WO2005016760A1 - Dispositif et procede pour positionner la jointure d'un film enroule autour d'un produit - Google Patents

Dispositif et procede pour positionner la jointure d'un film enroule autour d'un produit Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005016760A1
WO2005016760A1 PCT/US2003/023027 US0323027W WO2005016760A1 WO 2005016760 A1 WO2005016760 A1 WO 2005016760A1 US 0323027 W US0323027 W US 0323027W WO 2005016760 A1 WO2005016760 A1 WO 2005016760A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
product
film
seam
path
tray
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2003/023027
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Marcus D. Kirk
Original Assignee
Ossid Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ossid Corporation filed Critical Ossid Corporation
Priority to AU2003256700A priority Critical patent/AU2003256700A1/en
Priority to PCT/US2003/023027 priority patent/WO2005016760A1/fr
Publication of WO2005016760A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005016760A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/06—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
    • B65B25/064—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products of poultry
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
    • B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to wrapping a product in a shrinkable film with a sealed seam and positioning the seam in the film to a desired location.
  • Food products in general, and poultry products in particular, are often wrapped in the clear plastic film by conveying a poultry product that is supported by an open topped container, e.g. a tray, under a synchronously moving plastic film sheet, downwardly wrapping the edges of the film that are parallel to the direction of movement to the underside of the tray for sealing a longitudinal seam to form a tube, then sealing a leading end of the tube transversely of the direction of travel, and then sealing a trailing end of the tube transversely of the direction of travel.
  • the leading end seam and the trailing end seam are generally formed close to the leading and trailing ends of the product and container.
  • the consumer product inspection is aided by allowing as much of the product to show above the tray, which is typically opaque. Even in the case of a tray formed of a clear plastic, the tray must be fairly stiff to support the product, requiring either a relatively thick wall or a number of stiffening ribs, either of which tends to impair inspection. Especially in the case of a whole poultry product, typically a chicken, the overall height of the product is typically in the range of 2 to VA times the height of the tray side wall, as will be described in detail below.
  • the appearance of the film wrapped product is compromised if the leading seam or the trailing seam is obvious. Therefore, it is desirable for the leading and trailing seams to be low and adjacent the tray as opposed to high and adjacent the product.
  • the product height is normally more than double the height of the tray sidewall.
  • the seam normally forms in the middle of the height of the object wrapped, which results in a height greater than that of the tray. It is thus desirable for the end seams to be lowered.
  • the present invention provides an apparatus and method for drawing a sealed end seam of a film wrapped around a product to a position adjacent to or below the height of a rim of a tray supporting the product.
  • the product and tray are conveyed to the invention apparatus, wherein the product and tray are stopped at a location and held stationary upon a forwardly driving surface.
  • the forwardly driving surface is formed of a frictional material that is in contact with the lower portion of film wrap and draws the film forward to force a trailing end seam in the film downwardly to a level adjacent to or below the height of the tray rim.
  • the driving surface is a series of driven rollers and the product and tray are stopped by a selectively positioned barrier which is controlled by a signal transmitted from a sensor.
  • Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a film wrapped product after sealing the leading and trailing film seams as in the prior art.
  • Figure 2 is a side elevation view of a film wrapped product after shrinking the film, showing the leading and trailing film seams in typical position as in the prior art.
  • Figure 3 is a trailing end elevation view of a film wrapped product after shrinking the film, showing the trailing film seam in typical position as in the prior art.
  • Figure 4A is a side elevation view of the film wrapped product of Figure 1 after sealing the film end seams as the product is conveyed to the invention apparatus.
  • Figure 4B is a side elevation view of a film wrapped product of Figure 4A as the product is stopped upon the invention apparatus and the trailing end film seam is being positioned.
  • Figure 4C is a side elevation view of the film wrapped product of Figure 4B as the trailing end film seam is positioned by the invention apparatus.
  • Figure 4D is a side elevation view of the film wrapped product of Figure 4C as the product is being released from the invention apparatus to enter a shrinking apparatus.
  • Figure 5 is a trailing end elevation view of a film wrapped product showing the trailing film seam position according to the present invention.
  • Figure 6 is a top plan view of a boat-shaped tray typically used for supporting a whole poultry product.
  • a commodity 12 is supported for retail marketing in a substantially stiff tray 10.
  • Commodity 12 and tray 10 are collectively referred to as product P.
  • Tray 10, as illustrated in Figure 6, is formed with a full width configuration at leading end 38 and a tapered configuration trailing end 40, forming a boat-shaped tray as illustrated in plan view.
  • Tray 10 typically has a peripheral rim 14 that is formed to increase the stiffness of the tray sidewalls, as is known in the trade.
  • the nomenclature "leading end” and “trailing end” is assigned herein in respect to the direction of travel through a typical packaging conveyor as indicated by arrow A.
  • commodity 12 e.g. a whole bird poultry product
  • tray 10 As illustrated in Figure 1, the height H c of commodity 12 is substantially greater than the height H ⁇ of tray 10.
