EP3838770B1 - Machine for bagging food products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bagging machine for food products, in particular bread.

For bagging breads in bakeries or shopping centres, it is known, in particular, to EP-A-2 860 117 , to use a bagging machine making it possible to pack breads in sachets formed from a sheath wound on a reel. During the bagging of the bread, the sheath is unrolled on a horizontal plate, shaped using a blower system so that the end of the bread can be inserted into the sheath, then the sheath is blocked in position then cut, folded and welded to form a bag into which the bread can then be inserted by an operator or a conveyor belt.

In detail, EP-A-2 860 117 discloses a bagging machine for food products, in particular bread, this machine being adapted to receive at least one rotating reel comprising a rolled up tubular sheath, a mechanism for driving the sheath from the reel, cutting means, folding and welding configured to form bags from the sheath, a plate on which the unrolled sheath is positioned, a blower system for shaping the sheath, a conveyor belt for introducing food products into a formed bag on the plate in a bagging direction, a blocking member adapted to block in position an edge of one end of the sheath, open on the side of the conveyor belt, against the plate before the formation of the bag, and a system of evacuation of bagged food products, the evacuation system comprising a conveyor oriented in a direction transverse to the bagging direction, this conveyor forming the tray, and in that a length u tile of the plate, defined according to the bagging direction between the cutting, folding and welding means and the conveyor belt, is variable.

Such a machine can be improved. In the case where the loaves are introduced using a conveyor belt, this must be very long to operate correctly, and this machine is therefore suitable for long products, such as baguettes, which are easier to guide. . On the other hand, non-calibrated products, such as round loaves or other non-elongated food products, have less easy guidance which makes it difficult to insert them by a conveyor belt. Uncalibrated products are more easily inserted by hand by an operator.

Other bagging machines feature stacks of preformed pouches into which loaves are inserted by hand on a horizontal plane, then each pouch is detached and poured down an inclined plane on which it is held in place to seal the pouch. Such machines require significant arm movements to push the loaves into the preformed pouches and detach the pouches from the stacks, causing injuries.

It is these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy by proposing a new bagging machine in which the number and the amplitude of the movements necessary for the operators to carry out the bagging of the loaves and reduced compared to known machines, and allows the bagging of non-calibrated products at a high rate.

To this end, the invention relates to a machine for bagging food products, in particular bread, this machine being adapted to receive at least one rotating reel comprising a rolled up tubular sheath, a mechanism for driving the sheath from the reel, cutting, folding and welding means configured to form sachets from the sheath, a tray on which the unrolled sheath is positioned, a blower system for shaping the sheath, a table for the manual introduction of food products into a bag formed on the tray in a bagging direction, a blocking member adapted to block in position an edge of one end of the sheath, open on the side of the table, against the plate before the formation of the bag, and a system for discharging the bagged food products. This machine is characterized in that the evacuation system comprises a conveyor oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of bagging, this conveyor forming the tray, and in that a useful length of the tray, defined in the direction of bagging between the cutting, folding and welding means and the table is variable by covering part of the conveyor by the table, which is movable in translation relative to the plate in the bagging direction.

Thanks to the invention, the non-calibrated food products are bagged by hand and evacuated automatically. An operator has no large movements to make, apart from manual entry. This results in a high rate and great comfort of use for the operators. For products of variable lengths, the length of the tray is variable, and the covering of the conveyor by the table makes it possible to reduce the size of the machine.

