IT202100010931A1 - EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE FOR PACKAGING PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled:

"EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE FOR PACKAGING PRODUCTS"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for packaging products, in particular of small dimensions, such as for example food products, preferably in the solid or semi-solid state, typically cubic or parallelepiped in shape, such as for example bouillon cubes, chocolates, sweets, and other similar products, contained within an envelope, which defines a primary packaging.

Another object of the present invention is a machine which comprises the aforesaid apparatus and uses the aforesaid method to package products.

STATE OF THE ART

In the field of the automated packaging of food products, machines and methods are known for packaging the latter inside respective casings. These wrappings, typically made of paper, are fed to machines known in the art in the form of a flat sheet.

The aforesaid known machines comprise folding members, suitably shaped and configured to make all the folds necessary to shape the wrapper so as to fold it around the product to be packaged.

In some cases, such as for example in the event that the food products to be packaged are bouillon cubes, the paper of the The wrapper has, on the internal side intended to come into contact with the product, an adhesive layer that can be activated thermally to allow adhesion of the wrapper to the product.

For this reason, machines of the known type comprise heating members configured to thermally activate the adhesive layer arranged on the sheet of paper.

One of the technical problems that designers of food packaging machines have to face and solve? that of mechanically manipulating the products themselves without damaging them. In fact, food products are often in a semi-solid or pasty state, or are obtained by compressing powders, and therefore each of them must be handled with a relatively small force, which does not damage it. Another technical problem? that of? high productivity? you want to achieve with a machine for automatically packaging food products with a low unit economic value, so that? the production cost of each individual product is competitive on the market. As an indication, a target value of this productivity? can? reach and exceed a few thousand products to be packaged at the first minute. Another technical problem? linked to the handling of small products which, as mentioned, often have a semi-solid or pasty consistency, at high speeds? necessary to achieve the aforementioned productivity, so these machines are usually very complex and expensive.

Furthermore, if it is necessary to provide for the presence of the aforementioned heating elements, ? evident that the latter make the machine even more? complex and costly, particularly if they are arranged on moving parts, for example on wheels or carousels for moving the products, which normally rotate at high speed.

Is there therefore a need? to perfect and make available an apparatus and a method for packaging products, in particular food products, such as for example bouillon cubes, which overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, an object of the present invention ? that of realizing an apparatus and perfecting the relative procedure for automatically packaging products, in particular, but not only, food products such as, for example, bouillon cubes, chocolates, sweets, and other similar products, which, by overcoming the drawbacks of the note, are fast and reliable and allow all processing phases to be carried out without damaging the products to be packaged.

Another aim of the present invention ? that of realizing an apparatus and perfecting the relative procedure for automatically packaging products, in particular, but not only, food products such as for example bouillon cubes, chocolates, sweets, and other similar products, which allow to reach a high productivity, of the order of a few thousand products packaged every minute, for example capable of packaging up to three thousand, or four thousand, products, such as bouillon cubes, per minute.

? also an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically packaging products, in particular, but not only, food products such as for example bouillon cubes, chocolates, sweets, and other similar products, capable of being integrated into a line of automated production of such products.

To obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and to obtain these and further objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and produced the apparatus and perfected the method according to the present invention.

DISCOVERY DISPLAY

The present found ? expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the idea of the main solution.

In accordance with the aforementioned purposes, an apparatus for packaging products according to the present invention comprises both an infeed conveyor, provided with one or more? unit? conveyors, each configured to receive and transport at least one of the aforementioned products and a relative sheet of wrapping to create a wrapper for each product at which ? expected to associate each product to be packaged with a respective sheet of wrapping, either a packaging conveyor equipped with one or more? unit? gripping, each apt to receive, from a respective unit? carrier, one of the aforesaid products and the relative sheet of wrapping at least partially wrapped around the product.

