ITBO20110719A1 - DEVICE FOR REALIZING AN EXTREME TRANSVERSE FIN IN A PRODUCT WINDING CASE. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR REALIZING AN EXTREME TRANSVERSAL FIN IN A PRODUCT WINDING ENCLOSURE.

The present invention relates to a device for making an extreme transverse fin in a wrapping envelope for a product.

Devices are known for making an extreme transverse fin in a wrapping envelope for a product, said fin being obtained by joining, in particular by heat-sealing, counter-facing end flaps of the envelope, which protrude longitudinally in addition to the respective transverse face of the product .

Said known devices are used in equipment for packaging products in respective casings and comprise, in greater detail, means for clamping and heat-sealing the protruding counter-facing end flaps of the casing, which are operated by corresponding handling means along a respective path of mutual rapprochement and distancing.

In particular, in these known devices, the means for moving the clamping and joining means move the clamping and joining means themselves according to opposing circumferential paths, the rotation axis of which is parallel to the transverse face of the product to be packaged.

This rotary movement of the clamping and joining means or jaws brings the clamping jaws on the perpendicular trajectory of the flaps to be joined practically only in the position of mutual contact and union of said flaps.

In practice, such a path of the already known clamping and joining means results from the composition of a perpendicular movement with respect to the product and a longitudinal movement directed towards the same product. This movement of the jaws is imparted by the jaws themselves to the edges of the casing to be joined, during the approaching phase of said edges, which leads to the creation of fins of poor quality and which give the sensation of a poorly maintained and poor quality product. , thus also depressing the value of the packaged product.

Moreover, from such an arched path of the already known clamping and joining jaws, it can also result in a problematic engagement for the protruding edges of packages that have a considerable height, with consequent risk of an ineffective execution of the extreme transverse fin for closing the packaging, and therefore the need to reject the corresponding unsuccessful packages.

According to another point of view, the already known devices for the realization of an extreme transverse fin in a wrapping envelope for a product are not very versatile in use, not allowing any different conformation for the said extreme transverse fin of the envelope with respect to to what they were designed for.

The present invention intends to propose a new and alternative solution to the solutions known up to now, and possibly such as to obviate one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks and / or problems, and / or such as to satisfy one or more of the above requirements. referred to or which are in any case derivable from the foregoing.

A device is then provided for making an extreme transverse fin in a wrapping envelope for a product, said fin being obtained by joining, in particular by heat-sealing, counterfaced end flaps of the envelope projecting longitudinally in addition to the respective transverse face of the product. ; the device being preferably usable in an apparatus for packaging said product in said casing and comprising clamping and joining means, in particular heat-sealing, of the counter-facing end flaps of the casing projecting longitudinally, which clamping and joining means are operated by corresponding movement means according to a respective approaching and moving away path; characterized in that said means for moving the clamping and joining means move said clamping and joining means according to a translational path lying in a respective plane.

In this way, it is possible to process products of any size and achieve in any case extreme closing fins of the casing of excellent workmanship.

This and other innovative aspects of the device are, however, set out in the claims reported below, the technical characteristics of which can be found, together with the corresponding advantages achieved, in the following detailed description, illustrating a purely exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, and which is made with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figures 1A to 1F illustrate in perspective view the various stages of manufacturing a so-called "fin seal" package;

Figure 2A illustrates, in a schematic side view, an apparatus suitable for making a so-called "fin seal" package;

Figure 2B is a schematic top view of the terminal part of the present preferred embodiment of packaging apparatus, with particular illustration of the area where the transverse fins are made;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a device for making a transverse fin;

Figure 4A is a side view of the preferred embodiment of a device for making a transverse fin;

Figure 4B is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device with the clamping and joining jaws in close proximity;

Figures 5 and 6 show side views corresponding to the view of Figure 4A, and illustrating the construction of a corresponding transverse fin in packages of different size.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a preferred embodiment of apparatus 9 for making a package comprising an envelope, in particular in the form of a sheet or film, especially in the form of a sheet or film of plastic material, which wraps a respective product, in which the winding is referred to as the "fin seal" type in the industry.

The apparatus provides a package C by means of a plurality of product wrapping steps which are schematically illustrated in Figures 1A to 1F, where the various manufacturing steps of a so-called "fin seal" package are illustrated.

In practice, thanks to the present apparatus 9, a product 11, preferably in the form of a package or box-like body, is wrapped in a respective protective casing 13.

As illustrated, the product 11 has opposite extreme transverse faces 11a, 11b, between which respective longitudinal faces extend, which include opposite main faces, normally the broad front and rear faces of the product, 11c, 11d, and opposite, and more narrow , lateral faces 11e, 11f, which extend between said main faces 11c, 11d.

