FR2876659A1 - Film installing method for packing fresh food product e.g. fruit, involves bringing together case and film using movable unit for permitting engagement of upward projecting edges of case into precuts of film - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves superimposing a film on a case (3) and tensioning the film, during superimposing, using a gripping unit for holding two opposite ends of the film. The case and the film are brought together using a movable unit of a film installing apparatus for permitting the engagement of upward projecting edges (31) of the case into precuts (200) of the film, where the movable unit is connected to a rising/descending hoist. An independent claim is also included for a film installing apparatus.

Description

Method and apparatus for automatically placing a film on crates

  The present invention relates to the field of product packaging. The invention more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for automatically placing a film on crates.

  The packaging methods for crates / crates of fresh food products are usually completed by the manual placement of an individual plastic film so as to cover the fruits or vegetables contained in the crate. Such a plastic film has a role of protecting the products against soiling, humidity and may include indications on the products, commercials, etc. The methods of the prior art require personnel for the operation of depositing films and lack of speed. In addition, the operations of depositing a film require gluing or fixing by means of staples, which requires additional manipulations. There is also a risk of piercing the products with too long staples. A disadvantage of the use of staples is also the risk for the person handling the crate to hurt himself. There is therefore a need to automate this type of operation.

  It is known in the field of packaging, complex machines to protect objects with a film. However, it is not proposed in the prior art methods and apparatus specifically adapted for the automatic removal of films on crates with great speed.

  The present invention therefore aims to overcome one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a method of automatic placement of a film on a body that does not require specific manual operations fixing (with glue, staples ..).

  This object is achieved by a method for automatically placing a film on crates of the type having at least two opposite edges salient in height with respect to at least two other edges, implemented by means of an apparatus provided with a position of setting up the film, said film being pre-cut according to the dimensions of the boxes, characterized in that it comprises: a step of superposition of the film with precuts on a box; at least during the superposition step, a step of tensioning the film using gripping means to hold at least two opposite ends of the film; a step of approaching the superposed box and the film using at least one movable member of the apparatus to allow the engagement of said protruding edges in height of the box in the pre-cuts.

  According to another particularity, the method comprises a preliminary step of supplying a film of the pre-cut type by film supplying means arranged adjacent to a passageway of the apparatus provided for the passage of said box, said step superposition being performed during the passage of this box in said corridor.

  According to another feature, the supply step is made from a pre-cut type film reel and comprises; a unwinding step of the spool using drive means of the apparatus for bringing a determined length of film corresponding to the format of a box above the passageway; and a cutting step using at least one cutting member of the apparatus for providing a sheet of film of a size adapted to the format of the box, said sheet of film having pre-cuts of the type made by a succession of perforations without removal of material .

  Thus, it is permitted according to the invention to replace the individual films by a film reel with precuts and automate the removal of films.

  According to another feature, the tensioning step comprises gripping and holding the free end of the unwound film by clamping means movable in translation in the film unwinding direction.

  According to another feature, the step of bringing the body and the film superposed together comprises lifting the box to cooperate with said film by a member movable in translation in a vertical direction.

  According to another feature, the method according to the invention comprises respectively a plating by a plating member of a central portion of the film to be deposited on the body and a holding by the clamping means of at least two ends of said film during the lifting the crate.

  According to another feature, the step of bringing the body and the film superposed together comprises lowering the film on the body by a member movable in translation in a vertical direction, said film being grasped in at least two of its edges by gripping means integral with the movable member.

  According to another particularity, each box is brought into the corridor of the apparatus by a conveyor in a direction orthogonal to the unwinding direction of the film reel.

  According to another feature, the supply step is made from a plastic film reel of the type containing a plurality of symmetrical notches and the cutting step uses first position sensor means of the apparatus associated with coil drive means for cutting a film sheet of a predetermined length.

  According to another feature, the superposition step comprises an immobilization of the body transported by the conveyor in a location in the corridor below the associated film, said immobilization being triggered according to second position sensor means of the apparatus.

  According to another feature, said step of approximation comprises a step of spacing the gripping means relative to the film unwinding direction for respectively opening the pre-cut and facilitate the release of the film on the edges of the box.

  The invention also relates to an apparatus for efficiently and automatically placing films on crates.

  This object is achieved by an apparatus for automatically placing a suitable cut-out type film for an open container-type container having at least two opposite edges salient in height with respect to at least two other edges, characterized in that it comprises: film gripping means arranged to hold at least two opposite ends of the film and to present said stretched film above a position of placing the film; on the positioning station of the film, at least one movable member relative movement of the film relative to the open container to allow the engagement of said protruding edges in the pre-cuts of the film; and means for releasing the film after said engagement.

  According to another feature, the film placement station comprises at least one passage and film supply means disposed adjacent said passage, said supply means being arranged to bring the film to the gripping means of the movie.

