ES2806987T3 - Packaging machine for a single product or for grouped and / or stacked products, in packages of thermoplastic material obtained from a film unwound from a reel, and associated operating method - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging machine for packaging individual or grouped and/or stacked products, in packages of thermoplastic material, said machine comprising: - a heat-sealing device (3), - a transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) to perform a double transverse heat-sealing and an intermediate cut in the packages of thermoplastic material, - folders (59, 59') provided in the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13), - a hollow horizontal mandrel (1) in whose loading end (101) is incorporated a continuous film of thermoplastic material (102), unwound from a coil (2), proceeding towards the discharge end (201) of this mandrel, is formed into a tube with overlapping and mutual heat sealing of its longitudinal edges by means of the heat-sealing device (3) and that comes out of the same mandrel (1) in the form of a tubular package (102'), which is closed transversely by means of the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) located after of the same mandrel (1) and which, in the part of the tubular packaging previously reinforced by the folders (59, 59'), performs two transverse heat-seals (ST1, ST2) and an intermediate cut (B1, B2), filled and formed in the previous cycle, to close the front end of the next package (C1'') and to separate the complete package (C1') from the one that is being formed (C1''), comprising the machine before said mandrel (1) and aligned longitudinally with it: - a loading station (4) for the products (P) to be packaged, grouped and/or stacked and compressed in the transverse direction, and the machine also comprising before said station (4) and longitudinally aligned with it - an impeller (6) which, when indicated, transfers the product or products (P) from the loading station (4) to the tubular package produced by said mandrel (1), passing through it last along its entire length and beyond, characterized in that said cutting and heat sealing assembly The transversal seal (13) comprises parallel and opposite elements (113', 113") to carry out the double transversal heat-sealing by means of heat-sealing devices (65, 66) and the intermediate cut through cutting means (67), being equipped said elements (113, 113') before said heat-sealing devices (65, 66) with respective pressers (63, 63') and counter-pressers (163, 163') to hold firmly in the transverse direction the reinforced packaging portion (102' ) in which the transversal cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) closes, when indicated, the machine also comprising a main carriage (14), the transversal cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) being mounted on the main carriage (14) with a horizontal movement actuated by movement means so that, in the correct phase, it is able to move away from the tube forming mandrel (1) to follow the completed package during the rear end heat sealing and to extract from the mandrel l (1) a new portion of tubular packaging (102') in which, in the correct phase, said pusher (6) inserts a product (P) to form said rear package (C1"), means being provided for said carriage (14) quickly returns to the initial position moved towards the mandrel (1), to be arranged after the new package (C1") already filled and to close at the rear end, the machine also comprising a motorized conveyor (41) to support the packages that are formed after said mandrel (1) and an upper branch of this conveyor (41) being guided on parallel rollers (47, 48, 49, 50) rotatably supported by said main carriage (14) and being guided in a zigzag path on other rollers (51, 52) supported on a secondary carriage (53) mounted on the main carriage (14) and sliding horizontally, when indicated, on the main carriage (14), all this to form, in said set of intermediate cut and ter transverse sealing (13), a discontinuity (40), inside which the lower element (113") of said assembly (13) is normally housed, and this discontinuity (40) being opened by movement in one direction of said secondary carriage ( 53) to allow a margin of action of this lower element (113") and the same discontinuity (40), when coupled to said lower element (113"), closing by moving said secondary carriage (53) in the opposite direction , so that said conveyor (41) correctly supports the packages that are formed during the return movement of said main carriage (14).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Packaging machine for a single product or for grouped and / or stacked products, in packages of thermoplastic material obtained from a film unwound from a reel, and associated operating method [0001] The invention relates to a machine for packaging a single product or products grouped and / or stacked, especially of paper or non-woven products, for sanitary use or for other uses, in packages of thermoplastic material obtained from a film unwound from a reel and is related to the method of operation of this machine.

[0002] It should be noted that the terms "before" and "after" used hereinafter refer to the forward direction of the packets.

[0003] As the state of the art closest to the invention, presented in the international class B65B63 / 02, the patent US 4679379, filed in 1983 by the same inventor of the present patent application, is cited. This document describes a packaging machine equipped with a horizontal hollow mandrel, of the type in the shape of a sailor's knot, at one end of which is incorporated a continuous sheet or film of thermoplastic material, unwound from a coil, which proceeds towards the opposite end of the mandrel, which is formed into a tube with overlapping and heat-sealing of its longitudinal edges and which, after its supply from the same mandrel, is closed transversely by means of a transverse static assembly that, when indicated, performs a reinforcing operation previous on the opposite sides of the same tubular package and that, in the reinforced portion of the same tube, performs two transverse heat seals and an intermediate cut to close the rear end of the package filled and shaped in the previous cycle, to close the rear end of the future package to be formed and to separate the completed package from the one being formed. Before the tube-forming mandrel of the packaging film, a loading station is provided for the products to be packaged, for example, rolls of toilet paper, absorbent paper for kitchen or for other uses, packages of napkins or towels for the hands, also in non-woven material, where these products are grouped together and / or stacked to form a batch that, preferably, is subjected to a slight pressure in the transverse direction and that, after this stage, presents a cross section with a shape and length slightly less than that of the internal cross section of said hollow mandrel, on the outside of which said tubular package slides, is reinforced and closed at the front end. In the correct phase, an impeller is activated to eject the batch from said loading station, slide it along said hollow mandrel and, at its exit, push it against the closed front end of the tubular package, causing this package to advance and, when exiting the hollow mandrel, it is coupled to the batch, which, due to the slight anterior transverse compression to which it was subjected in said loading station and due to its elastic memory, expands slightly and is closely coupled to the portion of the tubular package ejected from the mandrel and supported therewith by means of transport below. The impeller ends its active movement after the mandrel and slightly after the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly, which is in the open position, after which the same impeller reverses its movement and returns to the initial position of the cycle, to release the station load and to allow the repetition of a new operating cycle. Sequentially, the lateral reinforcing means of the tubular packaging portion located between the rear end of the bagged batch and the discharge mouth of the tube-forming mandrel are activated, and then the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly is activated, that performs the closing of the rear end of the filled package, that closes the front end of the package that is being formed and that has not yet been filled, after which said set is slightly opened to release the heat seals and to allow the action in these , of cooling means with fan located in the same set, which, sequentially, is fully opened to allow the repetition of a new cycle of operation, while the package produced is moved away through the conveyor that supports it. When a new operating cycle is repeated, said transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly must be fully opened to allow the tubular package to advance pushed by the product introduced into it by means of the impeller that performs its active operating movement. To prevent the heat seal of the front end of the tubular package from filling yielding to the push of the product in the bagging stage and therefore to prevent the package from tearing and breaking, also due to the air that is compressed by the product when it advances in the tubular package closed longitudinally and at the front end, in the current state of the art it is possible to act as follows:

