EP3494052B1 - Process for packaging a product - Google Patents

Process for packaging a product Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3494052B1
EP3494052B1 EP17723133.9A EP17723133A EP3494052B1 EP 3494052 B1 EP3494052 B1 EP 3494052B1 EP 17723133 A EP17723133 A EP 17723133A EP 3494052 B1 EP3494052 B1 EP 3494052B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
support
conveyor
supports
packaging assembly
film
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP17723133.9A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3494052A1 (en
Inventor
Riccardo Palumbo
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Cryovac LLC
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Cryovac LLC
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Publication of EP3494052A1 publication Critical patent/EP3494052A1/en
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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
    • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
    • B65B11/50—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
    • B65B11/52—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins one sheet being rendered plastic, e.g. by heating, and forced by fluid pressure, e.g. vacuum, into engagement with the other sheet and contents, e.g. skin-, blister-, or bubble- packaging
    • 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
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65B31/028—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
    • 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
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B65B35/12—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by gravity
    • 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
    • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
    • B65B41/02—Feeding sheets or wrapper blanks
    • 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
    • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
    • B65B41/02—Feeding sheets or wrapper blanks
    • B65B41/10—Feeding sheets or wrapper blanks by rollers
    • 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
    • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
    • B65B41/12—Feeding webs from rolls
    • B65B41/14—Feeding webs from rolls by grippers
    • 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
    • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
    • B65B41/18—Registering sheets, blanks, or webs
    • 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/44—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation from supply magazines
    • 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/52—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using roller-ways or endless conveyors
    • 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • 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
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/02—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
    • B65B57/04—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such 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
    • B65B61/005—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for removing material by cutting
    • 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
    • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
    • 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
    • B65B61/04—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages
    • B65B61/06—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages by cutting
    • 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
    • B65B61/28—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for discharging completed packages from machines
    • 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
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/162—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by feeding web material to securing means
    • B65B7/164—Securing by heat-sealing
    • 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
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
    • B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers
    • B65B7/2878—Securing closures on containers by heat-sealing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates a process for vacuum skin packaging of a product.
  • the process of the invention find a convenient application for packaging perishable products, such as for example food products, which would lose one or more of their properties if left in ambient atmosphere.
  • vacuum skin packaging is commonly employed for packaging food products such as fresh and frozen meat and fish, cheese, processed meat, ready meals and the like.
  • Vacuum skin packaging is described for instance in FR 1 258 357 , FR 1 286 018 , AU 3 491 504 , US RE 30 009 , US 3 574 642 , US 3 681 092 , US 3 713 849 , US 4 055 672 , and US 5 346 735 .
  • Vacuum skin packaging is basically a thermoforming process.
  • the product is typically placed on a rigid or semi-rigid support (such as a plate, a tray, a bowl or a cup).
  • the support with the product placed thereon is put in a vacuum chamber, where a film of thermoplastic material, held by vacuum in a position above the product placed on the support, is heated to soften it.
  • the space between the support and the film is then evacuated and finally vacuum above the film is released to cause the film to drape down all around the product and seal to the surface of the support not covered by the product, thus forming a tight skin around the product and on the support.
  • US 2007/0022717 and US 2005/0257501 disclose a machine for packaging a product arranged in a tray.
  • the machine has a packaging assembly with a lower tool for supporting the tray and an upper tool for applying the plastic film.
  • the film is cut to the size of the tray within the packaging chamber formed by the upper tool and the lower tool, by means of the cutting devices provided on the upper tool; furthermore, appropriate mechanisms are provided to confer the required mobility to the upper and lower tools.
  • US3481101 discloses a method for packaging small items on a continuous web support provided with holes: a plastic film is fed from a roll and positioned above the web support carrying the small items. The web support has holes through which air is withdrawn to form a packaging.
  • US3533212A shows a continuous web support receiving products to be packaged and an extruder of a continuous film applied above the continuous support web. A vacuum device acts below the support web, which is provided with passages to allow extraction of air and formation of a package.
  • GB1552299A discloses a conveyor belt provided with gas evacuation holes supporting a continuous and narrow support receiving items to be packaged. The conveyor passes through a packaging station which applies a film onto the support. Means are used to serve a film to the upper dome of the packaging station.
  • WO9324374A1 discloses a sheet with holes carried by a belt allowing suction to form a skin-packaging.
  • US3071905A discloses a device for making vacuum skin packages of the type in which a a packaged article is mounted on a permeable baseboard and a plastic film is adhered to the article and baseboard.
  • US3848393A shows a process and apparatus which utilizes a combination of an air permeable endless belt, at least one, and preferably two vacuum chambers, and high velocity heated air to soften a film of a plastic material used as the top portion of the package.
  • An auxiliary object is that of offering a packaging process and apparatus characterized by an extremely reduced consumption of the plastic material used for the covering film and of material used for the support.
  • It is a further aim of the invention that of conceiving a process for packaging products which sensibly reduces the complexity in the design of the key components of the apparatus, namely the packaging assembly, and the systems used for moving the supports and the covering film to be applied to the supports.
  • Another object is that of offering a process capable of increasing productivity and of avoiding as possible problems of incorrect positioning of the plastic film onto the support or tray.
  • the apparatus and process refer to packaging of a product on a support or on a support portion: the product may be a food product or not.
  • support means a rigid or semi-rigid or flexible structure, such as for example a plate or a dish, designed for holding the product to be packaged which may have a rectangular shape or any other suitable shape, such as round, square, elliptical etcetera.
  • the support is a discrete element and may be flat and have uniform thickness.
  • Support portion means a portion, such as a longitudinal tract, of a continuous support in the form of a continuous film having a rigid or semi-rigid or flexible structure. Each support portion of the continuous support film is designed for holding the product to be packaged and may be flat and have uniform thickness.
  • 'vacuum skin packaging it is intended any packaging process where a product is placed on a rigid or semi-rigid or flexible support or support portion and a film of plastic material is applied above the product and the support, with air between the support and the plastic film being evacuated to cause the plastic film to drape down on the product and seal to the surface of the support, thus forming a tight skin on the product and on the support.
  • the discrete support or the continuous support onto which the support portions are defined may be made in materials such as plastic material, paperboard, paper, wood or in combinations of the mentioned materials.
  • the discrete supports or the continuous support may be single layer or multi-layer supports.
  • Plastic discrete or continuous supports may be manufactured by thermoforming or injection molding or cutting from foil material. Paper or paper board discrete or continuous supports may be obtained by cutting or die cutting from foil material.
  • the discrete supports or the support portions of the continuous support may include through holes: through holes may be obtained during manufacture of the discrete support or in a second phase, e.g., using an appropriate perforating tool part of the packaging apparatus.
