ES2244380T3 - COMPACT AND REDUCABLE COMBINED DEVICE FOR PACKING BY A PLASTIC HOSE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Combined wrapping apparatus, of the type comprising a support structure (1), in which they are arranged: a system for forming a sheath (C) of heat shrinkable plastic material that can be obtained from a tubular material (T) folded in pleated shape; a system for supplying said sheath (C) to a delivery point disposed at the top of said support structure (1); a device (21, 21a) for adjusting said sheath, capable of picking up the sheath (C) from said system for delivery and adjusting it in a load (100) to be wrapped; and an annular structure (3) that can be moved vertically on said support structure and in which a circular group of burners (4) is fixed within which the heating of the heat shrinkable sheath is carried out; characterized in that said annular structure is suspended from an upper section of said support structure by means of first lifting elements (31) and is pivotally mounted on a support bracket (32) that can be moved vertically on a column of said support structure by a second lifting means (32, 33), said annular structure being able to be stowed downwards by means of a pivoting movement around a rotation axis (34) of said support bracket.

Description

Compact and reducible combination device for pack using a plastic sleeve.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a machine to pack and wrap by means of a plastic sleeve. In particular, it refers to a combined casing apparatus.

As is known from the prior art, a Encoder apparatus is a device that is widely used in specific fields of the wrapping sector to arrange bags or heat shrinkable plastic sheaths around loads that They rely on platforms or pallets.

In the case of a standard wrapping machine, after the cover has been installed, the load is introduced into an oven where the heat shrinkage of said sheath is made so that a solid and stable wrap is obtained. On the machines combined wrappers, on the contrary, these two operations are performed on the same device.

For this purpose, a wrapping machine combined usually consists of a support bridge in which several mobile devices are mounted, said devices being provided devices for picking up, opening and adjusting a carrying case on the load heat shrinkable plastic material; on the same support bridge, an annular structure is also mounted on which it is arranged a circular group of burners, said burners moving, in adequate time, around the load to be wrapped in so that heat is evenly applied to heat the sheath.

Under normal conditions, once the case, the circular group of burners descends to the base of the load, where the open mouth of the cover is arranged and begins to exert its heating action (expulsion of hot air until a temperature of 300 ° C) as it gradually rises to The top of the case.

However, due to the constructive design and the specific operating process, the combined wrapping machines of the prior art have some problems.

First of all, it should be noted that, in order to process standard size goods (i.e. with dimensions of 1,200 x 1,000 mm cross section for standard Europallets), the annular structure to heat the sheath must have some minimum dimensions so that when added to the dimensions typical of the support structure of the bridge type, the dimensions device totals are greater than the maximum volume that can be transport on standard vehicles or in standard containers. From done, under normal conditions, the annular structure is guided during its vertical translation movement in the four vertices of a quadrilateral by means of guidance and elevation systems suitable, which are housed in four vertical columns of the bridge structure that thus inevitably presents considerable dimensions.

Therefore, in most cases, a Once built, the holster must be completely mounted on the production workshop and then disassemble at its highest part, so that it can be loaded into a transport vehicle and reassemble at the buyer's premises. This gives rise, as can be seen, to two series of problems: on the one hand, the inevitable disassembly costs and new assembly and transfer of specialized personnel at the buyer's facilities and, on the other part, the loss of time derived from the attempt to obtain again the correct calibration and clearance that, having already been set by the manufacturer, cannot be repeated exactly after disassembly and new assembly.

From this point of view, therefore, there is the need to provide a combined wrapping machine structured in such a way that it can be disassembled as little as possible for transport

In addition, it should be noted that the application of heat in all combined wrapping devices results in intrinsic inconveniences that are all related; particularly, a problem for experts in this field it consists of heat dissipation that necessarily occurs for heat shrinkage of the complete sheath. Actually the considerable amount of heat supplied to the system tends naturally, as a result of convection, to disperse towards above, interacting with the structure of the support bridge and with the other movement mechanisms as well as with said films plastic of the covers that, according to the known technique, is located ready for use at the top of the bridge support.