  According to another particularity, the supply means comprise drive means for unwinding a pre-cut type film reel and bringing a determined length of film corresponding to the format of a box-type container above the corridor, at the less a cutting member being associated with the supply means for cutting a sheet of film having a format adapted to the format of the container.

  According to another feature, the gripping means comprise clamping means movable in translation in the film unwinding direction for gripping and holding the free end of the unrolled film.

  According to another particular feature, the gripping means comprise gear pin type belts distributed laterally on either side of the unwound film as well as means for spacing the belts with respect to the unwinding direction of the film for respectively open the cut-outs on the film and facilitate the release of the film on the edges of the container.

  According to another feature, at least one member movable in translation in a vertical direction is provided at the base of the corridor to lift a container disposed in said location of the corridor.

  According to another feature, a member for plating a central portion of the film to be deposited on the container is associated with the clamping means, said plating member comprising a contact surface having dimensions determined to press a portion of the central film located between to precuts of said film.

  According to another feature, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a movable member in vertical translation integral with gripping means provided for gripping the film in at least two edges of said film to lower the film on the open container, the gripping means being arranged to release the film by reaching a low position corresponding to the end of the lowering of the film.

  In another feature, said movable member comprises a lifting plate actuated by a jack and provided with jaws driven through said jack to tighten, maintain and position a container-type container.

  According to another feature, the apparatus comprises a conveyor crossing the corridor for transporting the box-type containers in a direction orthogonal to the unwinding direction of the film reel, an automaton being provided for controlling a drive element of the conveyor and the drive means for unwinding the reel to synchronize the speed of the conveyor with the unwinding speed of the film.

  The invention, with its features and advantages, will emerge more clearly on reading the description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a summary view of a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention, FIG. represents a block diagram of the elements of the apparatus in one embodiment of the invention.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus for depositing film on crates (3) such as crates comprises at least one passageway (40) for the crates (3) and supply means (5, 20). , 21, 50) in film (30) disposed adjacent said passage (40), for example just above said passage (40). By film (30) must be understood any type of plastic sheet or material suitable for packaging food products such as fruits and vegetables. The film (30) may be transparent, opaque, colored or not, pierced with "breathing" holes or not. The film sheets (30) may be derived from a prior cut made for example during the manufacture of the film or be obtained by a cut made with the apparatus of the invention. The film (30) used is advantageously of the precut type (200). By pre-cuts (200), it is necessary to understand any type of notches, notches, for example distributed in dashed lines or regularly staggered, with an aligned or crenellated appearance. Punching without material removal can be used to form the pre-cuts (200).

  The film supply (30) can be made from a plastic film reel (20) of the type containing a plurality of symmetrical encapsulations (200). Winding in coils is possible since the precuts (200) open to cooperate with the boxes (3) only when removing the film (30). In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the apparatus makes it possible to automatically place such a film (30) on boxes (3) of the type having at least two opposite edges (31) projecting in height with respect to at least two other edges (32). The notches are for example symmetrical and correspond to the two projecting edges (31) of the body (3). The film used is naturally precut according to the dimensions of the boxes (3). The coil (20) can be arranged vertically and associated with drive means of the unwound film (30) able to tilt the film horizontally. Various positions of the supply means (5, 20, 21, 50) can naturally be envisaged.

  The supply means (20, 21, 5, 50) may consist, as illustrated in FIG. 2, in a coil unwinding system (20) including two rollers (5) for driving the spool (20). themselves driven by a motorized element (25). In one embodiment, a pressure roller (50) or equivalent member is provided to provide a substantially constant tension for the film unwound by the film reel (20). The pressure roller assembly (50) may include a motorized member (51) for driving the pressure roller (50) in rotation in a direction opposite to rotation of the spool (20). The apparatus comprises gripping means associated with the supply means (20, 21, 5, 50) for holding at least two opposite ends of the film (30) and presenting said film (30) stretched over said passage (40). ). Such gripping means may be used in an alternative embodiment using a supply via individual film sheets already cut and adapted format crates (3).

  A cutting step is performed in the example of Figures 1 and 2 by means of at least one cutting member (22) of the apparatus. A sheet of film (30) of format adapted to the format of the box (3) is thus obtained from the coil (20) after each unwinding of a determined length of film corresponding to the format of a box (3). A blade support (2) can be moved vertically by motorized drive means (12). This cutting step can be triggered by means of first position sensor means associated with the drive means (5, 50, 21) of the coil (20) for cutting a film sheet (30) having the desired length.

