EP3181467A1

EP3181467A1 - Wrapping system in a packaging machine

Info

Publication number: EP3181467A1
Application number: EP16201420.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Debora GAMBETTI
Original assignee: Baumer SRL
Current assignee: Baumer SRL
Priority date: 2015-12-14
Filing date: 2016-11-30
Publication date: 2017-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-30
Also published as: EP3181467B1; ES2693909T3; ITUB20159828A1

Abstract

_A wrapping system for a packaging machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of heat-shrink material around objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) to be packaged, wherein said system comprises: _first objects conveying means (100), _second objects conveying means (200), _third objects conveyor means (300), _sheets feeder conveyor means (400), _wrapping means (500), _control means (600), are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means. _Said wrapping means (500) comprise separating means (502/512/602), wherein said separator means (502/512/602) are able to preventing and/or limiting the contact between the front portion (Sb1) and the rear portion (Sb2) of the sheet (Sb) when said bar (501) transports said sheet (Sb) for the execution of the wrapping operations of the sheet (Sb) around the product (10b)

Description

Field of the Invention

_The present invention relates to a wrapping system in a packaging machine. _More particularly, the present invention concerns a system of the aforesaid type particularly suitable for packing machines, of sleeve type, able to packaging products by means of a sheet of heat-shrink material.

Background of the Invention

_Currently see patent EP_1.013.551 , are know methods and systems for packaging objects by means of hot sheets of heat-shrink material, in which, briefly, by means of said methods/systems individual object are wrapped in succession by means of a respective sheet of heat-shrink material, in which said sheet has been previously heated to a temperature greater than the softening temperature of the heat-shrink material.
_These methods/systems have a number of drawbacks.
_A first drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow to operate with high operating speeds and, therefore, they do not allow to obtain a high packing productivity.
_A second drawback is due to the fact that sometimes, during the wrapping operations, the front portion of the sheet is in contact with the rear portion of the same sheet, creating an unwanted adhesions between said two portions.
_A third drawback is due to the fact that sometimes, during the wrapping operations, the hot sheet of heat shrink material is cooled.

Object of the Invention

_The object of the present invention is therefore that of solving the above mentioned drawbacks.
_The invention, which is characterized by the claims, solves the problem of creating a wrapping system for a packaging machine of the "sleeve" type able to wrap hot sheets of heat-shrink packaging material around objects to be packaged, wherein said system comprises: _first objects conveying means, wherein said first objects conveying means are able to move objects longitudinally in a spaced succession; _second objects conveying means, wherein said second objects conveyor means are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said first objects conveyor means in order to form a first opening between said first and said second object conveyor means, wherein said second objects conveyor means are able to receive the objects coming from said first objects conveyor means, and wherein said second objects conveyor means are able to move the same objects along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end; _third objects conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second object conveyor means in order to form a second opening between said second and said third object conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are able to receive the objects coming from said second objects conveyor means; _sheets feeder conveyor means, wherein said sheet feeder conveyor means are positioned in the vicinity of said first opening, wherein said sheet feeder conveyor means are able to supply individual sheets of heat-shrink ; _wrapping means, wherein said wrapping means are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means, wherein said wrapping means comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar, wherein said suspended wrapping bar is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects, in which said suspended wrapping bar is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first and said second opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bar transports the sheets of packaging material; _control means, in which said control means are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means; in which said system is characterized by the fact that said sheet wrapping means comprise separating means, wherein said separatoing means are able to preventing and/or limiting the contact between the front portion and the rear portion of the sheet when said bar transports said sheet for the execution of the wrapping operations of the sheet around the product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

_Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the description hereinafter of a preferred form of practical embodiment, that is given here by way of a not limitative example, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

>_Figure 1 and 1A are schematic views of a packaging machine incorporating the system of the present invention;
>_Figure 2 shows a detail of the system according to a first embodiment;
>_Figure 3 shows a detail of the system according to a second embodiment;
>_Figures 4 and 4A show a detail of the system according to a third embodiment.