Actually, the plastic case Heat shrinkable is shaped (from a tubular material folded in pleated form and unwound from reels commercially available) and delivered to the top of the wrapping machine The mechanisms to open the tubular material and to perform welding and cutting operations and adjusting the case are, therefore, all of them located at the top of the apparatus, where the heat produced during heat shrinkage It has a significant effect. Even when a protective screen is arranged on top of the support structure, As already proposed, these inconveniences are not completely resolved; also, in this way, heat is incapable of disperse, naturally, upwards and therefore tends to remain and accumulate in the wrapping area, thus modifying the working conditions in an undesirable way.

In addition, the market has not yet provided systems efficient enough to shape and move the case which does not necessarily have to be located at the top of the machine structure, except to withstand large constructive complications that adversely affect the reliability and manufacturing costs.

The objective of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems associated with the dimensions and the presence of high temperatures in wrapping machines combined.

Brief Description of the Invention

Particularly, the object of the invention is a combined wrapping machine that is compact and has a volume that can be reduced easily, quickly and without the need for a significant disassembly of essential components of the apparatus, so that it can also be transported and assembled by staff that is not very specialized.

According to another aspect of the invention, the objective It is a combined wrapping machine that exceeds inconveniences arising from the supply of quantities considerable heat to the main movement mechanisms and to the plastic material of the covers to be shaped.

These objectives are achieved through a device Encoder according to claim 1, that is, an apparatus in which the annular structure, on which the circular group is arranged of burners, it is pivotally mounted on a structure of support with reduced dimensions. At the same time, the device for transporting and supplying the cover, which is separate from the adjustment mechanism, it is located on the side of the structure, in a position protected from the heat generated during the heating process and supplies the case to the point Delivery only at the appropriate time.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the device according to the invention will become more clearly apparent from from the following detailed description of some of its ways of preferred embodiments, which are provided by way of example and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view, partially transparent, of a preferred embodiment of the invention that illustrates (in continuous lines and in dashed lines) the two positions that the annular heating structure is able to assume;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view enlarged gripping, cutting and welding device provided in the wrapping machine according to the invention;

Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view. partial, along line III-III of Figure 2, of the gripping device in a resting condition;

Figure 3B is a view, similar to that illustrated in Figure 3A, of the gripping device in the position of job;

Figure 4 is a side elevation view partial corresponding to Figure 3A;

Figure 5 is a side elevation view (which illustrates half of the ring structure and the load) of another embodiment of the invention during cutting operations and sheath welding;

Figure 6 is a view, similar to the provided in Figure 2, which illustrates the cutting stage and sheath welding;

Figure 7 is a view, similar to that of the Figure 5, during transport of the cover to the point of delivery;

Figure 8 is a view, similar to that of the Figure 5, during the delivery and opening of the case; Y

Figure 9 is a top plan view, with removed parts, of the embodiment according to Figure 1.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

The combined wrapping machine, according to the invention, will be described in more detail below, illustrating also its operation, in chronological order of the stages of sheath treatment.

As can be seen in Figure 1, a combined wrapping machine, according to the invention, is constituted by a support structure 1, which is substantially in the shape of an overdrawn L and that supports the reels B of material T heat shrink tubular, a line 2 to supply and deliver a sheath, a vertically movable ring structure 3 on which are mounted a series of burners 4 and a device for opening and adjusting the cover.

The support structure 1 is arranged in the proximity of a distribution line 5, or a support base simple, on which a load 100 of nature is transported variable, located on a pallet and intended for wrapping.

The cover C is formed from the tubular material T rolled on a reel B. The tubular material is folded, of a pleated shape, so that its deployment and opening can be get with facilitate using automatic systems. For the therefore, the tubular material has at least two pleated flanges that extend along each of the two edges lateral.

According to the invention, a guide and grip system and a sheath cutting and welding device are provided in the inner part of the structure 1.

The guidance and grip system comprises (Figures 2 to 4) a guide assembly, consisting of a pair of rails 10a and 10b with a U-shaped cross section and a pair of guides in form of bands 11 and a grip assembly consisting of a 12 grip fork. This system is dual in the sense that it can act on both edges of the pleated tubular material T (Only one of which, for the sake of simplicity, is illustrated in Figures 3A and 4).