  • height H c is typically in the range of from 110 mm - 150 mm and height HT of tray 10 is in the range of 35 mm - 45 mm (taller trays being used for larger poultry), resulting in a ratio of H c to H ⁇ of between 3.14:1 and 3.33:1.
  • Other ratios will be obtained with different tray and poultry dimensions, but as long as the ratio is greater than about 2.00:1, the principles of the present invention pertain.
  • the second step of the packaging process involves enclosing product P, comprising commodity 12 and tray 10, in a tube of shrinkable plastic film wrap 20 (shown in dashed lines to indicate transparency) with a leading seam 22 and a trailing seam 24.
  • Film 20 may be shrunk by the application of heat or by other forms of energy.
  • film 20 is relatively loose around product P and leading seam 22 and trailing end seam 24 reside substantially adjacent rim 14 in loose condition. In such loose condition, film 20 will tend to exhibit depressions and wrinkles according to the contours of product P.
  • FIG. 4A A preferred embodiment of the apparatus and method of the present invention is depicted diagrammatically in Figures 4A - 4D.
  • the apparatus of the invention includes a sensor 30 which is mounted to a machine conveyor frame (not shown) at a height substantially level with rim 14 of tray 10 which is to be conveyed therealong.
  • Sensor 30 may be of any type, for example a photoelectric cell.
  • a driving surface 34 comprising a series of parallel driven rollers 36 according to the preferred embodiment, extends linearly at a level to support product P horizontally disposed thereon from the vicinity of sensor 30 to a selectively movable barrier 32 located downstream therefrom along the path of travel.
  • the driving surface comprises a continuous belt mounted on a pair of parallel rollers, one of which rollers is driven and the other roller runs freely.
  • sensor 30 detects the presence of product P and transmits a signal to cause a barrier 32 to extend upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow B and to thus prevent product P from further forward movement once product P contacts barrier 32.
  • barrier 32 has been depicted to be movable vertically, any linear or angular movement thereof serves the object of the present invention.
  • Barrier 32 is moved into the path A of product P by any available actuator, for example a pneumatic cylinder (not shown).
  • Rollers 36 are driven to rotate synchronously in the direction indicated by arrows C by a drive motor (not shown) and at a speed similar to the speed at which product P is conveyed.
  • barrier 32 is in position to prevent product P from passing and product P is in contact with barrier 32 as driven rollers 36 continue to rotate.
  • the peripheral surfaces of driven rollers 36 or alternatively a driven belt with a flat upper surface, is formed of a substantially frictional material when used in contact with film 20.
  • film 20 is drawn downwardly from the trailing end 40 of tray 10 to pull trailing seam 24 in the direction indicated by arrow E to a position adjacent to or downward of rim 14.
  • Leading seam 22 is held against barrier 32 by the driving action of rollers 36, thus holding leading seam 22 from being relocated.
  • a downward force may be applied to the upper surface of commodity 12 to enhance the driving action of rollers 36 on the lower surface of film 20.
  • the apparatus and method disclosed can function with a different number of driven rollers than the 4 illustrated.
  • trailing seam 24 has been drawn sufficiently downward of rim 14 by the action of rotating rollers 36 to avoid imposing on the view of a consumer of commodity whole bird poultry product 12.
  • barrier 32 is retracted in the direction of arrow F to be out of the path of product P.
  • product P is driven by rollers 36 in the direction of arrow A to pass retracted barrier 32 and to enter a subsequent packaging stage (not shown) for the application of heat or another form of energy to shrink film 20 snugly around product P.
  • the resultant location of trailing seam 24 is shown in rear elevation view in Figure 5, which is to be compared to the prior art depicted in Figure 3. As will be seen, the location of trailing seam 24 in prior art Figure 3 is above rim 14 and trailing seam 24 resides below rim 14 in the illustration of Figure 5 as a result of practicing the present invention.
  • the best mode for practicing the invention disclosed and claimed herein is as follows: a. conveying a product (P) wrapped in a shrinkable film (20) along a path by a driving surface (34) comprising a series of substantially parallel rollers (36) formed with a substantially highly frictional surface, at least some of which rollers (36) are driven in a direction such that the product (P) moves along the path; b. sensing the product (P) as the product (P) approaches a selected point (32) along the path; c.
  • the present invention is industrially applicable generally in the packaging industry and more particularly in the poultry packaging industry.
  • the invention obtains a high quality packaged whole poultry product to be more acceptable to a consumer, and thus is expected to increase business volume.
  • a demand for the improved equipment by which the invention is to be practiced is anticipated.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif et un procédé pour positionner la jointure (24) d'un film (20) enroulé autour d'un produit (P), en un emplacement souhaité. Le déplacement du produit (P) enroulé dans le film (20) est stoppé avant d'entrer dans un dispositif de rétrécissement, et la surface inférieure du film est étirée par une surface de contact par frottements (34) pour déplacer la jointure sélectionnée (24) en un emplacement souhaité. Le produit (P) est déplacé vers le dispositif de rétrécissement lors du repositionnement de la jointure (24).
PCT/US2003/023027 2003-07-22 2003-07-22 Dispositif et procede pour positionner la jointure d'un film enroule autour d'un produit WO2005016760A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003256700A AU2003256700A1 (en) 2003-07-22 2003-07-22 Apparatus and method for positioning a seam in a film wrapped around a product
PCT/US2003/023027 WO2005016760A1 (fr) 2003-07-22 2003-07-22 Dispositif et procede pour positionner la jointure d'un film enroule autour d'un produit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2003/023027 WO2005016760A1 (fr) 2003-07-22 2003-07-22 Dispositif et procede pour positionner la jointure d'un film enroule autour d'un produit

