ES2393705T5 - Procedure and device for packing small items - Google Patents

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Procedure and device for packing small items

The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging devices in the form of small pieces with a handle (stick candies).

For the packaging of articles in small pieces, such as hard or soft candies, chocolates or other confectionery products in small pieces, both intermittent packaging machines and those that work according to the principle of continuous work are known, so that generally High performance machines in general should operate according to the principle of continuous work, since otherwise, in addition to the inevitable downtimes, the higher accelerations of the product and packaging material require a higher power.

In a packaging machine, known from US5450706, the stick candies are separated from a storage located in an article supply and individualization device located in a horizontal preparation plane, and the isolated stick candies are removed from the housings. by means of a collection head, and provided on a clamping device fixedly placed on a plate and finally they are provided to the packaging head. For the extraction of the stick candies, a tilting plate acts in connection with a base plate and a stick holding device, which holds the candy stick.

The special shapes of the items and product configurations always pose special requirements for the design of high performance packaging machines. Until now, items of special configurations, for example, stick candies, that is, hard candy or chocolate balls equipped with a handle, due to their specific characteristics, have only been able to be packaged according to the rules of intermittency and consequently, at reduced performance. Therefore, intermittent packaging machines designed to package stick candies with rotating wrap only achieve reduced yields, from about 300 to 500 work cycles per minute. Due to product errors (balls without a handle or with a defective or poorly positioned handle), problems arise already during loading of the stick candies on a separation plate and their separation into loose pieces with the handles oriented radially outward. According to the state of the art, the handles of the separated stick candies are always extracted on the side of the handle by means of pairs of tweezers of a chain, but this extraction process can never be carried out with a production load of 100%. which also causes additional performance limitations. Said tweezers, and with it the product, move intermittently through a packing head (between an upper die and a lower die, introduced together with a piece of packaging material). After forming the tube of packaging material both ends of the tube are heated, and only in a subsequent switching position is the wrapping operation performed, with two turns and without oscillation.

It is necessary to improve both the quality of the packaging and the performance of the packaging.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to disclose a method and a device for packaging articles in small pieces, especially articles with a handle, which allow to achieve a high yield with high quality of packaging, and that create the necessary conditions to also be able to package complex items at high yields. In particular, a higher quality of packaging of the articles has to be achieved.

This objective is achieved, according to the invention, by a method with the characteristics of claim 1 and a device with the characteristics of claim 21.

The method and the device, according to the invention, are especially advantageous because, for the first time in the field of continuous operation machines, that is, packaging machines through which the articles pass continuously, there are only two rotating heads, namely a rotating extraction head and a rotating packaging head, so that the machine time for the packaging of each piece of the article is reduced and, thanks to a more compact integration of the packaging operations and the packaging units necessary for this, also for complex articles, such as those with a handle, it is possible to achieve high yields, for example, of 1000 pieces per minute. According to the invention, the articles are collected one by one by means of a rotating extraction head, transferred to a rotating packaging head and preferably, once the packaging is finished, they are delivered by means of a delivery device.

Preferred configurations of the invention are subject to the corresponding dependent claims.

In addition, the process according to the invention has been advantageously perfected because an addition of packaging material is already made in the area of a first device, after the removal of a unit from the article, which, together with the piece of packaging material , is transferred to a second device, the packaging head itself, which forms the packaging of the article.

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Within the framework of the present invention, new procedures and devices are provided for the packaging of articles with handle (stick candies).

In relation to the packaging of articles with handle, the method according to the invention is characterized, in particular, because the collection of the product, that is, the grip on the handle, is carried out very close to the ball of the article and not, as until Now, at the free end of the handle.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention has been advantageously perfected because the addition of the packaging material has moved to the extraction head, while, until now, the machines that work continuously have a gripping head between the extraction head. and the packaging head. The first head of the machine, which collects the separate items in loose parts of a product separation and loading device, for example, from a separator disk, also has the means, so far assigned to a separate gripping head, intended to add the packaging material to the article in the extraction head and deliver the article, together with the packaging material, directly from the extraction head to the packaging head.

As an example of products, the present patent application refers, in particular, to the packaging of articles in small pieces, provided with a handle, the so-called stick candies, without being limited thereto. So far, such articles have not been able to be packed with high performance machines that allow for the production of, for example, about 1000 pieces per minute. An advantageous way of carrying out the process for the packaging of such products according to the operative principle of the continuously operating packaging machines is that the handle articles separated into single pieces are not held, as until now, by the free end of the handle, but are held by the area of the handle located on the side of the article, that is, at a point as close as possible to the ball of the product. This has the advantage that, for example, the position errors of the handle with respect to the ball do not affect the manipulation of the product, so that the product is collected with great safety and tolerances (for example, the eccentricity between the handle and the ball) do not influence the rest of the packaging procedure.

In addition, this makes the conduction of the product inside the extraction head very safe and thus creates favorable conditions for the transfer of the article, together with the packaging material, from the extraction head to the packaging head. In addition, the collection near the ball has an additional centering effect of the article, since the extraction devices (pairs of tweezers) can have a large opening angle and precisely grab the product always in the same extraction position.

