 is hung by suction below the application conveyor 29.
  • a feeding device 30 which unwinds from a reel 31, a continuous strip of packing material that is fed along a rectilinear and horizontal feeding path P3 which extends perpendicularly to the application conveyor 29.
  • the continuous strip of packing material is passed through an embossing and cutting device 32 to form the pre-weakened fold lines in each stiffener 12, and then to separate from the continuous belt itself individual stiffeners 12.
  • a lifter 33 is arranged which is movable vertically (i.e. perpendicular to the feeding path P3 and to the application conveyor 29) with reciprocating motion; the lifter 33 pushes the stiffener 12 of the final portion of feeding path P3 to the application conveyor 29 to which the stiffener 12 adheres by suction.
  • the application conveyor 29 of the application station 22 cooperates with the group-forming conveyor 25 for resting the stiffener 12 completely flat (that is devoid of any type of folding) on the group-forming pocket 26 along the top rectilinear branch of the group-forming path P1. While the stiffener 12 rests on the group-forming pocket 26 (i.e. along the top rectilinear branch of the group-forming path P1) a pair of folding devices 34 and 35 (illustrated schematically in Figure 16 ) arranged in succession fold (as described previously and as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 ) the stiffener 12 partially about the group-forming pocket 26, and then partially about the group 4 of cigarettes enclosed in the group-forming pocket 26.
  • a transferring device 36 (illustrated schematically in Figure 16 ) expels together and simultaneously the stiffener 12 and the group 4 of cigarettes from the group-forming pocket 26 to insert the stiffener 12 and the group 4 of cigarettes in the corresponding packing pocket 27 of the packing conveyor 28.
  • the group-forming pocket 26 comprises an initial part 37 arranged at an inlet opening of the group 4 of cigarettes (i.e. in correspondence of the opening through which the group 4 of cigarettes enters the group-forming pocket 26), and an end part 38 arranged at an outlet opening of the group 4 of cigarettes (i.e. in correspondence of the opening through which the group 4 of cigarettes exits the group-forming pocket 26).
  • the stiffener 12 is supported only on the end part 38 of the group-forming pocket 26 so that initially the stiffener 12 is longitudinally misaligned with respect to the group 4 of cigarettes and is longitudinally aligned with the group 4 of cigarettes only when extracted from the group-forming pocket 26 along with the group 4 of cigarettes.
  • the group-forming pocket 26 is tubular shaped with a rectangular section and comprises a bottom wall and a top wall opposite and parallel one with respect to the other (visible in Figures 18 and 19 ) and two lateral walls opposite and parallel one with respect to the other (not visible in Figures 18 and 19 ); the top and lateral wall thickness of the end part 38 is less than the thickness of the top and lateral walls of the initial portion 37 so that the stiffener 12 resting on the final part 38 of the group-forming pocket 26 is arranged in close proximity to the group 4 of cigarettes.
  • a first end of the front wall 13 of the stiffener 12 is placed on the group-forming pocket 26 and a second end of the front wall 13 of the stiffener 12 opposite to the first end is retained by suction by the application conveyor 29 which travels parallel to the group-forming conveyor 25.
  • a lower surface of the front wall 13 of the stiffener 12 rests on the group-forming pocket 26 (in particular on the top wall of the group-forming pocket 26), while a top surface opposite the lower surface of the front wall 13 of the stiffener 12 is in contact with the application conveyor 29 that holds the latter by suction.
  • the folding device 34 folds the stiffener 12 about the group-forming pocket 26 while the front wall 13 of the stiffener 12 is retained by the application conveyor 29.
  • the folding device 34 comprises a folding device 39 that moves vertically (i.e. transversely to the group-forming path P1) between a resting position (shown in Figures 18 and 20 ) wherein the folding device 39 is away from the stiffener 12 and a working position (shown in Figures 19 and 21 ) wherein the folding device 39 spans over the stiffener 12 itself.
  • the folding device 39 is also movable parallel to group-forming path P1 to follow the group-forming pocket 26 along a portion of the group-forming path P1 itself.