a) to ensure adequate cooling of the heat seal of the front end of the tubular package, the dead times are extended between one operating cycle and the next;

b) the product is inserted into the tubular package that is formed and closed at the front end, at a slow speed, to allow the air still trapped in the front of the package to escape passing between the product and the package. As in the previous solution, this solution inevitably limits the operating speed and consequently the productivity of the packaging machines of the prior art.

[0004] The invention aims to overcome these and other limitations of the prior art to produce reliable packaging machines with high production rates per hour, with the idea of a solution according to claim 1) attached and with the following dependent claims 2 , 3 and 5, for which the transverse heat sealing and cutting assembly is provided with pressers at least before the heat sealing means in order to firmly hold the film previously, during and after the stage of performing the transverse heat seals. In combination with said presses, the same transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly can be moved in the direction of formation of the package, first closed and away from said tube-forming mandrel and then open and in the opposite direction, to return to the initial position of the cycle for the repetition of a subsequent cycle of operation. The tubular package can now advance along the tube-forming mandrel driven by the new double transverse cutting and heat-sealing unit with pressers, making it possible to:

1. Produce strong and efficient heat seals, with the necessary times to ensure their proper implementation, since these heat seals are carried out in the shaping and filling stage of each subsequent tubular package, while the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly it is closed and moves away from the chuck; 2. While the new tubular package advances dragged by the transverse cutting and heat sealing unit with pressers, which has heat sealed the front end of the new package, has closed the rear end of the package from the previous cycle and accompanies the latter to unload , the same new package can be quickly filled by said impeller, since the presser located after this transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly mechanically isolates the transverse heat seal from the front end made in the new package, so that this transverse heat seal does not is subjected to stress by inserting the product into the new tubular package and by pushing the air trapped in the same package and placed in front of the product, and also because at this stage it is possible for the impeller to insert the product into the new package with a relative velocity that allows a slow and progressive discharge backwards of the air that has been compressed do before the product;

3. During its movement away from the tube forming mandrel, the transverse heat sealing and cutting assembly has needed all the time for its main transverse cutting and heat sealing operations to be performed, and in the latter part of the same movement it also has time to slightly open the heat seals and allow the action of the means for a natural or forced cooling of the transversal heat seals made, while the film located before and after is kept all the time by the pressing machines to prevent even a minimum effort on them transverse heat seals;

4. The return movement to the initial position of the cycle of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly, after being opened, overlaps with the return movement at the same speed of the impeller to bag the product and, after this return stage, a The package filled and ready for closure of the rear end is already placed after the assembly of cutting and transverse heat sealing.

[0005] It is evident how, with the new solution according to the invention, packaging machines that are more reliable and faster than those of the prior art can be produced.

[0006] Other characteristics of the invention, and the advantages derived from it, will become clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, represented solely by way of non-limiting example in the figures of the eight attached drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, side elevation and top plan views of a packaging machine according to the invention;

Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, a side and front view, with parts in section, of one of the side panels of the mobile transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly of the packaging machine;

- Figures 5, 5a and 5b are cross-sectional views of the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly in the solution useful for producing packages with a built-in handle, the same assembly being represented respectively in the open position, in the closed position and in the semi-open position or semi-closed, with the means for cutting and transverse heat sealing open and with the outer pressers still closed on the packages before and after;

figure 6 is a perspective view of a package with a handle that can be obtained with the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly of figure 5;

- Figure 7 represents, in open position and in a cross-sectional view, the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly according to a variant of embodiment useful for producing a package with symmetrical heat seals of the front and rear end, without the handle of figure 6;

figure 8 represents a perspective view of a package without a handle that can be produced with the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly of figure 7;

figure 9 represents a schematic plan view of the means for the previous lateral reinforcement of the tubular packaging portion that is cyclically coupled by means of the double transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly; - Figure 10 represents a side view, enlarged and with parts in section, of the zone of variable discontinuity of the conveyor associated with the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly, to support the packages in the later stages of the operating cycle in which they packages pass cyclically through this discontinuity in which the opposing bars of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly operate;

Figures 11 to 16 represent schematic side views of the main components of the packaging machine according to the invention, in some later and significant stages of the operating cycle of these components.