The apparatus also comprises heating means configured to heat an adhesive substance present on the sheet of wrapping to make the latter adhere to the product to be packaged thanks to the heating element. thermal activation of this substance.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the infeed conveyor comprises first folding means configured to make at least one fold of the wrapping sheet around the product, and the packaging conveyor comprises second folding means configured to make the remaining folds of the wrapping sheet around the product. product what? to be packaged for each product inside of its wrapping and form a packaged product.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the heating means are arranged downstream of the packaging conveyor, and associated with linear transport means, which are configured to be actuated with a continuous movement by actuating members and comprise a passage channel in which the packaged products advance along a linear feed section.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the heating means comprise one or more? heating organs arranged near? of the passage channel to just touch, or touch, the packaged products in transit.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, in one embodiment, the heating means and the linear transport means cooperate to delimit the passage channel in such a way that said passage channel is closed on at least three sides.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the linear transport means comprise one or more? transport members, arranged in succession one after the other along the aforesaid linear advance section and each equipped with respective actuation members.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, in one embodiment, the aforementioned heating means comprise heating members arranged near the of at least one of these transport members so as to heat the sheet of wrapping material by means of the heated transport member.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the heating means comprise one or more? heating members selected from a group consisting of electrically heated bars which extend parallel to said linear advance section, provided with one or more? heated walls, or conductive elements, or electromagnetic induction coils.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, each unit? of the infeed conveyor comprises first holding members and second holding members respectively configured to selectively hold one of the aforementioned products and one of the aforementioned sheets of packing material.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the apparatus also comprises first and second feeding means associated with the inlet conveyor for feeding the units? transport the products and the wrapping sheets respectively.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid first folding means comprise a contrast member for folding the sheet of wrapping material onto the product so that it is arranged on two adjacent surfaces of the product.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, each unit? of the packaging conveyor comprises third holding members, configured to selectively hold the products and the sheets of wrapping material partially wrapped thereon.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention , the aforesaid second folding means comprise a plurality of of folding members associated with the packaging conveyor for folding, according to a predetermined sequence, respective edges of the sheet of wrapping against corresponding surfaces of each of the aforesaid products to obtain the packaged product, in particular while the units? gripping trajectory along a curvilinear trajectory, such as an arc of circumference.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention , the aforesaid infeed conveyor and the aforesaid packaging conveyor are configured as wheels rotating about respective rotation axes, parallel to each other. These conveyors are arranged in such a way that the transfer of each of the aforementioned products and the relative sheet of wrapping from the unit? of transport to the unit? grip takes place along a radial transfer line oriented along the segment joining the aforesaid axes of rotation.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the apparatus comprises means for compressing the packaged product, arranged downstream of the heating means along the linear advancement section, to press the sheet of wrapping material against each of the aforesaid products so as to facilitate ?adhesion of the relative sheet of wrapping on the corresponding product thanks to the presence of the adhesive layer which ? been thermally activated.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the linear transport means comprise one or more? transport members, arranged in succession one after the other along the aforesaid linear advancement section and comprising for example belts, or tapes, or chains, closed in a ring, each actuated by respective actuating members, and possibly provided with a plurality? of dragging elements for the advancement of packaged products.

The present invention also relates to a method for packaging products which provides for a step of feeding the products to be packaged and the corresponding sheets of wrapping material for their packaging towards an infeed conveyor provided with one or more? unit? transport, so that each of the latter receives and transports one of these products and a relative sheet of wrapping, a transfer step of each of the aforementioned products and the relative sheet of wrapping partially wrapped around the latter from the unit? of transport to a respective unit? of a packaging conveyor, packaging each of the aforesaid products using the relative sheet of wrapping to form a packaged product, a step of folding the sheet of wrapping around the product, according to a pre-established sequence, by means of first and second folding means respectively associated to the infeed conveyor and to the packaging conveyor to form a packaged product, and a step of heating an adhesive substance present on the sheet of wrapping to make it adhere to the product by means of heating means.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention , the heating phase of this adhesive substance occurs after the folding phase, and occurs during an advancement phase in which ? provided for advancing the packaged product with continuous motion on a linear advance section, along a passage channel included in linear transport means.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, during the advancement step of the packaged products along the passage channel, the packaged products are barely touched, or skimmed, by the heating means, which are associated with the linear transport means.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, after the heating step, the adhesive substance is a phase of compression of the packaged product is envisaged, by means of compression means configured to press the sheet of wrapping against the corresponding one of the aforesaid products so as to facilitate their mutual adhesion due to the presence of the adhesive substance which is been heated.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the folding step involves completely folding the wrapping sheet around the product and comprises: first making a first fold of the wrapping sheet over the product so that it is arranged on two adjacent surfaces of the product by means of a contrast member included in the first folding means, then folding the sheet of wrapping onto a third surface of the product during transfer from the infeed conveyor to the packaging conveyor, and finally making further folds, according to a pre-established sequence, of the sheet of wrapping against corresponding surfaces of the product through folding members associated with the packaging conveyor while the units? gripping trajectory along a curvilinear trajectory, such as an arc of circumference.

It is quite clear that the apparatus and method according to the present invention are suitable for packaging products having various shapes and dimensions. Typically, the products to be packaged have a cubic shape or a parallelepiped with a rectangular base, with long sides about one or more? centimeters, according to the standard measurements of food products such as bouillon cubes, chocolates, sweets, and other similar products. Will the person expert in the sector understand? with ease? that to adapt the apparatus to the exact shapes and dimensions of these elements, simple structural adaptations are necessary, which do not impact on the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

? also an object of the present invention is a machine for packaging products according to the present invention, typically food products, comprising the aforesaid apparatus and capable of carrying out the aforesaid method for packaging such products, in the context of automated industrial lines for the packaging of products.

The apparatus according to the present invention has the advantage of being structurally more? simple, and therefore more? economical, compared to the packaging equipment of the known type.

Indeed, only two conveyors are provided, configured as transport wheels, for associating a sheet of wrapping material to the product and for folding the sheet around the product so as to package the product. Advantageously, the step of heating the wrapping to the product takes place after the product and the related wrappings have left the transport wheels. This does s? that the heating members of the heating means are not disposed on moving members, which would entail a significant complication of the apparatus, both from a plant engineering point of view and from a structural point of view.

