WO2008126004A1

WO2008126004A1 - Method and device for feeding the band of wrapping material in wrapping machines

Info

Publication number: WO2008126004A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/051313
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario Caselli
Original assignee: M.C. Automations S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-04-12
Filing date: 2008-04-07
Publication date: 2008-10-23
Also published as: ITBO20070267A1

Abstract

The method for feeding the band of wrapping material provides for arranging a band (3) of wrapping material, unwound from a roll (30), along a preset path upstream of cutting means (10) of individual portions of this band (3) and to operate the feed of the band (3) along said path preset through dragging means (9) suitable to clutch and drag the same band (3). Simultaneously, it is printed in relief onto the band (3) of wrapping material the print of a shaped surface, formed by the said dragging means (9), in order to realize onto the band (3) a decorative pattern.

Description

Description METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FEEDING THE BAND OF

WRAPPING MATERIAL IN WRAPPING MACHINES

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a method and a device for feeding the band of wrapping material in wrapping machines for confectionary products and the like. Background Art

[2] At present it is known that confectionary products, in particular sweets and chocolates, are put on the market in individual packages of various types depending on the shape and typology of the product. To realize these packages, some apparatuses are used, through which the individual products are associated with an individual wrapping sheet and fed to a wrapping head. These apparatuses generally comprise a line for feeding the products to wrap, a device for feeding the band and a wrapping head.

[3] The wrapping head generally consists of a member rotating on an horizontal axis, peripherally bearing suitable gripping tools of the individual products fed. The individual products are initially wrapped in a respective wrapping sheet and subsequently gripped by the gripping tools. The wrapping head is suitable to be pitch- operated to lead the products through a series of operational stations, at which, through suitable folding means, the closure of the wrap is completed. The products are finally released by a discharge station to be transferred to subsequent operational stations.

[4] More specifically, in order to realize the packages through machines of the type described it is known the use of a wrapping sheet, usually obtained from band. The band is taken from a high-thickness spool, which is inserted in a suitable rotating support constrained to the wrapping machine. The end of the winded band is wrapped around a tensioner roller and adequately returned to a device for dragging the band, generally consisting of two coupled wheels. The dragging device is followed by a cutting device, consisting of opposite blades, placed close to the wrapping head.

[5] Apparatuses of the mentioned type do not allow to operate in an effective and versatile way the feed of wrapping sheets having particular inlays, such as for instance the relief-print of decorative geometric patterns on the band. On the contrary, in the specific sector it is felt the need to package the products through an original and valuable wrap, capable of characterizing also aesthetically the final product. Disclosure of Invention Disclosure

[6] The aim of the present invention is to devise a method for feeding a wrapping band in wrapping machines for confectionary products and the like, which allows to perform on the band itself particular inlays suitable to realize decorative geometric patterns. [7] Within this aim, it is a further aim of the present invention to devise a feeding device of the wrapping band, which allows to continuously realise the above-mentioned decorative geometric patterns during the feeding phase. [8] Another aim of the invention is to provide a feeding device of the wrapping band of simple structural and functional conception, equipped with a certainly reliable functioning, versatile in use, and also relatively economical. [9] The cited aims are reached, according to the claimed invention, through the method for feeding the band of wrapping material in wrapping machines, which is characterized in that it comprises the phases of [10] (a), arranging a band of wrapping material, which is unwound from a roll, along a preset path upstream of means for cutting single portions of said band; [11] (b). operating the feed of the said band of wrapping material along said preset path through dragging means suitable to clutch and drag the said band; [12] (c). simultaneously printing in relief onto the said band of wrapping material the print of a shaped surface, formed by said dragging means, in order to realize onto the same band a decorative pattern.

Description of Drawings [13] Description details of the invention will be further evident in the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the device for feeding a wrapping band in wrapping machines according to the invention, illustrated in the guideline drawings attached, wherein:

[14] fig. 1 illustrates a front view of the claimed device;

[15] fig. 2 illustrates a detail view of dragging means of the wrapping band;

[16] fig. 3 illustrates an enlarged detail of said dragging means.

Best Mode [17] With reference to such figures, 1 refers to the device for feeding a wrapping band 3 in a wrapping machine 2, only partially visible in the drawing. The feeding device 1 comprises a first support pin 4 suitable to receive a roll 30 of the wrapping band 3; close to the housing of said roll 30 a second pin 8 is arranged, to which is constrained, through a loading spring 7, an oscillating arm 6. At the free end of the oscillating arm 6 it is placed a first tensioner roll 5, suitable to maintain adequately in tension the wrapping band 3 thanks to the returning action force exerted by the spring 7 on the arm

6. [18] The feeding device 1, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises further return rollers

11, 12, 13 suitable to adequately deviate the direction of the wrapping band 3, in order to allow the optimal positioning of the operational station for wrapping the products, as specified below.

[19] The feeding device 1 provides means 9 for dragging the wrapping band 3, consisting preferably of a couple of cogwheels 20a, 20b (see fig. 2), arranged alongside and suitable to rotate towards opposite directions B, C according to parallel axis and basically orthogonal to the feeding direction of the band 3. The cogwheels 20a, 20b are respectively keyed on shafts 21a, 21b, adequately spaced in order to allow the coupling of the above-mantioned wheels 20a, 20b with a play sufficient to interfere with the band 3 without cutting or damaging it. The cogwheels 20a, 20b adequately have a toothing with triangularly shaped teeth, but this profile can anyway vary according to the operative requirements.