Such products in small pieces, also the articles with aqul handle considered as an example thereof, are sometimes packaged with a wrap of rotated fins. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, heated twists are used to twist and seal the packaging material on the handle of the articles with handle, allowing hot sealing and thus achieving high quality and strength. of the sealing of the packaging in the transition zone between the handle and the ball of the article. Where appropriate, to make fins rotated at the end of the handle opposite the article, a rotating clamp could also be used, or such rotating clamps could be used when heat sealable packaging films are used to package products with double-turn wrap (articles without handle), or plastic sheets of greater repositioning force can be used for sealing on the handle of articles with handle, without this affecting the appearance or sealing of the packaging material on the handle. However, in this example, the wrap of fins rotated at the end of the handle opposite the article is formed as a single wrap by conventional (not heated) rotating tongs.

Other preferred configurations of the devices according to the invention and of the method according to the invention are set forth in the other dependent claims.

Next, the invention will be explained on the basis of an embodiment and the corresponding drawings. The drawings show:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a packaging machine intended to continuously package articles with handle (stick candies),

Figure 2 schematically shows the article loading device and its separation into units,

Figure 3 is a schematic and partial representation of a brush device intended to orient the articles,

Figure 4 is a partial schematic representation, in perspective, of a vacuum cycle sensor device of the loading and separating device into loose parts,

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Figure 5 represents in perspective, partially and schematically, an extraction head and a loading ring of the separating device during the removal of an article,

Figure 6 partially shows in perspective the extraction head of Figure 5 during the extraction operation, that is, in relation to the loading ring of the separating device during the removal of an article, seen from the separating device,

Figure 7 represents the extraction head, similar to Figure 6, and shows the provision of a piece of packaging material for an article located in the extraction head,

Figure 8 is a general schematic front representation of the collection head and the packing head;

Figure 9 schematically shows in perspective a drive device for the extraction head of Figures 5, 6 or 7,

Figure 10 shows in perspective a part of the total representation of the essential functional units of the packaging machine of Figure 1,

Figure 11 schematically shows in perspective a part of a packaging head in combination with a rotating clamp intended to seal the packaging material on a handle of an article (stick candy),

Figure 12 is a schematic partial perspective view of a rear rotating head with rotating clamps,

Figure 13 schematically shows a rotating station with front and rear rotating head including the intermediate packing head,

Figure 14 schematically shows the front end of a heated rotating clamp, with a pair of rotating clamps, and

Figure 15 schematically represents the procedure for carrying out the packaging process in the packaging machine, according to revindication 1, for the packaging of an article with handle (stick candy).

Figure 1 shows a packaging machine -100- that operates according to the principle of continuous work, in which the article -A- (compare with figure 4) is continuously extracted from a loading and separating device into loose parts - 1- located on a horizontal frame -1a- "U" profile of the machine (which is supported on the ground by machine feet -1b-) by means of an extraction head -10- that can rotate around an axis of rotation -11- (figure 5), and is transferred, together with a piece of packaging material -12-, to a packaging head -20-, which can rotate around a fixed rotation axis -21- ( Figure 8), so that, to wrap and seal the corresponding part of the piece of packaging material -12- on a handle -A1- of the article -A-, each packaging unit of the packaging head -20- has an associated rotating clamp -71- (compare with figures 11 to 14). By means of a unloading wheel -50-, the fully packaged articles -A- are driven to a unloading device configured in the form of a discharge belt -40- and are removed from the packaging machine -100-.

For greater clarity, in figure 1 an anterior rotating head -60- arranged in front of the packing head -20- has been omitted, and a rear rotating head -70- is shown as part of a rotating station -80-.

The packaging machine -100- is characterized in that between the article -A- fully packaged and the removal of the article -A- from the loading device and separation into loose parts -1- it only involves two support heads for the product essential for packaging , specifically the extraction head -10- and the packaging head -20-, thanks to which the packaging process can be configured to be considerably more compact, fast and efficient. (The unloading wheel -50- is only an auxiliary device independent of the packaging process). This increases the requirements regarding the configuration of the packaging machine and, in particular, the design of the extraction head -10-. On the other hand, as in the present example of realization, this allows the articles -A- to be packaged at a working rate of approximately 1,000 cycles per minute, that is, at high performance, in this case the article -A- a candy ball or other confectionery product attached to a handle -A1-. In this exemplary embodiment, the ball of the article -A- is designated as -A2. In figure 1, the arrows -K-, -L-, -M-, -N-, -O-, -P- indicate the corresponding directions of rotation of the distributor disk -2- (arrow -K-), the loading ring -3- (arrow -L-), extraction head -10- (arrow -M-), packing head -20- (arrow -N-), discharge wheel -50- (arrow -OR-) and the direction of movement of the discharge belt -40- (arrow -P-).