[0007] From Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that the packaging machine comprises as an intermediate component an axially hollow mandrel 1 in the form of a knot with a rectangular or square cross-section, adjustable when the format of the package to be used changes. wants to produce, located horizontally with respect to its longitudinal axis, equipped on the left when observing the figures with an open end 101 from which the film 102 from a reel below 2 enters and which, by means of guide means typical of mandrels In the form of a sailor knot, it is made to adopt a tubular shape, to move longitudinally along the same mandrel 1 towards the outlet 201 of this, with mutual overlapping of the longitudinal flaps of the same film and with mutual and continuous heat sealing of these by means of a heat-sealing device of the known type 3, so that the same film comes out from the outlet 201 of the mandrel 1 in the form of a sack and with a section transverse with a size slightly larger than the internal cross section of the same mandrel 1 that externally guides and supports said film bag and which, with its internal lateral surface, is instead intended to guide the product to be packaged. Before the mandrel 1, the already known loading station 4 is provided in which means, also known, form a batch of grouped and / or stacked products, coming from at least any feed line, not shown, since it is not necessary to understand the invention. The loading station 4 is also adjustable when the format of the packages to be produced changes, and can be advantageously characterized by subjecting the batch of paper product to a suitable transverse compression so that, when the same batch is ejected longitudinally from the loading station 4 can be easily inserted into the hollow mandrel 1 and can slide along it in a suitable transverse compression condition.

[0008] In figure 1, the dotted line 5 indicates the ideal horizontal plane in which the bottom of the batch and the packages produced by the packaging machine in question travel. Before the loading station 4, the impeller 6 is provided supported on the front end of a horizontal bar 106, the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the aforementioned stations 1 and 4 and which extends to the left when observing Figures 1 and 2. At the end next to the impeller 6, the bar 106 is longitudinally guided by rolling means 7 supported on a portal-shaped base plate 8, on which is also mounted a gear motor assembly 9, on whose vertical output shaft a toothed pulley 10 is placed under pressure that cooperates with a toothed belt 11 guided on a pair of guide pulleys 12 and parallel to the pulley 10, also supported on the portal 8 to carry the same belt toothed 11 in a path parallel to the bar 106 and to be able to be fixed to it with opposite ends, in order to form the equivalent of a rack fixed longitudinally to the bar 106 and that meshes with the pinion 10, so that, by rotating the movement unit in one direction or the other, it is possible to actuate the impeller 6 in the useful movement to transfer the batch formed in the loading station 4 along the tube-forming mandrel 1 after this and of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (see below), for the introduction of the same batch into the tubular package produced by the same mandrel 1 and by the longitudinal heat sealing device 3, with a movement indicated by an A in Figures 1 and 2. The assembly 9 is equipped with an electric motor that can not only rotate in two directions, but also features electronic speed control to allow the operation of the impeller 6 with a modified movement, with correct acceleration and deceleration ramps (see down).

[0009] After the mandrel 1, at a short distance from its outlet 201, the innovative assembly 13 is provided that performs the double transverse heat seal and the intermediate cut in the package and that, according to the invention, after the closure in the vertical plane, it works first with a horizontal movement that moves away from the same mandrel 1 to accompany the package in the transverse heat-sealing and cutting stage and then, after opening in the vertical plane, it moves horizontally in the opposite direction to the previous one , to return to the initial starting position represented with a continuous line in Figures 1 and 2, to repeat a new operating cycle, performing an alternative movement B, whose length or range will be correlated with the length of the packages that are wanted produce and will therefore be variable (see below).

[0010] To carry out said horizontal translation movement B, as is also represented in the details of Figures 3 and 4, the assembly 13 is mounted on a carriage 14 which, by means of recirculating lateral bearings 15, slides on pairs of rectilinear and horizontal guides 115 fixed longitudinally on the internal faces of the side panels of the base plate portion 116 of the packaging machine that extends after the 16 (figure 2) supports the stations 1, 4 and 6 previously described. Parallel to the pairs of guides 115, between them and in parallel thereto, the inner side panels of the base plate 106 support toothed belts 17 closed in a loop and guided on respective end pulleys 18, one pair of which is interconnected by means of a transverse shaft 19, connected in turn by means of a positive motion transmission 20 to a motion assembly 21 with an electric motor rotating in two directions and preferably of the type with electronic speed and phase control. The two side panels of the carriage 14, which can be transported in the above-mentioned reciprocating rectilinear movement of the range B by means of the movement assembly 20, are fixed to the upper branch of the two toothed belts 17 with sergeants 22 (figure 3).

The set 13 comprises two elements 113 'and 113 "parallel and opposite to each other, located in a common vertical ideal plane, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ideal plane 5 of advancement of the packages, of which the lower 113" it is located below this plane 5 at the beginning of each cycle, while the upper element 113 'is raised and at a distance from the plane 5 that allows the packages cyclically exiting the mandrel 1 to pass under without interference. In the active operation stage, the elements 113 ', 113 "move towards each other with an automatic centering movement in the common vertical ideal plane, to be approximately half the height of the packages to be closed. To allow the machine to produce packages of different heights, the The height position of the support and of the guide means of said elements 113 'and 113 "can be adjusted simultaneously, without adjusting the related distance at rest. To this end, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the support means of said elements 113 'and 113 "are mounted on respective vertical rails 23 located inside the side panels of the carriage 14 that supports these rails with guide means 24. Each rail 23 is equipped with a projecting intermediate appendix 123, with a screw for advance 125 that cooperates with a vertical screw 25, connected in turn, with the interposition of a safety coupling 26, to a triple bevel gearbox 27, whose vertical travel acts on the screw 25, while one of the horizontal travels connects the screw 25 of one rail to that of the rail on the opposite side, served by a double bevel gearbox, while the third horizontal travel of the gearbox 27 is connected to a c A movement assembly 28 with an electric motor rotating in two directions and, preferably, of the type with electronic speed and phase control, to allow automatic or semi-automatic adjustment of the height position of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly 13.