  • the folding device 39 comprises four "legs" 40 (i.e., four folding elements 40) oriented vertically spanning over the front and the rear of the application conveyor 29 and embracing laterally the stiffener 12; when the folding device 39 moves from the resting position (shown in Figures 18 and 20 ) to the working position (shown in Figures 19 and 21 ), the four folding elements 40 fold 90° the lateral walls 14 of the stiffener 12 with respect to the front wall 12 of the stiffener 12.
  • the folding device 39 comprises a further folding element 41 (shown in Figures 20 and 21 ) which is arranged transversely to two rear folding elements 40; when the folding device 39 moves from the resting position (shown in Figures 18 and 20 ) to the working position (shown in Figures 19 and 21 ), the further folding element 41 folds 90° the rear wall 15 of the stiffener 12 with respect to the front wall of the stiffener 12.
  • the folding device 39 cooperates with a counter-folding device 42 that is "U" shaped and, when the folding device 39 moves towards the working position (shown in Figures 19 and 21 ), it rests against an inner surface of the front wall 13 of the stiffener 12 from the opposite side with respect to the same folding device 39. In this way, the stiffener 12 is folded between the folding device 39 and the counter-folding device 42 to improve the folding quality.
  • the counter-folding device 42 is movable parallel to the group-forming path P1 to follow, together and in a synchronized manner with the folding device 39, the group-forming pocket 26 along a section of the group-forming path P1 itself.
  • the lower wall 15 of the stiffener 12 is folded at the same time with the two lateral walls 14 of the stiffener 12 reinforced by way of the only folding device 39 that is movable both transversely to the group- forming path P1 (to perform the folding), and parallel to the group-forming path P1 (to follow the group-forming pocket 26 during folding).
  • the folding device 35 is arranged along the top branch of the group-forming path P1 downstream of the folding device 34 and performs the folding of the two lateral stabilizing tabs 16 of the stiffener 12 onto an outer surface of the bottom wall 15 of the stiffener 12 to be arranged on the opposite side with respect to group 4 of cigarettes; subsequently, the folding device 35 performs the folding of the central stabilizing tab 17 of the stiffener 12 onto the outer surface of the bottom wall 15 to be arranged on the opposite side with respect to the group 4 of cigarettes and over the two lateral stabilizing tabs 16 previously folded.
  • the folding device 35 comprises a movable finger (of known type and not illustrated in detail) which folds a stabilizing tab 16 of the stiffener 12 against the feeding direction of the group-forming pocket 26, and comprises folding blades (i.e. fixed folding devices of known type and not illustrated in detail) which fold the other lateral stabilizing tab 16 of the stiffener 12 and the central stabilizing tab 17 of the stiffener 12.
  • a movable finger of known type and not illustrated in detail
  • folding blades i.e. fixed folding devices of known type and not illustrated in detail
  • the pressure on the central stabilizing tab 17 is generated by bringing the pressure pads 43 and 44 (illustrated in figures 16 and 22 ) into contact with the central stabilizing tab 17 of the stiffener 12; in particular, an initial pressure pad 43 is provided which is arranged along the top branch of the group-forming path P1 immediately downstream (uninterrupted) of the folding device 35, and a subsequent final pressure pad 44 that is arranged along the packing path P2.
  • the pads 43 and 44 constitute a presser device which is arranged downstream of the folding device 35 and applies pressure onto the central stabilizing tab 17 of the stiffener 12 in order to keep the central stabilizing tab 17 pressed against the bottom wall 15 of the stiffener 12 with the interposition of the lateral stabilizing tabs 16.
  • the transferring device 36 is arranged (shown schematically in Figure 16 ) that expels together and simultaneously the stiffener 12 and the group 4 of cigarettes from the group-forming pocket 26 of the conveyor 25 for inserting the stiffener 12 and the group 4 of cigarettes in the corresponding packing pocket 27 of the packing conveyor that feeds in parallel and in time with the group-forming conveyor 25.
