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
  • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
  • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
  • B65B11/38—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths
  • B65B11/40—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
  • B65B11/42—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
• • 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
  • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
  • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
  • B65B11/18—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in two or more straight paths
  • B65B11/20—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in two or more straight paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
  • B65B11/22—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in two or more straight paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
• • 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
  • B65B25/14—Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form
  • B65B25/146—Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form packaging rolled-up articles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to improvements to packaging machines.
• the present invention regards improvements to machines for packaging groups of products with heat-sealed thermoplastic sheets or films.
• the present invention relates to a packaging machine designed, for example, for packaging rolls of tissue paper or the like, such as toilet paper, paper wipes, etc.
• a packaging machine designed, for example, for packaging rolls of tissue paper or the like, such as toilet paper, paper wipes, etc.
• thermoplastic material In the packaging of paper products, for example rimes of sheets, rolls of toilet paper or paper wipes, and similar products, it is frequently envisaged to package a group of products within a sheet or film of heat-sealed thermoplastic material.
• EP-A-1227040 and in EP-A-1477404 are methods and machines for packaging rimes of paper or other groups of products in a packaging sheet that is wrapped around the group of products whilst this advances along a path of feed.
• the group of products is wrapped on four sides thanks to the relative movement between the group itself and the packaging sheet.
• the dimension of the sheet in a direction transverse to the direction of feed of the group of products is greater than the width of the group s itself, " so that; at outp ⁇ t from sheet projects from both sides of each group of products in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of feed.
• a folding station in which, with a system of folding bars, folding of two flaps is carried out on either side of the group of products along folding lines substantially transverse to the direction of feed.
• folding of two further flaps is then carried out on each side of the group of products according to folding lines substantially parallel to the direction of feed of the packs.
• the semi-finished product thus obtained passes between two heat-sealing assemblies set at the sides of the path of feed, which, with hot air or in some other known way, bring about joining by heat-sealing of the four flaps superimposed on one another of the packaging sheet on each side of the group of products.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a machine that will enable the drawbacks mentioned above to be overcome either totally or in part.
• the object of the invention is to obtain a machine in which it is possible to achieve a more effective, uniform, and stable heat-sealing of the four superimposed flaps of the plastic film used for the packaging.
• the invention envisages a device for packaging groups of products in a heat-sealable plastic film, comprising: a path for feed of the groups of products; and, in sequence along said path, folding members for folding in sequence four flaps of said plastic film projecting from said group of products in a direction transverse to the direction of feed of the group of products along said path of feed.
• a respective contrast element which inserts itself between the group of products and at least one folded and superimposed pair of flaps.
• the contrast element co-operates with a sealing assembly that carries out mutual heat-sealing of said two superimposed flaps.
• the object of the invention is to provide a method for packaging orderly groups of products within a heat-sealable film or sheet.
• a method is provided for packaging a group of products in a heat-sealable plastic film, wherein said group of products is wrapped in a portion of said plastic film, which projects laterally from said group of products, and wherein the projecting portions of plastic film are folded to form four folded flaps, superimposed on one another and heat-sealed on each of two opposed faces of the group of packaged products.
• the method according to the invention envisages interposition of a contrast element between two of said superimposed flaps, and a sealing assembly for carrying- out heat-sealing of said two superimposed flaps.
• Figures 1A to 1F show a sequence of the steps of folding of the sheet or film of plastic material around a package or group of ordered products, in the example illustrated a group of rolls of tissue paper;
• Figure 2 is a side view of a machine for carrying out the steps of folding illustrated in Figures 1A to 1F and corresponding steps of heat-sealing;
• Figures 2A-2C is a sequence of operation of an enlarged detail of the machine of Figure 2;
• Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the folding members of the first and second folding stations
• Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the folding members;
• Figure 5 is an enlargement of the area of heat-sealing downstream of the two folding profiles of the second folding station;
• Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a machine in a second embodiment.
• FIGS 7A to 7G are the sequence of the steps of folding in the machine of Figure 6. Detailed description of embodiments of the invention
• FIG. 1A Illustrated schematically in the sequence of Figures 1A to 1F are the steps of folding a thermoplastic film F or other sheet of suitable material for packaging a group G of products R (in the example, rolls of tissue paper).
