WO2023053028A1

WO2023053028A1 - Packaging machine of products

Info

Publication number: WO2023053028A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/059234
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gianluca Benedetti
Original assignee: T.M.P. - S.R.L.
Priority date: 2021-10-01
Filing date: 2022-09-28
Publication date: 2023-04-06
Also published as: IT202100025235A1

Abstract

The packaging machine (1) of products comprises: - at least one base frame (2); - packaging means (3), mounted on the base frame (2) and configured to package at least one product (P) at a packaging point (C); - at least one pick-up point (A) of the product (P) for the packaging thereof, the product (P) being arranged substantially above the packaging point (C) and at least one vertical movement unit (10) of the product (P) from the pick-up point (A) to the packaging point (C).

Description

PACKAGING MACHINE OF PRODUCTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a packaging machine of products.

Background Art

Packaging machines provided with special packaging means placed within a packaging area and configured to perform the operations necessary to apply packaging to one or more products are known.

Generally, the packaging means comprise a dispensing assembly of a film, and a gripping unit movable close to/away from the dispensing assembly to grip and stretch the film along a stretching plane in order to wrap the product and package it.

The packaging machines of known type are also provided with a loading line adapted to receive the product, such as e.g. from an operator, and to place it in the packaging area to package it.

For this purpose, the loading line comprises a product entry area, arranged at a lower height than the height of the stretching plane, and a product movement pathway from the entry area to the packaging area. Specifically, the movement pathway is provided with one or more conveyor belts to move the product horizontally from the entry area to a lifting area, arranged below the stretching plane, and a lifter adapted to move the product vertically from the lifting area to the packaging area to intercept and contact the stretched film.

In detail, the lifter moves the product between a pre-packaging point where it is arranged below the film stretching plane, and a packaging point where it is arranged above the film stretching plane so that the movement means can at least partly wrap the product with the film to package it.

Generally, the packaging machines are configured to package different types of product having different heights from each other.

To do this, the lifter positions the product at a pre-packaging point spaced apart from the packaging point by a predefined distance, corresponding to the maximum height of the products that can be packaged by the machine. In this way, a variety of product types to be packaged can be placed on the lifter with different heights from each other, but in any case less than the predefined distance.

However, such known packaging machines have problems related to the fact that the loading operations of the products onto the packaging machine are extremely uncomfortable for an operator.

In addition, in order to position the product below the film stretching plane, the packaging machines are provided with an articulated and extremely complex loading line wherein the product is moved by means of conveyor belts and lifters first along a horizontal direction and then along a vertical direction. Such complexity of the loading line inevitably implies increased production costs, as well as high difficulty in machine construction.

In addition, such a configuration leads to a high probability of component breakage, requiring numerous maintenance jobs and part replacements, resulting in higher packaging costs which, inevitably, are transferred onto the retail price, with the risk of making the products less attractive to customers. Description of the Invention

Therefore, the main aim of the present invention is to devise a packaging machine of products in which product loading is carried out by means of an extremely compact and space-saving solution.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a packaging machine capable of moving the products through a simple, effective and affordable solution.

Another object of the present invention is to manufacture a packaging machine of products that allows the operator to load products easily and conveniently.

Still one object of the present invention is to devise a packaging machine of products that requires limited maintenance jobs.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a packaging machine of products that can overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by this packaging machine of products having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a packaging machine of products, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet nonlimiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the packaging machine of products in accordance with the present invention,

Figures 2 and 3 are side and cutaway views of the packaging machine in Figure 1 in which products having different sizes are placed at the prepackaging point,

Figure 4 is a side and cutaway view of the packaging machine in Figure 1 in which the product is placed at the packaging point.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a packaging machine of products.

Specifically, the packaging machine 1 is configured to receive at least one product P in order to wrap it at least partly with a film F to package it.

As shown in Figure 1, the machine 1 comprises at least one base frame 2. Specifically, the base frame 2, in use, rests on the ground.

It cannot however be ruled out that the base frame 2 may be supported on a substantially horizontal resting surface, such as e.g. a worktop.