  • the stiffener 12 is supported only on the end part 38 of the group-forming pocket 26 so that initially the stiffener 12 is longitudinally misaligned with respect to the group 4 of cigarettes and is longitudinally aligned with the group 4 of cigarettes when extracted from the group-forming pocket 26 along with the group 4 of cigarettes; in other words, when the transferring device 36 expels together the stiffener 12 and the group 4 of cigarettes from the group-forming pocket 26 of the group-forming conveyor 25, it also imparts a relative movement between the stiffener 12 and the group 4 of cigarettes to obtain a longitudinal alignment of one with respect to the other.
  • the transferring device 36 is arranged at the end of the group-forming path P1 and transfers the stiffener 12 and the group 4 of cigarettes from the group-forming pocket 26 of the group-forming conveyor 25 to the packing seat 27 of the packing conveyor.
  • the transferring device 36 comprises a pusher 45 which rests at one end of the group 4 of cigarettes and pushes the group 4 of cigarettes out of the group-forming pocket 26 and a counter-pusher 46 which rests on the opposite end of the group 4 of cigarettes with the interposition of the bottom wall 15 (and of the tabs 16 and 17) of the stiffener 12.
  • a packing station 47 is arranged of the flow-pack type (shown schematically in Figure 15 ) wherein the sheet 7 of packing material is wrapped longitudinally in a tube shape about the group 4 of cigarettes to form a tubular package.
  • a longitudinal heat seal device 48 is arranged (of known type) that performs the longitudinal heat seal 9 on the tubular package to stabilize the tubular shape of the tubular package itself;
  • a folding device is coupled (not shown) that, immediately after its formation, folds the fin shaped longitudinal heat seal 9 by 90° onto a corresponding wall of the group 4 of cigarettes (with the interposition of the front wall 13 of the stiffener 12).
  • the sheet 7 of packing material is fed from the bottom to provide the fin shaped longitudinal heat seal 9 in correspondence of the front wall of the group 4 of cigarettes (as shown in Figures 4 and 5 ).
  • transverse heat seal device 49 Arranged downstream of the longitudinal heat seal device 48 a transverse heat seal device 49 is arranged that creates cyclically on the tubular packing a succession of transverse heat seals 10, each of which is arranged between two successive groups of four cigarettes; in addition, the transverse heat seal device 49 achieves a transverse cross-cut at the center of each transverse heat seal 10 to separate the two sealed packages 3 which share the same transverse heat seal 10.
  • a folding wheel 50 downstream of the transverse heat seal device 49 a folding wheel 50 is arranged which is mounted to rotate about a horizontal rotation axis 51 and is provided with a series of folding pockets 52, each of which is adapted to receive a corresponding sealed package 3.
  • the folding wheel 50 is provided with a folding device 53 which is preferably provided with fixed folding blades (i.e. fixed folding devices) and initially folds 90° each fin shaped transverse heat seal 10 onto a corresponding side wall of the group 4 of cigarettes (with the interposition of a side wall 14 of the stiffener 12); subsequently, i.e.
  • each fin shaped lateral heat seal 10 after folding each fin shaped lateral heat seal 10 by 90° onto the corresponding side wall of the sealed package 3 the device 53 folds 180° the triangular end flaps 11, onto the corresponding side wall of the sealed package 3 and over the fin shaped lateral heat seal 10 previously folded (as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 ).
  • the folding wheel 50 is provided with a heat seal device 54 that heat-seals each triangular end flap 11 to the corresponding lateral wall of the sealed package 3 to remain in the desired position illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 ; according to a different embodiment, each triangular end flap 11 may be maintained in the desired position illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 only by the presence of the outer container 2 which surrounds the sealed package 3 and in this case the heat seal device 54 would be absent.
  • the heat seals performed by the heat seal device 54 fix both ends of the triangular end flap 11, and each fin shaped lateral heat seal 10 to the corresponding lateral wall of the sealed package 3 so as to lock a folded configuration of the end flaps 11 and lock a folded configuration of the transverse fin shaped lateral heat seal 10.
  • a conveyor belt 55 is interposed which travels with continuous motion for successively transferring the sealed packages 3 from the transverse heat seal device 49 to the folding wheel 50.
  • the folding wheel 50 is rotatably mounted with intermittent motion, i.e. by steps, about the rotation axis 51; consequently, the folding wheel 50 is provided with an input pusher 56 that inserts the sealed package 3 inside a corresponding folding pocket 52 and an output pusher 56 which extracts the sealed package 3 from the inside of a corresponding folding pocket 52.
