GB2349625A

GB2349625A - Packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2349625A
Application number: GB0009002A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Arthur Charles Taylor
Original assignee: DART MACHINERY GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: DART MACHINERY GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-01
Filing date: 2000-04-13
Publication date: 2000-11-08
Also published as: GB9910029D0; GB0009002D0

Abstract

Flat sleeves 14 are removed from a magazine 12 by a vacuum picking head. The sleeves are partially opened as they leave the magazine and then further opened when they are moved downwardly and forwardly to engage a cross member to further open the sleeve. A tray 20 is then pushed from the side into the sleeve. Tab locks (78, figure 5) are then pushed in from the corners of the sleeve in order to retain the tray within the sleeve by means of pneumatic closing devices (74, figure 5).

Description

PACKAGING The present invention relates to a method of forming a package and to package forming apparatus. The invention is particularly, although not exclusively, applicable to putting ready made meals inside a sleeve.

In a prior method of forming a food package comprising a plastics tray containing a meal to be cooked and an outer sleeve that surrounds that tray a machine wraps a sleeve around the tray and glues the sleeve as it moves forward.

This has several disadvantages. One of these is the complicated gluing stage that has to be present at the factory that prepares and places the food into the container. Another is that there is no way of forming the package if the machine breaks down. Furthermore, the machines are large and require a great deal of room for forming the blank around the container.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome the above described or other disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention a method of forming a package comprising an item located at least partially in a sleeve comprises using a sleeve that is continuous in its extent and that includes an opening at at least one end and causing relative movement between the item and the sleeve to cause the item to at least partially enter the sleeve.

The method may comprise enlarging the opening prior to inserting the item into the sleeve.

The sleeve may comprise using a sheet that is continuous in extent and which is movable to a first position, in which two opposed portions of the sheet are spaced from each other and an opening at at least one end is provided from and a second position in which those opposed portions are closer to each other, the sheet including folds that permit movement from the second to the first position, the method comprising engaging the sleeve when in the second position and causing relative movement of the sheet and another part in order to cause movement of at least some of the folds to cause the sleeve to move from the second position at least partially towards the first position.

The method may comprise causing relative movement between the item to be at least partially located in the sleeve and the sleeve in order to cause the sleeve to move from the second position towards the first position.

Alternatively or additionally, movement of the sleeve from the second position to the first position may occur by causing relative movement between the sleeve and two spaced parts with the distance between those spaced parts being less than the extent of the sleeve in the direction between the parts when in the second position. The method may comprise causing the relative movement between the spaced parts and the sleeve to cause the extent of the sleeve in the direction between the spaced parts to be reduced by movement of at least some of the folds occurring. The method may comprise pulling the sleeve.

The method may comprise causing simultaneous relative movement of the sleeve and the spaced parts partially in a direction perpendicular to the distance between the spaced parts and partially in a direction at an angle to that perpendicular.

The method may comprise bringing the sleeve into engagement with an abutment for instance by urging or banging the sleeve against the abutment by causing relative movement between the sleeve and the abutment in order to cause the sleeve to move from the second position at least partially towards the first position. The method may comprise holding a first portion of the sleeve between two spaced folds and causing relative movement of the sleeve and the abutment to cause a second portion of the sleeve adjacent to the first portion to initially engage and then move about a fold when moving into contact with the abutment to cause the sleeve to move from the second position at least partially towards the first position. The second portion of the sleeve may be caused to increase the external angle about the fold that connects the first and second portions from an initial angle of less than 180 . The second portion may be caused to increase its exterior angle about the fold that connects the first and second portions to substantially 270 .

The method may comprise causing the sleeve to move from the second position at least partially towards the first position by causing relative movement between the sleeve and an abutment and then causing relative movement of the sleeve and the abutment such that the sleeve is at a lesser elevation than the abutment. The method may comprise locating the item at least partially into the sleeve when the sleeve is at an elevation less than the abutment.

The method may comprise causing relative movement of the abutment and the sleeve, after an item has been inserted at least partially into the sleeve to allow the sleeve and item to pass over the abutment. The method may comprise lowering the abutment.