• L'organe de blocage, le système de soufflerie et la table sont prévus sur un chariot mobile en translation par rapport au convoyeur selon la direction d'ensachage.
• Le chariot comporte une cavité de réception du convoyeur.
• Le chariot est mobile entre une première position, dans laquelle la table ne recouvre pas le convoyeur, et dans laquelle la longueur utile du plateau est maximale, et une seconde position, dans laquelle la table recouvre en partie le convoyeur, et le convoyeur est en partie reçu dans la cavité du chariot, et dans laquelle la longueur utile du plateau est minimale.
• Le chariot comporte une poignée de déplacement selon la direction d'ensachage et un dispositif de verrouillage de sa position par rapport au convoyeur.
• La machine comporte des guides latéraux d'insertion des produits alimentaires dans les sachets, montés pivotants sur le chariot.
• Les guides sont montés sur un support mobile en translation selon la direction d'ensachage par rapport au chariot, de telle manière que les guides peuvent être avancés vers une position dans laquelle leur extrémité libre s'insère dans les sachets préalablement à l'insertion d'un produit alimentaire.
• L'organe de blocage est mobile en translation selon la direction d'ensachage par rapport au plateau, entre une position reculée, dans laquelle l'organe de blocage n'obstrue pas un flux d'air soufflé par le système de soufflage, et une position avancée, dans laquelle l'organe de blocage est mobile verticalement par rapport au plateau entre une position élevée, dans laquelle il ne bloque pas le sachet, et une position plaquée contre le plateau dans laquelle le sachet est maintenu.
• La machine comprend un dispositif de déclenchement par un opérateur de l'évacuation d'un sachet rempli, formé par une cellule de détection de mouvement configurée pour détecter un mouvement de l'opérateur faisant suite à l'insertion d'un ou plusieurs produits dans un sachet.
• La machine comporte un système d'étiquetage configuré pour déposer des étiquettes sur la gaine préalablement à son déroulage sur le plateau.

According to advantageous but not obligatory aspects of the invention, such a bagging machine can incorporate one or more of the following characteristics:

• The blocking member, the blower system and the table are provided on a carriage movable in translation relative to the conveyor in the bagging direction.
• The carriage has a conveyor receiving cavity.
• The carriage is movable between a first position, in which the table does not cover the conveyor, and in which the useful length of the tray is maximum, and a second position, in which the table partially covers the conveyor, and the conveyor is in part received in the cavity of the carriage, and in which the useful length of the tray is minimal.
• The carriage comprises a handle for moving in the bagging direction and a device for locking its position relative to the conveyor.
• The machine has side guides for inserting food products into the bags, pivotally mounted on the carriage.
• The guides are mounted on a mobile support in translation along the bagging direction relative to the carriage, in such a way that the guides can be advanced to a position in which their free end is inserted into the pouches prior to the insertion of a food product.
• The blocking member is movable in translation along the bagging direction relative to the plate, between a retracted position, in which the blocking member does not obstruct a flow of air blown by the blowing system, and a advanced position, in which the blocking member is vertically movable relative to the plate between an elevated position, in which it does not block the bag, and a position pressed against the plate in which the bag is held.
• The machine comprises a device for triggering by an operator the evacuation of a filled bag, formed by a movement detection cell configured to detect a movement of the operator following the insertion of one or more products in A sachet.
• The machine comprises a labeling system configured to deposit labels on the sheath prior to its unwinding on the plate.

• [Fig 1] la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une machine d'ensachage conforme à l'invention, dans une configuration d'ensachage de produits longs;
• [Fig 2] la figure 2 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, dans une configuration d'ensachage de produits de longueur réduite ;
• [Fig 3] la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'une partie de la machine d'ensachage dans la configuration de la figure 1, montrant un ensemble mobile d'introduction partiellement arraché;
• [Fig 4] la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, dans la configuration d'ensachage de produits de longueur réduite;
• [Fig 5] la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une partie de la machine montrant une table d'introduction, montrant une phase initiale d'ensachage;
• [Fig 6] la figure 6 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, montrant une deuxième phase d'ensachage dans laquelle un organe de blocage est avancé;
• [Fig 7] la figure 7 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, montrant une troisième phase d'ensachage dans laquelle l'organe de blocage est plaqué contre un sachet;
• [Fig 8] la figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, montrant une quatrième phase d'ensachage dans laquelle des guides d'insertion sont avancés ;
• [Fig 9] la figure 9 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, montrant une cinquième phase d'ensachage dans laquelle les guides d'insertion sont reculés ;
• [Fig 10] la figure 10 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, montrant une sixième phase d'ensachage dans laquelle l'organe de blocage est relevé.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of a bagging machine in accordance with its principle, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings in which:

