EP3728049A1 - Procédé de fabrication d'enveloppes hermétiques et machine correspondante - Google Patents

Procédé de fabrication d'enveloppes hermétiques et machine correspondante

Info

Publication number
EP3728049A1
EP3728049A1 EP18811074.6A EP18811074A EP3728049A1 EP 3728049 A1 EP3728049 A1 EP 3728049A1 EP 18811074 A EP18811074 A EP 18811074A EP 3728049 A1 EP3728049 A1 EP 3728049A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wrapper
station
welding
folding
working
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP18811074.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Fiorenzo Draghetti
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.)
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Original Assignee
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA filed Critical IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Publication of EP3728049A1 publication Critical patent/EP3728049A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/025—Packaging cigarettes in webs of flexible sheet material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/78—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus
    • B29C65/7858—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined
    • B29C65/7879—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined said parts to be joined moving in a closed path, e.g. a rectangular path
    • B29C65/7882—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined said parts to be joined moving in a closed path, e.g. a rectangular path said parts to be joined moving in a circular path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/13—Single flanged joints; Fin-type joints; Single hem joints; Edge joints; Interpenetrating fingered joints; Other specific particular designs of joint cross-sections not provided for in groups B29C66/11 - B29C66/12
    • B29C66/133—Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B29C66/431—Joining the articles to themselves
    • B29C66/4312—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
    • B29C66/43121—Closing the ends of tubular or hollow single articles, e.g. closing the ends of bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B29C66/433—Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam
    • B29C66/4332—Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam by folding a sheet over
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/49—Internally supporting the, e.g. tubular, article during joining
    • B29C66/496—Internally supporting the, e.g. tubular, article during joining using a support which remains in the joined object
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/84—Specific machine types or machines suitable for specific applications
    • B29C66/843—Machines for making separate joints at the same time in different planes; Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series
    • B29C66/8432—Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/84—Specific machine types or machines suitable for specific applications
    • B29C66/849—Packaging 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
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
    • B65B19/223—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in a curved path; in a combination of straight and curved paths, e.g. on rotary tables or other 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
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
    • B65B19/24—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers using hollow mandrels through which groups of cigarettes are fed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B49/00—Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents
    • B65B49/02—Fixed or resiliently-mounted folders, e.g. non-driven 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
    • B65B49/00—Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents
    • B65B49/08—Reciprocating or oscillating folders
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B49/00—Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents
    • B65B49/14—Folders forming part of, or attached to, conveyors for partially-wrapped articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/12—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by resilient means, e.g. brushes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/14—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by reciprocating or oscillating members
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
    • B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
    • B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
    • B65D85/1018—Container formed by a flexible material, i.e. soft-packages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/02—Preparation of the material, in the area to be joined, prior to joining or welding
    • B29C66/024—Thermal pre-treatments
    • B29C66/0242—Heating, or preheating, e.g. drying
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/832—Reciprocating joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/8322—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/7414—Smokers'' requisites, e.g. pipe cleaners
    • B29L2031/7416—Smokers'' requisites, e.g. pipe cleaners for cigars or cigarettes

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a method to make a hermetic wrapper and a packaging machine which implements the method.
  • the method and the machine can be used in the field of packets for smoking articles, and are suitable - for example - to make a hermetic gusset-type wrapper with welded lateral fins.
  • Smoking articles are traditionally packed in rigid or semi-rigid packets, inside which the smoking articles are wrapped in an inner wrapper, generally made of tinfoil.
  • a reinforcement insert is present in cooperation with the inner wrapper.
  • This form of wrapper represents a compromise solution between production costs and the need to maintain the aromatic characteristics of the tobacco present in smoking articles unaltered.
  • the present invention is connected to technical solutions and operational methods that have been the subject of patent protection which covers solutions that, structurally and functionally, are not able to define a result suitable for the desired purpose, and in the required terms.
  • the packaging machine described in this document comprises a first wheel provided with a plurality of pockets, each intended to contain a group of smoking articles.
  • the first wheel has the double function of disposing a wrapper around the group of articles, after having associated a reinforcement insert with them.