Preferably, the U-shaped rails 10a and 10b are mounted parallel to each other, in a floating manner, of so that they are able to approach and move away from each other as they require. The two pleated side flanges T1 and T2 of the material Tubular T are inserted into the U-shaped rails, by example with manual means. Lanes 10a and 10b present, by Therefore, the function of vertically guiding the tubular material pleated, keeping the two flanges T1 and T2 separated and at a distance from each other. To force the tubular material so that it move along a substantially vertical plane, preventing him from crushing himself, the bands-shaped guides 11 are arranged in pairs on either side of the tubular material (Figures 2, 3A and 3B) to be able to support it in an upright position and guide it at least along a certain initial route. The bands-shaped guides 11 are also preferably mounted on a floating system 11a capable of absorbing the inevitable irregularities in the movement of movement of the material Tubular T, without hooks or clogging.

The grip fork 12 has three pins 12a, 12b and 12c. The central plug 12b is suitable for insertion between the two U-shaped rails 10a and 10b, if necessary moving and separating them during insertion. The two pegs external 12a and 12c are planned to be arranged adjacent to the external surfaces of the two rails 10a and 10b, respectively.

Also facing pistons are provided. 13a and 13b between pins 12a to 12c and which are capable, by means of a suitable pneumatic or hydraulic circuit (not shown), of stand out from each other from their seats and grab the edge of the tubular material T, which is arranged between them.

Therefore, in the resting condition, the fork 12 moves laterally, as illustrated in the Figures 3A and 4, in a position that does not interfere with the rails 10a, 10b or with the pleated tubular material T.

During a grip operation, the fork 12 is inserted (arrow A1) between rails 10a and 10b so that it insert correctly also between the two folds T1 and T2 of the T tubular material kept separate. In view of the rigidity intrinsic of lanes 10a and 10b, the flanges of the folds T1 and T2, which by their nature are not very solid, are prevented from fold incorrectly, to the detriment of the correct grip by the fork 12. Then the fork is raised (arrow A2) in an amount sufficient to come into direct contact with the Flanges of folds T1 and T2 above the rails (position with reference 12 'in Figure 4). At this point, the Pressure circuit is able to activate the facing pistons, 13a and 13b, so that they grip, respectively, the flanges T1 and T2 (Figure 3B).

Once the pleated tubular material T is firmly grasped along its edges, the two forks of grip 12 (one of which is not illustrated) are driven towards up in parallel by means of a movement system, which it is schematically illustrated in the form of a chain 14 with a endless mounting around pulleys 15.

During this movement, the grip forks 12 unwind the section of tubular material T having a predefined length equal to the movement of movement performed for these forks. Once the 12 forks have reached the desired height on structure 1 (Figure 5), the Tubular material is cut and welded at the bottom to form a cover C.

For this purpose, a device is provided 16 for cutting and welding, said device consisting of two oscillating facing blocks 16a and 16b on which the cutting blades 17a and 17b interact and are mounted welding rods 18a and 18b. When rotating around the respective oscillation axes from the rest position (Figure 2), in which there is no interference with the tubular material T, towards the working position (Figure 6), in the that the blades 17a and 17b and the welding rods 18a and 18b interact with each other and with the tubular material T, blocks 16a and 16b are cut and welded to the tubular material T to obtain a separate C cover.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, more than one guide assembly is provided for the tubular material, so that it is able to manipulate simultaneously two or more reels of pleated tubular material that are different, for example, in terms of material or dimensions transversal.

As can be seen in Figure 2, a set additional guidance in the form of bands 111, mounted on a 111a floating system, and associated U-shaped rails (no illustrated) are mounted on the same drawer type bracket 5, in solidarity with the guidance set described above. A second pleated tubular material T ', supplied from a second Reel B ', leads to bands 111 and associated lanes.

The drawer type support S can be moved horizontally on suitable guides S1. In this way, it is possible to place a given guidance set, which carries the corresponding tubular material that is intended for use at that time for the specific envelope required, along of the working plane of the grip fork 12 and the device Cutting and welding.

The reels can be mounted to a certain distance from the support structure of the machine sheathing machine (Figure 5), so that they define a sufficient space where the operator can work to manually insert the pleated tubular material in the corresponding sets of guided.

Alternatively, the reels are preferably mounted on suitable stands arranged directly next to the support structure of the machine sheathing machine (Figure 1), but the drawer type support S can be shift (in the direction of arrow F) by a magnitude enough to remove it from the area obstructed by the reels, so that they can have easy access. For example, it is provided a handle S_ {2}, by means of which the drawer locking elements (not illustrated in detail) and at the same time, a tensile force is applied so that the Drawer towards the user.

