EP3724086B1 - Plant and process for packaging products - Google Patents

Plant and process for packaging products Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3724086B1
EP3724086B1 EP18827231.4A EP18827231A EP3724086B1 EP 3724086 B1 EP3724086 B1 EP 3724086B1 EP 18827231 A EP18827231 A EP 18827231A EP 3724086 B1 EP3724086 B1 EP 3724086B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conveyor
support
packaging
condition
tract
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP18827231.4A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3724086A1 (en
Inventor
Riccardo Palumbo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cryovac LLC
Original Assignee
Cryovac LLC
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP3724086A1 publication Critical patent/EP3724086A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3724086B1 publication Critical patent/EP3724086B1/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
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/046—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles co-operating, or being combined, with a device for opening or closing the container or wrapper
    • 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
    • B65B43/48—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 reciprocating or oscillating pushers
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65B57/08—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 stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole
    • 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
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
    • 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
    • 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 object of the present invention is an apparatus and a relative packaging process capable of simultaneously performing multiple packaging cycles.
  • the finding refers to apparatuses and processes using a base support or tray, intended to house at least one product, and at least one plastic film, intended to be coupled with the base support in order to enclose the product itself in a package.
  • the finding can have application in vacuum packaging or in controlled atmosphere packaging of products of various type.
  • apparatuses and relative methods are known for the packaging, e.g. vacuum or in controlled atmosphere, of products such as meat and fish, cheese, treated meats, prepared meals and similar foods.
  • the vacuum packaging process - also termed vacuum skin packaging (VSP) - is essentially a thermoforming process which provides for arranging product within or above a rigid or semi-rigid support, for example defined by a flat tray, or by a tub or by a cup.
  • the support and the relative product are arranged within a vacuum chamber, in which a thermoplastic film is welded to an upper edge of the support; subsequently, the air present in the package is extracted so that the thermoplastic film can adhere to the product arranged inside the support.
  • modified atmosphere packaging also termed modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) - instead provides for, before the hermetic closure of the support by means of a plastic film, the evacuation of air between the space present between the support and the plastic film and the injection of gas with a controlled composition.
  • MAP modified atmosphere packaging
  • packaging apparatuses are presently employed with manual operation, for which the steps of loading the tray in the machine, the closing of the machine for the packaging step and the step of unloading the package are manually performed by an operator.
  • These apparatuses are conceived for making one package at a time and therefore can be suitable for formats of various size; in addition, if small batch productions are requested in limited time periods, two more manually-actuated apparatuses can be side-by-side in order thus meet the needs that might be required from time to time.
  • Object of the present invention is therefore that of substantially resolving at least one of the drawbacks and/or limitations of the preceding solutions.
  • a first objective of the present invention is to provide a plant and a packaging process characterized by high operating flexibility: capable of being adapted to small and large production batches and, optionally, capable of making packages of different shapes and sizes.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a compact packaging plant, attainable with limited investment and simultaneously capable of high productivity, considerably greater than that typical of the known manual apparatuses.
  • one object of the present invention is to provide a packaging plant which, even if compact and attainable with limited investment, has a degree of automation such to reduce the manual interventions to a minimum.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide plant and a packaging process capable of creating packages of vacuum type or in modified atmosphere. Then, an object of the present invention is to provide a plant and a packaging process capable of safely operating, without compromising the appearance of the final packaged product.
  • upstream and downstream refer to a direction of advancement of a package - or of a support for making said package - along a predetermined path starting from a starting or forming station of a support for said package, through a packaging station or apparatus and then up to a package unloading station.
  • product P means an article or a composite of articles of any kind.
  • the product may be of a foodstuff type and be in solid, liquid or gel form, i.e. in the form of two or more of the aforementioned aggregation states.
  • the product may comprise: meat, fish, cheese, treated meats, prepared and frozen meals of various kinds.
  • the packaging plant described and claimed herein comprises at least one control unit designed to control the operations performed by the plant.
  • the control unit can clearly be only one or be formed by a plurality of different control units according to the design choices and the operational needs.
  • control unit it is intended an electronic component which can include at least one selected in the following group: a digital processor (e.g. comprising at least one selected in the group among: CPU, GPU, GPGPU), a memory (or memories), an analog circuit, or a combination of one or more digital processing units with one or more analog circuits.
  • a digital processor e.g. comprising at least one selected in the group among: CPU, GPU, GPGPU
  • memory or memories
  • an analog circuit or a combination of one or more digital processing units with one or more analog circuits.
  • control unit comprising one or more CPUs and one or more memories
  • one or more programs can be stored in appropriate memory banks connected to the CPU or to the CPUs; the program or programs contain instructions which, when executed by the CPU or the CPUs, program or configure the control unit to perform the operations described in relation to the control unit.
  • the control unit circuit may be designed to include circuitry configured, in use, for processing electrical signals so as to perform the steps related to control unit.
  • the control unit may comprise one or more digital units, for example of the microprocessor type, or one or more analog units, or a suitable combination of digital and analog units; the control unit can be configured for coordinating all the actions necessary for executing an instruction and instruction sets.
  • the term actuator means any device capable of causing movement on a body, for example on a command of the control unit (reception by the actuator of a command sent by the control unit).
  • the actuator can be of an electric, pneumatic, mechanical (for example with a spring) type, or of another type.
  • the term support it is intended both a flat support and a tray comprising at least one base and at least one lateral wall emerging from the external perimeter of the base and optionally a terminal flange emerging radially outward from an upper perimeter edge of the lateral wall.
  • the external flange can extend along a single main extension plane or it can be shaped; in the case of shaped external flange, the latter can for example have multiple portions extended along main extension planes that are different from each other, in particular parallel but offset from each other. The portions of the shaped external flange can be radially offset.
  • the support defines an upper surface on which the product P can be placed and/or a volume within which the product can be housed.
  • the tray can comprise an upper edge portion radially emerging from a free edge of the lateral wall opposite the base: the upper edge portion emerges from the lateral wall according to a direction moving outward from the volume of the tray itself.
  • the flat support can be of any shape, for example rectangular, rhomboidal, circular or elliptical; analogously the tray with lateral wall can have a base of any shape, for example rectangular, rhomboidal, circular or elliptical.
  • the support can be formed by means of a specific manufacturing process separate from the packaging process or it can be made in line with the packaging process.
  • the support can be at least partly made of paper material, optionally exhibiting at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 70% by weight, of organic material comprising one or more of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lignin derivatives.
  • the paper material in question extends between a first and a second main extension surface.
  • the sheet paper material employed for making the support can, in an embodiment variant thereof, be covered for at least one part of the first and/or second main extension surface by means of a plastic material covering, e.g. film for food use. If the covering is arranged so as to cover at least part of the first extension surface, the same covering will come to define an internal surface of the support.
  • the covering is arranged on the second main extension surface, the same covering will come to define an external surface of the support.
  • the covering can also be thermally treated such that it can act as an engagement and fixing element for portions of the support, as will be better described hereinbelow.
  • the covering can also be employed for defining a sort of barrier to water and/or humidity useful for preventing the weakening and loss of structurality of the support with consequent uncontrolled deformation of the paper material forming the latter component.
  • the covering can be applied to the paper material (as specified above on the internal and/or external side of the support) in the form of a so-called coating or lacquer deposited as a solution or sprayed whose thickness is generally comprised, in a non-limiting manner, between 0.2 ⁇ m and 10 ⁇ m.
  • the covering can comprise a plastic film, e.g. a polythene coating, applicable by means of a lamination process on one or both sides (internal and/or external sides) of the paper material defining the support.
  • the values of the plastic film (covering) can for example vary between 10 ⁇ m and 400 ⁇ m, in particular between 20 ⁇ m and 200 ⁇ m, still more particularly between 30 ⁇ m and 80 ⁇ m, of covering material (i.e. polythene).
  • the plastic covering material can be selected, by way of example, among the following materials: PP, PE (HDPE, LDPE, MDPE, LLDPE), EVA, polyesters (including PET and PETg), PVdC.
  • the support can alternatively be at least partly made of single-layer and multilayer thermoplastic material.
  • the support can have gas barrier properties. As used herein, this term refers to a film or sheet of material that has an oxygen transmission rate of less than 200 cm 3 /(m 2 * day * bar), less than 150 cm 3 /( m 2 * day * bar), less than 100 cm 3 /(m 2 * day * bar) when measured in accordance with ASTM D-3985 at 23° C and 0% relative humidity.
  • Gas barrier materials suitable for single-layer thermoplastic containers are for example polyesters, polyamides, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), PVDC and the like.
  • the support can be made of multilayer material comprising at least one gas barrier layer and at least one heat-sealable layer to allow sealing the covering film on the surface of the support.
  • the gas barrier polymers which can be employed for the gas barrier layer are PVDC, EVOH, polyamides, polyesters and mixtures thereof.
  • a PVDC barrier layer will contain plasticizers and/or stabilizers as known in the art.
  • the thickness of the gas barrier layer will preferably be set in order to provide the material of which the support is composed with an oxygen transmission rate at 23° C and 0% relative humidity less than 50 cm 3 /(m 2 * day * atm), preferably less than 10 cm 3 /(m 2 * day * atm), when measured in accordance with ASTM D-3985.
  • the heat-sealable layer will be selected from polyolefins, such as ethylene homo- or copolymers, propylene homo- or copolymers, ethylene/vinylacetate copolymers, ionomers and homo- or co-polyesters, e.g. PETG, a glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate.
  • polyolefins such as ethylene homo- or copolymers, propylene homo- or copolymers, ethylene/vinylacetate copolymers, ionomers and homo- or co-polyesters, e.g. PETG, a glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate.