  • the transverse heat seal device 49 comprises two heat seal drums 58 that are rotatably mounted about respective central rotation axes 59 parallel one with respect to the other, are arranged on opposite sides of the packing path P2 along which the tubular package is fed, and bring respective heat seal heads 60 cooperating one with the other to clamp between them the tubular package during the performing of the transverse heat seal 10.
  • the heat seal heads 60 are internally provided with cutting members 61 to obtain, during the performing of the transverse heat seals 10, a transverse cut of the tubular package so as to separate a sealed package 3 from the tubular package itself.
  • each heat seal drum 58 is covered by a compression element 62 that is elastically deformed to impart a compression on the tubular package in order to stretch the tubular package, and then remove the air trapped inside the tubular package during the execution of the transverse heat seals 10; normally, the compression element 62 is formed by brushes.
  • Each heat seal head 60 of a heat seal drum 58 is coupled to a corresponding support element 63 that is carried by a corresponding heat seal drum 58, is arranged downstream of the corresponding heat seal head 60 with respect to the feeding direction of the tubular package along the packing path P2, and comes in contact with a bottom or top wall of the tubular package itself.
  • both heat seal drums 58 are provided with support elements 63 and then, during the execution of a transverse heat seal 10, two cooperating support elements 63 are arranged to contact opposite walls of the tubular package for clamping between them the tubular package itself downstream of the heat seal heads 60.
  • only the lower heat seal drum 60 is provided with support elements 63 (i.e. the top heat seal drum 60 is devoid of the support elements 63).
  • each support element 63 Upon execution of the transverse heat seal 10, each support element 63 advances for a certain distance with a linear movement parallel to the packing path P2 to accompany the sealed package 3 which has just been separated from the continuous tubular package.
  • each support element 63 is mounted movable with respect to the corresponding heat seal drum 58 to perform a relative movement with respect to the heat seal drum 58 itself; in particular, each support element 63 is rotatably mounted with respect to the corresponding heat seal drum 58 to rotate about a peripheral rotation axis 64 parallel to the central rotation axis 59.
  • each heat seal drum 58 comprises a camshaft implementing system 65 for controlling the relative movement (i.e. the relative rotation) between each support element 63 and the heat seal drum 58 itself.
  • each support element 63 is connected to the corresponding heat seal drum 58 by a linking arm 66 that is hinged to the heat seal drum 58 itself at the peripheral rotation axis 64; one end of each linking arm 66 opposite, with respect to the peripheral rotation axis 64, to the support element 63 is connected with a follower roller that engages a fixed cam arranged within the corresponding heat seal drum 58.
  • the conveyor belt 55 starts, towards which the sealed packages 3 are pushed coming from the same transverse heat seal device 49; the support elements 63 guide each sealed package 3 towards the conveyor belt 55 to ensure a correct introduction of the sealed package 3 in the conveyor belt 55 itself, or to prevent the sealed package 3 from jamming against the conveyor belt 55 itself due to unwanted movements that can take place after the execution of the transverse heat seal 10.
  • a pressure drum is arranged that is covered by an element that is elastically deformed (typically brushes) and that pushes the sealed package 3 against the conveyor belt 55.
  • the transverse heat seal 10 itself is interrupted in a limited portion of the tubular package so as to leave, astride of the transverse heat seal 10, at least one vent channel 67 that connects the inside of the sealed package 3 with the outside environment.
  • the vent channel 67 is closed after the execution of the transverse heat seals 10 to make the sealed package 3 airproof.
  • the vent channel 67 is closed by a sealing that is performed after performing the transverse heat seals 10 and which coincides with the heat seal performed by the heat seal device 54 for heat sealing the fin shaped transverse heat seals 10 and/or the triangular end flaps to the underlying part of the sheet 7 of packing material.
  • the same heat sealing performed by the heat seal device 54 has both the function to close the vent channel 67 and the function of fixing the fin shaped transverse heat seals 10 and/or the triangular end flaps to the underlying part of the sheet 7 of packing material.
