WO2016020830A1

WO2016020830A1 - Wrapping method

Info

Publication number: WO2016020830A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/055888
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Vitali; Mauro PASSERINI; Stefano Piazzi
Original assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A.
Priority date: 2014-08-08
Filing date: 2015-08-03
Publication date: 2016-02-11

Abstract

Described is a wrapping method to form a "top-twist" type wrapper (1) of a product (100) having a substantially frustoconical shape and having a substantially flat bottom end (101), a top end, a lateral surface and a main axis comprising: a step of preparing at least one sheet of wrapping material; a step of preparing sections of adhesive material, which can be activated on the sheet of wrapping material; at least one step of folding the sheet of wrapping material to form a tubular housing having at least one end portion extending along the main axis, from the top end of the product (100); a step of twisting, in a direction (V1) for twisting the end portion of the tubular housing to form a bow (4); at least one stretch of adhesive material is provided and there are sealing means (14) at least at the bottom end (101) of the product (100).

Description

DESCRIPTION

WRAPPING METHOD

Technical field

This invention relates to a wrapping method and in particular to a method of wrapping confectionery products such as chocolates and the like of a preferably frustoconical or similar shape having a bottom end or base and a top end or head, to obtain a wrapper, preferably hermetically sealed, of the "top-twist" type.

Background art

The prior art methods for wrapping in a "top-twist" fashion schematically comprise the coupling of a sheet of wrapping material to the product, suitably retained, wrapping the sheet on the lateral surface of the product, to define a tubular housing extending in a cantilever manner from the ends of the product, folding, according to a sequence of folds substantially known, the portion of the tubular housing at the bottom of the product and wrapping the opposite end of the tubular housing to form a bow.

One drawback of the above-mentioned method derives from the fact that a wrapper obtained in this way does not guarantee a hermetic seal to protect the product, which may, over time, lose its organoleptic properties. In general, for preserving these products, groups of them wrapped in this way are in turn inserted in a hermetically sealed outer package which, however, once open loses its sealing characteristics. More specifically, a critical area of the wrapper is at the bottom of the product where the sequences of known folds determine the formation of channels which adversely affect the seal of the wrapper.

The so-called "hermetic" wrappers have been developed in this field, designed for example for "double twist" wrappers, and the relative forming methods such as, for example, those described in patent documents EP0929467 and EP1515892.

In these methods, strips of glue are provided suitably positioned on the sheet of wrapping material which guarantee the sealed closure of the corresponding wrapping material, in particular at the bows.

The prior art methods are not suitable for the making wrappers of the "top-twist" type or at least the wrappers obtained with the above- mentioned methods do not resemble "top-twist" wrapper which is particularly distinctive also of the corresponding product packaged inside it.

In this context, the main technical purpose of this invention is to propose a wrapping method and a wrapper preferably obtained with this method, which are free of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the invention is to propose a wrapping method which allows a wrapper to be obtained, preferably sealed and of the "top twist" type, with a folding sequence which is different from the prior art solutions.

The technical purpose and aims specified are achieved by wrapping method according to claim 1 and a wrapper according to claim 16.

Brief description of drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description below with reference to preferred but nonexclusive embodiments of a wrapping method as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 6 illustrate schematic perspective views of a sequence of steps of a wrapping method according to this invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 100 denotes a confectionery product illustrated with a dashed line. The product 100, for example a chocolate to which reference is hereinafter made without limiting the scope of the invention, has a bottom end or base 101 which is substantially flat, a top end 102, a lateral surface 103 and a main axis D, extending between the bottom end 101 and the top end 102.

The product 100 preferably has a substantially pyramidal, parallelepiped or truncated cone shape, to which reference is hereinafter made without limiting the scope of the invention.

With reference to Figure 6, the numeral 1 denotes a wrapper of the "top- twist" type for the product 100.

The wrapper 1 is formed by a sheet 2 of wrapping material folded in such a way as to have a bottom portion 3, at the bottom 101 of the product 100, and a bow 4 extending from the opposite side to the bottom portion 3, that is, from the part of the top end 102 of the product 100.

As will become clearer below, the wrapper 1 is preferably of the sealed type to guarantee, advantageously, that the organoleptic properties of the product 100 are maintained.

Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a succession of wrapping steps of a first embodiment of the wrapping method according to this invention for packaging the product 100 with the "top-twist" wrapper 1 .

With reference to Figure 1 , the method comprises a step of preparing the sheet 2 of wrapping material.

The sheet 2 of wrapping material is quadrangular in shape and has a first and a second longitudinal edge 5, 6 and a first and a second transversal edge 7, 8.

The method comprises a step of preparing bonding means which can be activated on the sheet 2 of wrapping material to allow, as explained in more detail below, a hermetic sealing of the wrapper 1 .

For descriptive simplicity, preferred reference is made below to a sealed wrapper without limiting the scope of the invention.

The bonding means which can be activated comprise a plurality of sections of bonding material which can be activated of substantially known type.

In one embodiment, the bonding material which can be activated comprises so-called "re-activatable" glue, for example by pressure or heat.

If the product 100 tolerates relatively significant temperature increases, the bonding material which can be activated comprises material which can be heat sealed, which allows, in known way, sealing of the wrapper 1 .

With reference to Figure 1 , the bonding means which can be activated comprise a first stretch 9, a second stretch 10, a third stretch 1 1 and a fourth section 12.

For descriptive simplicity, generic reference will be made below to "bonding" for the stretches 9, 10, 1 1 , 12 without limiting the scope of the invention.

The first and second stretches 9, 10 extend parallel to the first and second longitudinal edges 5, 6 whilst the third and the fourth stretches 1 1 , 12 extend parallel to the transversal edges 7 and 8.

Preferably, the third and the fourth stretch 1 1 , 12 extend, respectively, substantially at the transversal edges 7 and 8.

The stretches 9, 10, 1 1 and 12 delimit a zone 13 of the sheet 2 of wrapping material which is substantially central in the sheet 2 of wrapping material, designed for the positioning of the product 100.

The stretches 9, 10, 1 1 and 12 are provided on the same side where the product 100 is positioned.

The wrapping method comprises positioning the product 100 in the zone 13 in a substantially central position.

More specifically, the product 100 is positioned with the bottom end 101 in the positioning zone 13, a portion 14 of which, as explained below, will define the bottom portion 3 of the wrapper 1 .

The chocolate 100 is therefore positioned with the main axis D substantially at a right angle to the sheet 2.

The method comprises a plurality of steps of folding the sheet 2 of wrapping material to define a housing 15, illustrated in Figure 5, substantially tubular, around the product 100.

The housing 15 has an end portion 16 which extends along the axis D from the top end 102 of the product 100.

The portion 16 extends from the opposite side of the portion 14 relative to the product 14 and has a substantially circular end edge 16a.

The method comprises a step of twisting, in a twisting direction V1 , in a clockwise direction with reference to the drawings, the end portion 16 to define the above-mentioned bow 4.

More specifically, the above-mentioned sections of bonding means 9, 10, 1 1 , 12 which can be activated allow, as described in more detail below, the wrapper 1 , and in particular the bow 4, closed in a sealed fashion, to be obtained.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the stretches 9, 10, 1 1 , 12 are positioned, after defining the housing 15, as described below, at the bow 4 in such a way that the corresponding material is activated in known manner to close the bow 4.

The above-mentioned portion 14 of the sheet 2 at the bottom end 101 of the product 100 defines sealing means at the bottom end 101 .

The method comprises a step of preparing sealing means at the bottom end 101 of the product 100, in the case of an example defined in particular by the portion 14 which is continuous and does not have any folds or channels.

More specifically, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the step of preparing the sealing means at the bottom 101 comprises the step of positioning the sheet 2 at the bottom end 101 and coplanar with it in such a way that the substantially flat portion 14 of the sheet 2 of wrapping material covers the end 101 .

Once the product 100 has been associated with the sheet 2 in the zone 13 a first flap 17 and a second flap 18 of the sheet 2 are identified.

The first flap 17 extends from the positioning zone 13, in particular from the product 100, towards the longitudinal edge 5 of the sheet 2 and is delimited by part of the transversal edges 7, 8.

The second flap 18 extends from the positioning zone 13, in particular from the product 100, towards the longitudinal edge 6 of the sheet 2 and is delimited by part of the transversal edges 7, 8.

With reference to Figure 2, it may be noted that the wrapping method comprises, for obtaining the housing 15, a step of folding the flap 17 and a step of folding the flap 18.