The parts described above form together a system to shape and supply the cover C.

The entirety of this first extension stage of the tubular material and formation of the sheath C, since they have place along the vertical section of structure 1 that is located laterally with respect to the heat shrink zone and is properly shielded without any difficulty, it is not accepted by the heat generated around the load that is going to wrap. Therefore, one of the objectives of the invention, that is, of providing a wrapping machine in the one that the cover, during the process for its formation, is not exposed to heat and therefore, do not change before time suitable.

At the same time, since the complete system is housed along the main vertical section of the support structure, does not need to be disassembled to reduce dimensions of the device, which also helps to achieve the other Object of the invention.

As soon as the stage that it involves heating a previous package and most of the heat has now been freely dissipated, cover C is transported by grip forks 12 along the upper section horizontal of the support structure 1 (Figure 7) and a then it moves vertically down, so that take a delivery item with the folds of the folds T1 and T2 fully open and extended, ready to be grabbed by the opening and adjustment device of the case.

If this last device is arm type oscillating (Figures 5, 7 and 8), the delivery point is located immediately below the upper horizontal section of the support structure 1; if, on the contrary, the device opening and adjustment of the cover is of the pin type (Figure 1), which is located at the bottom of the annular structure 3, the delivery point is located somewhat lower, that is, in a sufficient magnitude to transfer the edges of the sheath by under the annular structure, when placed in its position elevated (solid lines in Figure 1).

In this report it will not be described in more detail the opening and adjustment device of the case, since it does not form part of the present invention. However, it should be remembered that most advantageous results, for the purposes of the teachings here offered, are obtained if this device is fully assembled with the annular structure and therefore physically separated (except for electrical, pneumatic and other connections connections) of the remaining mechanisms housed in the structure of support.

The annular structure 3 to which the 4 burners for hot air production, it is mounted on a movement system that guides and controls its movement in a vertical direction on the height of the load to be wrap.

Once cover C has been opened, the annular structure 3 moves down, so that the own case can be adjusted on the load.

At this point, the adjustment devices, by example, the grip arms 21-24, release the sheath flanges and heating operation can be started of the heat shrinkable cover, starting the burners 4 and gradually shifting the annular structure up to a speed that depends on the characteristics of the machine Enveloper and of the case itself.

Meanwhile, the grip fork 12 is takes the chain 14 back to its base position, where it is ready to perform a subsequent grip and traction of another tubular material section T.

According to the invention, the annular structure 3 is hung in a barycentric position from a first chain of elevation 31 and is pivotally mounted, by means of a pivot pin 34, on a guide support 32 that is movable in vertical sense

The guide support 32 can slide to along a vertical column of the support structure 1 by means of suitable sliding guides and a second system of elevation. Preferably this second lifting system it also consists of a chain 33 that is attached to the support 32 and with endless mounting around a drive pulley and pulley driven.

Chains 31 and 33 are driven, preferably by means of the same engine, in a way synchronized, so that they descend and rise at the same time two junction points of the annular structure 3 which is at the same time able to move vertically to perform its function.

When the wrapping machine, according to the invention, should be reduced in size for transport, is enough to loosen the barycentric clamping chain 31, while the pivot pin 34 is held in a rest position, of so that it allows the "trincado down" of the structure annular (indicated by 3 'in the carved position). The support 32 is located at a height sufficient to allow the structure annul 3 be tilted completely down without operation interferes with the ground.

In this way, without having to make a important disassembly of any essential component of the device, it is possible to obtain a significant reduction in dimensions that allows its easy transport. In addition, the new assembly does not requires special technical knowledge and can be done by non-specialized operators present at the facilities of the buyer.

Obviously, an expert in the field will be capable of devising other lifting systems that are equivalent to those illustrated above, so it is important to note that the support structure does not necessarily need four bulky guide pedestals and that the annular structure can be provisionally carve vertically down by means of a pivoting movement around the lateral pivot pin 34.

The apparatus according to the invention, therefore, dramatically overcomes the drawbacks of the technique previous.

Due to the fact that all components Delicate system shaping system are housed in the bottom and side of the support structure and the fact that the annular structure, on which the circular group of burners and the opening and adjustment system of the sheath is transports, can be pivoted and carved down, so that the device can be temporarily reduced in size, without having to disassemble complex and essential parts that are difficult to adjust, resulting in considerable simplification and savings in terms of transport and installation.