  • Additional layers such as adhesive layers, for example to make the gas barrier layer better adhere to the adjacent layers, may preferably be present in the material of which the support is made and are selected based on the specific resins used for the gas barrier layer.
  • the multilayer material used for forming the support can comprise (from the outermost layer to the layer of contact with the more internal foods) one or more structural layers, typically made of a material such as expanded polystyrene, expanded polyester or expanded polypropylene, or of cardboard, or sheet for example polypropylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), polyester; a gas barrier layer and a heat-sealable layer.
  • a frangible layer that is easy to open can be positioned adjacent to the heat-sealable layer in order to facilitate the opening of the final package.
  • the overall thickness of the support can for example be 5 mm, optionally comprised between 0.04 and 3.00 mm, still more optionally between 0.15 and 1.00 mm.
  • the support can be entirely made of paper material (optionally covering made of plastic material film) or it can be entirely made of plastic material.
  • the support is at least partly made of paper material and at least partly of plastic material; in particular, the support is made of plastic material at its interior and externally covered at least in part in paper material.
  • the support can also be employed for defining so-called "ready-meals" packages; in such configuration the supports are made such that they can be inserted in an oven for heating and/or cooking the food product placed in the package.
  • the support can for example be made of paper material, in particular cardboard, coated in polyester or it can be entirely made with a polyester resin.
  • supports suitable for ready-made packages are made of the following materials: CPET, APET or APET / CPET, expanded or non-expanded.
  • the support can also comprise a hot-weldable layer of a low melting material on the film. This hot-weldable layer can be co-extruded with a PET-based layer (as described in the patent applications No.
  • EP1529797A and WO2007/093495 can be deposited on the base film by means of deposition with solvent means or by means of extrusion coating (e.g. described in the documents US 2,762,720 and EP 1 252 008 A ).
  • the support can be at least partly made of metal material, in particular of aluminum.
  • the support can also be at least partly made of aluminum and at least partly of paper material.
  • the support can be made of at least one of the following materials: metal, plastic, paper.
  • a film made of plastic material, in particular polymeric material is applied to the supports (flat supports or trays), so as to create a fluid-tight package housing the product.
  • the film applied with the support is typically a flexible multilayer material comprising at least one first external thermo-weldable layer capable of welding to the internal surface of the support, optionally a gas barrier layer, and a second external heat-resistant layer.
  • the film applied with the support is typically single-layer or multilayer, having at least one thermo-weldable layer and possibly capable of heat-shrinking under the action of heat.
  • the applied film can also comprise at least one gas barrier layer and optionally an external heat-resistant layer.
  • paper material means paper or cardboard; in particular, the sheet material that can be used to make the paper layer can have a weight of between 30 and 600 g/m 2 , in particular of between 40 and 500 g/m 2 , even more particularly between 50 and 250 g/m 2 .
  • PVDC is any vinylidene chloride copolymer in which a prevalent amount of the copolymer comprises vinylidene chloride and a lower amount of the copolymer comprises one or more unsaturated monomers copolymerizable therewith, typically vinyl chloride and alkyl acrylates or methacrylates (for example methyl acrylate or methacrylate) and mixtures thereof in different proportions.
  • EVOH includes saponified or hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and refers to ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers having an ethylene comonomer content preferably composed of a percentage of from about 28 to about 48 mole%, more preferably from about 32 and about 44 mole% of ethylene and even more preferably, and a saponification degree of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%.
  • polyamides is meant to indicate homo- and co- or ter-polymers. 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 partly aromatic polyamides or copolyamides, such as polyamide 61, polyamide 6I/6T, polyamide MXD6, polyamide MXD6/MXDI, and mixtures thereof.
  • polyesters refers to polymers obtained from the polycondensation reaction of dicarboxylic acids with dihydroxylic alcohols.
  • Suitable dicarboxylic acids are, for example, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and the like.
  • Suitable dihydroxylic alcohols are for example ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanodimethanol and the like.
  • useful polyesters include poly(ethylene terephthalate) and copolyesters obtained by reaction of one or more carboxylic acids with one or more dihydroxylic alcohols.
  • copolymer means a polymer derived from two or more types of monomers and includes terpolymers.
  • Ethylene homo-polymers include high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE).
  • Ethylene copolymers include ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and unsaturated ethylene/ester copolymers.
  • the ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers generally include copolymers of ethylene and one or more co-monomers selected from alpha-olefins having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms, such as 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 4-methyl-1-pentene and the like.
  • Ethylene/alphaolefin copolymers generally have a density in the range of from about 0.86 g/cm 3 to about 0.94 g/cm 3 .
  • linear low density polyethylene includes that group of ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers which fall in the density range of between about 0.915 g/cm 3 and about 0.94 g/cm 3 and in particular between about 0.915 g/cm 3 and about 0.925 g/cm 3 .
  • linear polyethylene in the density range between about 0.926 g/cm 3 and about 0.94 g/cm 3 is referred to as linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE).