  • the through holes in the continuous support are preferably made using a hole making device which is part of the packaging apparatus or which operates upstream the packaging apparatus.
  • the support portions of the continuous support or the discrete supports present a base wall having a dimension, namely the thickness, which is significantly smaller than the other two dimensions: the through holes form through passages all through the thickness of the base wall of the supports or support portions.
  • the film or film material heat sealed to the support or support portions in vacuum skin applications may be made of a flexible multi-layer material comprising at least a first outer heat-sealable layer, an optional gas barrier layer and a second outer heat-resistant layer.
  • the outer heat-sealable layer may comprise a polymer capable of welding to the inner surface of the supports or support portions carrying the products to be packaged, such as for instance ethylene homo- or co-polymers, like LDPE, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers, and ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ionomers, co-polyesters, e.g. PETG.
  • the optional gas barrier layer preferably comprises oxygen impermeable resins like PVDC, EVOH, polyamides and blends of EVOH and polyamides.
  • the outer heat-resistant layer may be made of ethylene homo- or copolymers, ethylene/cyclic-olefin copolymers, such as ethylene/norbornene copolymers, propylene homo- or co-polymers, ionomers, (co)polyesters, (co)polyamides.
  • the film may also comprise other layers such as adhesive layers or bulk layers to increase thickness of the film and improve its abuse and deep drawn properties. Particularly used bulk layers are ionomers, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, polyamides and polyesters.
  • the polymer components may contain appropriate amounts of additives normally included in such compositions. Some of these additives are preferably included in the outer layers or in one of the outer layers, while some others are preferably added to inner layers. These additives include slip and anti- block agents such as talc, waxes, silica, and the like, antioxidants, stabilizers, plasticizers, fillers, pigments and dyes, cross-linking inhibitors, cross-linking enhancers, UV absorbers, odor absorbers, oxygen scavengers, bactericides, antistatic agents and the like additives known to those skilled in the art of packaging films.
  • slip and anti- block agents such as talc, waxes, silica, and the like, antioxidants, stabilizers, plasticizers, fillers, pigments and dyes, cross-linking inhibitors, cross-linking enhancers, UV absorbers, odor absorbers, oxygen scavengers, bactericides, antistatic agents and the like additives known to those skilled in the art of packaging
  • One or more layers of the film can be cross- linked to improve the strength of the film and/or its heat resistance.
  • Cross-linking may be achieved by using chemical additives or by subjecting the film layers to an energetic radiation treatment.
  • the films for skin packaging are typically manufactured in order to show low shrink when heated during the packaging cycle. Those films usually shrink less than 15% at 160°C, more frequently lower than 10%, even more frequently lower than 8% in both the longitudinal and transversal direction (ASTM D2732).
  • the films usually have a thickness comprised between 20 microns and 200 microns, more frequently between 40 and 180 microns and even more frequently between 50 microns and 150 microns.
  • PVDC is any vinylidene chloride copolymers wherein a major amount of the copolymer comprises vinylidene chloride and a minor amount of the copolymer comprises one or more unsaturated monomers copolymerisable therewith, typically vinyl chloride, and alkyl acrylates or methacrylates (e.g. methyl acrylate or methacrylate) and the blends thereof in different proportions.
  • a PVDC barrier layer will contain plasticisers and/or stabilizers as known in the art.
  • EVOH includes saponified or hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and refers to ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers having an ethylene comonomer content preferably comprised from about 28 to about 48 mole %, more preferably, from about 32 to about 44 mole % ethylene, and even more preferably, and a saponification degree of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%.
  • polyamides as used herein is intended to refer to both homo- and co- or ter-polyamides. This term specifically includes aliphatic polyamides or co-polyamides, e.g., polyamide 6, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide 66, polyamide 69, polyamide 610, polyamide 612, copolyamide 6/9, copolyamide 6/10, copolyamide 6/12, copolyamide 6/66, copolyamide 6/69, aromatic and partially aromatic polyamides or co-polyamides, such as polyamide 6I, polyamide 6I/6T, polyamide MXD6, polyamide MXD6/MXDI, and blends thereof.
  • Ethylene copolymers refers to a polymer derived from two or more types of monomers, and includes terpolymers.
  • Ethylene homopolymers include high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE).
  • Ethylene copolymers include ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymers.
  • Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers generally include copolymers of ethylene and one or more comonomers selected from alpha-olefins having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 4-methyl-1-pentene and the like.
  • Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers generally have a density in the range of from about 0.86 to about 0.94 g/cm3.
  • the term linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is generally understood to include that group of ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers which fall into the density range of about 0.915 to about 0.94 g/cm3 and particularly about 0.915 to about 0.925 g/cm3.
  • linear polyethylene in the density range from about 0.926 to about 0.94 g/cm3 is referred to as linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE).
  • Lower density ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers may be referred to as very low density polyethylene (VLDPE) and ultra-low density polyethylene (ULDPE).
  • VLDPE very low density polyethylene
  • ULDPE ultra-low density polyethylene
  • Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers may be obtained by either heterogeneous or homogeneous polymerization processes
  • Another useful ethylene copolymer is an ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer, which is the copolymer of ethylene and one or more unsaturated ester monomers.
  • Useful unsaturated esters include vinyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids, where the esters have from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, such as vinyl acetate, and alkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, where the esters have from 4 to 12 carbon atoms.
  • Ionomers are copolymers of an ethylene and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having the carboxylic acid neutralized by a metal ion, such as zinc or, preferably, sodium.
  • Useful propylene copolymers include propylene/ethylene copolymers, which are copolymers of propylene and ethylene having a majority weight percent content of propylene, and propylene/ethylene/butene terpolymers, which are copolymers of propylene, ethylene and 1-butene.
  • polyolefin refers to any polymerized olefin, which can be linear, branched, cyclic, aliphatic, aromatic, substituted, or unsubstituted. More specifically, included in the term polyolefin are homo-polymers of olefin, co-polymers of olefin, co-polymers of an olefin and an non-olefinic co-monomer co-polymerizable with the olefin, such as vinyl monomers, modified polymers thereof, and the like.
  • polyethylene homo-polymer polypropylene homo-polymer, polybutene homo-polymer, ethylene- alpha -olefin co-polymer, propylene- alpha -olefin co-polymer, butene- alpha -olefin co-polymer, ethylene-unsaturated ester co-polymer, ethylene-unsaturated acid co-polymer, (e.g.
  • ethylene-ethyl acrylate co-polymer ethylene-butyl acrylate co-polymer, ethylene-methyl acrylate co-polymer, ethylene-acrylic acid co-polymer, and ethylene-methacrylic acid co-polymer
  • ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer resin, polymethylpentene, etc.