Figure 2 shows schematically in detail the loading and separating device in loose parts -1-, that is, a separating disk -2- which, in the known way, is descending outward from its axis -2a-, so that at along the outer perimeter of the separator disk -2- there is a feed ring -3- with recesses -4- for

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housing the balls -A2- of the article -A-, in whose outer contour the recesses -4- become housing slots -5- into which the corresponding handles -A1- of the article -A- radially oriented outwards enter when the product is properly placed (compare with figures 4 and 5). In addition to a product orientator -6- located on the separator disk -2-, there is a brush system -7- with brushes -7b-, -7 c-, -7d- individually operated, together with the helical glutton -7 a-, serves to fill the recesses -4- of the feeding ring -3- with the product -A- (balls -A2-) and so that the handles -A1- of the article -A-, thanks to the system of brushes -7- and the helical glide -7--, are positioned radially outward and inside the housing grooves -5- (compare with figures 4 to 6).

In this way a high filling of the separator disk -2- is achieved, between 97% and 100%.

An outer cover -8- serves to protect the separator disk -2-.

Figures 3 and 4 show again, in different schematic and perspective forms, details of the brush system -7- (figure 3) and a vacuum cycle sensor device -9- which will be described later. Figure 3 shows once again the different shapes of the brushes -7b-, -7c-, -7d-, so that the brush -7b- is basically an elongated cylindrical body -7b1-, with a first cylindrical section -7b1 - of increasing diameter and a conic section -7b2- extended forward, intended to distribute the article -A- with its balls -A2- in the recesses -4-, a function in which the cylindrical brush -7 c- also participates. The disk-shaped brush -7 c-, whose width corresponds approximately to the width of the feed ring -3-, is used to securely fix the product -A- (not shown in Figure 3) within the recesses -4-. Each of the brushes -7b-, -7c-, -7d- is driven individually by a small DC motor -13-.

In figure 3, the recesses -4- of the feed ring -3- have not been shown below. Figure 3 also shows, under the feed ring, a glide rail -14- covering underneath the recesses -4- in most of the perimeter of the feed ring -3-, so that the articles -A- they are housed in the recesses so that they cannot tip over.

Before an extraction position of the articles -A- there is a sensor device -9- of empty cycles which, in the present example of realization and by means of an optical barrier fork -15-, explores and detects the handles -A1- of the articles -A-, so that after the extraction position there is a blow-out device -16- (ejection nozzle) for the articles that are in a cut-out -4- and that do not have a handle (it is say, just the ball) and you can't keep processing. In this area the rail -14- is not provided (compare with figure 3), so that the articles can fall freely towards a collecting container. However, taking into account the pace of work, the force of gravity would not be sufficient to remove the product, so that forced expulsion of defective articles without handle is provided by means of the blow-out device -16-. In addition, depending on a fault signal sent by the empty cycle sensor device -9-, the addition of packaging material is stopped, so that in this case the piece of packaging material -12- is not driven to the head of extraction -10-, since in the corresponding position of the extraction head -10- there will be no product -A-.

A positioning bracket -17- located above the load ring -3- in the area of the handles -A1- also contributes to the correct positioning of the articles -A- and thereby ensures the positioning. Taking into account the high pace of work, it is important that the items -A- separated into single pieces are oriented without errors as far as possible.

The brush system -7- described in relation to figures 2 and 3 intended for the correct placement of the articles -A- in the recesses -4- and, therefore, to guarantee a high degree of filling of the load ring - 3-, it can also consist of a single brush of shapes that has in each of its parts the geometric shape adapted to execute the positioning function that in the present example is assigned to the three brushes -7b-, -7c-, -7d-.

Figure 5 is a partial representation, schematic and in perspective, of the situation of collection of the articles and of the extraction head -10- at the point of extraction, in which the articles -A- are extracted from the loading ring - 3-. The arrow -L- indicates the direction of rotation of said ring, while the arrow -M- indicates the direction of rotation of the extraction head -10- about the axis of rotation -11-. The articles -A- positioned in the load ring -3- are removed by the handle -A1- at an extraction point -E- (figure 5), so that the extraction head -10- rotates in the opposite direction to the Load ring -3- around a fixed rotation axis -11-. On its previous side are the extraction units -18- which, in turn, are supported on the extraction head -10- so that each of them can rotate around its corresponding axis of rotation -19-.

In the present embodiment, the extraction head -10- is equipped with six extraction units -18- (see figure 6), arranged in the direction of the periphery with the same angular separation, so that each of the units of extraction -18- is associated a clamp for additional packaging material -23- and tilting around a tilting axis -22- of the clamps, as can be seen more precisely in Figures 6 and 7. The axis - 22- of tilt of the clamps runs parallel to the axis of rotation -11- of the extraction head

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-10- and parallel to the tilt axis -19- of the extraction units -18- (pair of support jaws -24-).