In the context of this disclosure, the terms “inside”, “outside”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “above”, “bottom”, “height” and “width” are meant to refer to the normal operating conditions of the packaging machine 1, i.e., those shown in Figure 1 in which the base frame 2 rests on the ground.

Appropriately, the machine 1 comprises packaging means 3, mounted on the base frame 2 and configured to package at least one product P at a packaging point C.

Usefully, the machine 1 comprises one or more products P.

In the present case, the term product P means both the product P to be packaged and any trays adapted to contain the product P.

In other words, the packaging point C is the point where the product P is placed to allow the packaging means 3 to wrap it at least partly with a film F to package it.

In the present case, the packaging means 3 are adapted to package at least one product P by stretching a film F on a predefined stretching plane. Preferably, the stretching plane is substantially horizontal and arranged at the packaging point C.

As shown in Figure 1, the packaging means 3 comprise a dispensing assembly 4 configured to dispense the film F, by stretching it along the stretching plane, and a gripping assembly 5 adapted to grip the stretched film F to stretch and wrap it at least partly around the product P.

Preferably, the dispensing assembly 4 comprises a spool 6 on which the film F is wound and a gripper element that can be moved close to/away from the spool 6 in order to grip the film F and stretch it along the stretching plane.

The gripping assembly 5 comprises one or more gripping elements 7 adapted to grip the film, and actuation means, not shown in the figures, configured to move the gripping elements 7 close to/away from the film F in order to grip it, stretch it and finally wrap it at least partly around the product P.

Preferably, the packaging machine 1 also comprises a labeling device 8 adapted to apply a label to the packaged product, and a conveyor belt 9 to move the packaged product to the labeling device 8.

Advantageously, the machine 1 is provided with at least one pick-up point A of the product P arranged substantially above the packaging point C.

In other words, the pick-up point A is the point where the product P is placed, e.g. by an operator, so that it can be picked up to move it to the packaging point

C.

For this purpose, the machine 1 comprises at least one vertical movement unit 10 of the product P from the pick-up point A to the packaging point C.

As anticipated above, the terms “above”, “lower” and “vertical” are intended to refer to the normal operating conditions of the packaging machine 1 in which the base frame 2 is arranged resting on the ground.

Such an arrangement of the pick-up point A and of the packaging point C allows manufacturing a more compact packaging machine 1, reducing and/or simplifying the components required for the movement of the product P.

In addition, this expedient allows promoting the loading operations of the machine 1 by an operator since they can be carried out from an elevated and convenient position.

Appropriately, the pick-up point A is arranged vertically aligned with the packaging point C. The vertical movement unit 10 thus moves the product P along a substantially linear direction of loading.

In one embodiment, shown in Figure 2, the vertical movement unit 10 comprises at least one shelf 11 vertically movable between the pick-up point A, wherein the shelf 11 is exposed above to receive the product P preferably in support, and the packaging point C.

This means that the shelf 11 is accessible from the outside of the entry 17.

In other words, the shelf 11 is coplanar with the entry 17; even more in detail, the shelf 11 is arranged flush with the edges of the entry 17.

In addition, the vertical movement unit 10 comprises an actuator 12, such as e.g. a motor, operatively connected to the shelf 11 by means of a transmission system 13.

Preferably, the transmission system 13 is provided with a vertical guide 14 on which the shelf 11 is mounted in a sliding manner, preferably by interposition of a trolley 15.

Appropriately, as shown in Figure 1, the shelf 11 has at least one housing 16 cut out around the perimeter and adapted to receive the gripping element 7 to allow the placement of the film F below the product P arranged thereon.

Preferably, the shelf 11 is provided with a plurality of housings 16 arranged around the perimeter, each adapted to receive a gripping element 7.

As shown in Figure 1, the machine 1 is provided with at least one entry 17 of the product P to be packaged which is located in the proximity of the pick-up point A. Preferably, the entry 17 consists of a through opening that runs along the respective longitudinal direction facing the inside of the packaging machine 1.