• the rolls R are formed around tubular winding cores A that are in horizontal configuration and develop in a direction transverse to the direction of feed (arrow f) of the group G through the machine.
• the invention is not limited to the packaging of packs of rolls of paper, but rather the ideas underlying the invention can find application also in the- packaging of other types- of products, and also of- rolls-set- differently, for example with the axis vertical, and possibly also of rolls without a central winding core.
• the invention is aimed at devices for packaging articles having a wide range of shapes (cylindrical, prismatic, parallelepipedal, or others), in which the articles to be packaged, on account of their very shape or on account of their reduced external consistency, do not offer a sufficiently rigid or continuous contrast to the packaging members on the sides of the articles on which the packaging members act.
• the film F is folded under the group G of products R so that the group G itself is wrapped on four sides by the film F, which projects with side portions F1 from both side faces of the group of products G.
• the folding operations illustrated in Figures 1C-1F are then completed on both sides (side portions F1 in Figure 1 B) of the group G.
• Illustrated in Figure 1C is the next step, in which first flaps L1 are folded about vertical folding lines P1 transverse to the direction of feed f of the group of products G through the machine along the path of feed.
• Illustrated in Figure 1 D is the folding along folding lines P2 parallel to the lines P1 and transverse to the direction of feed f of second flaps L2.
• the bottom flap L3 and the top flap L4 are folded in sequence. Folding of the flaps L3 and L4 is executed along folding lines P3 and P4 parallel to the direction of feed f of the group of products along path of feed and substantially horizontal.
• FIG. 2 Illustrated schematically in Figure 2 is the machine that executes the steps of folding illustrated in Figures 1A to 1 F.
• the machine comprises a wrapping station 1 , in which wrapping of the group G of rolls R or other products previously ordered on a surface 3 of an elevator 5 is carried out on three sides ( Figure 1A).
• Figure 1A wrapping of the group G of rolls R or other products previously ordered on a surface 3 of an elevator 5 is carried out on three sides ( Figure 1A).
• Figure 1A the group of products G is pushed and inserted within the sheet- of thermoplastic film F.
• Combs 7, 9, set at a suitable distance (substantially corresponding to the dimension in the longitudinal direction of feed of the group G of products along the packaging path), enable the group G of products R to be inserted within the film, bringing about wrapping of the front and rear surfaces of the group of products themselves.
• the combs 7, 9 can be mobile with a reciprocating motion (arrow f7) to transfer individual groups G of products from the elevator 5 to a conveyor belt or set of conveyor belts 1 1 , 13 represented only schematically herein.
• the comb 9 can lift up, leaving free transit for the groups G of products pushed by the comb 7 that moves in the direction indicated by the arrow f7.
• the combs 7, 9 pass through a pair of parallel belts that define the top conveyor 13.
• the top conveyor 13 can be shorter than the bottom conveyor belt 11 in such a way that the combs 7, 9 can accompany the group G of products, translating by one step towards the right (as viewed in the drawing) and then returning back after first being raised to be released from the products R.
• a pair of front folders 17, represented " schematically and in themselves known, having a movement of opening and closing that performs folding of the flaps l_1 along the folding lines B1 ( Figures 1 B to 1 D).
• Figure 2 shows, in the group G of products R set in the first folding station 15, the folded flap L1.
• the fixed folders 19 are represented by folding bars that develop longitudinally up to the heat-sealing station of the two outermost flaps of the package, which will be described in what follows.
• the arrangement of the folders 17, 19 is symmetrical on the two sides of the path of feed of the groups G of products, as may be noted, in particular, in the plan view of Figure 4.
• Illustrated in Figure 2 is a group G of products in the station 15 that has already advanced between the longitudinal fixed folding bars 19, which have carried out folding, along the vertical folding lines P2 of the side flaps L-2.
• This intermediate station 21 Located downstream of the first folding station 15 is an intermediate station for transverse heat-sealing of the two end portions of the film F, designated by FA and FB.
• This intermediate station 21 has a bottom transverse heat-sealing bar designated as a whole by 23 and of a type in itself known.
• the heat-sealing bar 23 is housed in a space obtained by deviating the path of the conveyor belt 11 over return rollers, as shown in Figure 2.