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005016760A1 true WO2005016760A1 (fr) 2005-02-24

Family

ID=34192506

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2003/023027 WO2005016760A1 (fr) 2003-07-22 2003-07-22 Dispositif et procede pour positionner la jointure d'un film enroule autour d'un produit

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003256700A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2005016760A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3651930A (en) * 1970-06-17 1972-03-28 Grace W R & Co Stand-up display tray and package using same
US4033089A (en) * 1976-07-21 1977-07-05 Henry Lowell Byland Package wrapping method and apparatus
US4959946A (en) * 1988-06-15 1990-10-02 Eastern Shore Printing Corp. Film wrapped receptacle
US5062217A (en) * 1990-11-13 1991-11-05 Ossid Corporation Selective sequential shrink apparatus and process
US5787682A (en) * 1997-06-03 1998-08-04 Ossid Corporation Method and apparatus for shrinking end seams in a film wrapped around a product

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3651930A (en) * 1970-06-17 1972-03-28 Grace W R & Co Stand-up display tray and package using same
US4033089A (en) * 1976-07-21 1977-07-05 Henry Lowell Byland Package wrapping method and apparatus
US4959946A (en) * 1988-06-15 1990-10-02 Eastern Shore Printing Corp. Film wrapped receptacle
US5062217A (en) * 1990-11-13 1991-11-05 Ossid Corporation Selective sequential shrink apparatus and process
US5787682A (en) * 1997-06-03 1998-08-04 Ossid Corporation Method and apparatus for shrinking end seams in a film wrapped around a product

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003256700A1 (en) 2005-03-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU712087B2 (en) Method and apparatus for automatically packaging a food or non food product
US7921983B2 (en) Apparatus for marshalling objects on a driven conveyor
AU2009251801B2 (en) Method for positioning a loaded bag in a vacuum chamber
US5477660A (en) Process and apparatus for maximizing vacuum packaging machine cycle rate
BR0114528B1 (pt) aparelho e método para embalar produtos.
US4442656A (en) Filling and sealing machine for providing a flat bottom package
US3504476A (en) Method of packaging
KR20160050034A (ko) 신장 가능한 필름을 사용하는 물품을 위한 냉간 처리 수축-랩핑 기계 및 관련 방법
JP2529721Y2 (ja) 包装機械
US5475964A (en) Transverse heat-sealing apparatus for continuous shrink film packaging
EP2546154A1 (fr) Appareil de conditionnement et procédé pour expulser du gaz
WO2014060223A1 (fr) Procédé d'emballage et appareil d'emballage
US3577866A (en) Packaging apparatus and package
US4642969A (en) Method and apparatus for wrapping blocks of cheese
WO2005016760A1 (fr) Dispositif et procede pour positionner la jointure d'un film enroule autour d'un produit
US5746041A (en) Shrinking selected portions of film wrapped around a product
FI91624B (fi) Laite käärintäkalvon saumaamiseksi ja katkaisemiseksi
WO2016142710A1 (fr) Système d'emballage
USRE27977E (en) Method and apparatus for packaging products
JP6539137B2 (ja) 包装体と包装方法および包装装置
CA1064442A (fr) Methode et appareil pour emballer des denrees de luxe et des produits alimentaires comme les saucissons, les produits de poisson et de viandes, etc. sans laisser penetrer ni bulles d'air, ni bacteries
US3599394A (en) Automatic wrapping machines
DK201900580A1 (en) Method for packing objects and a packaging system
US3431701A (en) Article-wrapping machine
EP0615507A1 (fr) Procede de conditionnement

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AU BA BB BR BZ CA CN CO CR CU DM DZ EC GD GE HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KP KR LC LK LR LT LV MA MG MN MX NO NZ OM PH PL RO SC SG SK SL TN TT TZ UA US UZ VC VN YU ZA

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP