EP4680534A1

EP4680534A1 - Packaging device for packages and method

Info

Publication number: EP4680534A1
Application number: EP24711947.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marcello BORGHI; Alessandro GRAZIOSO
Original assignee: System Ceramics SpA
Current assignee: System Ceramics SpA
Priority date: 2023-03-14
Filing date: 2024-03-14
Publication date: 2026-01-21
Also published as: CN120882632A; WO2024189566A1; IT202300004755A1; MX2025010739A

Abstract

Device for packaging packages (P) of boxes (S) comprising -a transport plane (2) having a transport direction (X) of the packages (P); -at least a first strapping machine (4) arranged for the application of at least a first strap; -at least a second strapping machine (5), arranged for the application of at least a second strap; wherein the first and the second strapping machine (4,5) are arranged in a packaging zone (R) and are separated by an operating distance (D) along the transport direction (X). Operating method of a device for packaging (3) packages (P) of boxes (S).

Description

DESCRIPTION

PACKAGING DEVICE FOR PACKAGES AND METHOD

The present invention relates to a device and a method for packaging packages.

In particular, the invention refers to the packaging or tying of packages comprising a plurality of objects overlapping each other.

By way of example and to facilitate understanding, the present invention is described with reference to sheet-like products of the ceramic industry such as ceramic tiles or products for floors such as LVT or wood, and to packages derived from the overlapping, in a vertical or horizontal direction, of boxes containing such sheet-like products; however, the features of the subject matter of the present invention are also applicable to other fields of the industry and to products of variable geometries, as long as they can be stacked and positioned in boxes which can overlap each other.

At the end of a ceramic production line, the products, i.e., ceramic slabs, must be boxed in order to be transported in packages containing several overlapping boxes. Such boxes, usually containing a predetermined number of sheet-like products, are typically made from sheets of cardboard which are folded around the stacked objects in the packaging zone, or they can be in the form of prefabricated cardboard boxes. However, ceramic tiles and sheet-like products can also be stacked and packaged in packages by means of tying without the use of boxes: the tying is performed directly on the stacked products in a horizontal or vertical direction.

Each of the aforesaid boxes preferably has two main faces, one upper and one lower, parallel to each other and a plurality of lateral sides; the lateral sides are substantially perpendicular to the main faces.

The boxes must then be stacked, i.e., they must be secured on top of each other, placing the lower face of the box to be stacked in contact with the upper face of a previously positioned box; preferably the boxes are stacked in a vertical direction; moreover, the boxes are stacked so that the lateral sides of different boxes are aligned and coplanar.

The thus overlapped boxes form the final package, which must be compact and stable, so as to allow an easy and safe transport thereof.

In order to ensure such features of compactness and stability, the overlapped boxes are tied with means capable of wrapping the entire package: among the tools used, the use of straps is one of the most widespread.

A strap is intended as a strip of variable thickness and size, preferably made of polymeric material, or other material appropriately chosen depending on the particular application, which is looped around a plurality of objects, so as to prevent slipping or regardless the relative movement of one relative to another.

Considering, for example, a plurality of objects overlapped in a vertical direction, this plurality of objects can be secured, preferably but not exclusively, by at least one strap capable of identifying a plane parallel to such a vertical stacking direction. This is intended to prevent the stacked objects from moving in a horizontal direction.

In the case of ceramic slabs, the objects are the boxes containing a predetermined number of ceramic slabs. Sheet-like products, such as ceramic slabs or panels for flooring or cladding, are characterised by a much smaller distance between the upper face and lower face relative to the distances between parallel sides; moreover, the ceramic slabs are stacked inside a box in a limited number to avoid breakage and preserve the integrity thereof; moreover, preferably, the slabs are stacked by overlapping the lower face of the slab to be overlapped with the upper face of the previously positioned slab. Consequently, boxes created by stacking sheet-like products have a smaller distance between the upper surface and lower surface than the distance between the lateral sides of the box.

A further consequence is that large slabs, and thus large boxes, are tied and kept overlapping thanks to the use of more than one strap, so as to achieve a more stable final package. Automatic strap dispensing devices, known as strapping machines, are used in the industry: in other words, a strapping machine is a machine designed for the application of a strap to a package.

The strapping machines according to the known art comprise a support plane on which the package to be packaged is positioned and a structure provided with four adjacent crossbars, two-by-two parallel and of equal length: the aforesaid structure constitutes the dispensing component of the strap.

The support plane, of variable size and positioning, must be such as to guarantee the positioning of a package through the plane identified by the strapping machine's crossbars, so that they are capable of releasing the strap and tightening it in a loop around the package itself.

That is, the strap is applied and tightened to the package positioned on the support plane in a coplanar position relative to the plane identified by the four strap dispensing crossbars. A different orientation of the crossbars in space and relative to the package causes a different positioning of the strap applied to the package itself.

A critical aspect of the current solutions, which constitutes a non-negligible limitation from a productivity point of view, is the time employed to complete the strap application operation. In fact, each package must be positioned in the strapping machine's working area, where it is subject to the application of the strap, or straps where more than one is required, and must leave the working area before the same sequence of actions is performed on the next package.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device capable of improving the known art, in particular in terms of the time employed to carry out the action of applying straps within the packaging zone of a production line, in which multiple packages must transit to be tied with straps.

The object of the present invention is a packaging device comprising at least two strapping machines arranged along a transport plane, whose mutual distance is adjustable according to process requirements.

Advantageously, the object of the present invention allows the application of the straps to a single package or to several packages moved along a transport line.

Packages are intended as both groups of boxes, containing ceramic slabs or other sheet-like products, overlapping each other, and groups of ceramic slabs or sheet-like products not positioned inside boxes, but directly overlapping each other.

Advantageously, the distance between strapping machines can be adjusted according to specific process requirements, such as size of the packages to be packaged and availability of space within a production line. In particular, the invention allows to modify the position of the strapping machines quickly, in order to quickly adapt to format changes and reduce the length of the line. In the current solutions, the strapping machines are in a fixed position along the line and are far apart from each other, in order to be able to accept both small formats and large formats.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention in question, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the appended figures, in which:

- figure 1 shows an isometric view of the packaging device according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows a top view, relative to the plane X-Z, of the packaging device of figure 1 ;

- figure 3 shows a lateral view, relative to the plane Y-Z, of the packaging device of figure 1 ;

- figure 4 shows an isometric view of the packaging device according to the present invention, in a second working configuration;

- figure 5 shows a further isometric view of the packaging device according to the present invention.

In the following description, a package P will be understood as a group formed by at least two boxes (S), overlapping each other preferably, but not exclusively, in the vertical direction (Y). Each box (S) can contain one or more objects, e.g., sheet-like products or ceramic slabs, overlapping each other in the vertical direction (Y). Each package is provided with two main faces, an upper face (1 a) and a lower face (1 b), and a plurality of lateral sides (11).

Furthermore, a package P can be understood as a group formed by one or more ceramic slabs or other sheet-like products. They overlap each other preferably, but not exclusively, in the vertical direction (Y). Also in this case, the package P has an upper face (1a), a lower face (1 b) and a plurality of lateral sides (11).

The packaging device (3) according to the present invention comprises a transport plane (2), arranged for the transport of the packages (P) along a transport direction (X). The transport plane is motorised with means known in the art, which causes the translation of the package (P).

Considering the aforesaid transport direction (X), the package (P), coming from upstream processing stations, transits through the packaging device (3) and is then transferred towards subsequent stations located downstream of the packaging device (3).

The strapping device (3) according to the present invention comprises at least a first strapping machine (4) and a second strapping machine (5), each arranged for dispensing at least one strap of width L.

The first strapping machine (4) and second strapping machine (5) are separated by an operating distance (D).

The packaging device (3) is further provided with position sensors, located at each strapping machine (4,5). Such position sensors are of the type known in the art and are arranged to detect the presence of the package to which the respective strap is to be applied; an example of a position sensor which can be employed is the photocell type. In the following paragraphs, reference will be made to a first and a second strapping machine (4,5), therefore, an embodiment comprising two strapping machines is identified: it is possible, however, to consider a packaging device (3), not shown in the figures, comprising more than two strapping machines.

The first and second strapping machine (4,5) are arranged in series along the transport plane (2).

Each strapping machine (4,5) comprises a frame (40,50), which essentially defines an annular path for a strap.

In the depicted embodiment, each frame (40,50) comprises four adjacent crossbars, connected to each other so as to define an annular structure or frame. In particular, each frame (40,50) comprises two lateral crossbars (6a and 6c), an upper crossbar (6b) and a lower crossbar (6d). Preferably, the lateral crossbars (6a, 6c) are parallel to each other and of equal length. Similarly, the upper (6b) and lower (6d) crossbars are preferably parallel and of equal length. The four crossbars (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) lie on a plane parallel to Y-Z.

The crossbars (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) which make up the frames (40,50) define an annular guide for the application of the straps around a package P. In particular, each strap is arranged in a known manner along the frame profile defined by the crossbars. When the package (P) is in the intended position, which can be identified for example by means of the position sensors, relative to the operative plane identified by each frame (40, 50), the strap is released from each crossbar (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) of the frames (40,50) and tightened in a loop around the package (P), in the desired position. In a preferred embodiment, each strapping machine (4,5) comprises a bridge structure (41 ,51 ) (Fig.5). Each frame (40,50) belonging to a strapping machine (4,5) is constrained to the respective bridge structure (41 ,51 ), arranged above the conveyor (2) and transverse thereto. Movement means known in the art allows, by means of actuators, the displacement of the frame in the vertical direction relative to the bridge structure (41 ,51 ), in order to achieve the correct positioning of each of the frames (40,50) relative to the package (P) to which the straps must be applied. Motor means (81 ,82) is arranged to allow the displacement of the frames (40,50) in the vertical direction. The motor means (81 ,82) can be operated independently of each other, so as to allow the independent displacement of one frame relative to the other.

The two frames (40,50) lie on an operative plane perpendicular to the transport direction (X). More precisely, at least in one operative position of the frames (40,50), the lower crossbar (6d) belonging to each of the frames (40,50) is located below the transport plane (2). Thereby, the packages (P) moving on the transport plane pass through each frame (40,50), i.e., they pass through the gap delimited by the crossbars (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d). Each strap is applied to the package (P), maintaining the same operative plane as the frame (40,50) responsible for dispensing the aforesaid strap.

The transport plane (2) comprises, for example, but not exclusively, a succession of rollers (7), suitably spaced from each other: in fact, the rollers (7) are spaced at a distance (d) from each other. The distance (d) is chosen so as to allow the positioning of the operative frames (40,50) between two consecutive rollers (7), so as to allow the passage of the strap from the lower crossbar (6d) through the transport plane (2). Preferably, but not necessarily, the transport plane (2) is a continuous plane, and is driven in motion by a single motor means. In fact, the use of rollers (7) allows to position the operative frames (40,50) across adjacent rollers, without interrupting the kinematic chain of motorisation of the rollers (7). This greatly facilitates the control of the transport plane (2) and reduces the number of motor means required for the driving.

The first and the second strapping machine (4,5) are arranged in a packaging zone (R). For example, the packaging zone (R) is substantially defined by the space comprised between the strapping machines (4,5), having an operating distance (D).

In a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the subject matter of the present invention, the transport direction (X) is substantially horizontal and the operative plane identified by the frames (40,50) is perpendicular to the transport direction (X); that is, the frames identify an operative plane which is substantially vertical.

The strap applied to a package (P) according to the preferred embodiment also lies on the same operative plane perpendicular to the transport direction (X).

The system and mechanism for dispensing straps by each strapping machine (4,5) is known in the art.

The presence of the first and second strapping machine (4,5) arranged at an operating distance D very advantageously allows to apply straps to two packages simultaneously.

Advantageously, the first and the second strapping machine (4,5) are also arranged to be able to operate simultaneously on a single package P, each applying a strap thereof, in positions corresponding to the respective working planes of the operative frames (40,50).

It is also possible to increase the number of straps tied around the same package (P). For example, after having tied two straps in the manners described above, it is possible to advance the package (P) by a predetermined pitch, and activate one or both of the two strapping machines (4,5) to each apply a second strap to the package (P), so that the package (P) is tied by three, four or more straps, as a function of the length of the package to be tied. This allows for greater stabilisation of the package (P), especially with particularly heavy and extended objects along the transport direction (X).