The device is, in general, more stylized and less bulky also in the operating condition, which It represents an advantage for the user.

Finally, the structure and layout specific to the work parts, which are arranged so that can easily be screened, minimize problems derived from the generation of heat used for heat shrinkage

In this sense, the objectives expressed in the introduction.

However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular configurations above illustrated, which constitute only non-limiting examples of scope of the invention, but numerous are possible variations, all of them within the knowledge of an expert in the matter and without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, if special requirements determine that the support structure must be constructed in a way traditional, with a "bridge" design in the shape of a U inverted, it would be possible to arrange, close to the structure illustrated in Figure 1, a corresponding complementary part of the support structure, for example only with functions structural and devoid of any functional device illustrated in the description above; this complementary part it could, however, be easily disassembled and separated from the Functional main part without particular difficulty. Dimensions could also be reduced without problems for the purpose of transport.

Claims (15)

1. Combined wrapping apparatus, of the type that comprises a support structure (1), in which they are ready: a system to form a cover (C) of heat shrinkable plastic material that can be obtained from a tubular material (T) folded in pleated form; a system for supplying said sheath (C) to a delivery point arranged at the top of said structure support (1); a device (21, 21a) to adjust said cover, capable of collecting the cover (C) from said system to supply and adjust it in a load (100) to be wrapped; Y an annular structure (3) that can be moved vertically on said support structure and in which it is fixed a circular group of burners (4) within which the heat shrinkable sheath heating; characterized in that said annular structure is suspended from an upper section of said support structure by means of first lifting elements (31) and is pivotally mounted on a support bracket (32) that can be moved vertically on a column of said support structure by a second lifting means (32, 33), said annular structure being able to be stowed down by means of a pivoting movement around a rotation axis (34) of said support bracket. 2. Enveloping apparatus according to claim 1, in which the systems to form and supply the sheath and said device for adjustment are completely separated and are suitable for cooperating at a delivery point located at one end of the upper section of the support structure. 3. Combined wrapping device according to the claim 1, wherein the adjustment device is fully arranged in such structure cancel, cooperating with the feeding system only in said delivery point. 4. Combined wrapping device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said second means lifting features the shape of an endless assembly line around at least one gear wheel. 5. Combined wrapping device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first means lifting have the form of a chain attached to said annular structure and that can be moved by means engines 6. Combined wrapping device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said structure annular is suspended in a barycentric manner from said first lifting means. 7. Combined wrapping device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system for conform the cover is completely housed within a section vertical side of the support structure. 8. Combined wrapping device according to claim 7, wherein the systems for shaping and Supply are integrated and include: at least one short U-shaped lane for each fold of said pleated pleated tubular material, within which the fold can be guided in a displacement substantially vertical along one side of said structure of support, said rails forming a pair of guiding assemblies arranged along two edges of the tubular material; a grip fork for each set of guided, which has pegs that are provided with grab elements and that can be inserted horizontally between said rails and their outer part and can be moved in the direction vertical so that they are located at the end of the rails and they can grab the flanges of said folds of the material tubular; said grip fork being able to be driven, by means of a movement system, towards the proximity of these delivery points. 9. Combined wrapping device according to claim 8, wherein the rails in each set of rails are movable with each other, approaching and moving away, from a mutually floating way. 10. Combined wrapping device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said movement system it comprises a chain drive that follows an endless path, the grip fork being attached to a cross member fixed to said chain drive transmission. 11. Combined wrapping device according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein said guiding assembly it also includes guide bands arranged, in pairs, in one or other side of the pleated tubular material so that they serve to guide your movement 12. Combining device combined with claim 11, wherein said bands are mounted in a floating way. 13. Combined wrapping device according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein a cutting device and welding is also present above said set of guided and is suitable for closing and separating, from the material tubular, the underside of a sheath that is forming. 14. Combined wrapping device according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein said pair of sets of guided is mounted on a movable drawer, being at least another pair of guiding assemblies arranged on the same drawer for be able to guide another part of pleated pleated tubular material, said drawer arranging the desired pair of guiding assemblies at along the working plane of said grip fork. 15. Combined wrapping device according to claim 14, wherein said movable drawer is removable in sufficient amplitude to expose it to an operator that may have easy access to insert the initial edges of the material tubular in the respective guide assemblies.