Appropriately, the vertical movement unit 10 is configured to move the product P from the pick-up point A to a pre-packaging point B. Specifically, the prepackaging point B is arranged below the packaging point C.

The pre-packaging point B is the point where the product P is placed prior to the packaging operations in order to allow the packaging means 3 to stretch the film F above the product P.

Once the film F is stretched, the vertical movement unit 10 moves the product P from the pre-packaging point B to the packaging point C, intercepting the stretched film F along its movement.

This expedient allows the machine 1 to be provided with only one vertical movement unit 10 to both load the product P and to package it, further compacting and simplifying the components required for the packaging of the product P.

Usefully, the packaging point C is placed between the pre-packaging point B and the pick-up point A.

Specifically, the packaging point C is vertically aligned with the pick-up point A and the packaging point C.

In other words, the vertical movement unit 10 moves the product P along a substantially vertical movement channel that runs along a movement pathway passing through the pick-up point A, the packaging point C and the prepackaging point B. Since the packaging point C is positioned between the pickup point A and the pre-packaging point B, the product P, during its movement between the pick-up point A and the pre-packaging point B, passes through the packaging point C.

Appropriately, the gripping assembly 5 and the dispensing assembly 4, at least prior to the packaging operations, are arranged at the sides of the movement channel to allow the passage of the product P to the pre-packaging point B.

Usefully, the packaging point C is placed at the stretching plane of the film F. In this way, the packaging means 3 arrange the flaps of the film F below the product P, thus packaging it.

Appropriately, the packaging machine 1 is configured to package different types of product P having at least one predefined dimension h different from each other.

The term “predefined dimension” means the extension dimension of the product P arranged parallel to the direction of movement between the pre-packaging point B and the packaging point C.

In this case, since the direction of movement is substantially linear and vertical, the predefined dimension h is the height of the product P.

Usefully, the machine 1 comprises a plurality of products P having at least the predefined dimension h different from each other.

Advantageously, the machine 1 comprises control means 18 of the vertical movement unit 10 configured to adjust the pre-packaging point B with respect to the packaging point C depending on at least the predefined dimension h of the product P in order to minimize the distance between the product P and the packaging point C to speed up the packaging thereof.

Specifically, the control means 18 are configured to adjust the position of the pre-packaging point B at a distance from the packaging point C that is substantially equal to the predefined dimension h of the product P to be packaged.

With particular reference to the example shown in the figures, the term “substantially equal” referring to the predefined dimension h is used to denote the minimum distance that allows the packaging means 3 to stretch the film F above the product P when the latter is arranged at the pre-packaging point B. Specifically, according to one embodiment, the distance between the prepackaging point B and the packaging point C is such that it comprises a guard space arranged above the product P adapted to allow the film F to stretch.

This expedient allows the packaging means 3 to be able to stretch the film F above the product P when placed at the pre-packaging point B, without interfering with the movement of the packaging means themselves.

This also makes it possible to minimize the distance between the pre-packaging point B and the packaging point C to speed up the packaging operations.

Preferably, the control means 18 are of the type of an electronic control device such as e.g. a PLC, a microcontroller, a PC and/or the like.

Usefully, the control means 18 perform dynamic adjustment of the prepackaging point B, varying the positioning thereof depending on at least the predefined dimension h of the product P moved by the vertical movement unit 10.

In detail, the vertical movement unit 10 is adapted to move one product P at a time, and the control means 18 are configured to adjust the distance of the prepackaging point B from the packaging point C depending on the size of the product P moved by the vertical movement unit 10.

For this purpose, appropriately, the machine 1 comprises detection means 19 configured to detect the value of at least the predefined dimension h of the product P.

The detection means 19 are operatively connected to the control means 18 to provide them with the value of the predefined dimension h of the product P. The control means 18 can thus adjust the position of the pre-packaging point B depending on the value provided by the detection means 19.