Similar to the previous paragraphs, for large packages or simply to ensure better stability of any package (P) to be packaged, two straps, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main faces (1 a, 1 b), are preferably applied to each package (P) transiting through the packaging zone (R).

To make the description of the strap application method clearer, position A is defined as the position corresponding to the first strap applied and position B as the position corresponding to the second strap applied. Position A and position B are preferably parallel to each other and perpendicular to the upper face (1 a) and to the lower face (1 b) of the package (P) to be packaged. Of the two, position A is parallel and close to the plane which first crosses the first frame (40), while position B is parallel and close to the lateral side which last crosses the first frame (40).

As will be illustrated below, position A and position B vary depending on the size of the package (P).

A further object of the present invention is an operating method of the packaging device (3) according to the present invention.

According to the method of the present invention, a package (P), coming from processing stations located upstream of the packaging zone (R) according to the transport direction (X), is transported on a transport plane (2); during the advancement, the package (P) passes through the plane identified by the first strapping machine (4) until it reaches a predetermined point, which can be detected by means of the position sensors; having reached the predetermined point, the transport plane (2) stops; subsequently, the first strapping machine (4) applies a first strap to the package (P) in position A.

Subsequently, the transport plane (2) resumes action, moving the package towards the second strapping machine (5); during the advancement, the package (P) crosses the plane identified by the second strapping machine (5) until it reaches a predetermined point, which can be detected by means of the position sensors; having reached the predetermined point, the transport plane (2) stops; subsequently, the second strapping machine (5) applies a second strap to the package (P) in position b.

Simultaneously, a new package (P') enters the packaging zone (R) and the first strapping machine (4) applies a first strap on the package (P') in position A.

That is, at the same moment in which the second strap is applied to the first package (P) in position B, the first strap is applied to the second package (P') in position A. The result is that in a production line in which several packages (P) transit in succession, the packaging device (3) according to the present invention is very advantageously capable of operating on two packages simultaneously, halving the time required by the strapping machines to complete the packaging of the packages.

A further object of the present invention is a second operating method of the packaging device (3): according to this method, the strapping machines (4,5) operate simultaneously on one package P at a time. The operative frames (40,50) simultaneously apply one strap each at positions A and B.

In detail, a package (P) enters the packaging zone (R) and its transit is interrupted in the position in which the operative frames (40,50) identify operative planes corresponding to positions A and B to which the straps are to be applied.

That is, when the package is stationary, in the appropriate position within the packaging zone, the second strapping machine (5) applies a strap in position A and, simultaneously, the first strapping machine (4) applies a strap in position B. Subsequently, the transit of the package (P) resumes to make way for the next package (P') to be packaged.

Furthermore, the first and the second strapping machine (4,5) are connected to movement means (8), which enables the bridge structures (41 ,51 ) belonging to the first and second strapping machine (4,5) to slide along a guide (9). Such a guide (9) is arranged in a direction parallel to the transport direction (X). Furthermore, motors means (81 ,82) is arranged to allow a vertical displacement of the frames (40,50) along guides or sliding means not described in detail, as they are known to a person skilled in the art. The motor means (81 ,82) is configured to allow a vertical stroke of the frames (40,50) and/or strapping machines (4,5), so as to bring the frames (40,50) above the transport plane (2) and allow the translation thereof along the transport direction (X). In particular, by means of the motor means (81 ,82), the frames (40,50) are vertically movable between an upper position, in which they are entirely above the transport plane (2) and can displace along the transport direction (X) without interfering with the transport plane (2), and an operative position, lower than the previous one, in which they are arranged at least in part through the transport plane (2), so as to be able to be crossed by the packages (P) and allow the positioning of the straps around the packages (P) themselves.

Thanks to the presence of the guide (9) and the movement means (8), it is possible to vary the operating distance (D) between the frames (40,50): the operating distance (D) can be reduced by moving the bridge structures (41 ,51 ), to which the frames (40,50) are constrained, in a direction parallel to the transport direction (X) and approaching; conversely, the operating distance (D) can be increased by moving the bridge structures (41 ,51 ), and thus the frames (40,50), in a direction parallel to the transport direction (X) and moving away.