  • each heat seal head 60 has a heated surface 68, which is centrally interrupted by the presence of cutting member 61 and is pressed against the overlapping portions of the sheet 7 of packing material in order to achieve a corresponding transverse heat seal 10.
  • the heated surface 68 has at least one recess 69 in correspondence of which the transverse heat seal 10 is interrupted to leave the vent channel 67.
  • the vent channel 67 allows to evacuate (fully or partially) the air inside the sealed package 3 before airproof closing the sealed package 3 itself.
  • the sealed package 3 remains open towards the outer environment for the presence of the vent channel 67 (or of the vent channels, as there could be even more vent channels); in this way, the air inside the sealed package 3 can be evacuated (fully or partially) after performing the transverse heat seals 10.
  • the vent channel 67 itself is closed to make the sealed package 3 airproof by using the same heat sealing with which the fin shaped transverse heat seals 10 and/or the triangular end flaps are fixed to the underlying part of the sheet 7 of packing material.
  • the vent channel 67 itself is closed to make the sealed package 3 airproof by a further sealing that is different (i.e. performed at different times and by different members) from the heat seal performed by the heat seal device 54.
  • the initial packing unit 19 of the packing machine 18 is "L" shaped and has a front side (shown in Figure 15 ) in which the members that perform the various packing operations are arranged and a lateral side (shown in Figure 14 ) in which all feeding members of the packing materials (i.e. the sheets 7 of packing material and the stiffeners 12) are arranged.
  • Figure 14 can be recognized the two coils 31 (one as a reserve to the other), from which the continuous strip of packing material for the formation of the stiffeners 12 is unwound and the two coils 70 (one as a reserve for the other) from which the continuous strip of packing material for the formation of sheets 7 of packing material is unwound.
  • the packing machine 18 described above has numerous advantages.
  • the fitting of the stiffener 12 with the group 4 of cigarettes is done in an extremely effective and efficient way. Therefore, the fitting of the stiffener 12 with the group 4 of cigarettes can be performed at high speed (allowing the packing machine 18 to obtain high productivity, i.e. up to 500-700 packages of cigarettes per 1 minute) while ensuring high quality and precision of the folds of the stiffener 12.
  • the fact of folding the stiffener 12 while the stiffener 12 is oriented downwards allows to improve the handling of the stiffener, as the thrusts upon the stiffener 12 are applied in the vicinity of the front wall 13 that acts as an effective contrast.
  • the packing machine 18 as described above is easy and economical to produce, since the application station 22 is made of a limited number of parts of simple constitution.
  • the sealed package 3 of the present invention contains a group 4 of cigarettes; thanks to the numerous advantages of the sealed package 3 of the present invention, said sealed package 3 can be also used to contain articles other than cigarettes, such as food (candies, chocolates or other sweets).

Claims (16)

  1. Verpackungsverfahren zur Herstellung einer versiegelten Verpackung (3); wobei das Verpackungsverfahren die Schritte umfasst:
    Bildung einer Gruppe (4) von Gegenständen in einer gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) eines gruppenbildenden Förderers (25), der die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) selbst längs einer Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) führt; Versehen der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände mit einem Versteifungsteil (12), welches aus steifem Material gebildet ist und eine Stirnwand (13), und zwei Seitenwände (14) aufweist, die an gegenüberliegenden Rändern der Stirnwand (13) verbunden sind; sowie
    Falzen einer Bahn (7) von Verpackungsmaterial mit einer Öffnung (5) für die Artikelentnahme und einem verschließbaren Klebepaneel (6) um die im Versteifungsteil (12) aufgenommen Gruppe (4) von Gegenständen zur Bildung der versiegelten Verpackung (3);
    wobei der Schritt der Anordnung des Versteifungsteils (12) zur Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände die weiteren Schritte aufweist:
    Ablage des Versteifungsteils (12) auf die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) längs der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1); und Abgabe des Versteifungsteils (12) und der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände zusammen und gleichzeitig am Ende der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1);
    wobei das Verpackungsverfahren dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass
    das Versteifungsteil (12) vollständig flach auf die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) längs der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) abgelegt, sowie
    die seitlichen Wände (14) des Versteifungsteils (12) in Bezug auf die Stirnwand (12) des Versteifungsteils (12) und um die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) längs der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) gefaltet wird.