Each extraction unit -18- consists of a pair of clamps -24- constituted by a clamp -24a- anterior, located first in the direction of rotation of the extraction head, and by a clamp - 24b- located second in the direction of rotation of the extraction head -10-. The clamps -24a-, -24b- of each pair of clamps -24- are arranged on the corresponding axis of rotation -19-, around which they perform their opening and closing movements to grab and hold the handle -A1- of the article -A-, and so that the entire pair of rotation clamps -24- can also rotate around the axis of rotation -19- in relation to the rotation movement of the extraction head -10- around the axis of rotation -11-. This serves to adapt the separation distance of the articles -A- located in the load ring -3- to the separation between the extraction units -18- (pairs of clamps -24-), so that the pairs of clamps -24- perform an accelerated movement both before and after the extraction point, while there is only a uniform movement in an area located before and after a transfer point where the article is delivered to the packaging head -twenty-. There is a transition between these two zones. As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, the clamps -24a- and -24b- comprise prismatic surfaces -Z- on their inner surfaces, to safely and reliably grasp the cylindrical handles -A1- of the article -A -. In addition, a wide opening of the pairs of clamps -24-, together with the prismatic shape, contributes to the handles -A1- being able to grip and drive safely, thus guaranteeing a very reliable handling of the product without having to resort to other conductive organs.

For the removal of the items from the load ring -3- for each pair of clamps -24-, it is essential that the handle is held directly as close as possible to the ball -A2-, that is, next to the surface cylindrical exterior of the load ring -3-, which also achieves a compensation of the tolerance of the position of the handle -A1- with respect to the ball -A2-, since the deviations of the position of the handle -A1- with respect to to the ball -A2-, in relation to a nominal position, they have a reduced or zero effect (contrary to what happens at the free end of the handle -A1-).

Logically, the extraction head -10- can have more or less than six rotating extraction units -18-, depending on the general configuration of the packaging machine -100-.

In addition to the feature of grabbing the article -A- by the handle -A1- in the upper area, that is, as close as possible to the ball -A2-, another special feature of this extraction head -10- is that it also behaves

tweezers for packaging material -23-, that is, not only used to extract the product from the device

loading and separating into single pieces -1- (separator disk -2-), but also the packaging material, that is, the pieces of packaging material -12-, is also conducted discreetly to the extraction head -10 - by means of a device for feeding packaging material not shown in the drawings, whereby

they perform in a single head the two functions of "extraction" of the article and of "adding material of

packaging "to it. This is clearly shown in Figure 7, leading to a considerable increase in efficiency since the packaging functions are more compact, so it allows to move to new higher working rates in the packaging of articles of this type, endowed with a handle.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6 (the latter represents a diagram of the extraction head -10- in a frontal perspective), each extraction unit -18-, that is, each pair of rotating clamps -24-, is associated with a clamp for packaging material -23- that basically consists of a "U" shaped sheet, that is, grooved, which can rotate around a rotation axis -22- parallel to the axis of rotation -19- of the clamps but separate from it and also has an independent drive. Also this clamp for packaging material -23- executes an accelerated movement and serves to allow, between the point of extraction of the load ring -3- and the transfer point to the packaging head -20-, to lead to the head of extraction -10- the piece of packaging material -12-, necessary to package the article -A-, and said piece is arranged on the article -A- while it is held by the pair of clamps -24- .

The corresponding control movements for each pair of clamps -24- as a whole, for the opening and closing movements of the clamps -24a-, -24b- of each pair of clamps -24-, as ! Like the rotational movement of each clamp for packaging material -23-, they are derived from control curves configured in relation to the rotation of the extraction head -10- around its axis of rotation -11-. In this regard, reference is made to the schematic perspective drawing of Figure 9. The control curves -25-, -26-, in combination with the control rollers -27-, -28-, serve to control the movements of the clamps -24a- and -24b-, anterior and posterior, of the corresponding pair of clamps -24-, while the entire extraction unit -18- travels an enveloping curve -29- around the axis of rotation - 11- fixed, the tilt axis -22- of the tweezers with the tweezers for packaging material -23- associated to each extraction unit -18- and whose control of rotation movements is carried out by means of the command curves -31- and the corresponding tracking cams -32-. This takes into account the requirement that, on the one hand, the piece of packaging material -12-, by means of the clamp for packaging material -23- and the corresponding counter-support of the pair of clamps -24-, be fixedly protruding from the article -A-, that is, close to it, and that, on the other hand, ensure that the pair of clamps -24- can be removed without obstacles from the article -A- of the