  • VLDPE very low density polyethylene
  • ULDPE ultra-low density polyethylene
  • Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers can be obtained with heterogeneous or homogeneous polymerization processes.
  • Another useful ethylene copolymer is an unsaturated ethylene/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, in which esters have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms, such as vinyl acetate, and alkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, in which esters have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms.
  • lonomers are copolymers of an ethylene and an unsaturated mono-carboxylic 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 percentage by weight content mostly of propylene and propylene/ethylene/butene ter-polymers, which are copolymers of propylene, ethylene and 1-butene.
  • Reference number 100 overall indicates a packaging plant, adapted to make packages comprising at least one product P.
  • the packaging plant 100 comprises a conveyor 20 configured for receiving and moving a plurality of supports 4 along a predetermined advancement path A.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a plant 100 in which the supports 4 moving on the conveyor 4 do not bear the product P: the products P can in fact be loaded once the support 4 reaches a pre-established packaging apparatus 1.
  • the products P can be loaded on the supports 4 - manually by an assigned operator or automatically by means of suitable stations - moving on the conveyor 20.
  • the conveyor 20 comprises an operative tract 21 extending along a plane and configured for moving the supports 4 along an advancement path A ( figure 2 ); the operative tract represents the part of the conveyor 20 adapted to sustain and move the supports 4.
  • the lying plane of the operative tract 21 extends e.g. horizontally, at least in use conditions of the plant 100; the advancement path A lies on said plane and is defined by a rectilinear movement direction of the supports 4.
  • the advancement path A is rectilinear - but it is also possible to make a path A defined by a non-rectilinear trajectory lying on the plane of the operative tract.
  • the conveyor 20 can comprise a belt (condition illustrated in the enclosed figures) moved by means of one or more motors, e.g. electric.
  • the conveyor 20 can comprise a roller (condition not illustrated), always moved by means of electric motors.
  • the plant 100 further comprises a plurality of packaging apparatuses 1, schematically shown in figure 1 , separated from each other and beside the conveyor 20.
  • the packaging apparatuses 1 are placed beside the conveyor 20 and are configured for receiving the supports 4 bearing the products P and supported by the conveyor 20.
  • Figures 1 and 2 illustrated an embodiment of the plant 100 in which all the apparatuses 1 are arranged on a same side of the conveyor 20 and aligned along a trajectory parallel to the advancement path A.
  • a predetermined number of apparatuses 1 can be arranged at one side of the conveyor while a predetermined number of apparatuses 1 can be arranged at another side: the apparatuses can be arranged at opposite sides of the conveyor 20.
  • Each packaging apparatus 1 is configured for receiving at least one support 4 bearing a product P and for engaging a portion of a film 5a with said support 4 in order to make at least one package 40.
  • each packaging apparatus 1 comprises at least one lower tool 2 configured for receiving and sustaining one or more supports 4 and an upper tool 6 configured for engaging a film portion 5a with at least one support 4 for making at least one package 40; the upper tool 6 and the lower tool 2 are movable with respect to each other at least between a spaced condition and an approached condition.
  • the lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6 are configured for enabling the positioning of at least one film portion 5a and a support 4 bearing the product between said tool, i.e. interposed between the lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6.
  • each of the packaging apparatuses 1 comprises at least one heating device associated with the upper tool 6 which is configured for heating at least one film portion 5a before or during a packaging step of the product P, in order to enable the heat-sealing of said film with the support 4.
  • the heating device comprises a heat-sealing plate configured for contacting the film 5a, heating it and pressing it against the support 4, in particular against a perimeter closure flange of the support and exerting a contact pressure between said film 5a and the support 4.
  • the plant 100 further comprises at least one transfer device 30 configured, in at least one operative condition, for transferring at least one support 4 from the conveyor 20 to a respective of said packaging apparatuses 1.
  • the transfer device 30 is configured for transferring the supported supports 4, optionally moving, from the conveyor 20 to one or more packaging apparatuses 1: in this configuration the transfer device 30, in the operative condition, is configured for intercepting the supports, optionally moving, on the conveyor 20.
  • the conveyor 20 can be configured to be stopped for predetermined time instants; the transfer device 30 can be configured for contacting the support 4 on the conveyor 20 during such stop step, i.e. when stopped on the conveyor.
  • the plant 100 comprises a transfer device 30 for each of the packaging apparatuses 1, so that each of the transfer devices 30 is configured for moving at least one support 4 moving on the conveyor 20 to a respective packaging apparatus 1.
  • each of the transfer devices 30 is configured for delivering supports 4 to only one of said packaging apparatuses 1.
  • each transfer device 30 comprises at least one guide 31 exhibiting a tract T1 transverse to the advancement path A of the supports 4 on the conveyor 20; the guide 31 is fixed with respect to the packaging apparatuses 1, at least when the transfer device 30 is in said operative condition.
  • the tract T1 of the guide 31 is rectilinear and extends across the conveyor 20 up to at least one packaging apparatus 1.