[0012] Fixed to the inner sides of the above-mentioned vertical rails 23 with supports 29 and 30 that support them respectively by means of the lower end and by means of an intermediate zone, there are vertical guide bars 31, with a circular section, on which are sleeves 32 and 33 slide, with the interposition of recirculating ball bearings, of which the lower one 32 slides between said supports 29, 30 and supports the end of the lower transverse cutting and heat-sealing element 113 ", while the upper sleeves 33 slide over the supports 30 of the respective bars 31 and support the ends of the upper transverse cutting and heat-sealing element. In Figures 3 and 4, it can also be seen that the sleeves 32 and 33 of each bar 31 are fixed by means of respective clamps 132, 133 to the opposite branches of toothed belts 34 guided on a pulley 35 supported in an adjustable manner at the end s upper of each bar 31 and on a toothed pulley 36 supported at the lower end of each vertical rail 23 and the same lower pulleys 26 are connected to each other by means of a synchronizer shaft 37 which is connected, by means of a positive motion transmission 38, to a movement assembly 39 with an electric motor rotating in two directions and preferably of the type with electronic speed and phase control. The opposing elements 113 'and 113 "of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly 13 receive the movements for the opening and closing stages from this movement assembly, with the necessary acceleration and deceleration ramps, as indicated below.

From Figures 1 and 2 and from 10 to 12, it can be seen that the same ideal vertical plane on which the elements 113 'and 113 "of the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly 13 move, is provided with the transverse opening or discontinuity 40 of the upper branch of a conveyor 41, which moves with the same upper branch in the direction of the arrow 42 is in the horizontal operating plane 5 to support the packages during exit from the mandrel 1 , during its movement away from it, at the same time that the transverse heat sealing of the front and rear ends and the intermediate cut is carried out dynamically in the same packages (see below). When the elements 113 ', 113 "of the set 13 are in the open position at rest and must perform the return movement to be arranged before the new package that has been discharged from the mandrel 1 (see below), it must be possible to substantially close said disconti transverse node 40 to allow this new package to pass over it. For this purpose, the upper branch of the conveyor 41 is guided on a roller 43 located at the outlet of the mandrel 1 and rotatably supported on the side panel of the base plate 116 of the packaging machine, together with the end roller. 143. The lower limb of the conveyor 41 is instead guided on idler rollers 44, on at least one dancing roller 44 'and on a toothed pulley 45 press-fitted on the slow output shaft of a motion assembly 46. At a distance cuts from the upper roller 43, the upper branch of the conveyor 41 is guided on a roller 47 parallel to the roller 43 and located at the same height as the roller 43, and then it is guided on three lower rollers 48, 49 and 50, also parallel to each other, idle and parallel to the roller 47, and that, with this, take the same upper branch of the conveyor 41 to form said discontinuity 40 in which the lower element 113 "of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly can be located 13, in its low rest position, and through which the same element 113 "can be raised, when indicated, to cooperate with the upper element 113 '. Rollers 47 to 50 are rotatably supported on carriage 14 and move with it. The roller 50 is located at a lower height than the roller 47, so that the two idler rollers 51 and 52, located respectively after and before the same roller 50, and the last of these being at the same height as the roller 47, they can be positioned above the same roller 50. As it passes over rollers 50, 51 and 52, the conveyor belt 41 adopts a zigzag path. The rollers 51 and 52 are mounted in rotation on a small secondary carriage 53 mounted on the main carriage 14 and which is capable of performing, when indicated, a controlled horizontal movement that can move the same rollers 51 and 52 from the position of retracement of Figure 11, in which discontinuity 40 is substantially closed and the package can easily pass over rollers 47 and 52, to the extended position of Figure 12, in which discontinuity 49 is open to allow freedom of movement. vertical movement of the lower element 113 "of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly 13.

From the details of figure 10, it can be seen that the rollers 51, 52 are mounted transversely at the opposite ends of said secondary carriage 53, laterally equipped with horizontal and longitudinal guides 153 that slide on fixed rails 54 on top of a transverse member 55, fixed in turn with its ends to the side panels of the main carriage 14. The transverse member 55 supports, in a rotary and cantilevered manner, a pair of screws 56 parallel to each other and parallel to each other. the guides 54 and lead screws 156, integrated with appendices 253 of the secondary carriage 53, which cooperate with these screws 56. The two screws 56, of which only one can be seen in figure 10, are driven by means of a transmission positive motion 57 by a motion assembly 58 flanged to the cross member 55 and driven by an electric motor rotating in two directions and optionally also with control. phase electronic ol.

In figure 10, the secondary carriage 53 with the rollers 51 and 52 are represented with a solid line in the extended position that closes the discontinuity 40, while it is represented with a broken line in the retracted position that opens the same discontinuity 40. The same figure clearly shows how the rollers 51 and 52 execute the movements D of equivalent range and in such a way that, when the roller 52 goes back to the left, when observing figure 10, it causes a double shortening D of the upper part of the conveyor 41, the lower roller 51 also moves to the left and causes a double elongation D of the lower part of the same conveyor 41 so that the movements of the secondary carriage 53 do not modify the longitudinal tension of the same conveyor 41 and do not modify your movement.