The method may comprise pushing a sleeve and an item at least partially located in the sleeve on to a conveyor.

The method may comprise moving an item into the opening in the sleeve to cause the sleeve to take up the correct configuration or, alternatively or additionally, to cause the sleeve to move from the second position to the first position.

The method may comprise engaging one portion of the sleeve between two folds. The method may comprise engaging one portion of the sleeve by suction.

The method may comprise moving the sleeve from the second position at least partially towards the first position to cause spaced portions of the sleeve to be generally parallel. Those spaced portions may be moved from a position in which they are generally parallel, in the second position, to the first position. The spaced portions may be connected to each other by at least one panel at each end and the method may comprise moving the spaced portions from the second position to the first position about folds that connect the panels to the first and second portions. The method may comprise two panels connecting a first portion and a second portion at one end with movement of the sleeve from the second position to the first position causing those panels to move about the folds with a respective one of the spaced panels and a fold that connects those panels.

The method may comprise moving the sleeve from the second position in which opposed portions of the sleeve are generally in contact with each other towards the first position in which the opposed portions are spaced from each other.

The method may comprise using a pusher to push the item in a first direction to cause the item to move at least partially into the opening in the sleeve. The method may also comprise returning the pusher in the opposite direction to the first direction with the pusher being at a greater elevation during that movement than the elevation of the pusher when pushing an item into the sleeve.

The method may comprise conveying items to be inserted into sleeves and the method may comprise causing the leading portion of an item to contact an abutment to correctly align the item relative to the sleeve before inserting the item at least partially into the sleeve.

The sleeve may be brought into a position in which items can be at least partially inserted into the sleeve by holding one surface of the sleeve. The method may comprise holding one surface of the sleeve with first holding means and moving the sleeve into a position in which second holding means can then hold the sleeve when an item is being inserted into the sleeve. The second holding means may be arranged to hold the same surface as the first holding means. The method may comprise engaging the surface with the first holding means and then engaging the surface of the second holding means and then releasing the first holding means. The method may comprise locating one of the holding means to the side of the other holding means and the method may comprise locating one of the holding means on either side of the other holding means. The method may comprise holding the sleeve with the second holding means whilst the first holding means is moved to engage with a further sleeve for subsequent engagement by the second holding means. The second holding means may move the sleeve downwardly. The method may comprise inserting an item at least partially into the sleeve after the second holding means has moved downwardly.

According to another aspect of the present invention, package forming apparatus includes sleeve opening means arranged, in use, to cause opposed portions of a sleeve that is continuous in its extent to move from a second position towards a first position in which first position the opposed portions are further apart, the sleeve including an opening at at least one end, and means for causing an item to move relative to a sleeve whereby, in use, the item is caused to at least partially enter a sleeve through an opening.

The machine may include a sleeve supply station arranged, in use, to hold a plurality of sleeves in the second position. The station may be downwardly inclined towards an outlet. The station may include an outlet including an upper barrier arranged to be engaged by sleeves when leaving the station. The station may include an extension from the outlet at a lower region of the outlet arranged to be engaged by sleeves leaving the station. The station may be inclined at an angle to the horizontal. The extension may be inclined downwardly at an angle to the horizontal.

The angle of the station and the extension may be substantially the same.

The apparatus may include sleeve engaging means arranged to engage and remove a sleeve from the supply station. The sleeve engaging means may be arranged to pull a sleeve.

The sleeve engaging means may be arranged to cause a sleeve to be pulled past the upper barrier. The sleeve engaging means may be arranged to move a sleeve along the extension.

The sleeve engaging means may be arranged to move a sleeve from the station in a downwardly inclined and forwards direction away from the station. The sleeve engaging means may be arranged to cause a sleeve to move from a second position at least partially towards the first position.