  • the guide 31 of the transfer device 30 comprises a rectilinear bar arranged, in use conditions of the packaging plant 100, above the conveyor 20.
  • at least one part of the tract T1 of the guide 31, optionally the entire tract T1 extends parallel to the lying plane of the operative tract 21 of the conveyor 20.
  • the rectilinear tract T1 of the guide 31 is tilted with respect to the advancement path A of the conveyor 20 by an angle comprised between 10° and 80°, optionally comprised between 20° and 70°.
  • the guide 31, in particular the bar of the guide 31, extends to entirely cover the width of the conveyor 20.
  • Said guide 31 extends between a first and a second end portion: only the second end portion is arranged at a respective packaging apparatus 1, in particular arranged at the lower tool 2 of the respective packaging apparatus 1.
  • the first end portion of the guide 31 is instead spaced from the respective packaging apparatus 1, in particular arranged at the side of the conveyor 20 opposite the side along which the respective packaging apparatus 1 is arranged.
  • Each transfer device 30 is placed, in use conditions of the plant 100, above the operative tract 21 of the conveyor 20.
  • the plant 100 comprises a plurality of transfer devices 30; in such configuration the tracts T1 of the guides 31 can be parallel to each other (see for example figure 2 ) and in particular parallel to the lying plane of the operative tract 21; all the tracts T1 of the guides 31 are transverse with respect to the advancement path A of the supports 4 on the conveyor 20.
  • the transfer device 30 further comprises at least one displacement element 32 engaged with the guide 31 and configured, at least in the operative condition of the transfer device 30, for being moved along the tract T1 above the conveyor 20.
  • the displacement element 32 is configured for intercepting at least one support 4 displaced on the conveyor 20, moving it to the respective packaging apparatus 1.
  • the displacement element 32 is configured for being moved along the tract T1 of the guide 31 between a loading position and an outlet position.
  • the displacement element 32, in the loading position is spaced from a respective of said packaging apparatuses 1 and configured for intercepting one or more supports 4 moving on the conveyor 20: furthermore, in said loading position, the displacement element 32 is placed at an end portion of the guide 31 that is opposite with respect to the respective packaging apparatus 1.
  • the displacement element 32, in the outlet position is instead placed in proximity to the respective packaging apparatus 1 beside the conveyor 20.
  • the displacement element 32 is movable with respect to the guide 31 between an active condition and an inactive condition.
  • the displacement element 32 in the active condition and when movable along the tract T1 of the guide 31, is adapted to intercept at least one support 4 arranged, optionally moving, on the conveyor 20.
  • the displacement element 32 in the inactive condition, is adapted to avoid contact with the supports 4 placed on the conveyor 20 (optionally moving on the conveyor 20).
  • the displacement element 32 in the active condition, is arranged at a minimum distance from the conveyor 20 less than a minimum distance between the conveyor 20 and the displacement element 32 when the latter is in the inactive condition.
  • the minimum distance between the conveyor 20 and the displacement element 32 increases when passing from the active condition to the inactive condition.
  • the active condition is for example shown in figures 5 and 6 while the inactive condition is shown, in accordance with a first embodiment of the displacement element 32, in figures 7 and 8 and, in accordance with a second embodiment of the displacement element 32, in figures 9 and 10 .
  • the first embodiment of the displacement element 32 provides that the latter is movable by translation from the active portion to the inactive portion, and vice versa; in particular, in the first embodiment, the displacement element 32 is movable along a trajectory perpendicular to the lying plane of the operative tract 21 of the conveyor 20, optionally vertically depending on a use condition of the plant.
  • the displacement element 32 is movable via rotation between the active condition and the inactive condition, and vice versa.
  • the displacement element 32 comprises an engagement portion 32a directly constrained to the guide 31 and at least one end contact portion 32b facing the conveyor 20, at least in the loading position.
  • the engagement portion 32a essentially represents the element of connection between the displacement element 32 itself and the guide 31; in the enclosed figures, an engagement portion is illustrated in a non-limiting manner comprising a sliding carriage, below which the contact portion 32b is constrained.
  • the contact portion 32b instead represents the element adapted to directly intercept the support 4 arranged, optionally moving, on the conveyor 20.
  • the contact portion 32b of the transfer device 30 comprises, in a non-limiting manner, a plate exhibiting a substantially L shape, defining a seat adapted to receive a support 4.
  • the contact portion 32b is thus configured for receiving in abutment, within said seat, at least one support 4 and for guiding it in moving outside the conveyor 20 along the tract T1 of the guide 31.
  • the transfer device 30 acts, in a non-limiting manner, as a pusher; it is however also possible to make a different contact portion 32b that can for example act as a pull element.
  • the transfer device 30 comprises at least one motor, optionally an electric motor, connected to the displacement element 32 and configured for moving the latter between the loading position and the outlet position. Furthermore, the transfer device 30 can comprise an actuator or a further electric motor configured for moving the displacement element 32 between the active condition and the inactive condition.