In turn, the wrapping 11 for wrapping a product is preferably in the form of a sheet or piece of film, especially in plastic material, in particular in polypropylene, which is suitably heat-sealable and is wrapped around the product. to be packaged, defining corresponding layers or overlapping portions, preferably in contact with the respective faces of the wrapped product.

Said overlapping layers are marked with the numerical references 13a, 13b, those which overlap the extreme transverse faces 11a, 11b, while the layers which overlap the opposite main faces 11c are marked with the numerical references 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f. , 11d and to the opposite lateral faces 11e, 11f of the product.

In practice, the package has the closure or longitudinal union which is in the form of a respective fin 13g, protruding laterally from the casing itself, which is provided in correspondence with a respective lateral face 11e of the product, which longitudinal fin 13g It is obtained by joining, in particular by heat sealing, said lateral edges 13'g, 13 "g of the casing, which are facing each other and joined together, as illustrated in Figure 1B.

The said longitudinal fin 13g is then folded and joined, in particular by heat sealing, to the flap 13e of the casing which overlaps and is in contact with the corresponding lateral face of the product, in particular with the lateral face 11c of the same product.

Furthermore, the present package C comprises a first and a second extreme transversal closures, which are respectively in the form of respective transversal extreme fins 13h, 13h, which close the wrapping around the product and which are obtained by joining, in particular by heat sealing. , of end flaps 13'h, 13'h facing each other and protruding longitudinally in addition to the corresponding extreme transverse face 11a, 11b of the product.

The respective extreme transverse fin 13h, 13h is folded onto the corresponding flap 13a, 13b of the envelope which overlaps and is in contact with the corresponding transverse face 11a, 11b of the product and is joined to this, in particular by heat sealing, as required can be seen from figure 1F.

As illustrated, the fins 13h, 13h have a respective central portion 131, 131 and opposite side fins 13i, 13i, which protrude laterally or transversely in addition to the lateral faces 11e, 11f of the product and which, advantageously, are folded on the corresponding flap 13e , 13f of the wrapper which overlaps and is in contact with the corresponding lateral face 11e, 11f of the product and are joined to these, in particular by heat sealing, as can be seen from Figure 1F.

As illustrated, in said figure 2A, the apparatus comprises a support frame 12 for a plurality of units, which are suitable for making said package and having respective operating units or devices, which are operated by corresponding actuation means.

Advantageously, the present frame 12 has a separation wall 12a between the corresponding operating units and the respective actuation means.

Said separation wall 12a is, as illustrated, in the form of a longitudinal wall which extends in height, i.e. vertically.

In particular, as illustrated, the apparatus 9 comprises a group 14 for feeding the product to be packaged 11, a group 16 for tubular wrapping of the wrapping around the product, and a group 18 for closing the end of said wrapping around the product.

As can be seen from Figure 2A, the said end-closing assembly 18 of the wrapper comprises means 181 for advancing the product.

Said means 181 for advancing the product are suitable for transporting said products between a plurality of end-closing stations of the wrapper on the product.

In particular, as illustrated, said means for advancing the product 181 are adapted to transport said product in a condition aligned and spaced from each other.

In particular, said product advancement means 181 are in the form of a conveyor belt 181a defining a product support surface 181b and having a respective plurality of projections 181c, in particular equidistant, for rear engagement of the respective product.

In practice, said conveyor belt 181 is in the form of an endless mobile conveyor belt, with reciprocating feed motion, having product advancement phases and stop phases at the respective work stations on the product.

Said assembly 18 for terminal closure of the wrapping on the product comprises, in particular, a unit, or device, 7 for mutual coupling of respective extreme edges 13'h, 13'h of the wrapping, which protrude longitudinally from the respective transverse face 11a, 11b of the same product, which unit, or device, is therefore able to define a respective extreme transverse closure of the wrapper on the product shaped like a fin, as shown in the previous figure 1D.

In greater detail, said coupling device 7 has respective means 82a, 82a for clamping and joining, in particular for heat-sealing, said end flaps 13'h, 13'h of the casing which protrude longitudinally beyond said transverse face 11a , 11b of the product, in particular to define said transverse fin for closing the wrapper on the product.

In particular, the present device 7 for making or defining an extreme transverse fin comprises, as can be seen from Figure 4A, means 82a, 82a for clamping and joining, in particular for heat sealing, the counter-facing end flaps of the casing which protrude longitudinally in addition to said transversal face of the product, which are operated by corresponding handling means according to a respective approaching and distancing path of said clamping and joining means.