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loading ring -3-, without collisions between the clamp for packaging material -23- and the loading ring -3-, or that during the continuous operation of such a packaging machine a hazardous interference situation occurs in the area of extraction. In the present case, this problem is solved because the clamp for packaging material -23-, as shown, in particular, figure 7, is a "U" shaped sheet, that is, it has a central groove - 33- which, by means of a downward movement in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the extraction head -10-, allows to accommodate in the central slot -33- the clamp for packaging material -23- by an arm -34- of the clamp -24a- anterior, so that it passes through the extraction point with a movement of opposite directions of nodding and immersion, as seen in detail in Figure 7, when comparing the various positions of phases of the pairs of clamps -24- and the corresponding clamps for packaging material -23- in the area of the extraction point. To fix the piece of packaging material -12- so that it hangs on the article -A- already gripped, for its subsequent folding around the article on the packaging head -20-, each clamp -24a- above involves a tightening counter -35-. In this way, the packaging material or the piece of packaging material -12- is held firmly between the front end of the packaging material clamp -23- and the clamping counter -35- with a part of the piece of material of packaging -12-, and at the same time it is placed on the article -A-, that is, on the ball -A2-. In addition to the continuous movement of rotation of the extraction head -11-, three other movements are executed in it:

- opening and closing of the pairs of clamps -24- of the extraction units -18-,

- rotation of the pairs of clamps -24- of the extraction units -18- (as a whole), and

- rotation and opening and closing of the tweezers for packaging material.

As indicated in the upper right part of figure 7 and shown more fully in figure 8, the extraction head -10- is in "winding contact" with the packaging head -20-, which It comprises packaging units -36- in comparable number and shape, each of which consists of a pair of packing head clamps -37-, which can rotate with respect to a rotation axis, each of which is associated with an inner folding element -38- independently rotatably supported, intended to fold and wrap the article -A- with a tube of packaging material, as explained below.

In addition to the movement processes of the pairs of clamps -24- described in relation to the extraction head, said pairs of clamps -24- of said head can also be rotatable about a vertical axis located in a plane radial, in case it is necessary or convenient to reorient the position of the article, for example, at 90 °, before adding the piece of packaging material. That is, the extraction head can also be used to reorient the position of the article between the extraction position of the load ring -3- and a transfer position to the packaging head -20-.

Figure 8 schematically shows the correlation of effects between the extraction head -10- and the packaging head -20-, and explains the processes taking place within the respective heads -10- and -20-.

Before transferring the article -A- with the piece of packaging material -12- to a pair of packing head clamps -37- with the packing head clamps -37 a- and -37b- , the piece of packaging material is placed at an angle or in a "U" shape around the article -A- (that is, around the ball -A2- thereof), as shown in figure 8 (see also figure fifteen). The packing head holding pliers -37 a-, -37b- of a pair of packing head holding pliers -37- grab the article -A-, in each case with interposition of the piece of packaging material -12 -, to form a tube of packaging material by folding the packaging material -12- by means of the inner folding element -38- and an outer folding arch -39- (see figure 8). With this, the maximum care of the product is achieved, since in the packing head -20- the clamps of the packing head -37a-, -37b- never hold the article directly, but always grasping it by the piece of material of Packaging -12- already interposed. The tube of cylindrical packaging material that surrounds the ball -A2- is formed by an inwardly rotating movement of the inner folding element -38- and a perimeter movement along the outer folding arc -39-, of the mode known to specialists, so that additional detailed explanations can be omitted (compare with figure 11).

In a manner comparable to the extraction head -10-, also in the packaging head -20-, which rotates around the fixed rotation axis -21-, all other rotational control movements to rotate the clamping clamps -37- as a whole, the opening and closing of the clamps -37 a-, -37b- (supported on independent axes), as! such as the control of the rotation movement of the corresponding inner folding elements -38- (supported on the same axis as a clamp -37b- of a pair of clamps for holding the packing head -37-), are developed by curves of stationary control, arranged in combination with the axis of rotation -21- (similar to what happens in the extraction head of figure 9).

In the present embodiment, the article -A- (stick candy) must be packaged, on the one hand (above), with a fin wrap, while on the opposite side (on the handle -A1-) it is essential that The packaging material wraps and seals the handle -A1- cleanly. Therefore, the packaging head -20- is part of a rotating station -80- which has a front turning head -60- and a rear turning head -70-, as is

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look at the side view of figure 13. For greater clarity of the drawing, in the other drawings, except in figure 10, the turning head -60- above has not been shown, in particular. Each of the turning heads -60-, -70- anterior and posterior involves a number of rotating clamps -61-, -71-, which corresponds to that of the packaging units -36-, and which rotate coaxially and in a synchronized manner with the rotation of the packing head -20- around the axis of rotation -21-, so that the relative position of the pairs of holding clamps of the packing head -37- does not change with respect to the rotating clamps - 61-, -71- with their corresponding pairs of rotating clamps -62-, -72-.

Figure 10 shows again, as a partial perspective drawing, the main components of the packaging machine, according to the present embodiment, with the loading and separation device in loose parts -1- with the loading ring -3- and the recesses -4- for the product, the extraction head -10- with the extraction units -18- including the tweezers for packaging material -23-, as! such as the packing head -20- with the pairs of holding clamps of the packing head -37- and the turning head -60-, the rear turning head -70- with the rotating clamps -71- and the tape download -40-.

As can be seen in Figure 13, the rotating clamps -71- of the rear turning head -70- are configured completely differently than the rotating clamps -61- of the previous rotating head -60-, the latter being of the type traditional as they are intended to grab the product and form a fin wrap, in the traditional way, in combination with a tube of packaging material located on the side opposite the product handle.