The flap 17 is folded around the product 100 until it is placed substantially parallel to the axis D, more specifically so that the transversal edges 7, 8 are substantially parallel to the axis D.

The flap 18 is folded around the product 100 until it is placed substantially parallel to the axis D, more specifically so that the transversal edges 7, 8 are substantially parallel to the axis D.

After folding the flaps 17, 18 the sheet is folded substantially in a U-shape with the portion 14 at the bottom 101 of the product 100 and the flaps 17, 18 folded which extend from the portion 14 towards the top end 102 of the product 100 preferably substantially parallel over their entire extension.

The wrapping method comprises a step of folding a third flap 19 and a fourth flap 20 of the sheet 2 illustrated in Figure 3.

The third flap 19 and the fourth flap 20 are positioned on opposite sides of the zone 13, in particular they are positioned on opposite sides relative to the product 100, and are folded in such a way as to extend, once folded, substantially parallel to each other and to the main axis D.

More specifically, the third flap 19 and the fourth flap 20 extend between the first flap 17 and the second flap 18 and are substantially at right angles to the latter folded and to the axis D.

The third flap 19 and the fourth flap 20 are folded towards the product 100 until they are positioned substantially parallel to each other and positioned between the first flap 17 and the second flap 18 folded.

The third flap 19 and the fourth flap 20 folded are substantially at right angles to the first flap 17 and the second flap 18 and extend parallel to the axis D the product 100.

Advantageously, the sheet 2 of wrapping material is sized such that the third flap 19 and the fourth flap 20 folded extend along the main axis D beyond the top end 102 of the product 100.

More specifically, the transversal edges 7, 8 of the sheet 2 at the flaps 19 and 20 are positioned beyond the top end 102 of the product 100 along the main axis D.

It is important to note that the above-mentioned bonding sections 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, once the flaps 17, 18, 19 and 20 have been folded, are positioned substantially coplanar in an area of the wrapping 1 where the bow 4 will be made.

In other words, the bonding means 9, 10, 1 1 , 12 provided on the sheet 2 of wrapping material are dimensioned and spaced, in particular also relative to the edges 5, 6, in such a way that once the sheet 2 has been folded to form the housing 15, they are positioned substantially coplanar with the area of the wrapping 1 where the bow 4 will be made.

The first flap 17 and the second flap 18 folded form, once the flaps 19, 20 are also folded, a first, a second, a third and a fourth wing 21 , 22, 23, 24 which are substantially parallel to each other.

The wings 21 and 22 are formed by the flap 17, are substantially coplanar at the same folded and are, in particular, substantially triangular in shape.

The wings 23 and 24 are formed by the flap 18, are substantially coplanar at the same folded and are, in particular, substantially triangular in shape. With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the wrapping method comprises a step of folding the wings 21 , 22, 23 and 24 to obtain the tubular housing 15. More specifically, the wings 21 , 22, 23 and 24 are folded about the main axis D and the housing 15 is formed by the wings 21 , 22, 23 and 24 folded about the main axis D and the product 100.

The housing 15 is, in the example illustrated, substantially cylindrical or in the shape of a truncated cone, with a base delimited by the edge 16a and an opposite base according to the axis D at the portion 14.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the wings 22 and 23 are folded in a direction V2, anticlockwise in the example illustrated, opposite to the twisting direction V1.

Preferably, the wings 21 and 24 are folded in the direction of twisting V1. Preferably, the wings 22 and 23 are folded before the flaps 21 , 24; advantageously, in this way the wings 21 , 24 are positioned outside the flaps 22, 23 relative to the product 100 contributing to the stability of the wrapper 1 once it has been completed.

With reference in particular to Figure 5, the bonding means 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, once the wings 21 , 22, 23, 24 are folded, define a sort of collar 25, schematically illustrated with a dashed line, which will seal the bow 4 upon completion of the twisting step.

In practice, the stretches 9, 10, 1 1 , 12 are provided on the sheet 2, with reference to Figure 1 , in such a way as to define the collar 25, wherein the stretches 9, 10, 1 1 , 12 are at least partly superposed, once housing 15 is defined.

As illustrated, the collar 25 is advantageously located beyond the top end 102 of the product 100.