• [ Fig 1 ] the figure 1 is a perspective view of a bagging machine according to the invention, in a configuration for bagging long products;
• [ Fig 2 ] the figure 2 is a view analogous to figure 1 , in a configuration for bagging products of reduced length;
• [ Fig.3 ] the picture 3 is a perspective view of part of the bagging machine in the configuration of the figure 1 , showing a partially torn-off movable introducer assembly;
• [ Fig 4 ] the figure 4 is a view analogous to picture 3 , in the configuration of bagging products of reduced length;
• [ Fig.5 ] the figure 5 is a perspective view of part of the machine showing an infeed table, showing an initial bagging phase;
• [ Fig 6 ] the figure 6 is a view analogous to figure 5 , showing a second bagging phase in which a blocking member is advanced;
• [ Fig 7 ] the figure 7 is a view analogous to figure 5 , showing a third bagging phase in which the blocking member is pressed against a bag;
• [ Fig.8 ] the figure 8 is a view analogous to figure 5 , showing a fourth bagging phase in which insertion guides are advanced;
• [ Fig.9 ] the figure 9 is a view analogous to figure 5 , showing a fifth bagging phase in which the insertion guides are moved back;
• [ Fig. 10 ] the figure 10 is a view analogous to figure 5 , showing a sixth bagging phase in which the blocking member is raised.

The bagging machine 1 shown in figures 1 to 10 is intended to be installed, for example, in a bakery or a bakery section of a supermarket. Machine 1 is intended for bagging food products, in particular breads P.

The bagging machine 1 comprises a frame 3. The machine 1 is adapted to receive one or more reels 5 rotatably mounted with respect to the frame 3 and supporting a tubular sheath 7 wound up. The machine 1 comprises a drive mechanism for the sheath 7 from one of the reels 5, including a plurality of wrapping rollers 4 intended to unwind and guide the sheath 7, from the drive rollers 8 and 9, towards a plate 10 on which the sheath 7 is positioned with a view to bagging loaves P.

Between the plate 10 and the rollers 8 and 9, the machine 1 comprises a device, not shown, for opening the sheath 7 and means 13 for cutting, folding and welding the sheath 7 capable of forming sachets 11 from of the sheath 7. The means 13 for cutting, folding and welding comprise jaws suitable for cutting the sheath 7, members for folding the part cut out at its end and heating means suitable for welding the folded part to the part unfolded of the sheath 7, according to a known technique of EP-A-2 511 188 .

The bagging machine 1 comprises a table 15 for manual introduction parallel to the plate 10. When the sheath 7 is positioned on the plate 10, it is opposite the introduction table 15, making it possible to direct the loaves P towards the tray 10 and introduce them into the bag 11.

The plate 10 defines a bagging direction X parallel to the plate 10 and to the table 15, and which designates the direction in which the loaves P are inserted into the bags 11.

The bagging machine 1 also comprises a system for discharging the bagged food products, formed by a conveyor 21 movable in a direction Y transverse to the bagging direction X. By "movable in a direction Y" is meant that the conveyor 21 is oriented along the Y direction, which is therefore a conveying direction of the conveyor 21. In other words, the conveyor 21 is a conveyor belt which moves along the Y axis, and which has a rotation movement around of axes parallel to the direction of bagging X. The direction of discharge of the bagged products is therefore transverse, according to the arrow F1.

The tray 10 is formed by an upper surface of the conveyor 21. The conveyor 21 remains stationary and forms the tray 10 while the sheath 7 is unwound, the bag is formed and a loaf is inserted, then is only actuated for the 'evacuation.