  • polyester is used herein to refer to both homo-and co- polyesters, wherein homo-polyesters are defined as polymers obtained from the condensation of one dicarboxylic acid with one diol and co- polyesters are defined as polymers obtained from the condensation of one or more dicarboxylic acids with one or more diols.
  • Suitable polyester resins are, for instance, polyesters of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate) (PET).
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the remaining monomer units are selected from other dicarboxylic acids or diols.
  • Suitable other aromatic dicarboxylic acids are preferably isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, 2,5-, 2,6- or 2,7-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid.
  • cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids mention should be made of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids (in particular cyclohexane-1 ,4-dicarboxylic acid).
  • the (C3-Ci9)alkanedioic acids are particularly suitable, in particular succinic acid, sebacic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, suberic acid or pimelic acid.
  • Suitable diols are, for example aliphatic diols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-butane diol, 1 ,4- butane diol, 1 ,5-pentane diol, 2,2-dimethyl-1 ,3-propane diol, neopentyl glycol and 1 ,6-hexane diol, and cycloaliphatic diols such as 1 ,4- cyclohexanedimethanol and 1 ,4-cyclohexane diol, optionally heteroatom- containing diols having one or more rings.
  • aliphatic diols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-butane diol, 1 ,4- butane diol, 1 ,5-pentane diol, 2,2-dimethyl
  • Co-polyester resins derived from one or more dicarboxylic acid(s) or their lower alkyl (up to 14 carbon atoms) diesters with one or more glycol(s), particularly an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic glycol may also be used as the polyester resins for the base film.
  • Suitable dicarboxylic acids include aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, or 2,5-, 2,6- or 2,7-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as succinic acid, sebacic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, suberic acid or pimelic acid.
  • Suitable glycol(s) include aliphatic diols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-butane diol, 1 ,4-butane diol, 1 ,5-pentane diol, 2,2- dimethyl-1 ,3-propane diol, neopentyl glycol and 1 ,6-hexane diol, and cycloaliphatic diols such as 1 ,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and 1 ,4- cyclohexane diol.
  • aliphatic diols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-butane diol, 1 ,4-butane diol, 1 ,5-pentane diol, 2,2- dimethyl-1 ,3-propane diol, neopentyl glycol
  • copolyesters examples include (i) copolyesters of azelaic acid and terephthalic acid with an aliphatic glycol, preferably ethylene glycol; (ii) copolyesters of adipic acid and terephthalic acid with an aliphatic glycol, preferably ethylene glycol; and (iii) copolyesters of sebacic acid and terephthalic acid with an aliphatic glycol, preferably butylene glycol; (iv) co-polyesters of ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid.
  • Suitable amorphous co-polyesters are those derived from an aliphatic diol and a cycloaliphatic diol with one or more, dicarboxylic acid(s), preferably an aromatic dicarboxylic acid.
  • Typical amorphous copolyesters include co-polyesters of terephthalic acid with an aliphatic diol and a cycloaliphatic diol, especially ethylene glycol and 1 ,4-cyclohexanedimethanol.
  • reference number 1 shows an apparatus for packaging a product P arranged on a support 2.
  • each support 2 is in this case a pre-formed support of discrete size physically separate from the other supports.
  • the apparatus 1 is designed for packaging products, for instance perishable products, forming vacuum skin packages wherein a plastic film is heat sealed to an underlying support forming a skin above and around the product and on the support.
  • the apparatus 1 comprises a conveyor 3: as shown in the attached figures, the conveyor is an endless conveyor belt positioned on an apparatus framework 4 according to a closed loop configuration.
  • the conveyor 3 is for example driven by at least one driving roller 6 connected to a driving motor 6a, for instance a stepper electric motor, controlled by a control unit 8.
  • the conveyor 3 is designed to allow passage of gas through the thickness of the conveyor between a superior side 5a and an inferior side 5b of an operative tract 5 of the conveyor 3: in practice the conveyor has a body onto which the supports are laying and may either present one or more gas permeable portions, or the conveyor may have the entire conveyor body made in gas permeable material or the conveyor may have a plurality of discrete through apertures or holes 7 through the conveyor body (as in the examples of the attached figures 1-12 ). As mentioned, the conveyor 3 has an operative tract 5 configured for receiving a plurality of distinct supports 2 positioned at a distance D (please refer to figure 5 ) the one from the other.
  • the apparatus includes a support loading station 9 configured for allowing loading of the one or more supports 2 on the operative tract 5 of the conveyor 3; each one of said supports 2 is provided with respective one or more through holes 2b which will be used for gas evacuation as further explained herein below.
  • the support loading station 9 is connected to the control unit 8 of the apparatus to control deposition of the one or more supports on the conveyor operative tract 5: in practice the control unit is configured for commanding the support loading station to position the one or more supports on the operative tract such that each support is located at a pre-determined distance from an adjacent support 2 and each through hole of each support 2 is thereby positioned at a known location relative to the conveyor operative tract. As shown in figures 1-12 the support loading station 9 is configured for storing a plurality of said one or more supports 2 and for sequentially supplying, under the control of control unit 8, one or more supports 2 to the conveyor 3 operative tract 5.
  • the apparatus 1 may include means 15 for positioning the supports 2 on the operative tract 5 according to a predetermined distribution pattern: in practice the means for positioning 15 may aid in properly positioning the discrete supports on the conveyor operative tract 5 so that it is guaranteed that each support be located at said pre-determined distance D from an adjacent support, and that when the conveyor is driven in motion the apparatus is capable to precisely position the supports in the packaging assembly and align the supports with the film portions to be fixed to each respective of said supports.
  • the means 15 for positioning the support on the operative tract 5 may be of different types.
  • said means 15 may comprise seats 16 defined on the superior side 5a of the operative tract 5, i.e., on the exterior side of the conveyor: each one of the seats 16 is located at said pre-defined distance D from an adjacent seat and is shaped to receive and keep a respective support in a position fixed relative to the conveyor; in the example of figure 10 each one of the seats is an indent of constant depth practiced on superior side 5b having size and shape matching that of the support 2.
  • the seats are positioned and shaped such that when the support is placed in the respective seat the conveyor through apertures 7 or the conveyor gas permeable portion is not occluded: for example, in case the support 2 has through holes 2b, as shown in the figures, then the seats and the supports would be configured to receive the respective supports in the seats with the through holes 2b in the supports placed in alignment with the conveyor apertures and/or the conveyor permeable portion.
  • the means for positioning 15 may include a position sensor 17 connected to the control unit 8 and configured for detecting the position of said one or more supports on the operative tract 5.
