NL1018979C1 - Wrapping method for e.g. flower bouquets, involves rolling object into space between two sheets being moved only in unwind direction - Google Patents

Abstract

The object to be wrapped is rolled into the space between the two sheets of wrapping material and these two sheets are moved only in the unwind direction. An elongated object such as a flower bouqet is wrapped by supplying a sheet of wrapping material from two directions, joining together the free ends of the sheets, placing the object between the two joined together sheets, winding the sheets around the object and joining the sheets together to form a closed wrapping. An Independent claim is also included for a wrapping machine (1) used to carry out this method, which includes two magazines (2, 3) for two sheets of wrapping material, guides for the two sheets, a receiving part for holding the object between the two sheets, and a fastening/cutting device (15) for joining together the two sheets and cutting the prepared wrappings to separate them from each other, the guides comprising a curved guide plate (10) and an arm (11) which can be moved over the concave surface in order for the two sheets to be received between the guide plate and arm.

Description

Method and device for packaging an object

The present invention relates to a method for applying a wrapper around an elongated object, such as a bunch of flowers, comprising of feeding a web of wrapping material from two directions, joining the free ends of said wrapping material together, placing the object between the two interconnected webs of wrapping material, placing those webs of wrapping material around the object, interconnecting the webs of wrapping material when the wrapper is thus formed.

Such a method is generally known in the prior art. For packaging flowers, such as roses, a device is used consisting of two spaced-apart rolls of foil material. The webs of film material are connected at the free end thereof. The webs of foil material each rest on a carrier. A bunch of flowers is laid on the two webs of foil material supported by the carrier. The carriers are then moved apart and the bunch of flowers sinks down. The webs of film material are then connected to each other again and the wrapper thus formed is separated. Subsequently, the parts of foil material connected to each other are moved back and the carriers are brought back to their original position.

Although such a device functions well, it is particularly complicated by the large number of moving parts. Moreover, it is necessary to move the film material back and forth, which places high demands on guides, braking devices and the like. As a result, the processing speed of the device according to the prior art is relatively limited. Moreover, complicated control is needed to achieve this. Two drive motors for movement of each of the webs of film material are necessary.

It is the object of the invention to simplify the method described above.

This object is achieved in a method described above in that applying the webs of wrapping material comprises rolling said object between those webs and that both webs of wrapping material are moved exclusively in the direction of unwinding.

According to the invention, movable carriers are no longer used, but the object to be packaged is moved along a hollow, curved object.

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As a result, the course of the method can be considerably simplified. As a result, the reliability of the winding increases and, moreover, the speed of the winding can be increased without too many problems.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the object is rolled into the film material and the axis of rotation of rolling-in is not coincident with the medium-axis of that object.

The invention also relates to a device for arranging a wrapper around an elongated object, such as a bunch of flowers, comprising two stores for a strip of wrapping material in each case, guides for each strip of wrapping material arranged around the free ends of the strips towards each other to include a receptacle for receiving said object between said webs of wrapping material, fastening / cutting means for securing said two webs of wrapping material together and separating wraps made with the device from one another, said guides comprising a curved guide plate and a guide arm movable along its concave surface for receiving said two webs of wrapping material between said guide plate and guide arm. Both the film material is guided through the arm and the object is transported along the concave surface of the guide plate. Depending on the shape of the guide plate, the movement of the arm will also be carried out. Preferably, this is circular.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, near the free end of the guide plate, there is a station where the two foil webs are fixed and cut. The entry for the object is arranged on the opposite side of the curved plate.

The movement of the arm can be realized in any way known in the prior art and in the case of a circular movement, a crank mechanism is preferably used.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. In the following: FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of further details of the device according to the invention; and

FIG. 3-6 different stages of wrapping an object.

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The device according to the invention is indicated in its entirety in the figures by 1. This consists of a frame structure, not shown in detail, on which holders 2, 3 are arranged. These are designed to contain rolls of foil material 4, 5. By foil material is meant any sheet-like material known in the state of the art. This can optionally be provided with information or other imprint, whereby it is possible that the sheets of film material are different.

The foil material coming from the rollers 4, 5 is guided by a brake, consisting of brake cylinders 6 and pressure strips 8 to be operated with the brake cylinders. This strip 8 cooperates with a support surface 9 for receiving the foil material therebetween.