Therefore, only reference is made below, in relation to Figures 11, 12 and 13, to the novel rotating clamps -71- of the rear rotation head -70- which, according to the invention, can be heated.

On the "handle side" of the article -A- (stick candy) it is necessary to cleanly wrap and seal on the handle -A1- the surrounding end of the tube of packaging material, at a point near the end of the handle -A1- located on the side of the product and the ball -A2-. For this, a rotating clamp -71- is used, that is to say, a number of rotating clamps -71- that corresponds to the number of pairs of clamping clamps of the packing head -37- and that rotate in a synchronized manner with them , arranged on the rear rotation head -70- and which, in turn, can rotate with respect to the rotation head -70- about a longitudinal axis -75-. For this, a transmission mechanism (stationary annular wheel and rotating planetary wheels), not shown in the drawings, is provided in the turning head -70- so that each rotating clamp -71- rotates on the rotating head - 70- to a regime superior to the rotation regime of this and uniformly around its longitudinal axis -75-, by means of the corresponding clamp shaft -75a- supported on the rotation head -70-. The rotating clamps -71- comprise pairs of clamping clamps -72- consisting of a rotating clamp piece -72a- and a rotating clamp piece -72b-, which make an opening and closing movement around an axis -F- orthogonal to the longitudinal axis -75- (pivoting movement). On their inner surfaces they contain a housing recess -73-, sized taking into account the diameter of the handle -A1- that will be housed in it to smoothly wrap and seal the end of the tube of packaging material, between the handle - A1- and the rotating clamp -71-, when the rotating clamps -71- perform the rotation movement described above with respect to the rotation head -70- around its longitudinal axes -75-. The rotating clamp parts -72a-, -72b- are angled around the axis -F- by approximately 90 ° with respect to their support section, so that the handle -A1- of the product can always be locked perfectly and with the corresponding clearance for sealing the packaging material.

The rotating clamps -71- differ from the rotating clamps -61- of the rotating head -60- because they are heated and, thanks to the heating of the rotating clamp -61-, at least one of the rotating clamp parts -72a- , -72b- can perform a hot seal and, in combination with a suitable packaging material, achieve a high seal quality on the handle in the transition zone between the handle -A1- and the ball -A2-.

As can be clearly seen in the partial perspective drawing, according to figure 12, of the rear rotation head -70-, the heating of the rotating clamp -71-, or of one or both pieces of the rotating clamp -72a-, -72b- of each rotating caliper -71- (in this example, the two rotating caliper pieces -72a-, -72b- are always heated), it is carried out by means of heating cartridges (not shown in the drawing) arranged in the parts of rotating clamp -72a-, -72b-, although heating sheets can also be arranged in the rotating clamp parts -72a- and -72b-. Heating can also be done by induction or by irradiation with electron beams or laser beams. The power supply to the rotating clamps -71- of the rear rotation head -70- is carried out taking into account the necessary rotation movement of the rotating clamps -71- around its longitudinal axis -75- (axis parallel to the axis of rotation -21- of the packing head -20- or of the turning head -70- posterior) by means of a first system of collector rings -74- with collector rings -76- fixed in the box and contact brushes -77- attached to the turning head -70-, ace! as with a second system of collector rings, not shown, arranged inside the rotating head -70-, in particular, inside rotating caliper sleeves -81- (connected with the corresponding trees of the rotating calipers -75a-, that is , which rotate at the same rate as the rotating clamps -71-), taking into account the rotation of the rotating clamp -71- around its longitudinal axis -75-.

By modifying the pressure and the temperature in the pairs of rotating clamps -71- you can regulate the strength of the seal and thereby improve the opening properties of the packaging.

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In combination with the rotating clamp parts -72a-, -72b- a temperature measurement (infrared temperature measurement) is provided, preferably without contact, which is part of a control circuit to regulate the heating power of the pairs of rotating clamp pieces. In this way, a very precise temperature regulation can be achieved, adjusted to the characteristics of the packaging material and the other characteristics of the product. The use of heated rotating clamps to seal the packaging material also allows the use of thicker packaging sheets or with a greater repositioning force.

The control and measurement of the temperature can also be carried out directly by means of temperature sensors arranged in the heated parts of the rotating clamps -71-. The use of heated rotating clamps -71- is not limited to the present example of realization or to products with handle, but it is also suitable for other applications, for example, for the manufacture of flap packages or double-turn or single-turn packages (bag folding, grouped folding), especially when relatively thick packaging materials are used or have a high repositioning force.

As explained in relation to Figure 13, in a position opposite to the rear rotation head -70- provided with the heated rotating clamps -71- described above, on the other side of the packaging head -20-, is the another rotating head -60- with the rotating clamps -61-, preferably not heated, which form, with the protruding part of the tube of packaging material, a running rotated fin, which is in the part of the handle -A1- opposite the side of the ball (that is, above), when the handle -A1- is facing down.