  Referring to Figure 1, each box (3) is first fed into the corridor (40) of the apparatus by a conveyor (4) in a direction orthogonal to the unwinding direction of the film reel (20) and immobilized in a location in the corridor (40) so as to present the box (3) below the film (30) to be deposited. This temporary immobilization is for example triggered according to second position sensor means of the apparatus. When a box (3) and a cut film (30) are superimposed in the corridor, the film (30) is held taut at at least two of its opposite ends by the gripping means of the film (30). An approach between the box (3) and the film (30) superimposed then takes place via at least one movable member (260) of the apparatus arranged to allow the engagement of said projecting edges (31) by height of the box (3) in the precuts (200). Referring to Figure 2, this movable member (260) is integral with a jack (26) up / down. Located under said location of the corridor (40), the movable member (260) comprises a support plate provided at the base of the corridor (40) to lift the body (3). This lifting plate is actuated by the jack (26) and comprises for example jaws (261, 262) driven via said jack (26) for clamping and holding the box-type container (3) during the removal of the film precut (30). One or two pairs of jaws (261, 262) may be used to maintain and properly position the container to receive the film (30). The lifting of the box (3) in a vertical direction allows firstly the projecting edges (31) of the box (3) to cooperate with said film (30), the pre-cuts (200) being traversed by its projecting edges ( 31). Then the film (30) is deposited substantially at the edges (32) of is lower height.

  The tension of the film (30) is maintained during the engagement of the body in the precuts (200) and immediately the film is released. For this, there is provided means for releasing the film (30) after the engagement of the projecting edges (31) in the precuts, allowing for example to remove and / or raise gripping means of the pre-cut film (30). The gripping and holding of the free end of the unrolled film (30) can be achieved by clamping means (23) movable in translation in the film unwinding direction. The drive elements (11, 13) and drive elements for unwinding the coil can use drive belt systems or other known means. In one embodiment of the invention, the clamping means (23) comprise gear pin type belts laterally distributed on either side of the unrolled film (30) as well as means for spacing the belts. with respect to the unwinding direction of the film (30) for respectively opening (by spacing) the pre-cuts (200) on the film (30) and facilitating the release of the film (30) on the edges (31, 32) of the body (3). On each side of the film, a clamping is performed between an upper belt and a lower belt, the sliding of these belts being avoided by the meshing of the pins in the associated driving elements. To ensure cooperation between the body (3) and the film, a plating member (24) is provided above the unrolled film (30). A film plating occurs for example when the film is released.

  In other words, holding by the clamping means (23) of at least two ends of said film (30) can be achieved during the lifting of the body (3), then performs a plating of at least a central portion of the film (30) by a contact surface (240) of the plating member (24). The contact surface (240) has dimensions determined to press a portion of the central film o located between pre-cuts (200) of said film (30) and makes it possible to offer a resistance from the film (30) when the latter descends on the edges of the box (3).

  In other embodiments, it may be envisaged to lower the film (30) on the body (3). For this purpose, for example, a movable member (not shown) in translation in a vertical direction is provided to capture the film (30) in at least two of its edges and to lower it to the level of the edges (31, 32 ) of the box (3). This movable member may be integral with gripping means provided for gripping the film (30) in two edges to lower the film (30) on the body (3), the gripping means being arranged to release the film (30) reaching a low position corresponding to the end of the lowering of the film (30).

  In the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, a controller makes it possible to control, in particular, a drive element (41) of the conveyor (4) and the drive means (5, 20, 21) for unwinding the coil (20) to synchronize the speed of the conveyor (4) with the unwinding speed of the film (30). The method according to the invention therefore advantageously makes it possible to automate and secure the operations of depositing film. Coils of any width, containing up to 10,000 sheets of film (30) with precuts (200) can be used. The boxes (3) used may be of varied format and in any rigid material suitable for the transport of goods.

  It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. he

Claims (21)