Advantageously, said means for moving the clamping and joining means 82a, 82a move said clamping and joining means 82a, 82a along a translational path lying in a respective plane P, as can be seen from figures 4A and 4B.

In this way, it is possible to treat products of any size, obtaining fins of excellent workmanship.

In fact, the translational movement of the joining means allows a secure engagement and dragging of the protruding edges towards the desired point of mutual contact and union of these.

In practice, said means for moving the clamping and joining means 82a, 82a move said clamping and joining means 82a, 82a along a translational path lying in a respective plane P perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the product or package, or to the edges protruding to join 13'h.

In particular, as can be clearly seen, said joining means comprise a respective pair of opposed jaws 82a, 82a for engaging the counter-facing end flaps of the casing.

In practice, said clamping and joining means comprise a respective pair of opposed jaws 82a, 82a for engaging the counter-facing end flaps of the casing which are movable simultaneously along an approaching and distancing path.

Advantageously, said clamping and joining means comprise a respective pair of opposing jaws 82a, 82a for engaging the counter-facing end flaps of the casing which are movable along opposite paths lying in a common plane of position P.

Advantageously, as illustrated, means 82a, 82a are provided for clamping and joining, in particular for heat sealing, the longitudinally protruding end flaps of the casing, which clamping and joining means 82a, 82a are suitably carried on respective support means 82b which can be coupled to the equipment frame.

Advantageously, means 82a, 82a are provided for clamping and joining the longitudinally protruding end envelope flaps which can be vertically positioned in a desired position to provide said transverse fin at any desired point of the perpendicular extension of the transverse face of the product.

Advantageously, said coupling unit or device 7, in particular the said pairs of opposed clamping and joining jaws 82a, 82a, are carried on respective support means, or frame 82b, further supporting corresponding means, or motor, of specific drive 82c.

In particular, said electric motor 82c for driving the coupling device 7 is in the form of a brushless motor.

As illustrated, the support frame 12 of the apparatus comprises secondary support means 12b, 12b which are arranged in front of said wall means 12a.

Said secondary support means 12b, 12b are, in particular, supported cantilevered by said wall means 12a, thanks to corresponding transverse support rods 12c, 12c supported by said separation wall 12a.

In particular, said secondary support means comprise first and second elongated plates 12b, 12b, which extend longitudinally in a manner corresponding to, or according to, said wall means 12a by which they are supported.

In particular, said elongated plates 12b, 12b extend parallel to each other and substantially parallel to said separation wall 12a,

Said secondary support means 12b, 12b support said end-closing assembly 18 of the wrapper on the product and, therefore, also the present coupling device 7.

Said secondary support means, in particular the said first and second elongated plates 12b, 12b, also support the means 181 for advancing the products in correspondence with the end closing assembly 18 of the wrapper.

As illustrated, the said assembly 18 for the end closure of the wrapping on the product comprises a first and a second unit 7, 7 for mutual coupling of respective extreme edges of the wrapping protruding longitudinally from opposite transverse faces 11a, 11b of the product.

In particular, said pairs of opposed clamping and joining jaws 82a, 82a are carried on respective support means 82b which can be coupled to the frame of the apparatus, in particular to the secondary support means or frame 12b, 12b of the frame.

Said means 82b for supporting the coupling unit 7 therefore also support means 82d for transmitting the movement from the actuation means 82c to the said joining and approaching means or to the opposite clamping and joining jaws 82a, 82a.

Therefore, said frame, in particular said secondary support means or frame 12b, 12b of the frame has respective attachment means for the support means 82b of the coupling unit 7.

In particular, said attachment means for the support means 82b of the coupling unit 7 are in the form of corresponding holes for inserting corresponding connecting screws 182, as will be better understood in any case from the following of the present description.

In particular, the means for moving the first and second welding means are adapted to move the respective sealing body 82a, 82a alternately between an advanced joining position and a rearward or reciprocally distant position of free passage and positioning of a product. following.

Common means 82c for actuating the first and second welding means 82a, 82a are therefore provided.

Said means for moving the first means and second welding means comprise a common rotatable member 82e, to which the respective welding body or jaw 82a, 82a is eccentrically connected, so as to move the same sealing body 82a, 82a alternately between a position close to the other sealing body for joining the edges of the casing and a position away from the other sealing body for free insertion of a subsequent product.

In practice, the rotatable member 82e, driven by the motor 82c, carries a first and a second eccentrics 82f, 82g, provided at the opposite lateral ends thereof.