Z is designated a vertical direction of the bagging machine 1, perpendicular to the X and Y directions.

The machine 1 comprises a blower system 17 making it possible to shape the sheath 7 when the latter is positioned on the plate 10 and the sachets 11 when the loaves P are introduced. The blower system 17 comprises a fan which generates a flow of air in a direction oblique with respect to the bagging direction X, which makes it possible to keep the bag 11 in shape by inflating it with air, so that it has a substantially cylindrical shape with a circular section facilitating the insertion of a bread P.

The bagging machine 1 comprises a blocking member 19 adapted to block the sheath 7 in position against the plate 10 before the cutting, folding and welding of the sheath 7 by the means 13, to form the bag 11. In this For example, the blocking member 19 is a flat valve able to be inserted into the sheath 7 when it is shaped by the blower system 17.

The blocking member 19 is movable in translation along the bagging direction X with respect to the plate 10, between a retracted position, visible at the figure 5 , in which the blocking member 19 is separated from the plate 10 and does not obstruct the flow of air blown by the blowing system 17, and a forward position, visible to the figure 6 . In its advanced position, the locking member is close to the plate 10, and is movable between a raised position, visible to the figure 6 , and a tackled position, visible at the figure 7 , in which the blocking member 19 is folded down parallel to the plate 10. In its flattened position, the blocking member 19 exerts a force perpendicular to the plate 10 which presses a lower edge 70a of an end 70 of the sheath 7, open on the side of the table 15, against the plate 10, to hold it in position. The kinematics of movement of the blocking member 19 will be detailed later in the context of the operation of the bagging machine 2.

The movements of the locking member 19 between its retracted position and its advanced position, and between its raised position and its pressed position, can be obtained for example by means of a jack or any other mechanical, electrical or pneumatic actuator.

In order to adapt the bagging machine 1 to the different lengths of loaves or products to be bagged, a useful length L of the plate 10, defined along the bagging direction X between the means 13 for cutting, folding and welding, and the table 15, is variable by covering part of the conveyor 21 by the table 15, which is movable in translation along the bagging direction X with respect to the conveyor 21. As can be seen in the figure 1 and 2 , the table 15 can partially cover the conveyor 21 and therefore reduce the useful length L of the plate 10.

By varying the useful length L, the length of sheath 7 which is unrolled on the plate 10 is chosen, and therefore the length of the bags 11 which will be formed are adapted to the length of the products to be bagged.

The blocking member 19, the blower system 17, and the table 15 are provided on a movable carriage 27. This carriage 27 is movable in translation along the bagging direction X as represented by the double arrow F2 and makes it possible to vary the useful length L of the plate 10.

For a bread or long product (for example a baguette), the carriage 27 is positioned to the right ( figure 1 ). The table 15 does not cover the conveyor 21, and the useful length L of the plate 10.

For a short bread or product (for example square or round), the carriage 27 is moved to the left, closer to the means 13 ( figure 2 ). The table 15 partly covers the conveyor 21, and the useful length L of the plate 10 is minimal.

The carriage 27 can also be positioned at intermediate positions between the positions of the figure 1 and 2 .

As can be seen on the figure 3 and 4 , the carriage 27 comprises a cavity 270 for receiving the conveyor 21. The carriage 27 is in fact hollow and the cavity 270 is open on the side of the conveyor 21. Thus, in the position of the figure 4 corresponding to the minimum useful length L, the conveyor 21 is partly received in the cavity 270 of the carriage 27.

According to an optional aspect, the carriage 27 includes a handle 272 for moving along the bagging direction X. This handle 272 allows an operator to manually move the carriage 27 and easily adjust the useful length L according to the products he wish to bag.

The carriage 27 also comprises a device 274 for locking its position in the bagging direction X with respect to the conveyor 21. This device may for example be a handle or a locking lever. Thus the operator can lock the useful length L once adjusted.