[0016] From Figures 1, 2 and 9, it can be seen that opposite folders 59, 59 'are provided on the side of the conveyor 41 and in the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly 13 which, prior to the operation thereof set 13, act on the sides of the portion of the tubular package that comes out of the mandrel 1, which is not engaged by the product to be packaged (see below) and which will be engaged by the same set 13, to produce a lateral reinforcement embedded in the same portion of the package, which are useful to prevent the heat sealing area from protruding laterally from the package and to ensure that the same area packages the end of the packaged products. The folders 59, 59 'can be mounted in an adjustable manner on respective rails 60, 60' which slide on guides 61, 61 'limited to the fixed frame 116 of the packaging machine, the same rails 60, 60' being actuated by respective assemblies cylinder-piston cylinder with fluid pressure 62, 62 'or by other suitable reciprocating linear motion actuators.

[0017] With reference to Figures 5, 5a and 5b, the composition of the means that form the elements 113 'and 113 "of the double intermediate cutting and transverse heat-sealing assembly 13 is described below. In Figure 5, the elements 113 'and 113 "are represented in the stage of movement from one towards the other and that, with a greater distance between the elements, is equivalent to the rest position of the same elements 113', 113" of the set 13. The set of Cross cutting and heat sealing, which is now described with reference to Figure 5, can produce a package C1, as shown in Figure 6, longitudinally closed by the heat seal SL formed by the heat sealing device 3 shown in the Figures 1 and 2, equipped at the ends with the portions F embedded and reinforced by the folding machines 59, 59 'of Figure 9, closed at the front end by a transverse heat seal ST1, closed at the rear end by a transverse heat seal ST 2 and equipped with a flattened and reinforced portion M of the same package, also longitudinally closed by the heat seal SL, which is closed at the free edge B2 by melting the material obtained from the separation with a hot cut between subsequent packages, and which is equipped with a C-shaped intermediate cut-out G, which is useful for using the same portion M of the package as a handle to carry the same package C1. In the transverse sealing of the front end ST1, the package C1 has a small protruding appendage of the same package, whose front edge B1, parallel to ST1, is closed by melting the material obtained from the separation with a hot cut between packages subsequent.

[0018] The assembly 13 must be able to simultaneously carry out, in the portion of the tubular package on which it is pressed transversely, the parallel heat seals ST2 for the package already filled and to be closed at the rear end, the parallel heat sealing ST1 for the next package that still has to be filled with product, the intermediate cutting that produces the edges B2, B1 and the mutual separation of the packages, as well as carrying out the perforation to form the opening G that acts as a handle.

From figure 5, it can be seen that the upper element 113 'of the assembly 13 is equipped, at least before, although preferably both before and after, with pressers 63, 63', with which its lower edge with rounded profile projects downward with respect to the lower operating surface of the same element 113 ', and which can recede towards this operating surface, against the action of the counter springs 64, 64'. On the lower operating surface of the element 113 ', in a position offset backwards vertically and horizontally with respect to the presses 63, 63' and arranged coplanar with respect to the other, the heat sealing devices 65 and 66 are provided to carry out carry out the heat seals ST1 and ST2 of figure 6, as well as the hot cutting means 67 to separate the packages from each other and to form the fused edges B1 and B2 of the same package of figure 6. In the middle part of the lower operating surface of the element 113 ', two small spring-actuated pressers 68, 68' are provided, the bottom and suitably rounded edge of which projects slightly downwards with respect to the ideal plane containing the heat sealing devices 65, 66 and, in a position displaced back with respect to these intermediate pressers 68, 68 ', a perforation unit 69 is provided to form the cut G in the handle M of The package C1 of Figure 6. The complete assembly 113 'is supported by the support portion 70 located above connected to the sleeves 33 shown in Figures 3 and 4, with the interposition of spring and compensation means 71, common in the transverse cutting and heat sealing means in question.

The lower element 113 "of the assembly 13 shown in figure 3 comprises, arranged in a common horizontal ideal plane, opposing means 163, 163 'in front of the pressing machines 63, 63', counter heat sealing devices 165, 166 in front of the heat sealing devices 65, 66, a counter means 167 for the cutting means 67, counter means 168, 168 'for the intermediate presses 68, 68' and a perforator 169 for the upper perforation unit 69. The presses 63 , 63 'and the respective counter means 163, 163' are produced or manufactured so that they have a high coefficient of friction in contact with the film that forms the packages and exits the tube-forming mandrel 1.

By moving the elements 113 'and 113 "of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly 13 towards each other in parallel, as shown in figure 5, with an automatic centering movement in the common vertical ideal plane, the pressers external 63, 163 and 63 ', 163', as shown in figure 5b, act first by firmly holding in the transverse direction the interposed tubular package (not shown), and then, continuing the movement towards each other, the same elements 113 ', 113 "reach the condition of figure 5a, which is useful to produce in the package C1 said heat seals ST1, ST2, the intermediate cut B1-B2, with action in the correct phase of the intermediate presses 68, 168, 68 ', 168', which firmly retain the portion of the package that is provided with the cut G by means of the elements of the perforation unit and the perforator 69, 169. After said transverse cutting and heat sealing operations have taken place, the elements 113 ' , 113 "of assembly 13 temporarily go into a partially open condition, as shown in figure 5b, with lifting of heat seals 65, 66 and cutting means 67 by respective lower counter means 165, 166, 167, to allow a rapid natural or forced cooling of the heat seals and the cross section made, while the package is still held between the external presses and the counter-presses 63, 163 and 63 ', 163', so that it can be dragged by the assembly 13, as indicated below.