  • the means for positioning 15 also include a positioner 18 connected to the control unit 8 and controlled by this latter: the control unit 8 may, in fact, be configured to receive from said position sensor 17 a signal related to a detected position of a support 2 on the operative tract 5 (for example the position sensor may detect the front edge of a support, or a mark on a support or one or more holes of the support), compare said signal with a reference indicative of a proper position of the support on the operative tract, and issue a control signal for the positioner 18 commanding the positioner to reposition the support if said comparison indicates that the detected position does not match the proper position of the support.
  • a positioner 18 connected to the control unit 8 and controlled by this latter: the control unit 8 may, in fact, be configured to receive from said position sensor 17 a signal related to a detected position of a support 2 on the operative tract 5 (for example the position sensor may detect the front edge of a support, or a mark on a support or one or more holes of the support), compare said signal with a
  • the reference position may be know, or it may be detected by the position sensor 17 or by another appropriate auxiliary sensor 17a connected to control unit 8: for instance the position sensor or the auxiliary sensor may be used to detect the position of a fixed reference present on the conveyor; this fixed reference may be a marking or an indent or a protrusion or one of the through holes in the conveyor body; alternatively the position sensor or the auxiliary sensor may include an encoder associated with the motor of the conveyor and thus able to provide the control unit with an information related to the instantaneous conveyor position: then the control unit may be configured to correct the actual position of the support based on the knowledge of the reference position of the fixed reference (as detected by the same position sensor or by the auxiliary sensor) and based on the knowledge of the detected position of the support relative to the operative tract.
  • the position sensor or the auxiliary sensor may be used to detect the position of a fixed reference present on the conveyor; this fixed reference may be a marking or an indent or a protrusion or one of the through holes in the conveyor body;
  • the proper position of the support is such that the through apertures 7 or the permeable portion of the conveyor are not occluded by the supports: for example, in case the support 2 has through holes 2b, as shown in the figures, then in correspondence of said proper position the support has its holes placed in alignment with the conveyor apertures and/or the conveyor permeable portion.
  • the positioner may be constituted by a stopper configured to be moved relative to the conveyor between a first position - where the stopper is spaced apart from the operative tract - and a second position - where the stopper is in contact with or close to the superior side of the operative tract such as to stop the front edge of the support which is therefore unable to move with the conveyor and is instead compelled to slide on the conveyor superior side;
  • the control unit 8 may be configured to move the stopper away from the second position and thus release the support when the holes present in the support are in the right position relative to the conveyor.
  • Position of the holes on each support may be detected by the position sensor while the position of the conveyor may be detected by an encoder monitoring conveyor position, with no other sensor needed.
  • the positioner 18 may include an active organ 19, such as an arm or a bar, active on the supports under the action of a positioning actuator 20: the positioning actuator 20 may include a first positioning actuator 20a mounted on the frame 4 and configured for displacing up and down (arrow UD in figure 11 ) the active organ 19 and a second positioning actuator 20b mounted on the frame or on the first actuator and configured displacing back and forth (arrow BF in figure 11 ) in the machine direction MD the active organ in order to move the supports relative the surface of the operative tract 5.
  • the positioning actuator 20 is controlled by the control unit 8 for positioning the supports in a proper position according to the predefined pattern (as explained above using the position sensor detections) onto the surface defined on the superior side of the conveyor operative tract 5.
  • the positioner may just include the active organ and the first positioning actuator for moving the active organ up and down.
  • the position sensor may be an optical sensor or an electromagnetic sensor, or an acoustic sensor or an electromechanical sensor or any other type of sensor capable of detecting position of a support or of a reference on a support positioned on the moving conveyor belt.
  • the auxiliary sensor may be an optical sensor or an electromagnetic sensor, or an acoustic sensor or an electromechanical sensor or any other type of sensor capable of detecting the position of the conveyor or of a reference of the conveyor.
  • the positioning actuator 20 may be formed by one or more pneumatic, hydraulic, electric or other type of actuators.
  • the conveyor 3 is configured for displacing the supports 2 along a predetermined path - which in the examples of the attached figures is a rectilinear path - in order to sequentially move the supports 2 from a support loading station 9, through a product loading station 10, then through a packaging assembly 11 and finally to a discharge station 12.
  • the support loading station 9 is configured for allowing loading of the one or more supports on the operative tract 5: for example the product loading station may include an automatic stock of supports controlled by control unit 8 to timely deliver one of more supports on the conveyor operative tract.
  • the apparatus Downstream the support loading station 9 (with reference to the machine direction MD of movement of the operative tract 5 of the conveyor, as represented by arrow MD in figure 1 ), the apparatus presents the product loading station 10, which is in particular located between the support loading station 9 and packaging assembly 11 and which is configured for allowing positioning of one or more products onto respective one or more supports: the product loading station 10 may comprise an automatic dispenser of the products P controlled by control unit 8.
  • the packaging assembly 11 is located downstream the product loading station and receives the support or supports to be packaged with the respective products thereon.
  • the apparatus presents the discharge station 12 which is configured for allowing unloading of packaged products from the apparatus: the discharge station 12 may simply include an end of the operative tract 5 allowing to pick the packaged product by a user or it may include an automatic picker controlled by control unit 8 or it may include a collecting container or collecting area 12a for receiving the packaged products.
  • the conveyor operative tract 5 may extend all the way through the support loading station 9, the product loading station 10, the packaging assembly 11 and the discharge station 12, such that by simply controlling movement of one single organ, namely the conveyor, the apparatus 1 may displace the supports through the entire operative path and stations, and thus through the whole process implemented by the apparatus.
  • the apparatus 1 includes a film supply assembly 13: the film supply assembly 13 may include a roller 14 configured for supplying a plastic film: depending upon the embodiments, the film supply assembly 13 may supply a continuous plastic film 15 directly to the packaging assembly 11 (see figure 7 ) or it may supply a continuous plastic film 15 to a cutting assembly 21 located outside the packaging assembly 11 and configured to cut the continuous film 15 into film portions 22 constituted by separate discrete film sheets.
  • the cutting assembly 21 may be placed between the film supply assembly 13 and the packaging assembly 11, such that the cutting takes place before the film sheets reach the packaging assembly 11 (see figure 8 ), as it will be further described herein below.
  • the packaging assembly 11 is configured for tightly fixing a film portion 22 of said plastic film to at least one respective of said supports: the film portion 22 may be a portion of the continuous plastic film 15 (see figure 7 ) or one of said cut film sheets (see figure 8 ).