  • the packaging machine Downstream of the first wheel, the packaging machine comprises a second wheel comprising a plurality of gripping members each configured to receive the wrapper which has been partly formed in the first wheel and to perform a welding step thereon, to weld a pair of flaps so as to form a first fin defining the bottom of the wrapper, and a subsequent folding step which folds the fin against one of the walls of the wrapper.
  • the packaging machine described in WO-A-2016/166141 also comprises a plurality of folding and welding stations disposed downstream of the second wheel to form and fold the lateral fins and weld them appropriately, to close the casing and obtain a hermetically closed casing.
  • Another disadvantage of this packaging machine is that, in order to function correctly, it requires great precision in production. In fact, the machine requires accurate initial setting operations before each different batch of packets of smoking articles is packed.
  • one technical problem that affects packaging machines known in the state of the art is to guarantee that the operations which are carried out gradually on the external wrapper are organized in such a way that the parts of the wrapper concerned, such as flaps or fins, are kept in the desired folded position, preventing them from reopening in an undesired way, until the next operation.
  • one complexity of known machines concerns keeping the lateral flaps or fins folded in a desired manner, preventing them from reopening when they are supplied to the welding unit which welds the lateral fins.
  • one purpose of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine, as well as the corresponding and connected operating methods to sequentially and continuously obtain, first a pre-wrapper and subsequently a hermetic wrapper which wraps the group of smoking articles.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine, and to perfect the corresponding method, having an optimized layout that allows to simplify the functioning of the machine.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which has a disposition of the working stations, in particular at least the folding and welding stations, which makes the machine and its functioning simpler.
  • the Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
  • Embodiments of the present invention concern a method to make a hermetic wrapper and to the packaging machine which makes it.
  • the hermetic wrapper contains inside a structured assembly comprising a reinforcement insert associated with an organized group of smoking articles.
  • the hermetic wrapper is correctly and exhaustively sealed, and aesthetically pleasing, and possibly, on each occasion, is made accessible inside it.
  • the structured assembly is obtained by using a reinforcement insert with which the smoking articles are associated layer by layer or as a whole.
  • the reinforcement insert is obtained from a preformed cardboard sheet, folded in such a way as to define a base wall and two lateral walls which extend parallel to each other from the base wall, and which define, during use, the lateral walls that contain the organized group of smoking articles, as well as at least one support and abutment edge.
  • the hermetic wrapper is obtained from a preformed sheet of heat-weldable material that is first pre-positioned shaped as a U with respect to the structured assembly and then suitably folded, defining a bottom fin and lateral fins folded like a gusset, to completely wrap the structured assembly and finally to be stably sealed by welding.
  • the hermetic wrapper can provide inside its perimeter, and in a suitable position, an aperture temporarily closed by means of a label, or a tongue, possibly of an adhesive type, and reusable.
  • a method and a machine for making a hermetic wrapper are provided in which the structured assembly and the U-shaped wrapper sheet that wraps it along a curved segment of a working path that develops between an entrance station and an exit, where a folding station is disposed, and is served by a suitable transfer conveyor, to perform, in a first working station of the intermediate transfer conveyor between the entrance station and the exit of the working path, folding and welding of the bottom fin and, subsequently downstream of the first folding station along the curved segment of the working path, also the folds to make the lateral fins folded as a gusset, which overall allow to form a pre-wrapper that is a precursor of the hermetic wrapper.
  • all the operations to fold the flaps of the wrapper sheet needed to make the lateral fins folded as a gusset are made in a single folding station comprised in the transfer conveyor, disposed at the exit of the working path, and to which the structured assembly and the wrapper sheet that wraps it are fed along the curved segment of the working path.
  • the present invention advantageously provides that, after having made the folds to make the lateral fins folded like a gusset in the corresponding folding station at the exit from the working path, the pre-wrapper is moved linearly at exit from the working path, keeping all the lateral fins of the pre wrapper folded in the desired position and defined in the folding station, toward a welding station downstream of the transfer conveyor, where the welding of the lateral fins folded like a gusset is carried out.
  • the linear path along which the pre -wrapper is moved at exit from the working path, from the corresponding folding station toward the welding station downstream is, or comprises, a rectilinear segment.
  • the curved segment of the working path is an arc of a circumference and the transfer conveyor is a transfer wheel or carousel which transports the structured assembly and the wrapper sheet that wraps it along a circular path which defines the working path.