Fig. 4 shows a different configuration which can be obtained by decreasing the operating distance (D), relative to the configuration depicted in figures 1 -3, by activating the movement means (8) which allows the translation of the strapping machines in the transport direction (X) along a guide (9).

The movement occurs by mechanical means known in the art and control systems suitably implemented to ensure the operation and efficiency of the packaging device.

In a very advantageous way, this allows to adapt the operating distance (D) to the size of the packages to be packaged: packages having a greater longitudinal extension, considering the transport direction (X) require a greater distance between position A and position B of the straps, and, consequently, a greater operating distance (D), so as to ensure the correct positioning of the straps on the package (P). In fact, position A and position B of the straps will be determined and set according to the size of the package (P) in transit through the packaging zone (R).

Furthermore, the possibility of increasing or decreasing the relative distance between the first and second strapping machine (4,5) advantageously allows to adapt the size of the packaging device to format changes, permanent or temporary spatial constraints within a production line.

Claims

1) A device for packaging packages (P) of sheet-like products (S), preferably ceramic tiles or slabs, comprising:

-a transport plane (2) having a transport direction (X) of the packages (P); characterised in that it comprises:

-at least a first strapping machine (4) arranged for the application of at least a first strap, and

-at least a second strapping machine (5), arranged for the application of at least a second strap; wherein the first and the second strapping machine (4,5) are arranged in a packaging zone (R) and are separated by an operating distance (D) along the transport direction (X).

2) The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second strapping machine (4,5) are arranged for positioning the respective straps on operative planes parallel to each other.

3) The device according to claim 2, wherein said operative planes are perpendicular to the transport direction (X).

4) The device according to claim 1 wherein the first and the second strapping machine (4,5) are connected to movement means (8), arranged for the mutual translation of the first and the second strapping machine (4,5) along the transport direction (X).

5) The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each strapping machine (4,5) comprises a respective frame (40,50), lying on a respective operative plane.

6) The device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second strapping machine (4,5) comprise motor means (81 ,82), arranged to allow a vertical displacement of the first and the second frame (40,50).

7) The device according to claim 6, wherein the frames (40,50) are vertically movable between an upper position, in which they are entirely above the transport plane (2) and can displace along the transport direction (X) without interfering with the transport plane (2), and an operative position, lower than the previous one, in which they are arranged at least in part through the transport plane (2), so as to be able to be crossed by the packages (P) and allow the positioning of the straps around the packages (P) themselves.

8) The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport plane (2) comprises a plurality of rollers (7) spaced from each other by a distance (d).

9) The device according to claims 5 and 8, wherein each frame (40,50) is arranged between a pair of consecutive rollers (7).

10) An operating method of a device for packaging packages (P,P’) of sheet-like products comprising:

-a transport plane (2), arranged for the transport of the packages (P,P’) along a transport direction (X);

-a first strapping machine (4) arranged for the application of a first strap and a second strapping machine (5), arranged for the application of a second strap to the packages (P,P’) in transit through a packaging zone (R) in which the first and second strapping machine (4,5) are arranged; characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

-Entry of a package (P) into the packaging zone;

-Application by the first strapping machine (4) of the first strap to a first package (P);

-Translation of the package towards the second strapping machine (5) and entry of a second package (P’) into the packaging zone;

-Application by the second strapping machine (5) of the second strap to the package (P) and application by the first strapping machine (4) of the first strap to the package (P’);

- Translation of the package (P) outside the packaging zone (R) and translation of the second package (P’) towards the second strapping machine (5);

-Application by the second strapping machine (5) of the second strap to the package (P'); -Translation of the package (P’) outside the packaging zone (R).

11) The operating method of a device for packaging a package (P) of sheet-like products comprising:

-a transport plane (2), arranged for the transport of the packages (P) along a transport direction (X);

-a first strapping machine (4) arranged for the application of a first strap and a second strapping machine (5), arranged for the application of a second strap to the package (P) in transit through a packaging zone (R) in which the first and second strapping machine (4,5) are arranged; characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

- entry of the package (P) into the packaging zone;

- application on the package (P) of a first strap by the first strapping machine (4) and of a second strap by the second strapping machine (5);

- possible application of further straps to the package (P) by the first and/or the second strapping machine

- translation of the package (P) outside the packaging zone (R).