The apparatus according to the present invention , in which the heating members as mentioned are not arranged on the transport wheels, is instead more simple why? does not need n? of a complex mechanical design that allows you to electrically feed heating elements at high temperatures and rotate at high speeds? around an axis of rotation, n? of complex and frequent maintenance operations of these heating elements.

Another advantage of apparatus and method according to the present invention ? that of allowing very high productivity, even of the order of a few thousand products packed up to the minute, with simple equipment and an easy-to-implement procedure. Furthermore, advantageously, the apparatus according to the present invention has dimensions substantially comparable to those of the current known type of packaging machines, therefore without the simplification of the apparatus having entailed a significant increase in the overall dimensions.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DESIGNS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- fig. 1 ? a schematic front view of an apparatus for packaging products according to the embodiments described herein, in which some components are illustrated in section according to the sectional plane of line I-I of fig. 3;

- fig. 2 ? a schematic cross-section along the sectional plane of trace II-II of fig. 1, which shows an enlarged detail of the apparatus of fig. 1;

- fig. 3 ? a schematic plan view of a portion of the apparatus of fig. 1;

- fig. 4 ? a sectional view, schematic and simplified, of an input conveyor included in the? apparatus according to the present invention, taken along the plane of line IV-IV of fig. 1;

- fig. 5 ? a schematic and simplified sectional view of a packaging conveyor included in the apparatus according to the present invention, taken according to the plane of line V-V of fig. 1;

- fig. 6 ? an enlarged detail of fig. 5;

- fig. 7 ? a view like that of fig. 3 which shows a variant embodiment of the aforementioned portion of the apparatus according to the present invention;

- figures 8A-8F are schematic front views showing the operating sequence through which the sheet of wrapping is folded around the product to be packaged by means of folding members included in the apparatus according to the present invention.

It should be noted that in the present description and in the attached claims the terms horizontal, vertical, inferior, superior, high and low, with their declinations, have the sole function of better illustrating the present invention with reference to the figures of the drawings and must not be in used in any way to limit the scope of the invention itself, or the scope of protection defined by the attached claims. For example, with the term horizontal we want to indicate an axis, or a plane, which can be both parallel to the horizon line and inclined, even by different degrees, for example up to 20?, with respect to the latter.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain dimensions, or features, in the figures may have been magnified, distorted, or displayed in an unconventional or non-proportional way to provide a more accurate version. easy understanding of the present invention. When dimensions and/or values are specified in the following description, the dimensions and/or values are provided for illustrative purposes only and must not be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention, unless such dimensions and/or values are present in the attached claims.

For ease of understanding, identical reference numerals have been used wherever possible to identify identical commonalities in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further clarification.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT OF

PRESENT FOUND

Will it be done? now reference in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more? examples are illustrated in the attached figures by way of non-limiting example. Even the phraseology and terminology used here? for non-limiting example purposes.

Embodiments described here with reference to the attached figures refer to an apparatus for packaging products, indicated as a whole with the reference number 10.

In the example provided here, the products to be packaged are food products, in particular bouillon cubes, chocolates, sweets, and other similar products, and are indicated with the reference number 11. These products are packaged inside an envelope, obtained from a sheet of wrapping paper, which ? indicated with the reference number 12.

In the example provided here, the sheets of packing material 12 are made of paper, thin cardboard or similar materials, and have, on the inner layer intended to come into contact with the product 11, a thermally activatable adhesive layer (not shown).

How will I come? explained in greater detail below, the apparatus 10 according to the present invention therefore receives the products 11 and the sheets of wrapping paper 12 for their packaging at the input, and returns packaged products at the output, indicated with the reference number 100, in which each product 11 ? wrapped in the sheet of wrapping paper 12, folded around them, and adhering to the product itself thanks to the thermal activation of the aforementioned adhesive layer.

? it is clear that the apparatus 10 according to the present invention can be advantageously used to package also, but not only, other types of food products, such as chocolates, as well as non-food products that need to be packaged individually, such as small objects or components with simple shapes.

With reference to fig. 1, the apparatus 10 comprises an infeed conveyor 13 and a packaging conveyor 14. In the example provided here, the infeed conveyor 13 and the packaging conveyor 14 are configured as wheels rotating respectively around a first axis of rotation X1 and a second axis of rotation X2 (fig. 1), parallel to each other.

The infeed conveyor 13 comprises a plurality of of units transport units, indicated as a whole with the reference number 15, which will be described in greater detail below with particular reference to figures 1 and 4. The units? transport wheels 15 are preferably distributed uniformly with respect to the first axis of rotation X1 and rotate around the latter according to a first direction of rotation R1, which in the example described here? counterclockwise. In the illustrated example, twelve units are foreseen? of transport 15, angularly spaced from each other by an angle at the center a equal to 30?.

Each unit? conveyor 15 comprises a support element 17, connected to the frame of the infeed conveyor 13 so that they rotate about the first axis of rotation X1. Furthermore, each support element 17 can rotate, for example, by a few degrees, but also by quantity? greater, around its own axis of rotation, indicated in the present description as the third axis of rotation X3, and parallel to the first axis of rotation X1.