  • the linear path develops along a radial directrix of the circumference defining the working path, so that the pre-wrapper is moved from the folding station to the welding station exiting radially from the curved segment of the working path.
  • linear feed means are provided disposed at least between the folding station and the welding station to feed the pre-wrapper along the linear path.
  • the linear feed means are adjacent and contiguous to the folding station.
  • the operation to weld the lateral fins folded like a gusset is carried out in the welding station downstream of the transfer conveyor along a linear welding path, in particular rectilinear.
  • the welding station for this purpose, can be provided with a linear conveyor configured to feed the pre- wrapper along the linear welding path.
  • the welding station is also provided with a welding unit which comprises one or more welding devices configured to heat the opposite fins or lateral flaps that project from the lateral walls of the pre wrapper and which have been suitably folded in the folding station disposed at the exit of the transfer conveyor.
  • the first working station it is provided to reciprocally join the free flaps of the wrapper sheet to obtain a semi-finished assembly in which the wrapper sheet continuously wraps the structured assembly, in particular in a longitudinal direction of development of the latter.
  • the wrapper sheet is closed in a ring around the structured assembly.
  • another forming conveyor is also provided which is disposed upstream of the transfer conveyor and is configured to form the structured assembly and to associate a respective wrapper sheet therewith.
  • this other formation conveyor is a wheel or a formation carousel disposed so that its axis of rotation is substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the transfer conveyor, that is, disposed lying on a plane orthogonal to the plane of the transfer conveyor.
  • an intermediate guide station is provided, configured to guide the pre-wrapper toward the welding unit, keeping the fins folded in the desired position and defined by the folding station disposed at the exit of the transfer conveyor, and to better define the lateral longitudinal folds from which the lateral fins or flaps extend.
  • the intermediate guide station is advantageously configured to cooperate both with the linear feed means and also with the linear conveyor of the welding station.
  • a packaging machine with an optimized layout which allows to simplify the method to make a hermetic wrapper is advantageously made available.
  • Another advantage of the method according to the embodiments described here is that it allows to simplify the operations of handling the pre- wrapper and the hermetic wrapper obtained from it.
  • the method and the machine to make a hermetic wrapper allow to move the objects being worked, that is, the structured assembly first, then the intermediate and semi- finished assembly, and finally the pre-wrapper and the hermetic wrapper, with great reliability, holding them firmly in the successive different positions provided in order to be subjected to different workings.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging machine in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial schematic perspective view of an enlarged detail of an embodiment of the packaging machine according to the invention.
  • - fig. 3 is a partial schematic plan view, of the detailed view in fig. 2;
  • - fig. 4a is a schematic three-dimensional view of a wrapper
  • - fig. 4b is a three-dimensional view of a structured assembly given by the combination of a reinforcement insert wrapped partly around an organized group of smoking articles;
  • - figs. 5a-5g schematically show the steps of folding the wrapper sheet around the assembly in fig. 4b.
  • Embodiments described here with reference to fig. 1 concern a packaging machine 10 suitable to make a hermetic wrapper 12 for smoking articles.
  • the hermetic wrapper 12 is formed starting from an appropriately shaped and pre-cut wrapper sheet 112.
  • the wrapper sheet 112 can be made of a suitable material, selected from a group consisting of: paper, cardboard, polymeric material, aluminum, tinfoil or metallized paper.
  • the hermetic wrapper 12 comprises inside it an organized group of smoking articles 14 and a reinforcement insert 16.
  • the hermetic wrapper 12 which can be obtained according to the method by means of the machine is briefly described here.
  • the term“structured assembly” indicates the association between the reinforcement insert 16 and the organized group of smoking articles 14, before the wrapper sheet 112 is associated with them.
  • the structured assembly visible in particular in fig. 4b, is indicated as a whole with the reference number 11.
  • the reinforcement insert 16 has a base wall 16a and two lateral walls, or lateral fins 16b in continuity with the base wall 16a.
  • the latter, together with the lateral walls 16b, are disposed reciprocally so as to wrap the smoking articles 14 on three sides.