  • the packaging assembly 11 includes a lower tool 23 operative below the inferior side 5b of the operative tract 5 and an upper tool 24 operative above the superior side 5a of the operative tract 5: the packaging assembly 11 is configured to operate at least in two operating conditions in order to allow access of the support(s) 2 and of the film portion(s) 22 into the packaging assembly 11 and in order to couple the film portion to the respective support carrying the product P and thereby form a packaged product.
  • the packaging assembly 11 may operate between a first operating condition, where the upper tool 24 is spaced from the superior side 5a of said operative tract 5 allowing positioning of one or more of said supports 2 and of said film portion 22 inside the packaging assembly 11, and a second operating condition, where the upper tool 24 is approached towards the operative tract of the conveyor 3 and is configured to sealingly apply the film portion 22 to at least one underlying support 2 present in the packaging assembly 11.
  • the packaging assembly 11 when the upper tool 24 is in the first operating condition, the packaging assembly 11 is open to receive the support or supports (more than one support may be positioned in the packaging assembly) and the respective film portions which need to be sealingly applied to the support(s), while when the packaging assembly is in the second operative condition a chamber 25 is formed which allows extraction of air from the volume between the film portion and the support such as to form a package, in particular a vacuum skin package, under a predetermined level of vacuum.
  • the apparatus 1 includes a vacuum arrangement 26 active on the packaging assembly 11 and configured to extract gas from the packaging assembly 11 under the control of said control unit 8:
  • the vacuum arrangement 26 may for instance include a suction line 27 connected to a vacuum pump 28 operated by the control unit 8 and one or more fluid intercept organs 29 (for example a number of valves) for selectively connecting the suction line 27 to the vacuum pump 28 or to a vent line 30.
  • the upper tool 24 comprises a central portion 24a and a peripheral portion 24b.
  • the peripheral portion 24b of the upper tool extends peripherally with respect to a central portion 24a of the same upper tool: in the examples shown the peripheral portion extends downwardly from the central portion 24a to provide the upper tool with a dome shape; depending upon the design of the upper tool 24, the peripheral portion 24b of the upper tool may be fixed to the central portion 24a of the upper tool 24 and define a fixed dome shape with a correspondingly dome shaped active surface or the peripheral portion 24b of the upper tool may be mounted for motion relative to the central portion 24a of the upper tool (see example of figure 9 ).
  • the upper tool 24 defines a variable volume cavity which volume may vary from a maximum volume, when central portion 24a is at a maximum distance from a lower border 24c of the peripheral portion, to a zero volume, when the central portion 24a of the upper tool 24 has lower surface 24a' aligned and flush relative to the lower border 24c of the peripheral portion.
  • the control unit 8 may be configured for commanding the relative motion of the peripheral portion 24b with respect to the central portion 24a in order to define the volume said cavity; alternatively the relative position between peripheral portion and central portion may be adjusted by an operator in a manual manner, e.g., before operating the apparatus and starting a packaging process.
  • the peripheral portion 24b of the upper tool 24 is configured either to act against the superior side of the portion of operative tract 5 of the conveyor present in the packaging assembly or to act against the top surface 2a of the one or more supports present in the packaging assembly.
  • the peripheral portion 24b of the upper tool 24 may present a lower border 24c of annular conformation which may directly abut against the superior side of said portion of operative tract 5 or which may directly abut against the top surface 2a of the support(s) 2; alternatively, the lower border 24c of the peripheral portion 24 may indirectly - i.e., via interposition of said film portion 22 - abut against said superior side of said portion of operative tract or against said top surface 2a of the support 2 (as shown in the examples of the attached figures.
  • the lower active surface 24c of the peripheral portion 24b of annular shape is capable of forming (directly or indirectly) a gas tight abutment such as to encircle the one or more supports 2 present in the packaging assembly and define chamber 25 housing the product or products P positioned on said one or more supports located in the packaging assembly.
  • the chamber operates as a vacuum chamber from which gas may be withdrawn via said suction line of the vacuum arrangement.
  • the upper tool 24 comprises holding means 31 associated to the active surface of the upper tool and configured for attracting the film portion 22 in adhesion of said active surface:
  • the holding means 31 may be one or more in the group of:
  • the control unit 8 is configured to act on the vacuum arrangement 26 to extract gas from the packaging assembly in order to form the vacuum skin package(s) and is also active on the holding means (e.g. on the vacuum source 32) in order to release the film portion once the desired level of vacuum has been reached inside the packaging assembly or after a desired time from activation of the vacuum arrangement 26.
  • this latter presents at least respective peripheral portion of its active surface 23a, or the entire active surface 23a, which - in correspondence of said second operating condition of the packaging assembly - is configured to abut against the inferior side of the operative tract 5 below said chamber 25.
  • the conveyor is configured such that a number of the conveyor apertures 7 and/or at least a part of the conveyor permeable portion are/is located in correspondence of said chamber 25 when the packaging assembly is in the second operating condition.
  • the lower tool 23 comprises a number of suction apertures 38 located on said active surface 23a of the lower tool facing the inferior side of the conveyor, and the vacuum arrangement 26 described above is connected to the suction apertures 38 to extract gas from said chamber 25, from below the conveyor and through the conveyor thickness, when the packaging assembly is in the second operating condition.
  • the vacuum arrangement withdraws air from the lower tool through the apertures or the permeable portion of the conveyor.
  • the lower tool comprises a fixed support structure, optionally in the shape of a fixed plate body, having active surface 23a in sliding contact with the inferior side 5b of the operative tract 5: in practice the lower tool may be a simple plate with appropriately distributed suction apertures 38 and with a top active surface 23a matching the shape of the inferior side of the conveyor.
  • the active surface of the conveyor is preferably in a gas tight contact with the surface of the inferior side of the lower tool in order to allow an efficient suction of gas from the packaging assembly by the vacuum arrangement 26.
  • the upper tool 24 is configured to bring at least a peripheral band 22a of said film portion 22 in sealing abutment against one of:
  • control unit 8 is configured to command the overall operation of the apparatus.
  • the control unit 8 is configured for controlling the packaging assembly 11 and the conveyor 3 to execute the following cycle.
  • the control unit 8 commands the conveyor motor 6 to cause motion of the conveyor 3 for positioning one or more of said supports 2 with a respective product P thereon inside the packaging assembly 11; then, or at the same time with this initial positioning, the film portion 22 (or portions) is/are allowed to position in front of and below the upper tool 24; subsequently, the control unit 8 commands closure of the packaging assembly 11 commanding a main actuator 40 - for example acting on the upper tool - and causing the packaging assembly to move to the second operative condition; it should be noted that - when the film portion(s) 22 is/are received in correspondence of the upper tool 24 - the control unit 8 may be configured for executing a film deformation procedure (taking place before or after having positioned the packaging assembly in the second operating condition) comprising the steps of: controlling the
  • control unit 8 releases the holding means (for example the vacuum source 32 is controlled so that the suction holes 33 are connected to line 37 and vented to the external atmosphere the suction holes present on the active surface of the upper tool), thereby allowing the film portion to detach from the upper tool, drape down on the product and on the support forming a plastic film skin on the support and product.