Preferred examples of Realization Forms

_With reference to figure 1 and 1A, a packaging machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of heat-shrink packaging material around the objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. to be packaged, substantially it comprises: _first objects conveying means 100 having a transport belt 110, wherein said first objects conveying means 100 are able to move objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. longitudinally, arrow F1, in a spaced succession; _second objects conveying means 200 having a transport belt 110, in which said second objects conveying means 200 in which said second object conveying means 200 are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said first objects conveying means 100 in order to form a first opening A1 between said first 100 and said second 200 object conveying means, wherein said second objects conveying means 200 are able to receive the objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. arriving from said first objects conveying means 100, and wherein said second objects conveying means 200 are able to move the same objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end; _third objects conveying means 300 having a transport belt 310, wherein said third objects conveying means 300 are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second object conveying means 200 in order to form a second opening A2 between said second 200 and said third 300 object conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means 300 are able to receive the objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. arriving from said second objects conveyor means 200; _sheets feeder conveying means 400, wherein said sheet feeder conveyor means 400 are positioned in the vicinity of said first opening A1, wherein said sheet feeder conveyor means 400 are able to supply single sheets Sb of heat-shrink material; _wrapping means 500, wherein said wrapping means 500 are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means 200, wherein said wrapping means 500 comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar 501, wherein said suspended wrapping bar 501 is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., in which said suspended wrapping bar 501 is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first A1 and said second A2 opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bar 501 transports the sheets Sa, Sb, Sc of packaging material; _control means 600 able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means between them;
_With reference to the sheet wrapping means 500, they comprise separating means, see reference 502 in fig. 2, reference 512 in fig. 3, reference 602 in fig. 4, in which, substantially, said separator means 502/512/602 are able to preventing and/or limiting the contact between the front portion Sb1 and the rear portion Sb2 of the sheet Sb and, more in particular, when said bar 501 transports said sheet Sb for the execution of the wrapping operations of the sheet Sb around the product 10b.
_With refence to fig. 2, said separator means 502 comprise a hanging curtain-like element 502, in which said curtain has a side 503 associated with the wrapping bar 501.
_With reference to fig. 3, said separator means 512 comprise an element in the form of a pluraliuty of single fringes 512a, 512b, etc., in which said fringes 512a, 512b, etc., have the proxinal ends 513a, 513b, etc., associated with the wrapping bar 501.
_With refernce to fig. 4, said separator means 602 comprise a hanging curtain-like element 602, in which at least one face of said curtain 602 comprises ribs/ reliefs 604a, 604b, 604c, in which the said ribs/ reliefs 604a, 604b, 604c, are oriented in the same direction of movement of the sheet Sb on said curtain 602.
_With reference to fig. 4A, preferably, the two opposite faces of said curtain 602 comprise ribs/ reliefs 604a, 604b, 604c, etc. / 605a, 605b, 605c, etc..
_With reference to said separator means 502/512/602, preferably, they are made of a material having a low coefficient of friction with respect to the material of the sheet Sb and, in addition, they have thickness to allow at the curtain to flex and , more particular, with a degree of flexibility such as to allow the passage of said separation means 502/512/602 through the two openings A1 and A2 during the orbit of the bar 501.
_Again with reference to the said separator means 502/512/602, they may be hot elements adapted to heat and/or limit the cooling of the hot sheet Sb during the execution of the transport of the same sheet Sb around the product 10b to be packaged, wherein said heating action takes place during the sliding of the sheet on the surfaces Sb of said separator means 502/512/602. _In this context, for example, said separator means 502/512/602 may be heated by means of electrical resistors embedded inside them.
_The above description of the system is provided purely by way of example and without restrictive intent and, therefore, it is evident that said system can be subjected to all modifications or variations suggested by experience or by the use and within the scope of the following claims. _In this context, the following claims form an integral part of the above description.

Claims

Wrapping system for a packaging machine of the "sleeve" type able to wrap hot sheets of heat-shrink packaging material around objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) to be packaged, wherein said system comprises: >_first objects conveying means (100), wherein said first objects conveying means (100) are able to move objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) longitudinally in a spaced succession; >_second objects conveying means (200), wherein said second objects conveyor means (200) are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said first objects conveyor means (100) in order to form a first opening (A1) between said first (100) and said second (200) object conveyor means, wherein said second objects conveyor means (200) are able to receive the objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) coming from said first objects conveyor means (100), and wherein said second objects conveyor means (200) are able to move the same objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end; >_third objects conveyor means (300), wherein said third objects conveyor means (300) are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second object conveyor means (200) in order to form a second opening (A2) between said second (200) and said third (300) object conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means (300) are able to receive the objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) arriving from said second objects conveyor means (200); >_sheets feeder conveyor means (400), wherein said sheet feeder conveyor means (400) are positioned in the vicinity of said first opening (A1), wherein said sheet feeder conveyor means (400) are able to supply individual sheets (Sb) of heat-shrink material; >_sheet wrapping means (500), wherein said sheet wrapping means (500) are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means (200), wherein said sheet wrapping means (500) comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar (501), wherein said suspended wrapping bar (501) is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.), in which said suspended wrapping bar (501) is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first (A1) and said second (A2) opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bar (501) transports the sheets (Sa, Sb, Sc) of packaging material; >_control means (600), in which said control means (600) are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means; characterized by the fact that said sheet wrapping means (500) comprise separating means (502/512/602), wherein said separator means (502/512/602) are able to preventing and/or limiting the contact between the front portion (Sb1) and the rear portion (Sb2) of the sheet (Sb) when said bar (501) transports said sheet (Sb) for the execution of the wrapping operations of the sheet (Sb) around the product (10b).
System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said separator means (502) comprise a curtain-like element (502) associated with the wrapping bar (501).
System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said separator means (512) comprise an element in the form of fringes (512a, 512b, etc.) associated with the wrapping bar (501).
System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said separator means (602) comprise a curtain-like element (602) associated with the wrapping bar (501) and by the fact that at least one face of said curtain (602) comprises ribs/reliefs (604a, 604b, 604c).
System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said separator means (602) comprise a curtain-like element (602) associated with the wrapping bar (501) and by the fact that the two opposite faces of said curtain (602) comprise ribs/reliefs (604a, 604b, 604c, etc. / 605a, 605b, 605c, etc.).
System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said separator means (502/512/602) are made of a material having a low coefficient of friction with respect to the material of the sheet (Sb).
System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said separator means (502/512/602) are hot.
System according to one of the preceding claims and/or as substantially described in the description and/or as claimed in the claims and/or as illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings and/or for the purposes specified above.