Figure 1 schematically shows the unloading device -40-, which, by means of a unloading wheel -50-, transports the packaged items (stick candies) out of the machine.

Figure 14 schematically shows the rotating clamp -71- heated, with the rotating clamp parts -72a- and -72b-, a spiral feeding current conduction -78- in order to compensate for movements, as! as a conductor section -79- towards the rotating clamp piece -72a-, the upper one in figure 14, within which the heater cartridge is located. For the rotating clamp piece -72b- the same arrangement is provided on the back of Figure 14. The power supply line -78- is electrically connected to the second system of slip rings inside the rotating clamp sleeve -81- rotary. Naturally, the first manifold ring system -77- is connected to the second manifold ring system. An envelope of the conductor section -79- is grounded by connection to the box.

In figure 15 the displacement of the product and the orientation of the position of the article -A- are shown schematically, in combination with the addition of a packaging material. The addition of upper packaging material -110- and the addition of lower packaging material -120- are planned for the automatic change of packaging material. The products -A- arrive from the separation device in loose parts -1- through the extraction head -10-, which includes the piece of packaging material -12- for transfer to the packaging head -20-, in which the product -A- with handle (stick candy) is wrapped and, on the one hand, it is turned and sealed on the handle -A1- and, on the other hand, it is closed with a rotated fin. After a rotation of approximately 270 °, the packaging head -20- delivers the article to the unloading wheel -50-, which deposits the finished packaged article on the unloading tape -40- to be transported out of the machine .

With the present invention it is disclosed, for the first time, a continuous operation packaging machine equipped with only two product carrying heads essential for packaging, the extraction head and the packaging head, and whose extraction head is provided with additional functional organs for the provision of packaging material.

The present invention is not limited to the packaging of confectionery products with handle, although it is especially suitable for this and, by means of the corresponding adaptation of the basic principles set forth, the packaging of other articles in small pieces, with others, can be carried out similarly. types of folding. In the packaging of articles with handle, by holding the article by the handle in an area as close as possible to the product itself (the ball), it has been achieved, for the first time, to practically eliminate the effect of the resulting tolerances and defects of manufacturing (insertion of the handle into the ball) on the packaging process. The use of heated rotating clamps not only allows the perfect sealing of the packaging material on the handle, but also basically improves the manufacture of packages with rotated fins.

In general, the packaging machine according to the present invention has a compact configuration and is characterized by having a packaging performance not achieved so far, of 600 to 1,000 work cycles per minute, for complex products, such as handle products, and at the same time it has a dynamically smooth operation, especially thanks to its principle of continuous operation.

In addition to a reduced noise level, thanks to the low dynamic stresses and the chosen packaging principle (inclusion of the packaging material already in the extraction head), high level of care is achieved.

product and reduced requests for packaging material. Therefore, the technical wear of the machine and the cost of maintenance are reduced, with the consequent increase in efficiency and availability of the packaging machine.

5 By means of the present invention, for the first time, a packaging machine is created that works according to the principle of continuous operation, equipped with two product processing heads, which allows, for complex products (products with a handle) to reach a rhythm of production of the order of 1,000 cycles per minute, achieving a compact and careful configuration of the product and packaging, together with a high product safety and a reduced propensity to failures of the packaging device.