  • a head wall 14b and a bottom wall 14c which are defined respectively by the opposite ends of the smoking articles 14, and a second base wall l4a which is substantially tangent to the row of smoking articles 14 most distant from the base wall 16a.
  • the hermetic wrapper 12 comprises a bigger front lateral wall 18, positioned on the base wall l6a, a bigger rear lateral wall 19, positioned on the second base wall l4a, and smaller lateral walls defined by four longitudinal lateral flaps 20 which overlap the lateral walls 16b in pairs.
  • the hermetic wrapper 12 also comprises an upper wall 21 and a lower wall 22 which respectively overlap the head wall 14b and the bottom wall 14c, and at the same time hermetically connect with each other.
  • the packaging machine 10 comprises a first wheel 39 provided with a plurality of forming pockets 40.
  • the first wheel 39 is moved in a stepwise movement.
  • the first wheel 39 is configured to rotate on a substantially vertical plane around a horizontal axis of rotation X along the formation path F, with every step taking a pocket 40 in correspondence with a specific working station.
  • Each forming pocket 40 comprises a chamber 50, shaped substantially like a parallelepiped, and configured to accommodate an organized group of smoking articles 14.
  • a first insert introduction station 35 is provided, in which a reinforcement insert 16 is introduced into the chamber 50.
  • the insert introduction station 35 comprises a pickup member 48 configured to pick up the reinforcement insert 16 from a dedicated store (not shown) and deliver it to an introduction member 46 which is intended to introduce the reinforcement insert 16 into the chamber 50.
  • the reinforcement insert 16 is already shaped like a“U”, or other suitable or appropriate shape, ready to be introduced into the chamber 50.
  • the reinforcement insert 16 is fed to the insert introduction station 35 in its flat conformation, and subsequently shaped, for example like a“U”, by means of a deformation device 47.
  • the latter is configured to fold the two opposite lateral walls 16b with respect to the base wall 16a so as to define the desired shape, for example a“U” shape.
  • At least one introduction station 36 for the smoking articles is also provided, in which the organized group of smoking articles 14 is introduced into the chamber 50 into which the reinforcement insert 16 was previously introduced.
  • the introduction station 36 comprises at least one thrust member 49 which thrusts the smoking articles 14 into the pocket 40.
  • fig. 1 shows three introduction stations 36, in each of which an organized group of smoking articles 14 can be introduced in the chamber 50 of a respective pocket 40.
  • a feed station 37 is provided to feed the wrapper sheet in which the wrapper sheet 112, already pre-cut and prepared according to requirements, is fed.
  • the wrapper sheet 112 is applied by a feed device 45 on the external side of the chamber 50.
  • the feed device 45 can be U-shaped, with two arms, 45a, 45b that extend parallel and opposite each other, at a distance consistent with the height of the external walls of the chamber 50.
  • the feed device 45 slides with the arms 45 a, 45b on the external walls of the chamber 50 and in this way it moves the wrapper sheet 112, present therein, giving it its“U” shape, with the bottom positioned overlapping on one of either the head wall 14b or bottom wall 14c.
  • the exit station 38 can comprise a thrust device 68 suitable to cooperate with the pocket 40 to expel the assembly from the respective chamber 50 to subsequent working stations.
  • the thrust device 68 thrusts the smoking articles 14 and the reinforcement insert 16 out of the chamber 50, against the U-shaped wrapper sheet 112 so as to draw the latter, which moves integrally thereto away from the exit station 38.
  • the wrapper sheet 112 is associated with and positioned above the base walls 14a, 16a and the head wall 14b, defining an intermediate assembly 1 la, visible in fig. 5a.
  • the packaging machine 10 comprises a second wheel 71 provided with a plurality of gripping members 70 on its periphery.
  • the second wheel 71 is configured to rotate stepwise around a vertical axis of rotation Y so as to define a working path L which develops along a circumference C.
  • the working path L in the embodiment shown by way of example in fig. 1, cooperates with the formation path F in such a way as to align the exit station 38 from the first wheel 39 to a corresponding entrance station 41 in the second wheel 71.
  • the intermediate assembly 11a is worked, which consists of the organized group of smoking articles 14, the reinforcement insert 16 and the wrapper sheet 112 wrapped around them.
  • the intermediate assembly 11a is delivered to a respective gripping member 70.