  • the holding means for example the vacuum source 32 is controlled so that the suction holes 33 are connected to line 37 and vented to the external atmosphere the suction holes present on the active surface of the upper tool
  • control unit is configured to command the vacuum arrangement 26 to cause air extraction from the chamber 25 via the apertures and/or permeable portion 7 of the conveyor and/or via the holes 2b present in the support (see for example figures 5 and 8 ).
  • the apparatus makes sure that the holes in each support are aligned with apertures/permeable portions in the conveyor at least during gas extraction.
  • the film supply assembly may be configured for supplying continuous film 15 to a film cutting assembly 21 active on the continuous film and configured for cutting the film portions 22 in form of film sheets of prefixed length obtained from said continuous film.
  • the film cutting assembly 21 of the example of figure 8 is located outside the packaging assembly 11 and at least one transfer device 41 is configured for positioning the cut film sheets 22 inside the packaging assembly 11 and above the respective support.
  • the transfer device 41 includes a backing structure 42 having a flat holding surface 42a adapted for receiving the at least one or more film sheets cut by the cutting assembly, and one of the following mechanisms:
  • the transfer device 41 includes the backing structure 42 and the mechanism 43 active on the backing structure: in particular the mechanism includes a transfer actuator active on the backing structure and configured for pushing and pulling the backing structure along a path suitable for achieving the displacement between said first and second positions.
  • the control unit may then be configured for:
  • the control unit 8 may also be configured to synchronize activation of the motion of the conveyor 3 with activation of the transfer device 41 and with passage of the packaging assembly 11 from the second to the first operating condition, such that the conveyor and the backing structure move when the packaging assembly is open to respectively position in the packaging assembly both the support(s) and the film portion or film sheet.
  • control unit 8 is configured to conferring an overall step-by-step motion to the conveyor 3 by causing motion of the conveyor 3 when the packaging assembly 11 is in the second operating condition and by causing the conveyor to stop when the packaging assembly 11 is in the first operating condition; correspondingly the transfer device 41 causes the backing structure to move back and forth in synchrony with the conditions of the packaging assembly to position the film portions (cut film sheets) inside the packaging assembly and to then exit from the packaging assembly, when this latter is open in the first operating condition.
  • aspects of the invention concern a process of packaging a product (P) arranged on a support.
  • the process described below uses the apparatus or the apparatus variants disclosed above and/or in the attached figures 1-12 or the apparatus according to preceding aspects from the 1st to the 42nd.
  • the packaging process comprises positioning a plurality of distinct supports at a distance the one from the other on the operative tract of the conveyor and placing at least one product to be packaged on each respective support: the positioning of the supports may be done automatically under the control of control unit 8 action on the support loading station 9, while the products may be loaded by product loading station 10.
  • the process contemplates supplying a plastic film from the film supply assembly 13 such that one or more film portions 22 reach the packaging assembly 11 while the packaging assembly is maintained open in the first operating condition.
  • the process With the packaging assembly in the first operating condition, the process provides for displacing the supports positioned on the operative tract along a predetermined path and into the packaging assembly and receiving and holding one or more film portions of said plastic film above the respective support located in the packaging assembly.
  • the packaging assembly is brought from said first operating condition to said second operating condition in order to basically close the packaging assembly from uncontrolled inlet or outlet of gas to and from the chamber formed inside the packaging assembly itself; then, with the packaging assembly in the second operating condition, the process provides for tightly sealing the film portion or portions 22 of said plastic film to the at least one respective support 2, and for extracting gas present between the film portion and the underlying support forming a vacuum skin packaged product.
  • the process also contemplates to release the film portion or portions from the upper tool (by e.g., acting on the vacuum source 32 and venting the apertures 33 as described above) such that the film portion or portions may be released by the upper tool and adhere to the support upper surface and to the exposed surface of the product above the support; according to one aspect, during gas extraction, at least part of said gas passes through the thickness of the conveyor and is then evacuated out of chamber 25 by the vacuum arrangement 26.
  • the supports used in the practical implementation are flat, optionally plastic or paperboard, supports each provided with respective one or more through holes 2b.
  • the through holes 2b may be positioned in correspondence of a peripheral band of each support such that when the product is loaded at the center of the support top surface 2a none of the through holes gets occluded.
  • the product is placed on each respective support leaving the one or more through holes open for passage of gas so that - while extracting gas present between the film portion and the underlying support - part of said gas passes through the one or more through holes present in the support and through the thickness of the conveyor.
  • the supports are positioned on the operative tract for example by controlling the deposition timing and placing each support at a pre-determined distance from an adjacent support. Furthermore the positioning may be aided by locating each support in a corresponding one of seats defined on the superior side of the operative tract.
  • the process may provide for detecting the position of the one or more supports 2 on the operative tract 5, comparing said detected position with a proper position of the support, and reposition the support if said comparison indicates that the detected position does not match the proper position of the support. As discussed above, the repositioning may take place simply stopping the support until it takes the desired position relative to the operative tract of the conveyor.
  • the through holes in the support are aligned with the apertures or with the permeable portion of the conveyor. If a stopper is used to stop the support and release the support in the right moment when the conveyor has its holes in correspondence to the holes of the support, then there is no need to detect the position of the support, but it is possible to detect the alignment of the conveyor holes with the support holes using a single sensor.
  • the packaging assembly 11 when the packaging assembly 11 is in correspondence of said second operating condition, the packaging assembly defines the chamber 25 which is configured and positioned for housing the product or products P positioned on the one or more supports located in the same packaging assembly.
  • the upper tool peripheral portion may directly abut (in a gas tight manner) against either one of the superior side of the operative tract encircling one or more supports, or a top surface of a peripheral band of said one or more supports thereby forming the chamber 25.
  • the upper tool peripheral portion indirectly abuts either against the superior side of the operative tract encircling one or more supports, or against a top surface of a peripheral band of said one or more supports: by 'indirectly' it is meant that the peripheral portion abuts against said superior side or said top surface in a gas tight manner- via interposition of said film portion - as shown for example in figure 12 .
  • the lower tool When the packaging assembly is in the second operating condition also the lower tool presents at least a respective peripheral portion abutting against the inferior side of the operative tract below said chamber: in the examples shown the lower tool has an entire active surface (lower tool top surface) constantly in contact with the inferior side of the conveyor.