  2. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) einen Anfangsabschnitt (37) umfasst, der an einer Einlassöffnung der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände angeordnet ist, sowie einen Endabschnitt (38), der an einer Auslassöffnung der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände angebracht ist; und wobei das Versteifungsteil (12) nur auf den Endabschnitt (38) der gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) derart abgelegt wird, dass das Versteifungsteil (12) anfänglich in Längsrichtung bezüglich der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände fehlausgerichtet und in Längsrichtung mit der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände ausgerichtet wird, wenn es aus der gruppenbildenden Tasche (20) zusammen mit der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände abgegeben wird.
  3. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) rohrförmig mit einem rechteckförmigen Querschnitt ist und eine Bodenwand und eine Deckwand, gegenüberliegend und parallel zueinander, und zwei seitliche Wände, gegenüberliegend und parallel zueinander aufweist; und dass die Deckwand und die Seitenwand des Endabschnitts (38) dünner als die Deckwand und Seitenwand des Anfangsabschnitts (37) sind.
  4. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein erstes Ende der Stirnwand (13) des Versteifungsteils (12) ruhend auf der gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) angeordnet wird und ein zweites Ende der Stirnwand (13) des Versteifungsteils (12) durch einen Zuführsitz eines Anwendungsförderers (29) gehalten wird, welcher parallel zum gruppenbildenden Förderer (25) fährt.
  5. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Anwendungsförderer (29) das Verstärkungsteil (12) durch Saugwirkung hält.
  6. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Bodenfläche der Stirnwand (13) des Versteifungsteils (12) ruhend auf der gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) positioniert wird; und eine Deckfläche, gegenüberliegend zur Bodenfläche, der Stirnwand (13) des Versteifungsteils (12) positioniert wird unter Kontaktierung des Anwendungsförderers (29).
  7. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 4, 5 oder 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Versteifungsteil (12) um die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) gefaltet wird, während die Stirnwand (13) des Versteifungsteils (12) durch den Anwendungsförderer gehalten wird.
  8. Verpackungsverfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Versteifungsteil (12) um gruppenbildende Tasche (26) durch eine Falzeinrichtung (39) gefaltet wird, welche sich quer zur Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) zwischen einer Ruheposition bewegt, in welcher die Falteinrichtung (39) vom Versteifungsteil (12) gelöst ist, und einer Arbeitsposition, in welcher die Falteinrichtung (39) das Versteifungsteil (12) selbst umgibt.
  9. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Falteinrichtung (39) auch parallel zur Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) bewegt wird, um die Gruppenbildungstasche (26) längs eines Abschnitts der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) zu begleiten.
  10. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 8 oder 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Falteinrichtung (39) mit einer Gegenfalteinrichtung (42) zusammenwirkt, welche, wenn die Falteinrichtung (39) sich in die Arbeitsposition bewegt, gegen eine Innenfläche der Stirnwand (13) des Versteifungsteils (12) von der gegenüberliegenden Seite bezüglich der Falteinrichtung (39) selbst ruht.
  11. Verpackungsverfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Versteifungsteil (12) umfasst eine Bodenwand (15); zwei seitliche Stabilisierungszungen (16), die mit den Seitenwänden (14) verbunden sind, und eine zentrale Stabilisierungszunge (17), die mit der Bodenwand (15) verbunden ist; wobei die Bodenwand (15) gleichzeitig mit den beiden Seitenwänden (14) durch eine einzelne Falteinrichtung (39) gefaltet wird, die sich quer zur Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) bewegt.
  12. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die beiden seitlichen Stabilisierungszungen (16) auf eine Außenfläche der Bodenwand (15) gefaltet werden, um an der gegenüberliegenden Seite der Bodenwand (15) bezüglich der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände angeordnet zu werden; und dass die zentrale Stabilisierungszunge (17) auf die Außenfläche der Bodenwand (15) gefaltet wird, um auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite bezüglich der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände angeordnet zu werden, und über die zuvor gefalteten beiden seitlichen Stabilisierungszungen (16).