The machine may include a package assembly region where, in use, an item is arranged to be at least partially inserted into an opening in a sleeve. The assembly region may include an abutment which, in use, a sleeve is arranged to abut to cause a sleeve to move at least from the second position towards the first position. The abutment may be movable to a position to allow a sleeve to pass the abutment, for instance the abutment may be arranged to be lowered. The machine may include first sleeve engaging means, which may be the same as the engaging means that are arranged to engage and remove a sleeve from the supply station, and second engaging means, the first engaging means being arranged to bring a sleeve towards the assembly region and the second engaging means being arranged to engage the sleeve at the assembly region. The first and second sleeve engaging means may be arranged to engage the same surface of a sleeve, for instance the upwardly facing surface of a sleeve. One of the sleeve engaging means may be arranged to engage a sleeve to one side of the other engaging means or to both sides of the other engaging means. The sleeve may be arranged to be moved downwardly beneath the abutment.

The means for causing an item to at least partially enter a sleeve through an opening may be arranged to cause a sleeve to move from the second position to the first position.

The means for causing an item to at least partially enter a sleeve may comprise pushing means arranged to engage an item and to cause an item to be pushed towards and partially or completely into a sleeve. The pushing means may be arranged to partially enter a sleeve. The pushing means may be arranged to push a sleeve in a first direction towards a sleeve and then to return in a second opposite direction at a higher elevation.

The apparatus may include item supply means which may comprise a conveyor.

The apparatus may include package conveying means arranged to move packages comprising an item at least partially inserted into a sleeve. The apparatus may include a pusher arranged-to push a package on to the conveyor.

The apparatus may include sleeve locking means which may comprise at least one pusher arranged to engage a sleeve containing an item to urge a portion of a sleeve inwardly to at least partially block an opening in the sleeve through which an item could otherwise tend to exit the sleeve.

The present invention also includes apparatus as herein referred to incorporating at least one sleeve and at least one item.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways but one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging machine 10; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a sleeve supply arrangement of the machine 10; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a mechanism that positions and retains a sleeve whilst a product is being inserted into the sleeve ; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing how a sleeve has a product inserted into it; Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a product being locked into a sleeve; Figure 6 is a schematic side view of an alternative arrangement for holding a sleeve open whilst a product can be located in the sleeve; Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the sleeve supply arrangement of the machine 10 in a first configuration, and Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 with the sleeve supply arrangement in a second configuration, at which the sleeve is delivered to an abutment surface.

As shown in Figure 1, the packaging machine 10 includes a magazine 12 that holds sleeves 14 that are flat in the magazine. A vacuum picking head 16 engages the forward facing surface of a sleeve in the magazine and carries it forward and reorientates the sleeve such that the engaged surface then faces upwardly beneath a vacuum holding head 18. That head 18 then engages the sleeve and pushes the sleeve downwardly slightly.

A retaining beak 19 is rotated to extend over the sleeve and then moved downwardly by means (not shown) in order to hold the rearwardly facing upper surface of the sleeve in position.

Trays 20 are advanced along a conveyor 22 in the direction shown by arrow 24 until they abut a cross member 26, whereupon their leading edge, if not parallel with the engaged surface of the cross member 26, is reorientated to be parallel as a result of the movement of the conveyor beneath the tray. A pusher assembly 28 then slides along the cross member to push the tray into the sleeve.

The pusher assembly 28 is then retracted, the sleeve is locked and the vacuum on the holding head 18 is released and the tray is free to advance on a conveyor 30 in the direction shown in arrow 32.

Figure 2 shows further details of the magazine 12 and the vacuum picking head 16.

The magazine 12 comprises a U-shaped channel containing the sleeves 14 stacked against each other. A top retaining bar 34 prevents the foremost sleeve 14 from falling out of the magazine and extends across a top margin of the foremost sleeve 14. Corner retaining clips 35 maintain the bottom of the sleeves in position.

The vacuum picking head includes two vacuum heads 36 that are secured to a shaft 38. The shaft 38 is rotatably supported in an arm 40.

In the position shown in Figure 2, the heads 36 are against what, in use, will be the top surface of the front sleeve 14. A suction force is then applied to the heads 36 to secure the blank to them. The arm 40 and the shaft 38 are then caused to move to pull the sleeve underneath the top retaining bar 34 and down across a lower guide bar 42 extending downwardly and forwardly from the front of the base of the channel.