In practice, the shaft of the motor 82c rotates alternately, for a desired angular length, and causes the said rotatable member 82e and the said eccentrics 82f, 82g to move in the same way, so as to move the respective welding element or jaw 82a, 82a.

The rotatable member 82e supports a respective pulley 82p meshing with a belt 82q driven by a respective pulley 82r integral with the shaft of the drive motor 82c.

The respective eccentric 82f, 82g therefore has a corresponding eccentric attachment pin for a corresponding end of a respective connecting rod 82h, 82h whose other end 821, 821 is connected to a pin integral with a corresponding sliding slider 82m, 82m, in particular vertically on corresponding guides, in particular extending perpendicularly to the jaws 82a, 82a which are provided on the means, or plate, 82b for supporting the unit or device 7.

As illustrated, the joining jaws 82a, 82a are carried on the respective slider or slide 82m, 82m.

As reported, advantageously, said plate or means 82b for supporting the coupling device 7 is connected to the frame 12b by means of corresponding connection means such as to allow it to be positioned in height in a respective and desired position.

In particular, said plate or means 82b for supporting the device 7 is connected to the frame through corresponding releasable and lockable connection means 182 with respect to the frame 12b of the apparatus to which the present device is associated and defining said means connecting the vertical sliding means of said support means, or plate 82c.

In particular, said plate or means 82b for supporting said device 7 are connected to the frame through corresponding connection means consisting of connecting screws 182, which insert into corresponding holes, not shown in the said frame 12b, and into holes, vertically oblong 183, provided in said plate, or means 82b for supporting said device 7, and which allow the plate or support means 82b to slide vertically with respect to said connecting screws 182.

In practice, by loosening the widened-headed screws 182a, the respective plate or support means 82b of said device 7 is released with respect to the frame 12b of the apparatus and it is thus possible to make said plate, or means, slide , support 82b, i.e. the lip defining the oblong holes 183, on the shank of the said connecting screws 182, up to a new vertical working position, once reached which the said screws 182 are screwed again and then the respective plate, or means, 82b for supporting the device 7 with respect to the frame 12b of the apparatus.

As reported, opposite first and second units or devices 7, 7 are provided for joining opposite transverse fins projecting from corresponding transverse faces of the product.

Therefore, in particular and advantageously, opposite first and second units or devices 7, 7 are provided for joining opposite transverse fins projecting from corresponding transverse faces 11a, 11b of the product, which units or devices 7, 7 can be positioned at different levels. different heights from each other to provide transverse fins 13h, 13h at different height levels.

Moreover, advantageously, means are provided for adjusting the stroke of the respective clamping and joining surface 82a, 82a, between an open position for inserting the protruding flaps to be joined of the casing and a closed position for engaging and joining said flaps.

Said means suitable for adjusting the stroke between said opposing clamping surfaces 82a, 82a and joining said lateral protruding edges of the casing are in the form of means suitable for adjusting the stroke of both respective clamping and joining surfaces or jaws 82a, 82a .

In particular, said means adapted to adjust the stroke of the respective clamping and joining surfaces 82a, 82a are in the form of means for adjusting the angle of rotation of the respective actuating eccentric of the respective clamping and joining jaw 82a, 82a, or of the respective , in particular common, rotation member (82e), that is, of the shaft of the means, or motor, of actuation (82c), especially of the common means, or motor, of actuation (82c).

In fact, as can be seen also with reference to the following figures 5 and 6, the distance "d" between the jaws, or the joining surfaces 82a, 82a can be varied in order to adapt it to the dimensions of the package to be made and therefore to obtain times of approach between the upper jaws advantageously for packages having smaller or smaller dimensions.

In practice, said clamping and joining means of the flaps defining the transverse fin comprise opposite first and second heated welding members or bodies 82a, 82a, which clamping and joining means 82a, 82a are movable on a plane P parallel to the respective extreme transverse face of the product 11a, 11b, in practice an upper welding jaw 82a is provided, and a lower welding jaw 82b is provided.

Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 2B, the respective jaw, or sealing body, 82a has an extension according to the development or advancement line of the product, such as to perform the clamping and joining in a plurality of successive rest stations of the product, in particular in two corresponding successive stations.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of evident industrial application. The person skilled in the art will also be able to imagine numerous variations and / or modifications to be made to the invention illustrated in the specific preferred embodiment, while remaining within the scope of the inventive concept, as amply disclosed. In particular, the person skilled in the art can easily imagine further preferred embodiments of the invention which include one or more of the aforementioned characteristics. It must also be understood that all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims (20)

CLAIMS 1. Device (7) for making an extreme transverse fin (13h) in a wrapping envelope for a product, said fin (13h) being obtained by joining, in particular by heat-sealing, counter-facing end flaps of the envelope (13'h ) projecting longitudinally in addition to the respective transverse face (13a, 13b) of the product; the device (7) being preferably usable in an apparatus (10) for packaging said product in said wrapper and comprising means (82a, 82a) for clamping and joining, in particular for heat-sealing, the counter-facing end flaps of the wrapper protruding longitudinally , which clamping and joining means (82a, 82a) are operated by corresponding movement means according to a respective approaching and joining and distancing path; characterized in that said means for moving the clamping and joining means (82a, 82a) move said clamping and joining means (82a, 82a) according to a translational path lying in a respective plane (P). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for moving the clamping and joining means (82a, 82a) move said clamping and joining means (82a, 82a) according to a translational path lying in a respective plane (P ) perpendicular to the axis of the product or package, or to the protruding edges to be joined. 3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said joining means (82a, 82a) comprise a respective pair of opposed jaws (82a, 82a) for engaging the counter-facing end flaps of the casing. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said clamping and joining means comprise a respective pair of opposing jaws (82a, 82a) for engaging the counter-facing end flaps of the casing which are movable simultaneously according to an approaching path and removal. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said clamping and joining means comprise a respective pair of opposed jaws (82a, 82a) for engaging the counter-facing end flaps of the casing, which are movable according to opposite paths lying in a common lying plane. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims or according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, characterized in that means (82a, 82a) are provided for clamping and joining, in particular heat-sealing, the counter-facing end flaps of the casing projecting longitudinally in addition to said transverse face of the product, which are carried on respective support means (82b) which can be connected or fixed to the frame of the apparatus. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims or according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, characterized in that means (82a, 82a) are provided for clamping and joining, in particular by heat sealing, the counter-facing end flaps of the casing projecting longitudinally in addition to said transverse face of the product, which can be positioned vertically in a desired position to provide said transverse fin at any desired point of the perpendicular extension of the transverse face (11a, 11b) of the product. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the said pair of opposed clamping and joining jaws (82a, 82a) are carried on respective support means (82b) which can be connected to means, or frame, secondary support supports (12b, 12b) of the framework, positioned at the front and supported by a respective wall (12a) of the framework. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said support means (82b) support the means (82d) for transmitting the movement to the clamping and joining means (82a, 82a). 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims from 6 to 9, characterized in that said support means (82b) support the corresponding means, or motor, (82c) for actuating the clamping and joining means (82a, 82a). 11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said clamping and joining means of the flaps defining the transverse fin comprise opposite first and second heated joining means or bodies (82a, 82a). 12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said clamping and joining means are movable on a plane parallel to the respective extreme transverse face (11a, 11b) of the product. 13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, or according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, characterized in that common means for moving first and second clamping and joining means (82a, 82a) are provided. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said means for moving the first and second welding means comprise a rotatable member (82e) to which the respective jaw (82a, 82a) is eccentrically connected in such a way as to moving the same jaw (82a, 82a) between a close joint position and a distanced position. 15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims or according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, characterized in that means are provided for adjusting the stroke of the respective clamping and joining surface (82a, 82a), between an open insertion position of the protruding flaps of the casing to be joined and a closed position of engagement and joining of the said flaps. 16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that said means suitable for adjusting the stroke between said opposing surfaces (82a, 82a) for clamping and joining said lateral protruding edges of the casing are in the form of means suitable for adjusting the stroke of both respective surfaces or clamping and joining jaws (82a, 82a). 17. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 15 and 16, characterized in that said means suitable for adjusting the stroke between said opposing surfaces (82a, 82a) for clamping and joining said lateral protruding edges of the casing are in the form of means for adjusting the angle of rotation of the respective actuation eccentric of the respective clamping and joining jaw (82a, 82a), or of the respective rotation member (82e), or of the shaft of the drive means, or motor (82c) . 18. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, or according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, characterized in that the support means, or plate (82b) of the device are connected to the frame through corresponding connection means which can be positioned in height according to a desired position, in particular in the form of corresponding unlockable and lockable connection means (182) defining vertical sliding means of said support means, or plate (82c). 19. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, or according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, characterized in that opposite first and second units (7, 7) are provided for clamping and joining opposite transverse fins (13h, 13h) protruding from corresponding transverse faces (11a, 11b) of the product, which units (7, 7) can be positioned at different height levels to provide transversal fins (13h, 13h) at different height levels. 20. Device characterized in that it is as provided in any of the corresponding preceding claims and / or as described and illustrated with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.