Each unit? conveyor 15 comprises first retaining members 18, organized in pairs, wherein each pair ? configured to temporarily and selectively hold a respective product 11. As can be seen better in figure 4, each pair of first holding members 18 comprises a first arm 18A and a second arm 18B, each of these arms being pivoted to the support element 17 by a respective pin 19. The first and second arms 18A and 18B are controlled by suitable actuating means, of a known type or to be developed in the future. developed in the future, not shown, to swing around the respective pins 19 as indicated by the arrows F1 of fig. 4, so as to alternatively go into a condition of retention, or release, of the product 11, how will it come? explained more forward in detail.

Each unit? conveyor 15 also comprises a second retaining member 20, configured to receive and retain a respective sheet of wrapping 12 pressed against a lateral surface of the product 11. The second retaining member 20? fixed to the support element 17 so as to be movable between an active position, in which it holds a sheet of wrapping paper 12, and an inactive position, in which it is not holding this sheet. The movement of the second holding member 20, ? controlled by a dedicated actuator, such as a cam mechanism, not shown in the accompanying figures.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a first feed member 21, which in the example provided here? configured as a conveyor belt closed on pulleys 22 (only one of which is shown in fig. 1) and powered by suitable actuation means of known type and not shown. The first power organ 21 ? configured to feed the products 1 1 towards the infeed conveyor 13. Pi? in particular, the first feed member 19 feeds the products 11 arranged in an orderly manner resting on it, spaced one from the other by a linear pitch P which is ? corresponding to the angular distance between two units? conveyor 15, equal to said central angle a. In this way, the first feed member 19 feeds the products 11 directly to the units? of transport 15.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a second feed member 23, which is associated with the infeed conveyor 13 to feed the latter the sheets of wrapping paper 12. In the specific example provided here, the second feed member 23 receives the sheet material, preferably unwound from a reel, which is then cut to size by means of a suitable cutting tool 24 for making the aforesaid sheets of wrapping paper 12. The second feed member 23 ? arranged in a position such as to feed the sheets of wrapping paper 12 to the second holding member 20 along a radial direction with respect to the first axis of rotation X1.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a first contrast member 25, operatively associated with the infeed conveyor 13, to fold the sheet of wrapping paper 12 onto the product 11 so that it is placed on two adjacent surfaces 11A, 11B of the product itself .

In the example provided here, the first contrast organ 25 ? configured as an arcuate element which extends around the input conveyor 13 for an arc of a circumference, and ? disposed downstream of the second feed organ 23 so that, advancing in the first direction of rotation R1, each unit? conveyor 15 first receives a sheet of wrapping paper 12 from the second feed member 23, and subsequently encounters the first contrast member 25 to fold the sheet of wrapping paper 12 in the manner that will be? described in more detail below.

The packaging conveyor 14 comprises a plurality of of units gripping units, indicated as a whole with the reference number 16, which will be described in greater detail below with reference to figures 1 and 6. The units? gripping fingers 16 are preferably uniformly distributed with respect to the second axis of rotation X2 and rotate around the latter in a second direction of rotation R2, which in the example described here? hours. In the illustrated example, twelve units are foreseen? grip 16, angularly spaced from each other by an angle in the center equal to 30?.

Similarly to the units transport 15 described above, each unit? gripper 16 comprises a support element 17?, connected to the frame of the packaging conveyor 14 so as to move about the second axis of rotation X2. Furthermore, each support element 17? can? rotate, for example, by a few degrees, but also by quantity? greater, around its own axis of rotation, indicated in the present description as fourth axis of rotation X4, and parallel to the second axis of rotation X2.

Each unit? transport system 15 comprises third retention members 39, organized in pairs, wherein each pair ? configured to temporarily and selectively retain a respective product 1 1 and the relative sheet of wrapping material 12 partially wrapped around it. Each pair of third retaining members 39 comprises a fixed arm 39A, fixed to the support element 17?, and a movable arm 39B, pivoted to the support element 17? through a respective pin.

The movement of the movable arm 39B ? controlled by suitable actuator means, for example comprising a cam mechanism, to oscillate about the respective pins 19? as indicated by the arrow F2 of fig. 1, so as to alternatively go into a condition of retention, or release, of the product to be packaged/packaged, how will it be? explained more forward in detail.

The fixed arm 39A and the movable arm 39B have a shape suitable for allowing correct interaction with the means of transport of the packaged products 100 which advance the product after it has left the packaging conveyor 14, as it will be? described below. In particular, the extremities of the arms 39A, 39B are configured as jaws able to stably hold first one of the aforementioned products 11, together with the relative sheet of wrapping 12, and then the packaged product 100.

The apparatus 10 also comprises at least a first folding member 26, a second folding member 27, and a second contrast member 28, associated with the packaging conveyor 14 for folding the sheet of wrapping paper 12 around the product 11, as it will be? explained in detail below with particular reference to figures 8A-8F. It should be noted that the folding members 26, 27 can be of a type known per se, or of any type to come? developed in the future, and will not be described here in detail since? their specific conformation goes beyond the scope of protection of the present invention.