• To carry out heat-sealing of the edges FA, FB these must be superimposed on one another, according to a modality that is in itself known and can be understood from the operating sequence of the part of machine illustrated in Figures 2A-2C. Illustrated in these figures is the initial part of the conveyor belt 11.
• the conveyor belt 11 is sent back over a pair of rollers 11 A, 11B, supported by a carriage 11C that can slide on a guide 11D substantially parallel to the direction of feed f of the groups G of products R to be packaged.
• auxiliary belt 12 Fixed to the carriage 11C with respect to the axes of a pair of return rollers is an auxiliary belt 12. Provided between the belt 12 and the conveyor belt 11 is an empty space, in which the end FB of the sheet F can be inserted. Superposition of the flaps FA and FB on top of one another is obtained with a movement of the carriage 11C represented in the sequence of Figures 2A-2C.
• the longitudinal folding bars 19 extend through and beyond the station 21 towards the second folding station, designated as a whole by 23.
• the second folding station comprises second folding members on either side of the path of feed, which carry out, in sequence, folding upwards of the bottom flap L3 and folding downwards of the top flap L4 along the folding lines P3 and P4, as illustrated in the sequence of Figures 1 E - 1 F.
• folding members of the station 23 are not represented in Figure 2 and are illustrated separately in Figure 3.
• these second folding members comprise, on each side of the path of feed of the groups G of products, a first plate 25, which has a profile 27 inclined from the bottom upwards in the direction of feed f of the groups G of products R.
• the profile 27, which can be rectilinear or slightly curved, as in the figure, interferes gradually with the bottom flap L3 to lift it, folding it along the line P3.
• a second plate 29 Located at the top of the plate 25 and in a position staggered downstream thereof-in the direction of feed-f of-the groups G is a second plate 29 with a profile 31 inclined from the top downwards in the direction of feed f.
• the profile 31 starts in a position (downstream in the direction f of feed) staggered with respect to the lowest point of start of the profile 27. It proceeds downwards as far as its bottom end and further downstream, developing on top of a second descending profile 27B of the plate 27.
• the profile 31 interferes with the flap L4, turning it over downwards, i.e., folding it along the folding line P4 and thus superimposing it on the flap L3 previously folded upwards by the profile 27.
• each pair of plates 25, 29 and the path of the groups G of products R is the respective longitudinal folding bar 19 or a prolongation thereof. Then, on each side of the group of products G, in the area of the plate 29 and of the profile 31, the longitudinal folding bar 19 comes to be inserted between the flaps L3 and L4, folded along the longitudinal lines P3 and P4 and the rear flaps L1 and L2, which are folded by the bars 19 and by the folders 17 about the transverse folding lines P1 and P2.
• the longitudinal folding bars 19 extend up to the terminal edge 29B of the respective plates 29 and then also behind an opening or slit 29C made in each of the plates 29 in the final area thereof.
• a heat-sealing member 33 for example a heat-sealing pad, a sonotrode for carrying out ultrasound heat- sealing, or other suitable means.
• each heat-sealing member 33 works against the contrast formed by the respective longitudinal folding bar 19 with the flaps L3 and L4 of each group G of products R that travel in the folding station 23 set between the respective longitudinal folding bar 19 and the corresponding heat-sealing member 33. In this way, an effective mutual heat- sealing of the flaps L3 and L4 is obtained on each side of the group G of products.
• a further heat-sealing station 35 of a type in itself known and not shown (see, for example, WO-A-02/085712).
• each group G is packaged with a film F, which, on the two opposite faces on which the flaps L1-L4 are present, has undergone a dual process of heat-sealing, the first of which by means of the co-operation of the heat-sealing member 33 with a substantially rigid contrast (bar 19), which enables a heat-sealing to be obtained that is more effective than the one that is obtained traditionally with a single heat-sealing step carried out without other contrast than the one offered by the articles or products R themselves that are within the package in the packaging step.
• FIG. 5 Illustrated in Figure 5 is an enlargement of the slit or opening 29C of the plate 29 in a possible embodiment of the invention.
• a band 39 made of suitable material, for example a plastic material with a low coefficient of friction, such as Teflon® or the like, or in any case a material with a low coefficient of friction and with high thermal conductivity.
• suitable material for example a plastic material with a low coefficient of friction, such as Teflon® or the like, or in any case a material with a low coefficient of friction and with high thermal conductivity.