  • the plant can also comprise at least one buffer station interposed between the conveyor 20 and at least one packaging apparatus 1 and configured for receiving at least one support 4, optionally a support bearing a product, when the lower tool 2 is in the packaging position, optionally also when the station is in the stand-by position.
  • the buffer station is then configured for enabling the positioning of the support 4 borne by the same buffer station on the lower tool 2.
  • the buffer station allows the transfer device 30 to position a support 4 at, in particular nearby, a packaging apparatus 1 also when the latter has the lower tool 2 in packaging position: in this manner, when the lower tool 2 has terminated the packaging step and unloaded the respective package, the support 4 is immediately ready to be positioned on the lower tool 2, consequently without having to await the arrival of a support 4 from the conveyor 20.
  • the buffer station can comprise an abutment plane at which the support 4, coming from the conveyor 20, awaits the arrival of the lower tool: the transfer device 30 is then configured for completing the displacement of the support 4 from the buffer station to the lower tool 2 of the relative packaging apparatus.
  • the lower tool when in the packaging position and in use conditions of the plant, the lower tool is vertically aligned with the upper tool and they define a sort of virtual size with vertical extension.
  • the lower tool when in the loading position, is arranged at least in part outside of said virtual size.
  • the lower tool in the loading position is substantially superimposed on the buffer station. In fact, when the lower tool moves from the packaging position to the loading position, it is configured for automatically receiving the support from said buffer station.
  • the buffer station can be associated with the lower tool.
  • the lower tool can be connected to a catenary, optionally with closed path, which is configured for following the movement of the lower tool between the packaging position and the loading position.
  • the catenary when the lower tool is in the packaging position, is configured for defining a plane adapted to receive in abutment at least one support 4 (buffer station). The plane defined by said catenary is configured for being reduced when the lower tool 2 reaches the loading position, such that the support 4 is arranged at said lower tool 2.
  • the packaging device 30 is configured for maintaining the position of the displacement element 32, such that said displacement element 32 can prevent a displacement of the support 4 during the movement of the catenary: in this manner the displacement element 32 is configured for enabling the unloading of the support on the lower tool when this reaches the loading position.
  • the buffer station is defined by a base engaged with the lower tool 2 and movable together with the latter.
  • the base is abutted against an upper portion of the lower tool 2.
  • the plant comprises a control unit 50 connected to the transfer device 30 and in particular to the plurality of devices 30; the control unit 50 is configured for commanding the operative condition of the transfer device 30 so as to allow the transfer of at least one support 4, optionally moving on the conveyor 20, from the conveyor 20 to one of the packaging apparatuses 1.
  • the control unit 50 is configured for controlling, in particular for defining, the position of the displacement element 32; in more detail, the control unit 50 is configured for commanding the movement of each displacement element 32 between the loading position and the outlet position, as well as commanding the active and inactive conditions thereof.
  • the control unit 50 is configured for commanding the active condition of at least one displacement element 32 of a transfer device 30 during the commanding of a movement of said element 32 from the loading position to the outlet position; in more detail, the control unit 50 is configured for commanding the active condition of a displacement element 32 when the latter is moved in the direction of a relative packaging apparatus 1 (condition illustrated in figure 6 ).
  • the control unit 50 is further configured for commanding the inactive condition of a displacement element 32 of a transfer device 30 during the commanding of the movement of said element 32 from the outlet position to the loading position; in more detail, the control unit 50 is configured for commanding the inactive condition of a displacement element 32 when the latter is moved away from a respective packaging apparatus 1 (condition illustrated in figures 7-10 ) in order to avoid the possible contact between said displacement element 32 and one or more supports moving on the conveyor 20.
  • the control unit 50 is configured for synchronizing the active and inactive conditions of each displacement element 32 with the movement of the latter (the displacement elements 32) between the loading position and the outlet position; in this manner the control unit 50 can allow:
  • the control unit 50 is further configured for managing the electric motors and/or actuators which allow the movement of the displacement element 32 of each device 30 in order to control the displacement of the elements 32 both for the movement between the active and inactive conditions and for the movement between the loading and outlet positions.
  • the conveyor 20 is moved by means of one or more electric motors; the control unit 50 is connected to said electric motors and is configured for commanding, in particular adjusting, the speed of the conveyor in order to command the speed of the supports 4 along the advancement path A.
  • the conveyor 20 is moved by means of an electric motor connected to the control unit 30 which is configured for adjusting the rotation speed of said motor in order to set or vary the speed of the conveyor 20 and therefore the movement speed of the supports along the advancement path A.
  • the control unit 50 is further configured for synchronizing the movement of the conveyor 20 with the transfer device 30; in particular the unit 50 is configured for synchronizing the movement of the displacement element 32, between the active condition and the inactive condition, with the movement of the conveyor 20.
  • the plant 100 can comprise at least one sensor configured for emitting at least one signal representative of the presence of a support 4 within a specific passage section of the conveyor 20; in particular, the sensor is configured for emitting at least one signal representative of the relative position of a support 4 placed on the conveyor 20 with respect to at least one respective packaging apparatus 1.