  • the intermediate assembly 11a reaches the gripping member 70 thanks to the action of the thrust device 68, directly after having moved away from the chamber 50.
  • the thrust device 68 is disposed substantially aligned with the chamber 50 of the pocket 40 disposed in the exit station 38 and with the gripping member 70 disposed in the entrance station 41 so that the displacement of the intermediate assembly 1 la from the first wheel 39 to the second wheel 71 is substantially linear.
  • alignment and guide devices 69 can be advantageously present, configured to keep the intermediate assembly 11a aligned during its introduction into the gripping member 70.
  • the second wheel 71 by rotating, takes the gripping member 70 from the entrance station 41 to a first working station 42, and subsequently to a folding station 44, which defines an exit station of the pre- wrapper 12a from the second wheel 71.
  • the gripping member 70 has a fixed base plane 80 and an upper plane 81 elastically pressed over the intermediate assembly 1 la, so as to hold the components comprised therein in position.
  • the lower flap 24 and the upper flap 25 of the wrapper sheet 112 are associated and welded to each other as shown in fig. 5b, to form a transverse edge 28 which defines a bottom fin, so as to obtain a semi-finished assembly 1 lb.
  • the transverse edge 28 is disposed so as to be coplanar with the bigger lateral wall 18 of the semi-finished assembly l ib, constituting an extension thereof.
  • the first working station 42 is provided with a pair of welding devices 74, 75, that is, an upper welding device 74 and a lower welding device 75, which act on the intermediate assembly 11a retained by the gripping member 70.
  • the upper welding device 74 in the case shown, can advantageously be fixed, while the lower welding device 75 can be mobile between a position of non- interference with the wrapper sheet 112 and a position in which it interferes with the lower flap 25, holding it near the bottom wall 14c and at the same time bringing it closer to the upper flap 24 and the upper welding device 74 so as to make the transverse edge 28 and obtain the semi-finished assembly l ib.
  • a cam 77 can be provided, configured to interfere with the already welded transverse edge 28 of the semi-finished assembly l ib during its transfer to the folding station. 44 and raise it to the desired position.
  • a folding device is provided in the folding station 44, comprising a plurality of folding members 92, 94, 96, 98, organized in specialized pairs, each pair being suitable to perform a specific folding of the wrapper sheet 112 so as to obtain the pre-wrapper 12a.
  • the folding device comprises a pair of front folders 92 and a pair of rear folders 94, configured respectively to fold the portions of the lateral flaps 27, 26 projecting laterally in a transverse direction from the semi-finished assembly 1 lb, making them adhere to the lateral walls 16b of the reinforcement insert 16.
  • the front folders 92 act on the lateral flaps 27, in the direction indicated by the arrow Dl in fig. 5c, while the rear folders 94 act on the lateral flaps 26 in the direction indicated by the arrow D2 in fig. 5c.
  • the folding device also comprises a pair of upper folders 96, configured to act as indicated by the arrows D3 in fig. 5c in order to fold the welded transverse edge 28 by about 180°, taking it into contact with the bigger lateral wall 18.
  • the folding device also comprises two pairs of lateral folders 98, each consisting of an upper lateral folder 98a and a lower lateral folder 98b, configured to act against the longitudinal lateral edges 20 of the wrapper sheet 112 which protrude beyond the lateral walls 16b, and obtain the lateral flaps or fins 29.
  • the lateral folders 98 subsequently intervene with respect to the front and rear folders 92, 94 in the direction indicated by the arrows D4 and confer a V-shaped section on the longitudinal lateral edges 20, recessed in the median zone until it contacts the lateral walls 16b, as visible in figs. 5d and 5e.
  • the upper and lower lateral folders 98a and 98b are disposed inclined and/or are suitably shaped in an angled manner.
  • the front folders 92 and/or the rear folders 94 advantageously have a substantially triangular shape in the zone that assists the folding.
  • the definitive folding station 44 in correspondence with the definitive folding station 44, it is provided to extract the pre- wrapper 12a thus formed from the respective gripping member 70, for example by means of an extractor member, not shown.
  • the pre-wrapper 12a then passes to a welding station 115, where a welding unit 34 is provided which stabilizes the connection of the lateral fins or flaps 29, possibly making the transverse edge 28 also integral with them, so as to obtain the hermetic wrapper 12.