This movement causes partial opening of the sleeve as its top edge is caused to flip past the retaining bar 34 and as its lower edge is pushed slightly against the lower guide bar 42.

The opening of the sleeve may be partially or completely caused by the height dimension of the sleeve having to decrease to pass beneath the bar 34. The sleeve cannot move down as it is restricted by the lower guide bar 42.

Consequently the sleeve bends slightly and causes folds in the sleeve that are described later to open up thereby decreasing the height of the sleeve to allow it to pass beneath the top retaining bar 34. A partially opened sleeve 14 is shown having left the magazine.

When the finished product leaves on the conveyor 30 shown in Figure 1 the tray has a horizontal top 44, a horizontal base 46, a rear side panel 48 connecting the top and base and extending downwardly and forwardly, a first vertical front panel 50 connected to the top and a second front panel 52 extending downwardly and rearwardly from the first panel 50 to the base 46. The sleeve is formed from a single sheet of card that is folded about parallel lines and glued at overlapping edges.

The sleeve will not necessarily spring out to occupy its intended final configuration. Thus the opening at the sides of the sleeve may not necessarily be such that a tray 20 could be slid into the sleeve without abutment with the side edges of the tray. To assist in opening the tray slightly to allow it to move to, or closer to the position in which it will occupy in the finished product, the tray is moved forwardly and tilted such that the top is horizontal. The top is then urged or banged against the cross member 26, as shown in Figure 3, to cause the front panel 50 to be vertical and to cause the sleeve to open up to, or towards, its final intended configuration.

Figure 6 shows an alternative way of assisting in the opening of the sleeve, rather than urging or banging the sleeve against the cross member 26. In this embodiment the tray is urged or banged against a drop down plate 80 (shown in chain lines in Figure 3).

Then the vacuum holding head 18 is moved downwardly to cause two pads 54 (or four in an alternative embodiment) to move downwardly, between the pads 36, such that the pads 54 now also hold the top of the sleeve. At this time, the suction on the pads 36 is released, and the pads 36 are then swung back to the position shown in Figure 2 where they are ready to and can commence bringing another sleeve to the position shown in Figure 3.

The head 18 is then moved down slightly, for instance by a distance of 25 mm, such that the base of the tray contacts or is just clear of the conveyor 30 and in order that the top 44 of the sleeve is just beneath a downwardly facing recess 56 in the cross member 26. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6 no such movement is necessary, although some movement may or may not occur.

The pusher assembly is then activated. This causes a pusher 58 to move in the direction of arrow 60 by means of a carriage 62 of the assembly sliding on a pneumatic linear cylinder or slide 64 mounted on top of the cross member 26.

The pusher 58, during this movement, engages the side of the leading tray 20 to push it in the direction of arrow 60, with the leading edge of the tray sliding along the cross member, and with the tray sliding into the sleeve.

The pusher 58 is then slid upwardly, as shown in Figure 5 by means (not shown) on the assembly and the carriage 62 is then moved back along the slide 64. During that movement the pusher 58 clears the next tray that has advanced along the conveyor 22. Then the pusher is lowered and is ready to start the next loading of a tray.

Although the tray 14 is not shown in detail, the upper peripheral edge 66 is rounded at the corners 68 such that a slightly tapered edge initially engages the sleeve immediately adjacent to the underside of the top 44 of the container. Similarly the sides 70 of the container taper inwardly and downwardly and meet at rounded edges 72 to present a slightly tapered form when viewed from the side.

Either or both of these tapers may assist in enabling the tray to fit into the sleeve possibly by causing the base and end panels to move slightly about their fold lines of connections to take up exactly the required configuration.

Alternatively or additionally, the fact that the tray is held by the side of the cross bar but beneath the cross bar may allow the sides of the more flexible sleeve to move slightly beneath the cross bar to assist in loading the tray into the sleeve.

The pusher 58 may be able to enter the sleeve slightly, at the end of the stroke, to allow the tray of less side ways extent than the sleeve to be positioned centrally within the sleeve with the sleeve overlapping the tray.

The tray is locked within the sleeve by pneumatic arms 74 that are moved up by means (not shown) at the end of the conveyor 30 or through openings in that conveyor in the direction of arrow 76 (or through openings in a support ledge 82 shown in Figure 6). These arms 74 engage corner tab locks 78 of the sleeve to push them inwardly to hold the tray in the sleeve. The tab locks 78 tend to remain in place as they are formed by a slit that extends partially along both the panel 48 and the base 46, with each slit being parallel to the edge. Accordingly the tabs comprise two locking panels that are pushed over centre to prevent inadvertent return.

The arms 74 are then retracted, the pneumatic hold of the pads 54 is released and the package advances along the conveyor 30. In Figure 6, two arms 84 (only one of which is shown) push the package off the ledge 82 and onto the conveyor, after the drop down plate has moved downwardly to the position shown in chain lines.

A new sleeve is then brought into a position in which the pads 54 can engage the sleeve and the process is repeated.

It can be seen that a line of trays can be arranged on the conveyor for sequential packaging. Furthermore, although the trays shown are generally square or rectangular in plan view the shape of the trays could vary and may, for instance, be circular in plan. The trays are generally of plastics and contain prepared meals that can be heated in the oven or microwave.

The shaft 38 is attached to a control rod 84 by a slider (not shown). The slider is able to slide along the control rod. However, the slider is fixed in relation to the shaft 38. Consequently when the arm 40 is pivoted, the cooperation of the slider with the control rod 84 causes the slider to move along the extent of the rod 84 with the rod 84 pivoting about a point 86. This pivotal movement causes the angle of the slider with respect to the vertical to change thereby rotating the shaft 38 about its longitudinal axis. It can be seen from Figures 7 and 8 that, in the downwards position, when the sleeve 14 has its upper surface horizontal, the control rod 84 extends vertically downwards from the pivot point 86. In Figure 1, when the picking head 16 is engaging a sleeve within the magazine, the control rod extends upwardly and rearwardly.

The shaft 38 is caused to rotate through approximately 120 from the position where it engages a sleeve in a magazine to a position in which it is able to transfer the sleeve to the vacuum holding head 18.

As shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4, the retaining beak 19 is attached to a shaft 88. When a sleeve has been brought into engagement either with the retractable blade stop 80 or the top side of the cross bar, the blade is rotated to be above the sleeve and the shaft 88 is then moved downwardly to engage the upper side of the sleeve.