  A method for automatically placing a film (30) on crates (3) of the type having at least two opposite edges (31) protruding in height from at least two other edges (32), implemented through an apparatus equipped with a position of placing the film, said film (30) being pre-cut according to the dimensions of the boxes (3), characterized in that it comprises: a superposition step of the film (30) with pre-cuts on a box (3); at least during the superposition step, a step of tensioning the film (30) using gripping means to hold at least two opposite ends of the film (30); a step of approximation between the box (3) and the film (30) superimposed using at least one movable member (260) of the apparatus ls to allow the engagement of said projecting edges (31) in height of the body (3) in the precuts (200).   2. Method according to claim 1, comprising a preliminary step of supplying film (30) of the precut type (200) by supply means (5, 20, 21, 50) film (30) arranged so adjacent to a corridor (40) of the apparatus provided for the passage (40) of said box (3), said superposition step being performed during the passage of this box in said corridor (40).   The method of claim 2, wherein the supplying step is performed from a pre-cut type film reel (20) (200) and comprises; a unwinding step of the spool (20) using drive means (5, 50, 21) of the apparatus for feeding a determined length of film corresponding to the format of a box (3) above the corridor of passage (40); and a cutting step using at least one cutting member (22) of the apparatus for providing a sheet of film (30) of a format adapted to the format of the box (3), said sheet of film (30) having pre-cuts (200) of the type made by a succession of perforations without removal of material.   4. The method of claim 3, wherein the tensioning step comprises gripping and holding the free end of the unwound film (30) by clamping means (23) movable in translation in the film unwinding direction. .   to 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of bringing the body (3) and the film (30) superimposed comprises lifting the body (3) to cooperate with said film (30) by a movable member (260) in translation in a vertical direction.   6. A method according to claim 5, respectively comprising a plating member (24) plating a central portion of the film (30) to be deposited on the box (3) and a holding by the clamping means (23) d at least two ends of said film (30) when lifting the body (3).   7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of bringing the body (3) and the film (30) superimposed comprises the lowering of the film (30) on the body (3) by a movable member in translation in a vertical direction, said film (30) being grasped in at least two of its edges by gripping means integral with the movable member.   8. Method according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein each box (3) is fed into the corridor (40) of the apparatus by a conveyor (4) in a direction orthogonal to the unwinding direction of the film reel (20).   The method according to one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the supplying step is performed from a plastic film reel (20) of the type containing a plurality of symmetrical encapsulations (200) and the step of cutting utilizes first position sensor means of the apparatus associated with drive means (5, 50, 21) of the spool (20) for cutting a film sheet (30) of a determined length.   The method of claim 9, wherein the superimposing step comprises immobilizing the crate (3) conveyed by the conveyor (4) to a location in the lane (40) below the associated film (30), said immobilization being triggered as a function of second position sensor means of the apparatus.   11. Method according to one of claims 3 to 10, wherein said step of approximation comprises a step of spacing the gripping means relative to the unwinding direction of the film (30) for respectively opening the precuts (200) and facilitate the release of the film (30) on the edges (31, 32) of the body (3).   Apparatus for automatically placing a cut-out type film (30) adapted for a box-type open container (3) having at least two opposite edges (31) protruding in height from at least two other edges ( 32), characterized in that it comprises: gripping means of the film (30) arranged to hold at least two opposite ends of the film (30) and presenting said film (30) stretched above a positioning station of the film (30); - on the position of placing the film (30), at least one movable member (260) relative movement of the film (30) relative to the open container to allow the engagement of said projecting edges (31) in the precuts ( 200) of the film (30); and film release means (30) after said engagement.   Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the film placing station (30) has at least one lane (40) and film supply means (20, 21, 5, 50) disposed adjacent said passage (40), said supply means (20, 21, 5, 50) being arranged to bring the film (30) to the gripping means of the film (30).   Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the supplying means (5, 20, 21, 50) comprises drive means (5, 20, 21) for unwinding a pre-cut type film reel (20). (200) and bringing a determined length of film corresponding to the format of a box-type container (3) above the corridor (40), at least one cutting member (22) being associated with the supply means for cutting a film sheet (30) having a format adapted to the size of the container.   15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the gripping means comprise clamping means (23) movable in translation in the film unwinding direction for gripping and holding the free end of the unrolled film (30).   16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the gripping means comprise gear pin type belts laterally distributed on either side of the unrolled film (30) as well as spacing means of the belts by relative to the unwinding direction of the film (30) for respectively opening the precuts (200) on the film (30) and facilitating the release of the film (30) on the edges (31, 32) of the container.   17. Apparatus according to one of claims 13 to 16, wherein at least one movable member (260) in translation in a vertical direction is provided at the base of the passage (40) for lifting a container disposed in said positioning station. of the film.   Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a plating member (24) of a central portion of the film (30) to be deposited on the container is associated with the clamping means (23), said plating member (24) comprising a contact surface (240) having dimensions determined to press a portion of the center film located between pre-cuts (200) of said film (30).   19. Apparatus according to one of claims 13 to 16, comprising a movable member in vertical translation integral with gripping means provided for gripping the film (30) in at least two edges of said film to lower the film (30) on the open container. , the gripping means being arranged to release the film (30) reaching a low position corresponding to the end of the lowering of the film (30).   Apparatus according to one of claims 12 to 21, wherein said movable member (260) comprises a lifting plate actuated by a jack (26) and provided with jaws (261, 262) driven through said jack (26). to tighten, hold and position a box type container (3).   21. Apparatus according to one of claims 13 to 20, comprising a conveyor (4) passing through the corridor (40) for conveying the containers of the box type (3) in a direction orthogonal to the unwinding direction of the film reel ( 20), a controller being provided for controlling a drive member (41) of the conveyor (4) and the drive means (5, 20, 21) for unwinding the spool (20) to synchronize the speed of the conveyor (4). ) with the unwinding speed of the film (30).