  • the plant 100 can also comprise a further sensor configured for emitting at least one signal representative of the movement speed of the conveyor 20, in particular the advancement speed of the supports 4 along the advancement path A of the conveyor 20.
  • the control unit 50 is connected to the transfer device 30, to the conveyor 20 and optionally to at least one of said sensors and is configured for commanding the operative condition to the transfer device 30 as a function of the signals received from said sensors and/or as a function of the movement speed of the conveyor 20 so that a specific transfer device 30 can intercept at least one support 4 moving on the conveyor 20 in order to move it to a relative packaging apparatus 1.
  • the control unit 50 can be connected to each of the packaging apparatuses 1 and is configured for receiving a monitoring signal from each of these; as a function of the monitoring signal, the control unit is configured for determining an operative parameter of each packaging apparatus 1 representative of at least one between a stand-by condition and a packaging condition.
  • the control unit in the stand-by condition, the lower and upper tools are in the spaced condition and the lower tool is adapted to receive at least one support 4.
  • the lower and upper tools are in the approached condition and configured for making at least one package 40.
  • control unit 50 is configured for commanding the operative condition of at least one transfer device 30 so that the latter can move at least one support 4 to a packaging apparatus 1 placed in the stand-by condition.
  • control unit 50 is configured for synchronizing the movement of the transfer device 30, the movement of the upper and lower tools of each of the packaging apparatuses 1, the movement of the displacement element 32 from the active condition to the inactive condition, the movement of the displacement element 32 from the loading position to the outlet position and vice versa. In this manner, the control unit can manage the plurality of transfer devices 30 so that these can correctly serve the supports to the packaging apparatuses 1. Furthermore, the control unit 50 is configured for commanding the maintenance of the position of the displacement element 32 at the buffer station of a relative packaging apparatus, optionally while awaiting the arrival of the lower tool in the loading position. In particular the control unit 50 is configured for synchronizing the movement of the transfer device 30, when the displacement element 32 is at said buffer station, with the movement of the lower tool 2 of the respective packaging apparatus 1.
  • Also forming the object of the present invention is a process of packaging by using a plant 100 in accordance with any one of the enclosed claims and/or in accordance with the above-reported detailed description.
  • the process comprises a step of moving supports 4 along the predetermined advancement path by means of the conveyor 20.
  • the supports 4 moving along said path 4 can be of the type bearing at least one product P or, alternatively, they might not have the product.
  • the product P can be arranged on the support 4 before or during the movement of the supports 4 themselves on the conveyor 20.
  • the positioning of the products P on the supports can be performed manually by an assigned operator (condition schematized in figure 2 ) or it can be automatically performed by means of suitable stations. However it is also possible to perform the positioning of products P on supports 4 previously arranged on the packaging apparatus 1.
  • the process further comprises a step of displacing at least one support 4, optionally moving on the conveyor 20, from the conveyor 20 towards a packaging apparatus 1 by moving the displacement element 32 along the guide 31 of at least one transfer device 30.
  • said displacing step provides for the action manto of at least one transfer device 30 so that the latter can intercept a support placed on the conveyor 20 in order to move it within a respective packaging apparatus 1.
  • the plant 100 comprises a plurality of apparatuses 1 and an equal number of transfer devices 30; the step of displacing the supports from the conveyor 20 to the packaging apparatus can provide for the simultaneous actuation of a plurality of devices 30 so that each of these can move a respective support 4 in a specific apparatus 1.
  • the step of displacing each transfer device 30 comprises the following sub-steps:
  • the displacement element 32 intercepts one or more supports 4, optionally moving, on the conveyor 20: the displacement element 32 is capable of intercepting the support 4 since it is arranged in the active condition illustrated for example in figure 6 .
  • the displacement element 32 moving along the tract T1 of the guide 31 moves the support 4 outside the conveyor and to a respective packaging apparatus 1; in particular, the displacement element 32 arranges the support directly on the lower tool of the packaging apparatus 1.
  • the process provides or a step of repositioning the displacement element 32 during which the latter is moved from the outlet position to the loading position: in this manner, the transfer device 30 can then perform a new operative condition for moving a further support 4 from the conveyor 20 to the apparatus 1.
  • the displacement element 32 is initially brought to the inactive condition and then moved from the outlet position to the loading position, always along the tract T1 of the guide 31: in this manner, the end contact portion 32b is spaced from the conveyor and configured for being moved above the latter, avoiding the contact with the supports 4.
  • the step of repositioning is schematically illustrated in figures 7 to 10 .
  • the process can comprise a step of monitoring operative conditions of the plant 100 performed by means of the control unit 50; such monitoring step comprises at least one sub-step of determining at least one parameter selected in the group of the following parameters representative of at least one between the following operative conditions:
  • the process provides for commanding the operative condition of at least one transfer device 30 so that the latter can move at least one support 4 to a packaging apparatus 1 placed in the stand-by condition.