[0022] If the machine is to produce C2 packages like those shown in figure 8, without a handle, but equipped only with the front and rear end transverse heat seals ST1 and ST2 with the fused edges B1 and B2, as As a result of the hot cutting operation of the package, at a small distance from them, the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly 13 will be simplified, as shown in figure 7, with the upper element 113 'equipped only with the pressers external 63, 63 ', the heat seals 65, 66 and the hot cutting means 67, while the lower element 113 "will carry the opposite means 163, 163', 165, 166, 167 for the aforementioned operating means located above.

In figure 1, the number 72 indicates a programmable processor through a unit 73, and in which all the electric motors of the aforementioned movement assemblies are connected to allow an automatic and safe operation of the machine. packaging, as will be described below with reference to Figures 11 to 16.

Figure 11 represents the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly 13, which previously performed the heat sealing of the rear end of the finished package C1, the heat sealing of the front end of the new package C1 'and the intermediate cross section to separate the package C1 from the new package C1 ', which is moved away through the upper branch of the conveyor 41 moving in direction 42 for unloading, as well as to hold the next package C1' exiting the mandrel 1 positioned longitudinally as a result of the fact that the same set 13 has previously pulled in the previous movement to the right, if you look at figure 11, while the same new package C1 'has been filled in the correct phase by the impeller 6, which, in the correct phase, is scrolls back, as indicated by the dashed line. The elements 113 ', 113 "of the set 13 are separated from each other or open, the lower element 113" being located within the discontinuity 40 and the upper element 113' in a raised position so as not to interfere with the new package C1 '. In this phase, the discontinuity 40 is closed to prevent interference when passing under the same new packet C1 'and is arranged before this packet C1'.

[0025] In the subsequent stage represented in figure 12, the secondary carriage 53 moves to the right and opens the discontinuity 40 to release the ideal vertical plane in which the elements 113 ', 113 "of the cutting assembly move and transverse heat sealing 13. Once the folding machines 59, 59 'of figure 9 have acted laterally on the tubular packaging portion 102' between the outlet of the mandrel 1 and the product P introduced into the new package C1 ', to equip this portion according to the prior art, the elements 113 'and 113 "of the set 13 are ordered to perform an automatic centering closing movement that closes them immediately after the product P packed in C1' and in the half the height of this same package, in the fully closed condition shown in Figure 5a or in the partially closed condition shown in Figure 5 or Figure 5b. In the correct phase with the total or partial closure of the elements 113 ', 113 ", the side folders 59, 59' move back to the rest position and, sequentially, the main carriage 14 carrying the set 13 is translated to the left. If the elements 113 ', 113 "of set 13 are not completely closed, as shown in figure 5 or figure 5b, the initially slow movement of the same set 13 away from mandrel 1 and the resistance created by the film tube 102 impacting the tube-forming mandrel 1 can cause the package C1 'to approach the assembly 13 to allow a conveniently tight package to be formed also in the longitudinal direction. Sequentially, the elements 113 ', 113 "of the set 13 are closed, as shown in figure 5a, to firmly hold the rear end of the package C1' and to perform the transverse heat seal ST2 of figure 6, the hot cut separation (which forms the closed edges B2 and B1, as well as their separation) of the next package C1 "coming out of the mandrel 1 that begins to drive the assembly 13 and to perform the cold cut G in order to equip the same package C1 'with the carrying handle M.

While the assembly 13 moves to the right, as shown in figure 14, the impeller 6 introduces the product P to be packed in the future package C1 ", in which the same product expands transversely due to to the previous transverse compression to which it has been subjected in the loading station 4 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and the insertion speed of said product in the container of C1 "can be such as so that the air trapped in this package and located before the product P that is being packaged slowly comes out afterwards, without damaging said package C1 ", which, however, is firmly retained by the presser located before 63, 163 of set 13, the latter being considered in the correct phase for the condition shown in figure 5b to allow rapid cooling of the heat seals carried out by the same set 13.

[0027] From figure 14, it is evident, therefore, that, while the assembly 13 dynamically performs its operations of transverse heat sealing and double cutting with which it has been designed, at the same time a new package already filled with the product P to be packaged after this set (see the starting condition of figure 11).

[0028] Sequentially, as represented in figure 15, when the carriage 14 reaches or is about to reach the end of its movement to the right, the elements 113 ', 113 "of the set 13 open, with the lower element 113 "which returns to the open discontinuity 40 and with the upper element 113 'which is arranged higher than that of the upper part of package C1".

[0029] As shown in figure 16, consecutively to the previous stage, the secondary carriage 53 moves to the left to close the discontinuity 40 and then the main carriage also moves to the left to return to the position initial cycle shown in figure 1, without the slightest interference with the bottom of the new package C1 ", which is held flat by the active movement 42 of the conveyor 41. The impeller 6 is moving backwards, or is already in moved backwards, in the correct phase to repeat a new cycle of operation The return movement to the start of the cycle by the assembly 13 in the open position can take place very quickly, further increasing the productivity of the packaging machine.

[0030] It is understood that the description refers to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which numerous variations and modifications can be applied, all without departing from the basic principle of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims .

In the claims, the references indicated in parentheses are only indicative, and do not limit the scope of protection of these claims.