A curved guide plate 10 is present. In the embodiment shown here, this is circularly curved. An arm 11 can move along this. Guidance of the arm near the end of the guide plate 10 takes place by means of a roller 17 and a guide roller 16. On the other side, the arm 11 is fixed to plate 12 and the auxiliary plate 13 spaced therefrom. These plates 12 and 13 are rotatable about an axis 14. A confirmation / cutting station is indicated by 15. Details of this are apparent from FIG. 2. The mounting / cutting station consists of two upwardly movable gripping lips 19 which press the sheets of film material against arm 11. A cutting / sealing knife 20 is provided for separating the web.

The supply conveyor is indicated by 22, while a discharge conveyor is indicated by 23.

In FIG. 3-6, the operation of the device described above is explained.

Fig. 3 shows the situation in which just a bunch of flowers 30 provided with a wrapper 31 is discharged. Arm 11 is in a position in which it does not or hardly supports the sheets 25 and 26 of rollers 4 and 5. The ends of the sheets 25 and 26 have just been attached to each other.

When turning the arm further to the left in the direction of arrow 18, as shown in FIG. 4, a bunch of flowers 30 is introduced. Upon further rotation of arm 11 by rotating the plates 12 and 13, this arm 11 comes behind the bunch of flowers while guiding the tracks 25 and 26, as shown in FIG. The bunch of flowers 30 is rolled in. Arm 11 then comes to the position shown in Fig. 6 above the mounting / cutting station. Subsequently, the two sheets of foil material 25 and 26 lying one above the other take place, immediately followed by cutting with the aid of cutting / sealing knife 20. With further movement, arm 11 provided with wrapper 31 is discharged by arm 11 to the discharge conveyor 23 as shown in FIG. 1 and a new cycle can be started.

It appears from the above that it is possible in a particularly simple manner to provide objects with a wrapper. Moreover, no high requirements are imposed on the insertion of the objects between the sheets of film material. That is, no complicated robot constructions, such as in the prior art, are necessary, but a simple supply and discharge conveyor will suffice. The construction according to the invention requires only a single (not shown) drive for rotating the plates 12, 13 about axis 14 and thus moving arm 11. It is not necessary for the sheets of foil to move back. Only movement in the sense of unrolling is necessary. Due to the simple construction it is possible to work at a particularly high speed. The cycle time 15 of four seconds or less is easily achievable. The device in question is easy to manufacture and can be combined with other devices. For example, if it is used for packaging roses, it can be combined with a sorting device for roses.

However, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable for wrapping objects other than crops.

Upon reading the above description, those skilled in the art will immediately come up with variants that are obvious after the above description and are within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims (8)

Method for applying a wrapper around an elongated object, such as a bunch of flowers, comprising of feeding a web of wrapping material from two directions, joining the free ends of said webs of wrapping material together, placing the article between the two mutually connected webs of wrapping material, bringing those webs of wrapping material around the object, joining the webs of wrapping material together on wrapping so formed, characterized in that the arranging of the webs of wrapping material comprises the those webs roll in from that object and that both webs of wrapping material are moved only in the direction of unwinding. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein rolling in of said object comprises subjecting to a rotating movement of said object, wherein the center of rotation of said rotating movement is spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis of said object. 3. Device (1) for arranging a wrap around an elongated object, such as a bunch of flowers (30), comprising two stores (2, 3) for each one web of wrapping material, guides for each web of wrapping material arranged around the free ends of the webs to one another, a receptacle for receiving said object between those webs of wrapping material, fastening / cutting means (15) for securing those two webs of wrapping material to each other and separating the wraps made with the device from each other characterized in that said guides comprise a curved guide plate (10) and a guide arm (11) movable along its concave surface for receiving said two webs of wrapping material between said guide plate and guide arm. Device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said arm is rotatable according to a circle. 1018979 Device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein during operation said arm is rotatable in one direction only and near said end of said guide plate downstream in the direction of rotation of said arm, said mounting / cutting means are arranged. 5 Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the entry for said object is arranged near the end of said guide plate in the direction of rotation of the arm. Device as claimed in any of the claims 3-6, wherein said arm is mounted on a rotating crank. Device according to claim 7, wherein said crank comprises a plate (12, 13). 1018979