  • the control unit 50 is capable of establishing if one or more packaging apparatuses 1 are in the stand-by condition and therefore capable of receiving a support 4.
  • the control unit 50 due to the monitoring step, is capable of recognizing a support 4 moving on the conveyor 20 and optionally detecting the relative position thereof with respect to an apparatus 1 and/or a movement speed along the advancement path A.
  • the control unit 50 is configured for defining the operative condition of one or more transfer devices 30 in order to determine which support 4 moving on the conveyor 20 must be loaded on a specific packaging apparatus 1.
  • the tract T1 of the guide 31, along which the displacement element 32 is moved is transverse to the advancement path A of the supports; if the displacement of the supports by the transfer device 30 is performed during the movement of the supports 4 along the path A, the control unit can calculate and/or adjust the movement speed of the conveyor 20 and therefore advancement speed of the support 4 along the path A and manage the movement speed of the displacement elements 32 so that the movement speed of the supports 4 on the conveyor 20 is substantially identical to the component of the movement speed of the displacement elements 32 parallel to the advancement path A; in this manner, the control unit 50 can ensure the extraction of a first support 4 from the conveyor 20 without the same being able to impact against an adjacent second support placed immediately upstream or downstream of the first support with respect to the advancement path of the supports 4.
  • the process provides for performing a packaging step during which:
  • the step of packaging can be of known type and also provides for at least one of the following steps:
  • the lower and upper tools are once again arranged in the spaced or distal condition so as to allow the extraction of the package 40 from the apparatus.
  • the apparatus 1 is once again in the stand-by condition and can receive a new support 4 for making a new package.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
EP18827231.4A 2017-12-13 2018-11-28 Plant and process for packaging products Active EP3724086B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT201700143920 2017-12-13
PCT/IB2018/059417 WO2019116134A1 (en) 2017-12-13 2018-11-28 Plant and process for packaging products

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3724086A1 EP3724086A1 (en) 2020-10-21
EP3724086B1 true EP3724086B1 (en) 2022-08-10

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EP18827231.4A Active EP3724086B1 (en) 2017-12-13 2018-11-28 Plant and process for packaging products

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20200369419A1 (pt)
EP (1) EP3724086B1 (pt)
KR (1) KR20200091460A (pt)
CN (1) CN111527030A (pt)
BR (1) BR112020010811A2 (pt)
ES (1) ES2926169T3 (pt)
WO (1) WO2019116134A1 (pt)

Citations (2)

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US5001886A (en) * 1989-01-23 1991-03-26 Gasti Verpackungsmachinen Gmbh Packaging machine for the aseptic packaging of sterile fillings in cups or the like
EP0680880A1 (en) * 1994-05-06 1995-11-08 G. MONDINI S.p.A. Machine for sealing containers by applying a covering film

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DE2913026C2 (de) * 1979-03-31 1982-06-16 HD-Ekco N.V., Genk Vorrichtung zum Auflegen eines Deckels auf einen Behälter
DE102004023474A1 (de) * 2004-05-12 2005-12-15 Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Gmbh & Co. Kg Verpackungsmaschine und Verfahren zum Verschließen von Behältern
SE527878C2 (sv) * 2004-11-30 2006-07-04 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Anordning för uttag av föremål framförda på en transportbana
DK1927561T3 (da) * 2006-07-27 2010-09-13 Indag Gmbh Indretning og fremgangsmåde til opdeling af en strøm af genstande
GB201118710D0 (en) * 2011-10-28 2011-12-14 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Packaging system,machine and transfer apparatus
ES2524414T3 (es) * 2012-09-10 2014-12-09 Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Gmbh & Co Kg Máquina de cierre de cubetas
DE102012112792A1 (de) * 2012-12-20 2014-06-26 Elopak Systems Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Förderung von Stückgütern in einer Abfüllmaschine
RU2766597C2 (ru) * 2013-04-09 2022-03-15 Криовак, Инк. Способ и система подачи листов плёнки в узел упаковки устройства для упаковки
DE102014203421A1 (de) * 2014-02-26 2015-08-27 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Übergabe von Gegenständen
DE102014221232A1 (de) * 2014-10-20 2016-04-21 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Umgang mit Artikeln

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5001886A (en) * 1989-01-23 1991-03-26 Gasti Verpackungsmachinen Gmbh Packaging machine for the aseptic packaging of sterile fillings in cups or the like
EP0680880A1 (en) * 1994-05-06 1995-11-08 G. MONDINI S.p.A. Machine for sealing containers by applying a covering film

Also Published As

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BR112020010811A2 (pt) 2020-11-10
KR20200091460A (ko) 2020-07-30
CN111527030A (zh) 2020-08-11
US20200369419A1 (en) 2020-11-26
WO2019116134A1 (en) 2019-06-20
ES2926169T3 (es) 2022-10-24
EP3724086A1 (en) 2020-10-21

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