Claims (10)

1. Packaging machine to pack individual or grouped and / or stacked products, in packages of thermoplastic material, said machine comprising: - a heat sealing device (3), - a transverse cutting and heat sealing set (13) to perform a double transverse heat sealing and an intermediate cut in packages of thermoplastic material, - folding machines (59, 59 ') provided in the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13), - a hollow horizontal mandrel (1) in whose loading end (101) is incorporated a continuous film of thermoplastic material (102), unwound from a reel (2), which proceeds towards the discharge end (201) of this mandrel, is formed in a tube with overlapping and mutual heat-sealing of its longitudinal edges by means of the heat-sealing device (3) and which comes out of the same mandrel (1) in the form of a tubular package (102 '), which is closed transversely by means of the transverse cutting and heat sealing set (13) located after the same mandrel (1) and which, in the part of the tubular packaging previously reinforced by the folding machines (59, 59 '), performs two transverse heat seals (ST1, ST2) and a cut intermediate (B1, B2), filled and formed in the previous cycle, to close the front end of the next package (C1 '') and to separate the complete package (C1 ') from the one being formed (C1' '), comprising the machine before said mandrel (1) and aligned length finally with this: - a loading station (4) for the products (P) to be packaged, grouped and / or stacked and compressed in the transverse direction, and also comprising the machine before said station (4) and aligned longitudinally with it - an impeller (6) that, when indicated, transfers the product or products (P) from the loading station (4) to the tubular package produced by said mandrel (1), passing through the latter in its entirety of its length and beyond, characterized in that said transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13) comprises parallel and opposite elements (113 ', 113 ") to perform the double transverse heat sealing by means of heat sealing devices (65, 66) and the intermediate cut through means cutting (67), said elements (113, 113 ') being equipped before said heat sealing devices (65, 66) with respective presses (63, 63') and counter-presses (163, 163 ') to firmly clamp in transverse direction the reinforced packaging portion (102 ') in which, when indicated, the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) is closed, the machine also comprising a main carriage (14), the cutting assembly being mounted and transverse heat sealing (13) on the main carriage (14) with a horizontal movement actuated by means of movement so that, in the correct phase, it is able to move away from the tube-forming mandrel (1) to follow the completed package during the heat sealing of the rear end and to extract from the mandrel (1) a new portion of tubular packaging (102 ') in which, in the correct phase, said impeller (6) inserts a product (P) to form said rear package (C1 ") ), means being provided for said main carriage (14) to quickly return to the initial position moved towards the mandrel (1), to be arranged after the new package (C1 ") already filled and to close at the rear end, the machine comprising, in addition, a motorized conveyor (41) to support the packages that are formed after said mandrel (1) and an upper branch of this conveyor (41) being guided on parallel rollers (47, 48, 49, 50) supported in a rotating manner by said main carriage (14) and being guided in a zigzag path on other rollers (51, 52) supported on a secondary carriage (53) mounted on the main carriage (14) and sliding horizontally, when indicated, on the main carriage (14), all of them or to form, in said intermediate cutting and transverse heat-sealing assembly (13), a discontinuity (40), inside which the lower element (113 ") of said assembly (13) is normally housed, and this discontinuity (40) is opened by moving in a direction of said secondary carriage (53) to allow a margin of action of this lower element (113 ") and the same discontinuity (40), when coupled to said lower element (113"), closing by movement of said secondary carriage (53) in the opposite direction, so that said conveyor (41) correctly supports the packages that are formed during the return movement of said main carriage (14). 2. Packaging machine according to claim 1), wherein the main carriage (14) carrying said transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) is laterally equipped with rails (15) that slide on pairs of rectilinear and horizontal guides (115) fixed longitudinally to the side panels of the base plate portion (116) of the same machine, and these side panels also support, in parallel to said pairs of guides (115), toothed belts (17), closed at a circuit and guided on respective end pulleys (18), a pair of which are interconnected by means of a transverse shaft (19) connected, in turn, to a movement assembly (20, 21) with an electric motor that rotates in two directions and of the type with electronic speed and phase control, the two side panels of the main carriage (14) being connected to a branch of said two toothed belts (17) by means of clamps (22) to receive the reciprocating rectilinear movement nec necessary with the necessary acceleration and deceleration ramps. 3. Packaging machine according to claim 1), wherein the support means of the two parallel and opposite elements (113 ', 113 ") that form said transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) are mounted on respective vertical rails (23) located inside the side panels of the main carriage (14) that support said rails (23) with guide means (24), each rail (23) being equipped with a protruding intermediate appendix (123), with a screw for advance (125) that cooperates with a vertical screw (25), connected in turn to a triple bevel gearbox (27), whose vertical path acts on said screw (25), while one of the paths horizontally connects said screw (25) of a rail (23) to that of the rail (23) on the opposite side, which will be served by a double bevel gearbox, while the third horizontal path of said gearbox (27) is connected to a movement assembly (28) with an electric motor that rotates in two directions and preferably of the type with electronic speed and phase control, to allow automatic or semi-automatic adjustment of the height position of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13) when the height of the packages to be produced varies. 4. Packaging machine according to claim 3), wherein, fixed to the inner sides of said vertical rails (23) with supports (29, 30) that support them, respectively, through the lower end and through an intermediate zone, there are vertical guide bars (31), with a circular section, on which some sleeves (32, 33) slide, with the interposition of recirculating ball bearings, of which the lower one (32) slides between said supports (29, 30) and supports the end of the lower transverse cutting and heat sealing element (113 "), while the upper sleeves (33) slide over the upper supports (30) of the respective bars (31) and support the ends of the upper transverse cutting and heat-sealing element (113 '), the sleeves (32, 33) of each of said bars (31) being fixed by means of respective clamps (132, 133) to the opposite branches of the belts toothed (34) guided on a pulley (35) supported in an adjustable manner at the upper end of each bar (31) and on a toothed pulley (36) supported at the lower end of each of said vertical rails (32) and the same lower pulleys (26) are connected to each other by means of a synchronizer shaft (37), connected in turn to a movement assembly (38, 39) with an electric motor that rotates in two directions and preferably of the type with electronic speed and phase control, which transmits to the opposing elements (113 ', 113 ") of the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) the movements for a total or partial closing or for a total or partial opening, with the necessary acceleration and deceleration ramps. 