  • the upper and lower tools are coupled to the conveyor so as to create said chamber 25 above the conveyor operative tract 5 and so as to tightly evacuate air from the lower tool when the packaging assembly is in the second operating condition: in order to make this possible, a number of the conveyor apertures and/or at least a part of the conveyor permeable portion are/is located in correspondence of said chamber and gas is permitted to pass through the conveyor apertures and/or through at least a part of the conveyor permeable portion during gas evacuation with vacuum arrangement 26.
  • the conveyor apertures and/or the conveyor permeable portion are aligned with the holes of the support while extracting gas present between the film portion and the underlying support, so that said gas passes through the one or more through holes present in the support and through conveyor apertures and/or the conveyor permeable portion.
  • the process may provide for supplying the plastic film to the packaging assembly as a continuous plastic film coming from the film supply assembly; alternatively the continuous film may be cut at film cutting assembly 21 forming a film sheet or a plurality of film sheets each of a prefixed size.
  • Each film sheet defines a respective film portion 22: then the cut film sheet(s) is/are transferred inside the packaging assembly and above the respective support.
  • Each film sheet is hold by the upper tool and is tightly applied to the underlying support.
  • the cut film sheets are shaped and sized as the top surface of the respective supports: a peripheral band of each cut film sheet is tightly sealed to a corresponding peripheral band of the underlying support leaving zero or minimal film material protruding radially outside a peripheral edge of the support.
  • the transfer of the film sheet(s) from the cutting assembly to the packaging assembly comprises:
  • the packaging assembly is kept in its first operating condition a time sufficient for the backing structure of transfer device to position inside the packaging assembly and above the respective support the cut film sheet(s) which have/has been cut outside the packaging assembly, and then exit from the packaging assembly.
  • the transfer of the cut film sheets may done as described in WO2011012652A1 where the upper tool is moved between a position where it is aligned with the lower tool and forms the packaging assembly and a pick-up position where the upper tool is not over the lower tool and is able to pick the cut film sheet or sheets from the cutting assembly and transfer them above the lower tool.
  • the step of tightly sealing the film portion of said plastic film to the at least one respective of said supports comprises heating the film portion and heat sealing at least a peripheral band of the film portion to a corresponding peripheral band of the top surface of the support.
  • the film portion or film sheet 22 may be uniformly heated or at least heated in correspondence of a periphery thereof. This operation may take place using heating means 45 associated to the upper tool.
  • the heating means may be electric heating means (for instance associated inside the material forming the upper tool) or ultrasonic or microwave based heaters comprising emitters carried by the upper tool or heating pipes with heating fluid contacting the upper tool.
  • the peripheral band 22a of the film portion held by the upper tool 24 is brought in abutment against the corresponding peripheral band 2a' of top surface 2a of said one or more supports: in practice the upper tool 24 and the lower tool 23 tightly sandwich between them the peripheral band 22a of the film portion 22, the peripheral band 2a' of the respective support 2 and a corresponding band of the conveyor 3 surrounding the products in the packaging assembly and underlying bands 2a' and 22a.
  • the holding means are released (e.g. the apertures 33 are re-vented) so as to release the film portions from the upper tool so that the film portions may drape down and form a skin on the support and product.
  • the chamber may be opened by positioning the packaging assembly back in the first position, the vacuum skin packaged product(s) may be extracted and leave the packaging assembly by activating again the conveyor in motion, e.g. with the control unit commanding the electric motor to start again. At this point a new packaging cycle may start again along the lines described above.
  • Figures 13-20 show a second packaging apparatus and variants thereof according to aspects of the invention.
  • the apparatus comprises a film supply assembly (not shown), a continuous support supply 201, a conveyor 3, a packaging assembly 11 and a discharge station 12.
  • the film supply assembly in the apparatus of figures 13-20 is not shown for sake of simplicity, but of course a film supply assembly is present and it may be of the type shown in figure 7 or in figure 8 and described above in detail.
  • the packaging assembly 11 of the apparatus of figures 13-20 may be of the same type described above in connection with figures 1-13 and same components are identified with same reference numbers and not described again.
  • the conveyor 3 it may either be of the type described above in connection with figures 1-12 or of a different type: in particular in the variant of figures 13 and 14 the conveyor 3 is of the same type as the conveyor 3 of figures 1-12 and same components or parts are identified with same reference numbers, while in the variant of figure 15 the conveyor 3 comprises side chains carrying pincers designed to clamp longitudinal side borders of the continuous support 200.
  • the discharge station 12 of the apparatus of figures 13-20 may be of the same type described above in connection with figures 1-13 and same components are identified with same reference numbers and not described again.
  • the conveyor 3 is configured for displacing the continuous support 200 and thus the support portions 2 along a predetermined path - which in the examples of the attached figures is a rectilinear path - in order to sequentially move the support portions 2 from the continuous supply 201 through a product loading station 10, then through the packaging assembly 11 and finally to the discharge station 12.
  • the product loading station 10, which is in particular located in correspondence of the operative tract 5 of the conveyor 3 and upstream packaging assembly 11 is configured for allowing positioning of one or more products onto respective one or more support portions 2': the product loading station 10 may comprise an automatic dispenser of the products P controlled by control unit 8.
  • the packaging assembly 11 is located downstream the product loading station 10 and receives the support portion or portions 2' to be packaged with the respective products thereon.
  • the apparatus presents the discharge station 12 which is configured for allowing unloading of packaged products from the apparatus: the discharge station 12 may simply include an end of the operative tract 5 allowing to pick the packaged product by a user or it may include an automatic picker controlled by control unit 8 or it may include a collecting container or collecting area 12a for receiving the packaged products.
  • the conveyor operative tract 5 may extend all the way through the product loading station 10, the packaging assembly 11 and the discharge station 12, such that by simply controlling movement of one single organ, namely the conveyor, the apparatus 1 may displace the support portions through the entire operative path and stations, and thus through the whole process implemented by the apparatus.
  • the apparatus of figures 13-20 uses instead of preformed discrete supports 2 a continuous support 200 supplied by the continuous support supply 201 which is for instance in the form of a supply roll.
  • Consecutive support portions 2' are defined on the continuous support 200: the continuous support portions 201 are driven by the conveyor 3 towards the packaging assembly 11; in the packaging apparatus of figure 13 , a hole making device 202 is operative in correspondence of the conveyor 3 and configured to make through holes 2b on the support portions after the continuous support has already contacted the conveyor surface while, in the variant of figure 14 , the hole making device 202 is operative upstream the conveyor 3 and configured to make through holes 2b on the support portions before the continuous support has contacted the conveyor surface.