To separate the edges of the bag 11 and guide the products towards it, the bagging machine 1 comprises two side guides 23 mounted to pivot with respect to the table 15, movable in rotation about axes parallel to the vertical direction Z. The ends free 231 of the side guides 23 penetrate into the sheath 7 when the latter is placed on the plate 10 and shaped by the blowing system 17. The side guides 23 are biased by elastic elements such as springs 233 , in a position where they are folded towards each other in the middle of the table 15.

The guides 23 are mounted on a support 230 movable relative to the carriage 27 in translation along the bagging direction X. Before the insertion of a loaf 3 on the introduction conveyor belt 15, the guides 23 are advanced close position of the plate 10 ( figure 8 ), in which their free end 231 is inserted into the bags 11 prior to the insertion of a food product. The displacement of the support 230 can for example be carried out by cylinders which are not shown.

When a loaf inserted in the bagging direction X by an operator passes between the side guides 23, these are pushed back by the loaf and against the force of the springs 233, according to the arrows F3 at the figure 8 , so that the side edges 70b of the end 70 of the bag 11 are widened by the ends 231 of the guides 23, which are engaged in the bag 11, to facilitate the introduction of the bread.

Once the bread has been inserted into the bag 11, the side guides 23 are again pushed back towards the center of the table 15 under the action of the springs 233. The support 230 is then moved towards its initial retracted position.

The bagging process takes place as follows: the sheath 7 is unwound from the reel 5 on the plate 10. Then, the unwound sheath 7 is shaped using the blower system 17 ( figure 5 ).

The edge 70a of the sheath 7 is blocked against the plate 10 using the blocking member 19. In the initial state figure 5 , the locking member 19 is in the retracted and raised position relative to the plate 10.

To the figure 6 , the blocking member 19 is moved to its advanced position in the sheath 7 according to the arrow F4, and is still high relative to the plate 10.

To the figure 7 the blocking member 19 is pressed against the plate 10 by a downward movement according to the arrow F5. Once locked in position, the sheath 7 is cut, folded and welded using means 13 for cutting, folding and welding. A bag 11 is thus obtained: from the figure 8 , reference 11 is used.

Then at the figure 8 the guides 23, which were in the retracted position until now, are moved towards their advanced position according to the arrow F6, integrally with their support 230, so that the free ends 231 are now inserted into the bag 11. A At this time, a loaf P can then be positioned by an operator, for example using the right hand, on the table 15 so that one end of the loaf P is in alignment with the end 70 forming the open side of the bag 11. The operator then inserts the bread P, in the bagging direction X (arrow F7) to the bottom of the bag 11, thanks to the fact that the bag 11 is held in place on the plate 10 thanks to the blocking member 19 which pinches it against this plate 10.

Once the bread P is in place in the bag 11, the guides 23 are moved back by the displacement of the support 230 opposite the plate 10 ( figure 9 ), then the blocking member 19 is moved towards its raised position ( figure 10 ) to release the bag 11 and the bread P that it contains before its lateral evacuation by the conveyor 21. The locking member 19 is then positioned again towards its raised position and retracted from the figure 5 .

According to an optional aspect, the bagging machine 2 comprises a device for triggering by an operator the evacuation of a filled bag 11 . This device is formed by a motion detection cell 30, provided by a control unit 32, configured to detect a movement of the operator following the insertion of one or more products into a bag. For example, the operator may wish to insert several products into a bag 11, then close the latter with a clip. Once these operations are complete, the operator passes his hand in front of the cell 30, which triggers the release of the bag 11 by the blocking member 19 and the evacuation by the conveyor 21.

