GB2170171A

GB2170171A - A method and device for forming, filling and sealing of packages

Info

Publication number: GB2170171A
Application number: GB08529683A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Owe Axelsson; Rolf Andersson
Original assignee: Akerlund and Rausing AB
Current assignee: Akerlund and Rausing AB
Priority date: 1984-12-04
Filing date: 1985-12-02
Publication date: 1986-07-30
Also published as: SE8406120D0; GB2170171B; SE8406120L; GB8529683D0; SE445728B; DE3542223A1

Abstract

Folding boxes are formed from planar blanks, which are fed along and folded around a hollow elongate element 13 acting as a forming member and as a filling pipe to fill the formed open-ended boxes. A cross-feeding device 18 is arranged crosswise of the end of the element and supplies individual filled folding boxes past a series of flap folders to a bottom and top sealing section (21). A supply conduit 14 feeding a viscous filling product (e.g. ice cream) into the interior of the elongate element. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method and device for forming filling, and sealing of packages The present invention relates to forming, filling and sealing of packages, and, in particular, provides a method and device for forming folding boxes from planar blanks, filling and sealing such boxes. The invention is particularly intended for viscous products, for instance ice-cream.

It has long been a frequently occurring desire to be able to offer a filling technique based on forming and filling equipment of a simple type. Such a wish normally involves the step of starting out from planar package blanks which form the starting point for the actual packaging operation.

There are of course a large number of packaging systems starting out from planar blanks, comprising discrete as well as integral web type blanks. In the type of system using continuous packaging blanks in web form, filling has been integrated with the actual forming step, which then also comprises the final forming to a finished package. This total integration is necessary in view of the specific type of product under consideration, namely a product in liquid form.

As far as the technique involving discrete package blanks is concerned, however, the technique is very vague as to any integration of forming and filling.

Apparently this is a drawback, especially as systems operating with discrete blanks basically are the only solution when it is desired to maintain flexibility in the production line, for instance with regard to product type and characteristic package design, which then is not limited to the brick shape obtainable by roller operated systems.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks within the field and offer a method and device that fulfills to an optimum the specific demands that are justified for a plant that is correct from a production point of view and flexible as to end use.

The invention provides a method for forming folding boxes from planar blanks and filling and sealing such boxes. The method is characterized in that planar blanks sequentially are withdrawn from a storage, that each blank by means of a conveyor is fed along and formed around a longitudinal element, that a longitudinal joint sealing is obtained by using the longitudinal element as a support, that at least the end region of the longitudinal element is made hollow at least to a point on the element where the longitudinal edges of the blank have not been brought together, that a supply conduit for the product to be filled in the following box is connected to the hollow portion of the element, that a folding box cross feeding device is arranged crosswise the element at the end thereof, and that means for sealing of the folding box end are arranged along the cross feeding device.

In another method aspect, the invention provides a method for forming folded boxes from planar blanks, filling and sealing such boxes, comprising: sequentially feeding discrete planar blanks along a hollow elongate element; forming said blanks around the element into open-ended boxes; forming a longitudinal joint seal using the elongate element as a support; supplying a product to said element to fill boxes leaving the element; removing said closed boxes crosswise of the element; closing at least the leading end of the boxes leaving the element to retain the product therein; and sealing the ends of the boxes.

In orderto be able to handle, without difficulty, filling with goods that are normally cumbersome, the arrangement is such that the folded boxes formed on the element are brought to close abutment on the element, at least at said end of the element.

In a preferred embodiment the cross-section of the hollow portion of the element, at least at said end, is made substantially equal to the folded box cross section.

At said end of the element, the folded boxes preferably are given a feeding speed substantially equal to the speed at which the product is discharged from the hollow element.

In order to obtain an optimum production speed and problem free handling, the cross feeding device preferably is arranged such that it moves the folding boxes crosswise with a minimum distance between the end of the element and the end of a respective folding box.

In order not to affect the pressure distribution in the filling conduit, especially when operating with viscous products, the sealing of the forward end, seen in the transport direction of the folding box, is initiated first after the cross feeding device has moved the folding box such distance that it goes free from the opening in the element.

Preferably, the folding box blanks have end flaps and such flaps are placed close to each other, at least in the region of said end of the element.

In one embodiment, the flaps are folded out substantially 90 before the folding boxes are placed close to each other at said end of the element.

In a preferred embodiment, the lorgitudinal element extends substantially vertical.

The invention also provides a device for forming folding boxes from planar, discrete blanks, filling and sealing such boxes. The device is characterized by means for withdrawing blanks sequentially from a storage, by a conveyor feeding each blank along a longitudinal element, on which folding boxes are formed and sealed in the longitudinal joint direction, at least the end region of the longitudinal element being hollow to a point on the element where the longitudinal edges have not yet been brought together, by a supply conduit for a product connected to the hollow portion of the element, by a folding box cross feeding device arranged crosswise the element at the end thereof, and by means for end sealing the folding box arranged along the cross feeding device.

In another apparatus aspect, the invention pro vides a device for carrying out a method of the invention, comprising means for feeding discrete planar blanks sequentially along a hollow elongate element on which the blanks are formed into openended boxes and the longitudinal joints sealed; a supply conduit for product connected to the element; a box cross-feeding device arranged crosswise of the element at the end thereof; and means for sealing the ends of the filled boxes leaving the element.