Once the housing 15 has been formed, the wrapping method comprises a step of gripping and twisting the end portion 16 of the housing 15.

More specifically, the first and the second flap 17, 18 folded and extending from the top end 102 of the product are picked up.

Advantageously, the method makes it possible to obtain a wrapper 1 of the "top-twist" type, preferably sealed.

Advantageously, at the bottom 101 of the product 100 there are no folds, the wings 21 , 22, 23, 24 are at least partly placed one over the other and closed preferably hermetically by the bonding means 9, 10, 1 1 , 12 suitably activated at the end of the twisting step.

Preferably, in the embodiment described, the bonding of the stretches 9, 10, 1 1 , 12 is a cold bonding of known type and the bonding is determined by the twisting of the end portion 16.

Claims

1 . A wrapping method to form a "top-twist" type wrapper (1 ) of a product (100) having a bottom end (101 ), a top end (102), a main axis

(D), extending between the bottom end (101 ) and the top end (102), and a lateral surface (103), the method comprising:

a step of preparing at least one sheet (2) of wrapping material;

at least one step of folding the sheet (2) of wrapping material to form a tubular housing (15) having at least one end portion (16) extending along the main axis (D), from the top end (102) of the product;

a step of twisting, in a direction (V1 ) for twisting the end portion (16) of the tubular housing (15) to form a bow (4);

a step of positioning the sheet (2) at the bottom end (101 ) in such a way that a bottom portion (14) of the sheet (2) of wrapping material is positioned at the bottom end (101 ) to define a bottom portion (3) of the wrapper (1 ),

the step of folding the sheet (2) of wrapping material to form a tubular housing (15) comprising at least one step of folding at least part of the sheet of wrapping material towards the product starting from the bottom end (101 ) of the product (100), the method being characterised in that it comprises a step of folding towards the product (100) a first flap (17) and a second flap (18) of the sheet (2) of wrapping material positioned on opposite sides of the product (100) and extending, once folded, substantially parallel to each other and to the main axis (D).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of folding the sheet (2) of wrapping material comprises a step of folding towards the product (100) a third flap (19) and a fourth flap (20) of the sheet of wrapping material positioned on opposite sides of the product (100) and extending, once folded, substantially parallel to each other and to the main axis (D).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the third flap (19) and fourth flap (20) folded extend along the main axis (D) beyond the top end (102) of the product (100).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of folding the sheet (2) of wrapping material comprises:

a step of folding towards the product a first flap (17) and a second flap (18) of the sheet (2) of wrapping material positioned on opposite sides of the product (100) and extending, once folded, substantially parallel to each other and to the main axis (D),

a step of folding towards the product a third flap (19) and a fourth flap (20) of the sheet (2) of wrapping material positioned on opposite sides of the product (100) and extending, once folded, substantially parallel to each other and to the main axis (D),

the third flap (19) and fourth flap (20) extending between the first flap (17) and second flap (18) on opposite sides of the product (100) and being folded until they are positioned substantially parallel to each other and positioned between the first flap (17) and second flap (18) folded, the third flap (19) and the fourth flap (20) folded being substantially at right angles to the first flap (17) and second flap (18) folded.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first flap (17) and second flap (18) folded form, once the third flap (19) and fourth flap (20) are also folded, a first, a second, a third and a fourth wing (21 , 22, 23, 24) which are substantially parallel to each other.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first and second wings

(21 , 22) are substantially coplanar to the first flap (17) folded and formed by the first flap (17) folded and the third and fourth wings (23, 24) are substantially coplanar to the second flap (18) folded and formed by the second flap (18) folded.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the step of folding the sheet of wrapping material comprises a step of folding the first, second, third and fourth wings (21 , 22, 23, 24) about the main axis (D), the tubular housing (15) comprising the first, second, third and fourth wings (21 , 22, 23, 24) folded about the main axis (D).

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the step of folding the sheet of wrapping material comprises a step of folding about the main axis (D) the first, second, third and fourth wings (21 , 22, 23, 24), the tubular housing (15) comprising the first, second, third and fourth wings (21 , 22, 23, 24) folded about the main axis (15), at least one of the first, second, third and fourth wings (21 , 22, 23, 24) being folded about the main axis (D) along the twisting direction (V1 ).