  • the pre -wrapper 12a follows a path P which is substantially linear.
  • the packaging machine 10 comprises a conveyor belt 130 disposed between the second wheel 71 and the welding unit 34 and configured to take the pre- wrapper 12a toward the latter.
  • an intermediate guide station 43 which keeps the lateral fins 29 folded in the desired position and defined by the folding station 44 and which also allows to better define the longitudinal folds that define the lateral fins 29.
  • the intermediate guide station 43 comprises guide members 114 configured to bring the lateral fins 29 close to each other and also to position them adhering to the structured assembly 11.
  • the pre-formed wrapper 12a Downstream of the intermediate guide station 43, the pre-formed wrapper 12a has the lateral fins 29 projecting substantially in an orthogonal direction from the lateral walls 16b, as shown in figs. 5f and 5g.
  • the guide members 114 can comprise a slit, possibly provided in the entrance direction with a flared or spread portion, able to define a lead-in to facilitate the introduction of the lateral fins 29 of the pre wrapper 12a.
  • the intermediate guide station 43 can comprise heating devices, not shown, suitable to heat to a desired temperature the lateral fins 29 of the pre- wrapper l2a associated with each other, so as to facilitate the subsequent welding thereof.
  • the conveyor belt 130 connects the folding station 44 with the intermediate guide station 43, which is interposed between the folding station 44 and the welding station 115, and the welding unit 34.
  • the conveyor belt 130 defines linear transport means which develop starting from the folding station 44, pass through the intermediate guide station 43 and the welding station 115 so as to cooperate with the welding unit 34 to define a linear welding path.
  • the welding unit 34 comprises at least one welding device 120 for each side of the pre-wrapper l2a.
  • Each welding device 120 comprises a pressure welding member 121 and a regulated counter-pressure welding member 122.
  • the pressure welding member 121 and the counter-pressure welding member 122 have sizes consistent with the length and width of the lateral fins 29 to be welded.
  • multiple identical stations can be provided, that is, the functions of one station can be diluted in several stations.
  • the number of welding stations 115 is not determined only by the production regime, but is also determined by the welding time-cycle which is intended to be set and/or by the type of wrapper sheet 112 and therefore its welding requirements.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et une machine, pouvant être utilisés en particulier dans le domaine de l'emballage d'articles à fumer pour fabriquer une enveloppe hermétique, mettant en œuvre un premier transporteur conçu pour former une structure assemblée comprenant un groupe organisé d'articles à fumer et un insert de renfort, un second transporteur conçu pour former une première enveloppe dans laquelle une feuille d'emballage est pliée autour d'un ensemble structuré, ainsi qu'une unité de soudage conçue pour sceller la première enveloppe de façon à obtenir l'enveloppe hermétique.
EP18811074.6A 2017-12-21 2018-10-29 Procédé de fabrication d'enveloppes hermétiques et machine correspondante Pending EP3728049A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT201700148602 2017-12-21
PCT/IT2018/050211 WO2019123497A1 (fr) 2017-12-21 2018-10-29 Procédé de fabrication d'enveloppes hermétiques et machine correspondante

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3728049A1 true EP3728049A1 (fr) 2020-10-28

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18811074.6A Pending EP3728049A1 (fr) 2017-12-21 2018-10-29 Procédé de fabrication d'enveloppes hermétiques et machine correspondante

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EP (1) EP3728049A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2019123497A1 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT202100002912A1 (it) * 2021-02-10 2022-08-10 Gd Spa Macchina impacchettatrice e metodo di incarto per produrre un pacchetto di articoli da fumo rigido con un incarto interno sigillato

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3283381B1 (fr) * 2015-04-15 2018-12-12 GIMA TT S.p.A. Procédé et appareil associé permettant de fabriquer un emballage scellé d'un ensemble de cigarettes
ITUA20164192A1 (it) * 2016-06-08 2017-12-08 Gd Spa Metodo di incarto e macchina impacchettatrice per piegare un foglio di incarto termosaldabile attorno ad un gruppo di articoli da fumo.

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WO2019123497A1 (fr) 2019-06-27

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