After a tray has been inserted into the sleeve, or during insertion of a tray into the sleeve, the beak 19 can be rotated away from the package, to the position shown in Figure 3, by causing the shaft 88 to rotate, either before, during or after the shaft 88 has been raised.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of forming a package comprising an item located at least partially in a sleeve comprises using a sleeve that is continuous in its extent and that includes an opening at at least one end and causing relative movement between the item and the sleeve to cause the item to at least partially enter the sleeve.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising enlarging the opening prior to inserting the item into the sleeve.
3. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising using a sheet that is continuous in extent and which is movable to a first position, in which two opposed portions of the sheet are spaced from each other and an opening at at least one end is provided from a second position in which those opposed portions are closer to each other, the sheet including folds that permit movement from the second to the first position, the method comprising engaging the sleeve when in the second position and causing relative movement of the sheet and another part in order to cause movement of at least, some of the folds to cause the sleeve to move from the second position at least partially towards the first position.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising causing relative movement between the item to be at least partially located in the sleeve and the sleeve in order to cause the sleeve to move from the second position towards the first position.
5. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4 comprising the movement of the sleeve from the second position to the first position occurring by causing relative movement between the sleeve and two spaced parts with the distance between those spaced parts being less than the extent of the sleeve in the direction between the parts when in the second position.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 comprising causing the relative movement between the spaced parts and the sleeve to cause the extent of the sleeve in the direction between the spaced parts to be reduced by movement of at least some of the folds occurring.
7. A method as claimed in claim 5 or 6 comprising pulling the sleeve.
8. A method as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 comprising causing simultaneous relative movement of the sleeve and the spaced parts partially in a direction perpendicular to the distance between the spaced parts and partially in a direction at an angle to that perpendicular.
9. A method as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8 comprising bringing the sleeve into engagement with an abutment by causing relative movement between the sleeve and the abutment in order to cause the sleeve to move from the second position at least partially towards the first position.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising holding a first portion of the sleeve between two spaced folds and causing relative movement of the sleeve and the abutment to cause a second portion of the sleeve adjacent to the first portion to initially engage the abutment and then move about a fold when moving into contact with the abutment to cause the sleeve to move from the second position at least partially towards the first position.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 in which the second portion of the sleeve is caused to increase the external angle about the fold that connects the first and second portions from an initial angle of less than 180 .
12. A method as claimed in claim 11 at which the second portion is caused to increase its exterior angle about the fold that connects the first and second portions to substantially 270 .
13. A method as claimed in any of claims 3 to 12 comprising causing the sleeve to move from the second position at least partially towards the first position by causing relative movement between the sleeve and an abutment and then causing relative movement of the sleeve and the abutment.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13 in which relative movement of the sleeve and the abutment is caused such that the sleeve is at a lesser elevation than the abutment.
15. A method as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 comprising locating the item at least partially into the sleeve when the sleeve is at an elevation less than the abutment.
16. A method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15 comprising causing relative movement of the abutment and the sleeve, after an item has been inserted at least partially into the sleeve to allow the sleeve and the item to pass the abutment.
17. A method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16 comprising causing relative movement of the sleeve and the abutment by lowering the abutment.
18. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising pushing a sleeve and an item at least partially located in the sleeve on to a conveyor.
19. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising moving an item into the opening in the sleeve to cause the sleeve to take up the correct configuration.
20. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising moving an item into the opening in the sleeve to cause the sleeve to move from the second position to the first position.
21. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising engaging one portion of the sleeve between two folds.
22. A method as claimed in claim 21 comprising a engaging one portion of the sleeve by suction.
23. A method as claimed in claim 3 or any claim when dependent upon claim 3 comprising moving the sleeve from the second position at least partially towards the first position to cause spaced portions of the sleeve to be generally parallel.
24. A method as claimed in claim 23 in which those spaced portions are moved from a position in which they are generally parallel, in the second position, to the first position.
25. A method as claimed in claim 23 or 24 in which the spaced portions are connected to each other by at least one panel at each end, the method comprising moving the spaced portions from the second position to the first position about folds that connect the panels to the first and second portions.
26. A method as claimed in claim 25 comprising two panels connecting a first portion and a second portion at one end with movement of the sleeve from the second position to the first position causing those panels to move about the folds with a respective one of the spaced panels and a fold that connects those panels.
27. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising moving the sleeve from the second position in which opposed portions of the sleeve are generally in contact with each other towards the first position in which the opposed portions are spaced from each other.
28. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising using a pusher to push the item in a first direction to cause the item to move at least partially into the opening in the sleeve.
29. A method as claimed in claim 28 comprising returning the pusher in the opposite direction to the first direction with the pusher being at a greater elevation during that movement than the elevation of the pusher when pushing an item into the sleeve.
30. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising conveying items to be inserted in to sleeves.
31. A method as claimed in claim 30 comprising causing the leading portion of an item to contact an abutment to correctly align the item relative to the sleeve before inserting the item at least partially into the sleeve.
32. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising brining a sleeve into a position in which items can be inserted at least partially into the sleeve by holding one surface of the sleeve.
33. A method as claimed in claim 32 comprising holding one surface of the sleeve with first holding means and moving the sleeve into a position in which second holding means can then hold the sleeve when an item is being inserted into the sleeve.
34. A method as claimed in claim 33 in which the second holding means are arranged to hold the same surface as the first holding means.
35. A method as claimed in claim 33 or 34 comprising engaging the surface with the first holding means and then engaging the surface of the second holding means and then releasing the first holding means.
36. A method as claimed in any of claims 33 to 35 comprising locating one of the holding means to the side of the other holding means with the method comprising locating one of the holding means on either side of the other holding means.
37. A method as claimed in any of claims 33 to 36 comprising holding the sleeve with the second holding means whilst the first holding means is moved to engage with a further sleeve for subsequent engagement by the second holding means.
38. A method as claimed in any of claims 33 to 37 in which the second holding means move the sleeve downwardly.
39. A method as claimed in any of claims 33 to 38 comprising inserting an item at least partially into the sleeve after the second holding means has moved downwardly.
40. A method of forming a package substantially as herein described and with reference to, and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.
41. Package forming apparatus including sleeve opening means arranged, in use, to cause opposed portions of a sleeve that is continuous in its extent to move from a second position towards a first position in which first position the opposed portions are further apart, the sleeve including an opening at at least one end, and means for causing an item to move relative to a sleeve whereby, in use, the item is caused to at least partially enter a sleeve through an opening.
42. Apparatus as claimed in claim 41 including a sleeve supply station arranged, in use, to hold a plurality of sleeves in the second position.
43. Apparatus as claimed in claim 42 in which the station is downwardly inclined towards an outlet.
44. Apparatus as claimed in claim 42 or 43 in which the station includes an outlet including an upper barrier arranged to be engaged by sleeves when leaving the station.
45. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 43 to 44 in which the station includes an extension from the outlet at a lower region of the outlet which is arranged to be engaged by sleeves leaving the station.
46. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 in which the extension is inclined downwardly at an angle to the horizontal.
47. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 or 46 in which the angle of the station and the angle of the extension are substantially the same.
48. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 41 to 47 including sleeve engaging means arranged to engage and remove a sleeve from the supply station.
49. Apparatus as claimed in claim 48 in which the sleeve engaging means are arranged to pull a sleeve.
50. Apparatus as claimed in claim 49 in which the sleeve engaging means are arranged to cause a sleeve to be pulled past the upper barrier.
51. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 48 to 50 and any other claim when dependent upon claim 45 in which the sleeve engaging means are arranged to move a sleeve along the extension.
52. Apparatus as claimed in claim 51 in which the sleeve engaging means are arranged to move a sleeve from the station in a downwardly inclined and forwards direction away from the station.
53. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 48 to 52 in which the sleeve engaging means are arranged to cause a sleeve to move from a second position at least partially towards the first position.
54. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 41 to 53 including a package assembly region where, in use, an item is arranged to be at least partially inserted into an opening in a sleeve.
55. Apparatus as claimed in claim 54 in which the assembly region includes an abutment which, in use, a sleeve is arranged to abut to cause a sleeve to move at least partially from the second position towards the first position.
56. Apparatus as claimed in claim 55 in which the abutment is moveable to a position to allow a sleeve to pass the abutment.
57. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 54 to 56 including first sleeve engaging means, and second sleeve engaging means, the first engaging means being arranged to bring a sleeve towards the assembly region and the second engaging means being arranged to engage the sleeve at the assembly region.
58. Apparatus as claimed in claim 57 in which the first and second sleeve engaging means are arranged to engage the same surface of a sleeve.
59. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 41 to 58 including pushing means arranged to engage an item and cause an item to be pushed towards and partially into the sleeve.
60. Apparatus as claimed in claim 59 in which the pushing means are arranged to partially enter a sleeve.
61. Apparatus as claimed in claim 60 in which the pushing means are arranged to push a sleeve in a first direction towards a sleeve and then to return in a second opposite direction at a higher elevation than the pushing means when moving in the first direction.
62. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 41 to 61 including sleeve locking means.
63. Apparatus as claimed in claim 62 in which the sleeve locking means comprise at least one pusher arranged to engage a sleeve containing an item to urge a portion of a sleeve inwardly to at least partially block an opening in the sleeve through which an item could otherwise tend to exit the sleeve.
64. Package forming apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.
65. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 41 to 63 when used in a method of forming a package as claimed in any of claims 1 to 40.