The second law enforcement agency 28 ? configured as an arcuate element which extends around the packaging conveyor 14 for an arc of circumference. The second law enforcement agency 28 ? preferably arranged downstream of the first folding member 26, and extends for at least a stretch, in which the folding of the sheet of wrapping paper 12 is completed, also downstream of the second folding member 27.

In the example provided here, the second contrast member 28 comprises a pair of shaped side walls 29, which project from opposite sides of an arcuate base wall to intercept, each, an edge protruding laterally from the sheet of packing material 12 and to rivet this flap against a respective wall of product 11, how will it be? explained in more detail below.

The apparatus 10 also comprises one or more? linear transport members or means, generally indicated as a whole with the reference number 30, and configured to transport the packaged products 100 along a linear advancement section L. In the example provided here, the apparatus 10 comprises, arranged in sequence one after the other, a first transport member 31, a second transport member 32 and a third transport member 33.

The linear transport means 30 comprise a passage channel 38 for the packaged products 100 which extends parallel to the linear advancement section L through the aforementioned transport members 31, 32 and 33. Preferably, the passage channel 38 is closed on at least three sides, to effectively contain the packaged product 100 during its advancement along the linear advancement section L and at the same time limit heat loss so that the greater quantity? of possible heat is transferred to packaged products 100 in transit. In the example provided here, the first transport member 31 comprises a pair of conveyor belts 31A and 31B, each closed in a ring around a pair of first rollers 43, and configured to hold the packaged product 100 at its opposite walls lateral. Each conveyor belt 31A and 31B ? provided with a respective actuation member, for example a motor or a geared motor of a type known in the art, which in the attached figures ? indicated with the reference number 34, arranged above the first rollers 43 arranged more? on the left in figure 3.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a support member 35 (figures 1, 5 and 6), arranged below the conveyor belts 31A, 31B to prevent accidental falls of the packaged product 100 while being transported by the first conveyor member 31 .

The second transport organ 32 ? configured as a belt or belt conveyor closed in a loop on a pair of second rollers 44. At least one of these second rollers 44 is powered by a respective actuation member 46, for example a motor or geared motor of a type known in the art, not shown. The second transport member 32 comprises a plurality of of dragging elements 42 which are configured to delimit the packaged product 100 at least at the front and rear, with reference to its direction of advancement along the aforementioned linear advancement section L.

In the example provided here, the third transport member 33 ? configured in a completely analogous way to the first transport member 3 1 previously described. The third conveying member 33 comprises a pair of conveyor belts 33A and 33B, each closed in a loop around a pair of third rollers 45, and configured to retain the packaged product 100 at its opposite side walls. Each conveyor belt 33A and 33B ? provided with a respective actuation member, for example a motor or a geared motor of a type known in the art, which in the attached figures ? indicated with the reference number 37 arranged above the third rollers 45 arranged more? on the left in figure 3. Nell? example described, the conveyor which constitutes the second transport member 32 extends below the third transport member 33. What? ? preferable why? in this way this conveyor performs the function of the aforementioned support member 35 since prevents accidental falls of the packaged product 100 while it is being transported by the third transport member 33.

How will it turn out? evident from the description of the operation of the apparatus 10, the conveyor belts 33A, 33B of the third transport member 33 are configured as compression means able to press the sheet of wrapping paper 12 against the product 11 to facilitate its adhesion to the latter .

The apparatus 10 also comprises heating elements 40 which take the form of heating means suitable for thermally activating the layer of adhesive substance present on the sheet of wrapping material 12 to make the latter adhere to the product 11.

The heating elements 40 are arranged along at least a portion of the aforementioned linear advancement section L of the packaged products 100. The heating elements 40 can be configured in various ways, known in the art or which will be developed in the future, since are suitable to transfer to the sheet of wrapping a quantity? sufficient heat to thermally activate the layer of adhesive substance, without damaging the products to be packaged. By way of non-limiting example, the heating members 40 can comprise electrically heated bars, or conductive elements of various shapes and sizes, or electromagnetic induction coils, etc.

According to the embodiment illustrated with reference to figures 1-3, the heating members 40 are configured as a heated bar, having a cross section in the shape of a ?C? (fig. 2), and extending longitudinally parallel to the linear advancement section L of the packaged products 100. In this example, the heating members 40 comprise at least one heated wall 41, more than one? preferably three heated walls 41, arranged adjacent to as many walls of the packaged product 100 to heat the latter and activate the adhesive layer present on the sheet of wrapping 12.

The passage channel 38 in correspondence with the first transport member 31 ? delimited laterally by the conveyor belts 31A, 31B and below by the support member 35; at the second transport member 32 ? delimited below by the conveyor while above and laterally by the heated walls 41 of the heating member 40; and in correspondence with the third transport member 33 ? delimited laterally by the conveyor belts 33A, 33B and below by the conveyor configured as a second transport member 32.