  13. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Transfereinrichtung (36), die an dem Ende der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) angeordnet ist, das Versteifungsteil (12) und die Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände von Gruppenbildungstasche (26) des gruppenbildenden Förderers (25) zu einem Packungssitz (27) auf einem Packungsförderer (28) übergibt, der parallel und zeitgleich mit dem gruppenbildenden Förderer (25) fördert.
  14. Verpackungsverfahren nach Anspruch 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Transfereinrichtung (36) ein Drückglied (45) aufweist, welches mit einem Ende der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände zusammenwirkt, und die Gruppe (4) von Gegenständen aus der Gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) drückt; und ein Drückelement (46) vorgesehen ist, welches mit den gegenüberliegenden Ende der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände mit Zwischenpositionierung einer Bodenwand (15) des Versteifungsteils (12) zusammenwirkt.
  15. Verpackungsverfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Schritt der Formung der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände in der gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) umfasst das Drücken der Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände in die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) von dem Auslass eines Bunkers (24), der so angeordnet ist, dass er auf den gruppenbildenden Förderer (25) weist und deswegen innenseitig der gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) selbst.
  16. Verpackungsmaschine (18) zur Herstellung einer versiegelten Verpackung (3); wobei die Verpackungsmaschine (18) umfasst:
    eine gruppenbildende Station, in welcher eine Gruppe (4) von Gegenständen in einer gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) eines gruppenbildenden Förderers (25) geformt wird, der die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) selbst längs einer Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) fördert;
    eine Anordnungsstation (22) zur Ablage eines aus einem steifen Material gebildeten Versteifungsteils (12) auf die Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände und umfassend eine Wand (13), und zwei Seitenwände (14), die mit gegenüberliegenden Rändern der Stirnwand (13) verbunden sind; und eine Verpackungsstation (23) zum Falten einer Bahn (7) aus Verpackungsmaterial, die eine Öffnung (5) für die Herausnahme eines Gegenstands aufweist und ein wiederverschließbares Klebepaneel (6), um die Gruppe (4) der in dem Teil (12) aufgenommenen Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände zur Bildung der versiegelnden Verpackung (3);
    wobei die Anordnungsstation (22) mit dem gruppenbildenden Förderer (25) zur Ablage des Versteifungsteils (12) der gruppenbildenden Tasche (26) längs der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1); sowie
    wobei eine Transfereinrichtung (36) vorgesehen ist, um das Versteifungsteil (12) und die Gruppe (4) der Gegenstände zusammen und gleichzeitig an dem Ende der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) abzugeben; wobei die Verpackungsmaschine (18) dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass
    das Versteifungsteil (12) vollständig flach auf die Gruppenbildungstasche (26) längs der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) abgelegt wird; und Falteinrichtungen (34, 35) vorgesehen sind, um die Seitenwände (14) des Versteifungsteils (12) bezüglich der Stirnwand (12) des Versteifungsteils (12) und um die gruppenbildende Tasche (26) längs der Gruppenbildungsbahn (P1) zu falten.
EP14736966.4A 2013-05-24 2014-05-23 Verpackungsverfahren und -maschine zum herstellen einer versiegelten packung mit innerem versteifungseinsatz Active EP3003872B1 (de)

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PL14736966T PL3003872T3 (pl) 2013-05-24 2014-05-23 Sposób pakowania i maszyna pakująca do wytwarzania szczelnie zamkniętej paczki z wewnętrznym usztywniaczem

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IT000252A ITBO20130252A1 (it) 2013-05-24 2013-05-24 Metodo di incarto e macchina impacchettatrice per realizzare un incarto sigillato con un elemento di rinforzo interno.
PCT/IB2014/061676 WO2014188395A1 (en) 2013-05-24 2014-05-23 A packing method and packing machine for producing a sealed package with an inner stiffener

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EP3003872B1 true EP3003872B1 (de) 2017-10-11

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PL3003872T3 (pl) 2018-03-30
EP3003872A1 (de) 2016-04-13
WO2014188395A1 (en) 2014-11-27
ITBO20130252A1 (it) 2014-11-25

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