• a slit 29C can be provided of smaller dimension in the direction of feed f of the groups of products to be packaged.
• the presence of the band 39 might be superfluous.
• the heat-sealing member 33 can have a plane surface of contact and heating.
• the heat-sealing- member can comprise one or more rollers that can reduce the friction when there is a continuous contact between the heat-sealing assembly 33 and the group G of products R to be packaged.
• the heat-sealing in another embodiment, in particular by providing an opening 29C of length I equal to the longitudinal dimension of the heat-sealing that it is desired to obtain, the heat-sealing can be carried out with the group of products R stationary temporarily with the flaps L3, L4 set on top of one another arranged in a position corresponding to the slit 29C itself.
• inventions can be implemented also in machines in which wrapping of the group G of products R is obtained with operations and members different from the ones described above.
• Figures 6 and 7A to 7F show a modified embodiment, in which the folding members are made in a way substantially according to what is described in EP-A-1227040 and that will hence not be described in particular detail herein.
• the machine (once again represented schematically in side view) has a first conveyor 61 that conveys the groups C of products R (in this embodiment, rolls of tissue paper set in layers with the winding axes in a vertical position) inserting them within a length or portion of heat-sealable film F that is pre-arranged in a substantially vertical configuration in a plane transverse to the ⁇ direction of feed (once again designated by f) of the groups G of products R. Downstream of the position in which the sheet or film F is located, there is provided a first folding station 63 and a second folding station 65.
• each group G of products R is fed, for example with a pair of top and bottom conveyors 67, between a pair of folding members 69, set one on each side of the path of feed of the groups G of products R.
• the folders 69 carry out folding of the first flaps L1 about folding lines P1 substantially vertical and hence transverse with respect to the direction of feed of the groups G.
• the folders 69 are static.
• a rotary drum 71 Located downstream of the conveyors 67 and of the pair of folders 69 is a rotary drum 71 with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation B, transverse with respect to the direction of feed f of the groups G of products R.
• the drum 71 comprises a pair of sides joined by cross members 73 or in some other way and setbetween which are two conveyors 75, a top one and a bottom one.
• the purpose of the drum 71 is, as in itself known, to rotate the group G of packages R about the axis B so that the flaps L1 folded by the folders 69 that are in a more advanced position when the group G is inserted in the drum 71 come to be, at output from the drum itself, in a more retracted position.
• longitudinal folding bars 77 are substantially equivalent, as regards arrangement and function, to the longitudinal folding bars 19 of the preceding embodiment. Provided within the drum 71 between the sides that form it are possible further means that prevent opening of the previously folded flaps L1.
• the longitudinal folding bars 77 develop in the second folding station 65, where the plates 79 and 81 are located, which are substantially equivalent as regards shapes and functions to the plates 25 and 29 of the preceding embodiment.
• Designated by 83 and 85 are the folding profiles equivalent to the profiles 27 and 31.
• the plate 81 has a terminal edge 81 B and a slit or opening 81 C directly upstream of this edge 81 B.
• the opening 81 C can be provided with a band 83 equivalent to the band 39 that develops through the opening 29C of the plate 29 of Figure 5.
• Each longitudinal folding bar 77 extends between the path of the group of products R and the respective plate 81 at least up to the opening 81 C and preferably up to the edge 81 B, so that a heat-sealing member or assembly, operating through the slit 81 C, on the flaps L4 and L5 folded by the profiles 83 and 85, can carry out mutual heat-sealing between the edges L3 and L4 co-operating with the contrast formed by the respective longitudinal folding bar 77, as already described in greater detail with reference to the example of embodiment of Figures 1 to 5.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Package Closures (AREA)
• Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
• Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=39484234

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (5)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (4)

• 2007
  • 2007-02-07 IT IT000029A patent/ITFI20070029A1/it unknown
• 2008
  • 2008-02-04 AT AT08720229T patent/ATE481323T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-02-04 WO PCT/IT2008/000066 patent/WO2008096386A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-02-04 BR BRPI0807161-6A patent/BRPI0807161A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-02-04 ES ES08720229T patent/ES2350464T3/es active Active
  • 2008-02-04 EP EP08720229A patent/EP2114772B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2008-02-04 DE DE602008002559T patent/DE602008002559D1/de active Active

Patent Citations (5)

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