With reference to the embodiment according to the variant visible in fig. 7, the heating members 40 are associated with the first transport member 31. Specifically, it can? a heating member 40 is provided associated with each conveyor belt 31A, 31B so as to heat the latter and, through them, the sheet of wrapping 12. It should be noted that this embodiment provides for a linear advancement section L of the packaged products 100 plus short, and therefore a smaller overall size of the equipment 10. What? ? due to the fact that the first and third transport member 31, 33 are mutually approached, with the conveyor of the second transport member 32 arranged below them.

In a further embodiment, not shown, the heating members 40 can be arranged both above the second transport member, as shown in figures 1-3, and associated with the conveyor belts 31A, 31B of the first member transport 31.

With reference to figures 8A-8F, will briefly described the sequence of the folding operations for folding the sheet of wrapping paper 12 around the product 11 and thus obtaining the packaged product 100. Since? the product 11 has, by way of example, a cubic shape, reference will be made in the following? to the six surfaces or faces of the product 11, hereinafter called first surface 11A, second surface 11B, and so on? Street.

When the second holding member 20 receives a sheet of wrapping 12, it keeps it pressed against a first surface 11A of the product 11. Subsequently, the sheet of wrapping 12 is forced by the first contrast member 26 to fold against a second surface 11B of the product 11 (fig. 8A), adjacent to the first surface 11A. When the product 11, and the relative wrapping sheet 12, are sold by the unit? transport 15 of the input conveyor 13 to a corresponding unit? gripper 16 of the packaging conveyor 14, the product 11 moves along a radial transfer direction oriented along the segment joining the first and second rotation axes X1, X2.

During the movement along this transfer line, the sheet of wrapping 12 is forced by the third retaining members 39 to fold against a third surface 11C of the product 11 (fig. 8B). In this configuration, the edges of the sheet arranged on the second and third surfaces 11B and 11C protrude beyond the dimensions of these surfaces, as visible in the section of fig. 5 (bottom part). A protruding part of these flaps is folded onto the fourth surface 11D by the first folding member 26 (fig. 8C), while the laterally protruding parts of the aforementioned flaps are partially folded onto the fifth surface 11E and onto the sixth surface (not shown in the figures) by the second folding member 27 (FIG. 8D). Finally, the shaped side walls 29 of the second contrast member 28 complete the folding of the flaps on the fifth surface 11E and on the sixth surface, so as to fold first a flap (fig. 8E) and then the other against these surfaces of the product 11 other (fig. 8F) that were formed during the previous bending operations, and thus obtain? the packaged product 100.

A possible way is briefly described below. of operation of the apparatus 10 according to the present invention, which is reflected in the method for packaging the products 11, also object of the present invention.

The products 11 are fed along the first feed member 11 to the infeed conveyor 13. The unit? conveyor 15 picks up a respective product 11 in correspondence with the radial pick-up position A1 (fig.

1). In this position? provided that the first holding members 18 move to the holding condition, in which the first arm 18A and the second arm 18B close on the product 11.

The unit conveyor 15 continues its rotation around the first axis of rotation XI up to the radial position for feeding the sheet of wrapping paper A2 (fig. 2). In this position, the second holding member 20 moves to its active position to hold the sheet of packing material 12 received from the second feed member 23.

Continuing its rotation around the first rotation axis X1, the unit? transport unit 15 reaches the radial transfer position A3 (fig. 1), in which it transfers the product 11 and the sheet of wrapping paper 12 partially wrapped thereon to a respective unit? grip 16 of the packaging conveyor 14. It should be noted that during the rotation between the radial feed position of the sheet of wrapping paper A2 and the radial transfer position A3, the first contrast member 25 folds the sheet of wrapping paper 12 against a second surface 11B of the product 11, as previously explained with particular reference to fig. 8A.

In the radial transfer position A3, the first and second arms 18A, 18B of the first retention members 18 move to the release position, while the movable arm 39B moves to the retention condition in which, in cooperation with the fixed arm 39A , holds the product 11 and the wrapping sheet 12. Note that during the radial transfer between the unit? of transport 15 and the unit? grip 16 the wrapping sheet 12 ? folded against a third surface 11C of the product 11, as previously explained with particular reference to fig. 8B.

In the transfer of product 11 and sheet of wrapping 12 between infeed conveyor 13 and packaging conveyor 14, further transfer members, of a known type and not shown, may intervene, which assist the aforesaid retention members to ensure correct transfer of the products between a conveyor and the other.

Continuing the rotation around the second rotation axis X2, the units? gripper 16 reach the radial end-of-packaging position A4 (figures 1, 5 and 6), in which the sheet of wrapping 12 is been completely folded around the product 11 cos? to obtain the packaged product 100. It should be noted that during the rotation between the radial transfer position A3 and the radial position of packaging end A4, the first folding member 26, the second folding member 27 and the second contrast member 28 complete the folds of the sheet of wrapping on the fourth, fifth and sixth surfaces of the product 11, as previously explained with particular reference to figures 8C to 8F.