The following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing avertical line forforming, filling and sealing of blanks and packages, respectively, and Figure 2 is a explanatory view showing the shape of the blank and the package, respectively, during different phases.

The reference number 10 in Figure 1 shows a store of planar, discrete blanks 11. A conveyor 12 transports such blanks from the store to an elongate element 13, in this particular instant having a substantially four side polygonal outer contour. At the upper end of the element, such element may be of a suitable shape for initially adjusting the blanks 11 to the outer contour of the element during the initial phase of forming a blank into a folding box.

A supply conduit for a producttobefilledinthe folding boxes has been denoted by the reference number 14 and is arranged at a position along the element 13 where the blanks has not yet been formed so far that they abut edge against edge for forming a longitudinal joint. Each blank 11 passes the supply conduit 14 in a "half erected state".

The supply conduit 14 has a hollow cross section substantially corresponding to the outer cross section of the element 13. The element 13 has a relatively thin wall at the region downstream of the supply conduit 14.

At position 15, there is a device for activating the adhesive of the blank, along the longitudinal joint to be formed, or, alternatively, a device for applying such as adhesive, for instance a hot-melt.

The pressing together of the longitudinal joint is obtained by an endless belt 16 which is driven at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the row of blanks/folded boxes relative the longitudinal element 13. In at least the region downstream of the pressing device 16, the relative speeds are such that the blanks formed into folded boxes 17 are closely abutting each other, end flap against end flap. As the pressing device 16 presses down an opposite pair of end flaps against the element 13, there might be a space between the flaps of adjacent folded boxes, or alternatively the flaps of one box may be pushed up on the flaps of an adjacent box. A further possibility is to unfold all end flaps 90 , for instance just after the pressing device 16.

As soon as a folded box 17 has been removed from the end of the element 19 by means of a cross-feeding device 18, the foiding in oftheforward end flaps, seen in the feeding direction of the folding box starts by means of a folding device 20. Downstream of said device, there are further flap folders along the conveyor 18 of cross-feeding device. A sealing device 21 ,for instance a hot air gun, ends the sealing of the folding box closures together with a pressing member 22.

In Figure 2, there is shown the principle of forming a blank 11 to a folded box 17 and basically also the individual end flap folding steps.

Claims

1. A method for forming folded boxes from planar blanks, filling and sealing such boxes, comprising: sequentially feeding discrete planar blanks along a hollow elongate element; forming said blanks around the element into open-ended boxes; forming a longitudinal joint seal using the elongate element as a support; supplying a productto said element to fill boxes leaving the element; removing said closed boxes crosswise of the element; closing at least the leading end of the boxes leaving the element to retain the product therein; and sealing the ends of the boxes.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1,wherein the product is supplied to the element before the longitudinal joint seal is formed.

3. A method for forming folding boxes from planar blanks, filling and sealing such boxes, characterized in that planar blanks sequentially are withdrawn from a storage, that each blank by means of a conveyor is fed along and formed around an elongate element, that a longitudinal joint seal is obtained by using the elongated element as a support, that at least the end region of the elongated element is made hollow at least to a point on the element where the longitudinal edges of the blank have not yet been broughttogether, that an input conduit for a product is connected to the hollow portion of the element, that a folding box cross feeding device is arranged crosswise the element at the end thereof, and that means for end sealing the folding box are arranged along the cross feeding device.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the open-ended boxes that are formed on the elongate element are brought into close end-to-end abutment against each other at least at the said end of the element.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross section of the element at least at the said end, is substantially equal to the cross-section of the folded box.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the folded boxes at the said end of the element move along the element at a speed substantially equal to the speed at which the product is discharged from the element.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the folded boxes are removed crosswise with a minimum distance between the end of the element and the end of respective folding box.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure of the leading end of the folded box is started before the box is free from the end of the element.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blank has end flaps and said flaps are placed close against each other at least at said end of the element.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said flaps are folded out substantially 90 before the folded boxes are placed close against each other at said end of the element.

11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element is arranged substantially vertically.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3 and substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings.

13. A device for carrying out a method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3, comprising means for feeding discrete planar blanks sequentially along a hollow elongate element on which the blanks are formed into open-ended boxes and the longitudinal joints sealed; a supply conduit for product connected to the element; a box cross-feeding device arranged crosswise of the element at the end thereof, and means for sealing the ends of the filled boxes leaving the element.

14. A device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the feeding means comprises a conveyor.

15. A device for carrying out the method according to any one or any of the preceding clams for forming folding boxes from planar blanks, filling and closing such boxes, characterised by means for sequentially withdrawing planar blanks from a storage, a conveyorfeeding each blank along an elongated element on which the folding boxes are formed and the longitudinal joint sealed, at least the end region of the elongated element being hollow to a point on the element where the longitudinal edges of the blank have not yet been brought together, a supply conduit for product connected to the hollow portion of the element, a folding box cross feeding device arranged crosswise the element at the end thereof, and by means for end sealing the folding box arranged along the cross feeding device.

16. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the supply conduit is connected to the element upstream of the formation of the longitudinal joint seal.

17. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 16, including a store for the planar blanks upstream of the elongate element.

18. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 17, including means for activating, or means for supplying, adhesive to form the longitudinal joint seal.

19. A device as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 15 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1.