[20] The mechanism of transmission of motion to the wheels 20a, 20b provides, in known way, movers not illustrated, suitable to rotate said shaft 21a; a couple of cogwheels in mesh, not illustrated, suitable to transmit the rotational motion to the shaft 21b, is also provided.

[21] Downstream of the dragging means 9 of the wrapping band 3 it is arranged a cutting device 10 of a known type, consisting of two opposite blades suitable to intercept the band 3 and to cut it according the specified requirements. The cutting device 10 is suitable to provide individual portions of band 3 to a known operational station of wrapping the products, not represented.

[22] The functioning of the claimed device for feeding the wrapping band in wrapping machines is easily understandable from the description above.

[23] The wrapping band 3 unwinds from the roll 30, according to the path defined by the tensioner roll 5 and by the return rollers 11, 12, 13, and it engages the cogwheels 20a, 20b of the dragging means 9. In particular, the return roller 13 arranged immediately upstream of the dragging means 9 has the function to make the plane on which the motion of the band 3 takes place basically orthogonal to the plane that contains both the rotational axis of the shafts 21a, 21b. This allows the insertion of the wrapping band 3 in the dragging means 9 without the band itself interfering with the teeth of the cogwheels 20a, 20b before the preset contact point, risking to be damaged.

[24] The activation in rotation of the counter-rotating cogwheels 20a, 20b determines the dragging with continuous motion of the wrapping band 3, according to the feeding direction A. At the same time, the contact of the wrapping band 3 with the teeth of the counter-rotating cogwheels 20a,20b prints in relief the print of the profile of the toothing on the surface of the same band 3 (see in particular fig. 3). This allows, in practice, to obtain a wrapping sheet characterized by an embossed surface.

[25] In the case illustrated, the profile of the toothing which is used has straight teeth and it determines an embossment of the type with close parallel lines, particularly suitable for the packaging of confectionary products. Clearly, it is possible to vary the pitch and the profile of the toothing used, thus obtaining different types of embossment.

[26] Therefore the claimed device reaches the aim to operate the feeding of the wrapping band in wrapping machines for confectionary products, allowing to perform on the band itself particular inlays suitable to realize decorative geometrical patterns.

[27] In particular the illustrated device allows to obtain a sheet of wrapping characterized by an embossed surface, which can, at present, be realized only through specific apparatuses external to the wrapping machine.

[28] A prerogative of the claimed device for feeding a wrapping band is that this inlay is realised in-line by the same means that, in the wrapping machine, operate the dragging and feeding of the band to the wrapping head.

[29] Clearly it is possible to provide for the dragging means to be realized in a different way from the one described as an example. In particular, it is possible to provide for these dragging means to consist, for instance, of a couple of toothed plates suitable to clutch the wrapping band and to pitch-drag it with a linear feeding motion. Also in this case the clamping of the wrapping band between the toothed plates determines the embossment of the same band.

[30] Materials adopted for the actual realization of the invention, as well as their shapes and sizes, can be various, depending on the requirements.

[31] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

[1] Method for feeding the band of wrapping material in wrapping machines, characterized in that it comprises the phases of

(a), prearranging a band (3) of wrapping material, unwound from a roll (30), along a preset path upstream of cutting means (10) of individual portions of said band (3);

(b) operating the feed of said band (3) of wrapping material along said preset path through dragging means (9) suitable to clutch and drag the same band (3); (c). simoultaneously printing in relief onto the said band (3) of wrapping material the print of a shaped surface, formed by the said dragging means (9), in order to realize on the band (3) itself a decorative pattern.

[2] Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it provides for printing in relief onto the said band (3) of wrapping material the print of a toothing of a couple of cogwheels (20a, 20b) counter-rotating, forming the said dragging means (9).

[3] Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it provides for clenching said band (3) of wrapping material between the said cogwheels (20a, 20b) counter-rotating, to operate the dragging of said band (3), with adequate play.

[4] Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it provides for activating in rotation the said cogwheels (20a, 20b) with continuous motion.

[5] Device for feeding the band of wrapping material in wrapping machines, characterized in that it comprises means for conveying a band (3) of wrapping material, unwound from a roll (30), along a preset path upstream of cutting means (10) of individual portions of said band (3); dragging means (9) suitable to clutch and to operate the feed of said band (3) of wrapping material along said preset path, with the said dragging means (9) suitable to print in relief onto the said band (3) the print of a shaped surface, formed by the same dragging means (9), in order to realize onto the said band (3) a decorative pattern.

[6] Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said dragging means (9) consist of a couple of cogwheels (20a, 20b) counter-rotating, between which it is intended to be clutched and dragged said band (3) of wrapping material.

[7] Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said shaped surface, suitable to print in relief onto the said band (3) of wrapping material said print, consist of the toothing of said cogwheels (20a, 20b) counter-rotating.

[8] Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the profile of the toothing has straight teeth and it determines onto said band (3) of wrapping material an embossing of the type with close parallel lines.

[9] Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said cogwheels (20a, 20b) counter-rotating are suitable to clamp said band (3) of wrapping material, to operate the dragging of the said band (3), with adequate play.

[10] Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said cogwheels (20a, 20b) counter-rotating are activated in rotation with continuous motion.