In the radial end-of-packaging position A4, the movable arm 39B moves to its release position so that the third holding members 39 can transfer the packaged product 100 to the first transport member 31. To do this, the packaged product 100 is arranged to rest on the support member 35, and simultaneously held laterally by the conveyor belts 31A, 31B. Note that the ends ends of the arms 39A, 39B are shaped like thin prongs, the thickness of which is suitably sized to allow the arms 39A, 39B to pass through ? gap present between the support member 35 and the conveyor belts 31A, 31B, as clearly visible in the enlargement of fig. 6.

As mentioned, each unit? of transport 15 and each unit? taken 16 pu? rotate around its own axis of rotation, that is? around the third axis of rotation X3 for the unit? of transport 15 and to the fourth axis of rotation X4 for the unity? gripper 16. Suitable actuation means, of a known type and not shown, are provided for controlling said rotations about the respective axes. In particular, ? expected to rotate appropriately, typically of a few degrees, the unit? of transport 15 and the unit? gripper 16 at the aforementioned radial positions A1, A2, A3 and A4. Will the person expert in the sector understand? with ease? that these rotations around the axes X3 and X4 constitute a further degree of freedom? for the units? 15 and 16 which allows them to move into the correct position so that? their holding means effectively hold or release the product 11, the sheet of wrapping 12 first, and then the packaged product 100.

After the packaged product 100 ? been transferred to the linear transport means 30, it advances in the passage channel 38 along the linear advancement path L. Along this path ? It is possible to define a linear position of the end of heating A5 and a linear position of the end of compression A6.

In the stretch of linear path which extends between the radial position of the end of packaging A4 and the linear position of the end of heating A5, the heating members 40 heat the sheet of wrapping material 12 so as to thermally activate the layer of adhesive substance arranged on its inner side a contacted with the product 11.

There? can? take place both while the packaged product? transported by the second transport member 32, via the heated walls 41, in the embodiment described with reference to figures 1-3, or via heating members 40 associated with the conveyor belts 31A, 31B, as previously described with reference to the variant of fig. 7. Alternatively, the heating can? be provided at both the first and the second transport member 31, 32, according to an embodiment previously described, but not illustrated in the attached figures.

In the stretch of linear path which extends between the linear position of the end of heating A5 and the linear position of the end of compression A6, the compression means, which in the example described here are configured as the conveyor belts 33A, 33B, press the sheet of wrapping 12 against the product 11, for example at least against the fifth surface 11E and the sixth surface of the same. There? facilitates the adhesion of the wrapping sheet 12 to the product 11 thanks to the action of the layer of adhesive substance which? previously been thermally activated by means of the aforesaid heating members 40. ? it is appropriate that the compression means are arranged adjacent to the heating means, immediately downstream of the latter, since? their action? all the more effective at least the wrapping sheet 12 yes ? cooled, which happens gradually once it is not more subject to the action of the heating elements 40. To the person expert in the sector will result? it is quite evident that, in addition or as an alternative to the aforementioned conveyor belts 33A, 33B, the compression means can comprise suitable members, of a type known in the art or which will be? developed in the future, suitable for carrying out the compression action described above.

The apparatus 10 operates in a continuous cycle, mode? of guarantees the achievement of high productivity?. To this end, ? provided a? unit? programmable control system, which controls the operation of all the actuation means and members mentioned above for moving the moving parts, in particular the conveyors 13, 14 and the linear means of transport 30, with a continuous movement.

? It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts or phases can be made to the apparatus 10 and to the method described up to now, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. In the claims that follow, the references in brackets have the sole purpose of facilitating the reading and must not be considered as limiting factors as regards the scope of protection implied in the specific claims.

Claims (14)