According to an optional aspect, the bagging machine 2 comprises a labeling system 34 configured to deposit labels on the sheath 7 prior to its unwinding on the plate 10. The labeling system 34 comprises a movable piston applying labels, which constitutes a potential danger for the hands of the operators. With respect to the direction of unwinding of the sheath 7, the labeling system 34 is therefore located upstream of the plate 10 and the means 13 for folding, cutting and welding. The labeling system 34 is located above the baffle rollers 4, and therefore on the side opposite the plate 10 with respect to the means 13 for folding, cutting and welding. Thus, the labeling system 34 is therefore not located above the plate 10, which improves the safety of the bagging machine 2, and provides additional space to the operator for his manipulations. The bagging machine 2 comprises a shelf 36 on which the sheath 7 is unrolled in order to provide support during the application of the labels.

In a variant not shown, the bagging machine 1 may include jacks for moving the carriage 27, not shown, in the bagging direction X. This or these jacks can be controlled by the control unit 32 of the bagging machine. bagging 1, after the operator has specified the length of the loaves he is about to bag, for example via an interface 320. In this case, the mobility of the carriage 27 can be ensured by any other mechanical, electrical or pneumatic.

The invention has been shown in the context of the use of a baguette-type bread. It is in fact applicable with any type of bread and, in general, with any food product, such as sausage or an article of pastries.

Claims (10)

1. A machine (1) for bagging food products (P), in particular breads, this machine being suitable for receiving at least one rotary spool (5) comprising a wound tubular sheath (7), a mechanism (8, 9) for driving the sheath (7) from the spool (5), means (13) for cutting, folding and welding configured to form bags (11) from the sheath (7), a tray (10) on which the unwound sheath (7) is positioned, a blowing system (17) for shaping the sheath (7), a table (15) for manually introducing food products into a bag (11) formed on the tray (10) in a bagging direction (X), a blocking member (19) suitable for blocking one edge (70a) of an end (70) of the sheath (7) in position, open on the side of the table (15), against the tray (10) before formation of the bag (11), and a system for discharging bagged food products, which discharge system comprises a conveyor (21) oriented in a direction (Y) transverse to the bagging direction (X), this conveyor (21) forming the tray (10), and in that a useful length (L) of the tray (10), defined along the bagging direction (X) between the cutting, folding and welding means (13) and the table (15), is variable by covering part of the conveyor (21) with the table (15), which is translatable relative to the tray (10) along the bagging direction (X).
2. The bagging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking member (19), the blowing system (17) and the table (15) are provided on a carriage (27) that is translatable relative to the conveyor (21) in the bagging direction (X).
3. The bagging machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the carriage (27) includes a receiving cavity (270) of the conveyor (21).
4. The bagging machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the carriage (27) is movable between a first position, in which the table (15) does not cover the conveyor (21), and in which the useful length (L) of the tray (10) is maximal, and a second position, in which the table (15) partly covers the conveyor (21), and the conveyor (21) is partly received in the cavity (270) of the carriage (27), and in which the useful length (L) of the tray (10) is minimal.
5. The bagging machine according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the carriage (27) includes a handle (272) for movement in the bagging direction (X) and a locking device (274) for locking its position relative to the conveyor (21).
6. The bagging machine according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it includes lateral guides (23) for inserting food products into the bags (11), mounted pivoting on the carriage (27).
7. The bagging machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the guides (23) are mounted on a support (230) that is translatable in the bagging direction (X) relative to the carriage (27), such that the guides (23) can be advanced toward a position in which their free end (231) is inserted into the bags (11) prior to the insertion of a food product.
8. The bagging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking member (19) is translatable in the bagging direction (X) relative to a tray (10), between a withdrawn position, in which the blocking member (19) does not obstruct a flow of air blown by the blowing system (17), and an advanced position, in which the blocking member (19) is vertically movable relative to the tray (10) between a raised position, in which it does not block the bag (11), and a position pressed against the tray (10) in which the bag (11) is held.
9. The bagging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a device for triggering by an operator of the discharge of a filled bag (11), formed by a movement detection cell (30) configured to detect a movement by the operator following the insertion of one or several products into a bag (11).
10. The bagging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a labeling system (34) configured to deposit labels on the sheath (7) prior to unwinding thereof on the tray (10).

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