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Claims (15)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 1. Procedure for continuous packaging of small items (A), especially items (A) equipped with a stick (A1), with a high production rate, for example, 1000 work cycles per minute, in which the separation of the articles (A) takes place essentially in a horizontal preparation plane by means of a device (1) for separating and supplying articles, and the articles (A) are collected individually and continuously transported to a head of packaging (20) that acts for the complete realization of the packaging, by means of an extraction head (10) arranged above the device for separating and supplying articles (1) and which is rotating around a stationary rotation axis ( 11) according to a rotating movement by means of opposing clamping jaws (24a, 24b) of pairs of clamping jaws (24), which are arranged as extraction units (18) with tilting capacity around their own tilting axes (19) , which pass parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the extraction head (10), being mounted on the extraction head (10) rotatably with it, so that the packaging head (20) is also disposed above the device (1) for separating and supplying the articles, being rotatable about an axis of stationary rotation (21), the articles of the extraction head being driven ( 10) to a first section of circular track that runs essentially in a vertical plane and a packaging material is guided essentially radially with respect to the movement of the article (A) and being fixed on the article (A) by means of a jaw (23 ) for the packaging product, which is forced to swing around an axis (22) of tilting of the clamps surrounding the extraction head (10). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the packaging material is supplied to the extraction head (10). 3. Method, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a piece of packaging material (12) is placed in the extraction head (10) in the form of an angle or U around the article (A), and / or jaws of support (37a, 37b) of the packaging head, of a pair of support jaws (37) of the packaging head, hold the article (A) with intermediate placement of the piece of packaging material (12), especially for the constitution of a sleeve of packaging material. Method, according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the accelerated movement of the clamps (23) of the packaging means provided for the feeding of packaging material in the extraction head (10) the fixing of a piece of packaging material (12) to the corresponding article (A). Method, according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the path between the reception of the article (A) from the device (1) for separating and supplying the articles by means of the extraction head (10) and the supply of the article (A) from the extraction head (10) to the packaging head (20) takes place a new orientation of the position of the article (A), especially by turning the article (A) by about 90 °, and / or the article (A) is conducted, also by means of the packing head (20), to a second section of circular track that runs essentially in a vertical plane. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a separate article preparation (A) takes place by means of the device (1) for separating and supplying the articles by means of a rotation movement in the opposite direction to The clockwise and / or the packing head (20) is operated counterclockwise to collaborate with the extraction head (20) driven clockwise. 7. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that - collecting an insulated article (A) by means of a pair of clamping jaws (24) tilting around a tilt axis (19) in the extraction head (10), from the top and rotating actuation of the article (A) by the extraction head (10) clockwise, - radial feeding of the packaging material in the extraction head (10) between the collection of the article (A) of the device (1) for separating and supplying the articles and the transfer of the article (A) to the packaging head (20) , - fixing a piece of packaging material (12) close to the article (A) in the extraction head (10) with tilting of the jaw (21) of packaging means associated with the extraction unit (18) of the head of extraction (10), around its axis (22) of tilting of the clamps controlled by a cam, fixed in the extraction head (10), which extends parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the extraction head (10) and the tilting axis (19) of the extraction units (18), and 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 - complete formation of the packaging of the article (A) by means of the packaging head (20), which rotates counterclockwise, and which receives the article (A) with support jaws (37a, 37b) of the head of packaging arranged with turning and tilting capacity in the packing head (20). Method, according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a difference in passage between the insulated articles (A) in the device (1) for separating and supplying articles and the extraction units (is compensated) 18) of the extraction head (10) of the articles (A), by an accelerated movement of the extraction units (18) before and / or after the collection of the article (A), especially a tilting movement around a corresponding tilt axis (19) thereof. 9. Device for packaging small items, especially stick articles, only with two rotating heads carrying the articles, so that above a device (1) for separating and supplying articles are arranged a head of extraction (10) rotating around a stationary rotation axis (11) and a packing head (20) that is in contact with rolling with it and that is rotating around a stationary rotation axis (21), The extraction head (10) is provided with extraction units (18) which have clamping jaws (24a, 24b) that can be displaced in the opposite way, with pairs of clamping jaws (24), so that the extraction units (18 ) are arranged tiltingly around their own tilt axes (19), which pass parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the extraction head (10), in the extraction head (10), a feed of packaging material takes place essentially radially with respect to the movement of the article (A) in the extraction head (10) and to each extraction unit (18) with the pair of clamping jaws (24) a clamp (23) for the packaging material, tilting around a tilting axis (22) fixed to the extraction head (10) for clamping the portion of packaging material (12) near the article (A). Device, according to claim 9, characterized in that the clamps (23) for the packaging means consist of a sheet that is tiltable around the axis of tilt of the clamps (22) parallel to the axis of tilt (19) of the units of extraction and of the axis of rotation (11) of the extraction head (10) and the axis of tilting (22) of the clamps is disposed separately of the axis of tilting (19) of the extraction units (18) and / or of the tilt shaft (19) of the clamping jaws and is independently controllable with this, preferably the clamp of the packaging means is controllable in an accelerated movement. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the tilting extraction units (18) are arranged with equal angular separation with the pairs of clamping jaws (24) in the extraction head (10) in a rotating way with the latter. Device, according to at least one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized in that together with the rotation of the extraction head (10) around the stationary rotation axis (11) control movements are provided for each pair (24) of clamping jaws as a whole, for an opening and closing movement of the clamping jaws (24a, 24b) of each pair (24) of clamping jaws, as! as a tilting movement of each clamp (23) for the packaging means by action of control cams (25, 26, 31) together with control rollers (27, 28), which control the movement of the axes of tilt (19) fixed on the extraction head (10) as! as of the tilt axes (22) of the clamps. Device, according to at least one of the preceding claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the tilting axes (19) of the extraction units (18) and the tilting axes (22) of clamps associated with that of the clamps (23) for the packaging medium, they are stationary in a stationary manner with rotation capacity in the extraction head (10), circulate with them and are rotatable with control roller intermediate (27, 28) or cam followers in contact with stationary control cams (25, 26, 31) by the rotation of the extraction head (10). 14. Device, according to at least one of the preceding claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the articles (A) are guided in the packing head in a rotating path of about 270 ° for complete packaging. 15. Device, according to at least one of the preceding claims 9 to 14, characterized in that a feeding device of the packaging means adjacent to the extraction head (10) is provided, the packaging material is provided in the extraction head (10 ) and a motion control is provided in the extraction head (10) for - open and close the pairs (24) of clamping jaws of the extraction units (18), - tilt of the clamping jaw pairs (24) of the extraction units (18) together, - Tilt of the clamp (23) for the packaging medium.