1. Apparatus (10) for packaging products (11), in particular food products, comprising both an infeed conveyor (13) provided with one or more? unit? conveyors (15), each configured to receive and transport at least one of said products (11) and a relative sheet of wrapping (12) to make a wrapper for each of said products (11), and a packaging conveyor (14) equipped with one or more unit? socket (16), each adapted to receive from a respective of said one or more? unit? conveyor (15) each of said products (11) and the relative sheet of wrapping (12) at least partially wrapped around the latter, wherein said apparatus (10) also comprises heating means (40) configured to heat an adhesive substance present on said sheet of wrapping (12) to make it adhere to said product (11), and ? characterized in that said infeed conveyor (13) comprises first folding means (25) configured to make at least one fold of said sheet of wrapping paper (12) around the product (11), and said packaging conveyor (14) comprises second means folders (26, 27, 28) configured to make the remaining folds of the sheet of wrapping paper (12) around the product (11) so by packaging each of said products (11) inside said casing and forming a packaged product (100), and by the fact that said heating means (40) are arranged downstream of said packaging conveyor (14), and associated linear transport means (30), which are configured to be operated with a continuous movement by drive members (34, 37, 46) and comprise a passage channel (38) in which said packaged products (100) advance along a linear feed section (L). 2. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said heating means comprise one or more? heating members (40) placed near of said passage channel (38) to barely touch, or skim, said packaged products (100) in transit. 3. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said heating means (40) and said linear transport means (30) cooperate to delimit said passage channel (38) in such a way that said passage (38) is closed on at least three sides. 4. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said linear transport means (30) comprise one or more? transport members (31, 32, 33), arranged in succession one after the other along said linear advancement section (L), each equipped with respective actuation members (34, 37, 46) and that said heating members (40 ) are arranged in the vicinity? of at least one of said transport members (31) so as to heat said sheet of wrapping material (12) by means of said at least one heated transport member (31). 5. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said heating means comprise one or more? heating members (40) selected from a group consisting of: electrically heated bars extending parallel to said linear advancement section (L), provided with one or more? heated walls (41), or conductive elements, or electromagnetic induction coils. 6. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each unit? transport system (15) of said infeed conveyor (13) comprises first holding members (18) and second holding members (20) respectively configured to selectively hold one of said products (11) and one of said sheets of wrapping paper (12 ), that said apparatus (10) also comprises first and second feeding means (21, 23) associated with said infeed conveyor (13) for feeding said units? (15) respectively said products (11) and said sheets of wrapping (12) and that said first folding means comprise a contrast member (25) for folding the sheet of wrapping (12) onto the product (11) so that it is arranged on two adjacent surfaces (11A, 11B) of said product (11). 7. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said units? gripping means (16) of the packaging conveyor (14) comprises third holding members (39), configured to selectively hold said products (11) and said sheets of wrapping paper (12) partially wrapped on them, and that said second means folders include a plurality? of folding members (26, 27, 28) associated with said packaging conveyor (14) to fold, according to a predetermined sequence, respective edges of said sheet of packing material (12) against corresponding surfaces (11D, 11E) of each of said products (11) to obtain said packaged product (100), in particular while said units? gripper (16) follow a curvilinear trajectory. 8. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said infeed conveyor (13) and said packaging conveyor (14) are configured as rotating motions about respective rotation axes (XI, X2), parallel to each other, and that said infeed conveyor (13) and said packaging conveyor (14) are arranged in such a way that the transfer of each of said products (11) and the relative sheet of wrapping (12) from said unit ? transport (15) to said unit? grip (16) takes place along a radial transfer directrix oriented along the segment joining said axes of rotation (XI, X2). 9. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises compression means (33A, 33B) for said packaged product (100), arranged downstream of said heating means (40) along said stretch of linear feed (L), to press said sheet of wrapping (12) against each of said products (1 1) so as to facilitate the adhesion of the relative sheet of wrapping (12) on the corresponding product (11) thanks to the presence of the layer sticker what? been thermally activated. 10. Process for packaging products (11), in particular food products, comprising: - a step of feeding the products to be packaged (11) and the corresponding wrapping sheets (12) for their packaging towards an infeed conveyor (13) provided with one or more? unit? transport (15), so that each of the latter receives and transports one of said products (1 1) and a relative sheet of wrapping (12), - a transfer step of each of said products (11) and of the relative sheet of wrapping (12) partially wrapped around the latter by said unit? transport (15) to a respective unit? gripper (16) of a packaging conveyor (14), - a step of folding the sheet of wrapping paper (12) around said product (11), according to a predetermined sequence, by means of first and second folding means (25, 26, 27, 28) respectively associated with said infeed conveyor (13) and to said packaging conveyor (14) for forming a packaged product (100), - a step of heating an adhesive substance present on said sheet of wrapping paper (12) to make it adhere to said product (11) by means of heating means (40), in which said procedure ? characterized in that the heating phase of said adhesive substance occurs after said folding phase, and in that the heating phase occurs during an advancement phase in which ? foreseen to advance said packaged product (100) with continuous motion on a linear advance section (L), along a passage channel (38) included in linear transport means (30). 11. Process as in claim 10, characterized in that during said advancement phase of said packaged products (100) along said passage channel (38), said packaged products (100) are barely touched, or skimmed, by said means of heating (40), which are associated with said linear transport means (30). 12. Process as in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that after said heating step of said adhesive substance, ? a compression step of said packaged product (100) is provided, by means of compression means (33A, 33B) configured to press said sheet of wrapping paper (12) against the corresponding sheet of said products (11) so as to facilitate their mutual adhesion for the presence of said adhesive substance that ? been heated. 13. Process as in any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that said folding step provides for completely folding the sheet of wrapping paper (12) around the product (11), wherein said folding step comprises: first carrying out a first fold of the sheet of wrapping paper (12) on the product (11) so that it is placed on two adjacent surfaces (11A, 11B) of said product (11) by means of a contrast member (25) included in said first folding means , then fold the sheet of wrapping paper (12) on a third surface (11C) of the product (11) during the transfer from said infeed conveyor (13) to said packaging conveyor (14), and finally make the remaining folds, according to a pre-established sequence, of said sheet of wrapping paper (12) against corresponding surfaces (11D, 11E) of the product (11) by means of folding members (26, 27, 28) included in said second folding means, while said units? gripper (16) follow a curvilinear trajectory, like an arc of a circumference. 14. Packaging machine for packaging products (11), in particular food products, inside a casing formed by a sheet of wrapping paper (12) folded around each of said products (11), in which said machine ? characterized in that it comprises an apparatus (10) as in any one of claims 1 to 9.