  • the control unit a control unit 8 controls the packaging assembly 11 and the conveyor 3 and executes the following cycle: with the packaging assembly (11) in the first operating condition, the control unit causes the conveyor (3) to position one or more of support portions (2'), with a respective product (P) thereon, inside the packaging assembly (11). Then the control unit commands the packaging assembly 11 to move to the second operating condition and, with the packaging assembly in the second operating condition, also controls the extraction by the vacuum arrangement 26 of gas present between the at least one film portion 22 and the underlying support portion takes place through the one or more through holes 2b present in the one or more support portions present inside the packaging assembly.
  • the control unit 8 is also connected to the hole making device to control formation of through holes 2b in the continuous support and specifically to form said holes 2b into the continuous support 200 according to a predetermined sequence such that each through hole practiced on the continuous support is positioned at a known location relative to the conveyor operative tract 5. More in detail the control unit coordinates the hole making device, the conveyor and the packaging assembly for bringing each one of said support portions 2' inside the packaging assembly with its one or more through holes 2b in fluid communication with the vacuum arrangement at least when the packaging assembly is in said second operating condition; consequently when commanding the vacuum arrangement 26 to extract gas present between the at least one film portion 22 and the underlying support portion 2' the control unit causes the vacuum arrangement to extract gas via said one or more through holes 2b present in each respective support portion 2'.
  • the control unit In term of sequence of the steps controlled by the control unit, with the packaging assembly 11 in the first operating condition the control unit first causes the conveyor 3 to move in order to position the one or more of support portions 2', with a respective product P thereon, inside the packaging assembly 11, then causes the conveyor 3 to stop, and thereafter with the conveyor 3 stopped causes the packaging assembly 11 to move to the second operating condition and seal the film portion 22 to the underlying at least one support portion 2' in correspondence of a peripheral border support portion; as in the apparatus of figures 1-12 the packaging assembly 11 includes heating means 45 at least associated to the upper tool 24 and configured to at least heat the at least one film portion 22 received in the packaging assembly 11.
  • the control unit is configured for controlling the hole making device, the conveyor and the packaging assembly for bringing each one of said support portions 2' inside the packaging assembly with its one or more through holes 2b in alignment with at least one respective conveyor aperture 7 and/or conveyor 3 permeable portion and in fluid communication with the vacuum arrangement at least when the packaging assembly is in said second operating condition (see figures 13 and 14 ).
  • the upper tool 24 comprises a central portion and a peripheral portion together defining an upper tool 24 active surface located above the superior side of the operative tract 5.
  • the peripheral portion of the upper tool 24 is configured to - directly, or indirectly via interposition of said film portion 22 - abut against a top surface of a peripheral band 2a' of said one or more support portions 2'.
  • the peripheral portion of the upper tool 24 may also be configured to - directly, or indirectly via interposition of said film portion 22 - abut against a top surface of a portion of peripheral band of said one support portions 2' and a superior side of the operative tract 5.
  • the packaging assembly 11 in the second operating conditions, and particularly the upper tool defines a chamber 25 extending above the operative tract 5 and configured for housing the product P or products positioned on the one or more support portions 2'.
  • the vacuum arrangement is configured to extract gas from said chamber 25, through the holes of the support portions received in the packaging assembly, optionally through the conveyor thickness via said at least one respective conveyor aperture 7 and/or conveyor 3 permeable portion.
  • the packaging assembly is brought back to the first operating condition and the packaged product or products is or are moved outside the packaging assembly. Then, after the packaged product or products is or are moved outside the packaging assembly, consecutive film portions of packaged products are severed from one another by a cutter 203 which may also be controlled by control unit 8 and which is operative at the end of the operative tract 5 and upstream the discharge station 12.
  • each film portion 22 entirely covers the product positioned on the support portion and has a size which matches the size of the top surface of the respective support portion.
  • the peripheral band 22a of the film portion 22 has a radially external perimeter coincident with that of the underlying support or support portion.
  • each film portion entirely covers the product positioned on the support or support portion and has a size smaller than the size of the top surface of the respective support or support portion.
  • the peripheral band 22a of the film portion 22 has a radially external perimeter which is placed at a radial distance from the external perimeter of the underlying support or support portion, whereby a part of the upper surface of the support portion is not covered by the film portion.
  • control unit may comprise a digital processor (CPU) with memory (or memories), an analogical type circuit, or a combination of one or more digital processing units with one or more analogical processing circuits.
  • CPU digital processor
  • memory or memories
  • an analogical type circuit or a combination of one or more digital processing units with one or more analogical processing circuits.
  • the control unit is "configured” or "programmed” to execute certain steps: this may be achieved in practice by any means which allow configuring or programming the control unit.
  • one or more programs are stored in an appropriate memory: the program or programs containing instructions which, when executed by the control unit, cause the control unit to execute the steps described and/or claimed in connection with the control unit.
  • the circuitry of the control unit is designed to include circuitry configured, in use, to process electric signals such as to execute the control unit steps herein disclosed.
  • actuators described are exemplificative and alternative types of actuators may be used provided the type of motion imposed to the mobile parts on which said actuators are operating is the same.
  • multiple packaging assemblies may be used in parallel with a plurality of conveyors or with one conveyor wide enough to serve all packaging assemblies.
  • a plurality of cutting assemblies and corresponding transfer devices may also be provided.
  • the plastic film may be cut outside the packaging assembly (as described above), or the plastic film may be cut into one or more film sheets inside the packaging assembly (which in this case would be provided with a cutting tool for instance associated to the upper tool), or the plastic film may be cut after formation of the vacuum skin packages downstream the packaging assembly.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
EP17723133.9A 2016-08-02 2017-05-17 Process for packaging a product Active EP3494052B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16182359 2016-08-02
PCT/EP2017/061808 WO2018024382A1 (en) 2016-08-02 2017-05-17 Apparatus and process for packaging a product

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3494052A1 EP3494052A1 (en) 2019-06-12
EP3494052B1 true EP3494052B1 (en) 2023-02-08

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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EP17723133.9A Active EP3494052B1 (en) 2016-08-02 2017-05-17 Process for packaging a product

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20190185188A1 (zh)
EP (1) EP3494052B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN109890706B (zh)
WO (1) WO2018024382A1 (zh)

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WO2020058278A2 (de) * 2018-09-17 2020-03-26 Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh Verpackungsmaschine zur herstellung einer flachskinverpackung
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN109890706A (zh) 2019-06-14
CN109890706B (zh) 2021-12-17
US20190185188A1 (en) 2019-06-20
WO2018024382A1 (en) 2018-02-08
EP3494052A1 (en) 2019-06-12

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