5. Packaging machine according to claim 1), wherein the pressers (63, 63 ') located before and after the heat sealing devices (65, 66) of the upper element (113') of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13) are subjected to downward extension stress by means of respective counter springs (64, 64 ') so that, when at rest, the lower edges with rounded profile of the same pressers are conveniently separated from each other by the lower operating surface of the same upper element (113 '), while the lower element (113 ") of the same set (13) comprises, arranged in a common horizontal ideal plane, opposing means (163, 163') in front of said upper pressers (63 , 63 ') which, like these opposing means (163, 163'), are produced or manufactured so that they present a high coefficient of friction in contact with the tubular packaging (102 ') of film that forms the packages and which comes out of said tube-forming mandrel (1), all so that, also in combination with the action of said counter springs (64, 64 '), said film package (102') is able to be firmly held between these pressers (63, 63 ') and the respective opposing means (163, 163) both when said elements (113', 113 ") are pushed together to perform the two transverse heat-sealing and the intermediate cut for which they are responsible, and when these elements (113 ', 113 ") are close to each other, but with the transverse heat sealing and intermediate cutting means (65, 66, 67) raised by the respective counter means (165, 166, 167), to release and cool the heat-sealed portions and cut from the packaging. Packaging machine according to claim 2), wherein said secondary carriage (53) that supports the zigzag guide rollers (51, 52) of the upper branch of the conveyor (41) is laterally equipped with horizontal and longitudinal guides (153) that slide on rails (54) fixed in the upper part of a transverse member (55), fixed in turn with its ends to the side panels of the main carriage (14), supporting this transverse member (55), in a rotary and cantilevered manner, a pair of screws (56) parallel to each other and with respect to said guides (54), and these screws (56) cooperate with the respective lead screws (156), integrated with appendices (253) of the secondary carriage (53) and these screws (56) being driven by a movement assembly (57, 58) flanged to said transverse member (55) and driven by an electric motor that rotates in two directions and, optionally, also of the type with electronic phase control. 7. Method for packing a single product or products (P) grouped and / or stacked, in packages of thermoplastic material obtained from film unwound from a reel, with a machine according to the preceding claims 1 to 6, with a set cutting and transverse heat-sealing (13) equipped with presses and counter-presses (63, 163, 63 ', 163') before and after the transverse cutting and heat-sealing means (65, 165, 67, 167, 66, 166), to to be able to firmly hold the tubular film package during the stage of carrying out the transverse heat sealing and in which the same transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13) can be moved in the direction of formation of the package, first closed and away from the forming mandrel tubes (1) and then open and in the opposite direction, to return to the initial position of the cycle to repeat a subsequent cycle of operation, all so that the advancement of the tubu packaging can take place lar (102 ') along the tube-forming mandrel (1) driven by the same transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) with pressing machines, characterized in that, with this assembly (13), the shaping step can be carried out and filling of each subsequent tubular package (C1, C1 ', C1 ", etc.), while the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13) is closed and moves away from the mandrel (1) and is also characterized in that the movement return to the initial position of the cycle of the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13), after having been opened, overlaps with the return movement at the same speed as the impeller (6) to bag the product and, after this stage of In return, a package (C1 ") filled and ready for closing the rear end is already located after the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13). Method according to claim 7), characterized in that, while the new tubular package (C1 ') advances and is driven by the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) with pressers (63, 163, 63', 163 '), which seals by heat the front end of this new package, closes the rear end of the package (C1) from the previous cycle and accompanies the latter for unloading, said new package (C1 ') can be quickly filled by the designated impeller (6), since that the presser (63, 163) located after this transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13) mechanically isolates the heat seal of the front end (ST1) made in the new package, so that this transverse heat seal (ST1) is not put under stress by inserting the product (P) in the new tubular package (C1 ') and by pushing the air trapped in the same new package (C1') and located in front of the product (P) and, also, since at this stage it is possible for the impeller to insert the product (P) into the new package with a relative speed that allows a slow and progressive discharge back of the air that has been compressed before in the same product (P) and against the front end of the new package (C1 '). Method according to the preceding claims, wherein, during the active movement away from the tube-forming mandrel (1), the transverse cutting and heat-sealing assembly (13) is given all the time necessary to carry out its operations main cutting and heat sealing and, in the last part of the same active movement, to slightly open the heat sealers and the cutting means to release the transverse heat seals (ST1, ST2) and to allow the action of the media for natural cooling or forced of these heat seals, while the packaging of the packages before and after is maintained at all times by the action of the pressers (63, 163, 63 ', 163'), which prevent even a minimal effort in said transverse heat seals (ST1, ST2). Method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the initial stage of its operating cycle, the transverse cutting and heat sealing assembly (13) can be only partially closed in the reinforced tubular packaging (102 ') and, In this partially closed condition, it can be slowly moved away from the tube-forming mandrel (1) to move towards the rear pack (C1 ') and compress it longitudinally, after which said assembly (13) closes completely and increases its speed of movement to carry out the stages of double transverse heat sealing and intermediate cutting for which it is responsible.