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the step of folding the sheet (2) of wrapping material comprises:

a step of folding at least the first wing (21 ) and fourth wing (24) about the main axis (D) along the twisting direction (V1 ),

the first wing (21 ) being formed by the first flap (17) and the fourth wing (24) being formed by the second flap (18),

the first wing (21 ) and fourth wing (24) extending from opposite sides of the product (100),

the tubular housing (15) comprising the first, second, third and fourth wings (21 , 22, 23, 24) folded about the main axis (D).

10. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the step of winding in the twisting direction (V1 ) the end portion (16) of the tubular housing (15) extending from the top end (102) of the product (100) comprises a step of gripping and twisting at least the first and second flaps (17, 18) folded and extending from the top end (102) of the product (100).

1 1 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of preparing, on the sheet (2) of wrapping material, bonding means (9, 10, 1 1 , 12) which can be activated and a step of preparing means (14) of sealing at least at the bottom end (101 ) of the product.

12. The method according to claim 1 1 , wherein the bonding means (9, 10, 1 1 , 12) which can be activated are provided at least at the bow (4) and the means (14) of sealing at the bottom end (101 ) of the product (100) comprise the bottom portion (14) of the sheet (2) of wrapping material.

13. The method according to claim 1 1 or 12, wherein the bonding means (9, 10, 1 1 , 12) which can be activated comprise a plurality of stretches (9, 10, 1 1 , 12) of bonding material which can be activated delimiting a zone (13) of positioning the sheet of wrapping material, the product (100) being joined using the bottom end (101 ) to the sheet (2) of wrapping material at the positioning zone (13).

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein:

the step of folding the sheet (2) of wrapping material comprises a step of folding towards the product a first flap (17) and a second flap (18) of the sheet (2) of wrapping material positioned on opposite sides of the product (100) and extending, once folded, substantially parallel to each other and to the main axis (D).

the third flap (19) and fourth flap (20) extending between the first flap (17) and second flap (18) on opposite sides of the product (100) and being folded until they are positioned substantially parallel to each other and positioned between the first flap (17) and second flap (18) folded, the third flap (19) and the fourth flap (20) folded being substantially at right angles to the first flap (17) and second flap (18) folded, the first flap (17) and second flap (18) folded, forming, once the third flap (19) and fourth flap (20) are also folded, a first, a second, a third and a fourth wing (21 , 22, 23, 24) which are substantially parallel to each other, the stretches (9, 10, 1 1 , 12) of bonding material which can be activated delimiting the positioning zone (13) at least partly forming the stretches (9, 10, 1 1 , 12) of bonding material which can be activated located at least on the first, second, third and fourth wings (21 , 22, 23, 24).

15. A wrapper of a "top-twist" type of a product (100) having a substantially frustoconical shape and having a substantially flat bottom end (101 ), a top end (102), a lateral surface (103) and a main axis (D), the wrapper comprising a bottom portion (3), at the bottom end (101 ) and a bow (4) extending from the top end (102) of the product (100), the wrapper comprising a sheet (2) of wrapping material having a bottom portion (14) positioned at the bottom end (101 ) of the product (100) to define the bottom portion (3) of the wrapper (1 ), the wrapper being characterised in that the sheet (2) of wrapping material comprises at least a first, a second, a third and a fourth flap (17, 18, 19, 20) extending from the bottom portion (14) of the sheet (2) of wrapping material folded on the product (100) to form a tubular housing (15) and extending along the main axis (D) beyond the top end (102) of the product (100).

16. The wrapper according to claim 15, wherein the first, second, third and fourth flaps (17, 18, 19, 20) are folded to form a plurality of wings

(21 , 22, 23, 24) wound around the product (100).

17. The wrapper according to any one of claims 15 to 16, comprising bonding means (9, 10, 1 1 , 12) which can be activated at least partly positioned at the bow (4), the bow (4) being closed in a sealed fashion.

18. The wrapper according to claim 17, wherein the bonding means (9,

10, 1 1 , 12) which can be activated comprise a collar (25) at the bow (4).

19. The wrapper according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the bottom portion (3) of the wrapper comprises sealing means (14) such as to be, at the bottom end (101 ) of the product (100), closed in a sealed fashion, the sealing means (14) comprising in particular the bottom portion (14) of the sheet (2) of wrapping material.