By such expedient, the machine 1 can perform automated adjustment of the prepackaging point B, thus changing the distance thereof from the packaging point C according to the predefined dimension h of the product P moved by the vertical movement unit 10, speeding up and simplifying such operations.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the detection means 19 comprise at least one of either: a user interface 20 configured to receive the value of the predefined dimension h of the product P to be packaged, and a measuring device 21 of the dimension of the product P to be packaged.

Preferably, the user interface 20 is of the type of an electronic interfacing device, such as e.g. a PC, a tablet and/or the like.

Usefully, the measuring device 21 comprises at least one sensor 22 arranged along the direction of movement of the product P and configured to detect the passage of the product P in order to measure its predefined dimension h by means of techniques known in themselves.

Preferably, the sensor 22 is placed in the proximity of the pick-up point A.

Such expedient makes it possible to measure the value of the predefined dimension h of the product P before or during its movement, speeding up the adjustment of the pre-packaging point B.

Preferably, the sensor 22 is of the type of an electronic device such as, e.g., an infrared sensor, a proximity sensor, a distance sensor and/or the like.

Appropriately, the machine 1 comprises a weight reading device 23 of the product P.

Specifically, the weight reading device 23 is mounted on the vertical movement unit 10 to measure the weight of the product P to be packaged before and/or during its movement.

In this case, the weight reading device 23 is a force sensor such as, e.g., a load cell mounted on the shelf 11 to measure the weight of the product P resting thereon.

It cannot however be ruled out that the weight reading device 23 may be positioned differently.

The operation of the packaging machine 1 of products according to this invention is as follows.

In a loading step, the product P to be packaged is placed at the pick-up point A, e.g., by an operator.

In particular, at this step, the shelf 11 is moved in the proximity of the pick-up point A so that it can receive the product P in support.

It cannot however be ruled out that the positioning of the product at the pick-up point A can be done by means of, e.g., a conveyor belt or a movement line. Next, the vertical movement unit 10 moves the product P vertically from the pick-up point A to the pre-packaging point B. During this stage, the packaging means 3 are arranged on either side of the movement channel of the product P to allow the passage thereof.

Preferably, before or during the loading stage, the detection means 19 detect the predefined dimension h of the product P so that the control means 18 can adjust the positioning of the pre-packaging point B.

Once the product P is placed at the pre-packaging point B, the packaging stage begins. Specifically, in the packaging stage, the packaging means 3 stretch the film F above the product P, preferably at the packaging point C. After that, the vertical movement unit 10 moves the product P from the pre-packaging point B to the packaging point C, intercepting the stretched film F along the movement thereof. Finally, the packaging means 3 completes the packaging of the product P by arranging the flaps of the film F below the product P to wrap it at least partly and package it.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects, and in particular, the fact is emphasized that the packaging machine of products according to the invention enables product loading by means of an extremely compact and space-saving solution.

In addition, the packaging machine of products allows the operator to load products easily and conveniently.

Claims

1) Packaging machine (1) of products comprising: at least one base frame (2); packaging means (3), mounted on said base frame (2) and configured to package at least one product (P) at a packaging point (C); characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one pick-up point (A) of said product (P) for the packaging thereof, said product (P) being arranged substantially above said packaging point (C) and at least one vertical movement unit (10) of said product (P) from said pick-up point (A) to said packaging point (C).

2) Packaging machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said pick-up point (A) is arranged vertically aligned with said packaging point (C).

3) Packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said vertical movement unit (10) comprises at least one shelf (11) vertically movable between said pick-up point (A) wherein said shelf (11) is exposed above to receive said product (P), and said packaging point (C).

4) Packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said vertical movement unit (10) is configured to move said product from said pick-up point (A) to a pre-packaging point (B) and from said pre-packaging point (B) to said packaging point (C), said packaging point (C) being positioned between said pre-packaging point (B) and said pickup point (A).

5) Packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises control means (18) of said vertical movement unit (10) configured to adjust said pre-packaging point (B) with respect to said packaging point (C) depending on at least one dimension of said product (P) in order to minimize the distance between said product (P) and said packaging point (C) to speed up the packaging thereof.

6) Packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said control means (18) are configured to adjust the position of said pre-packaging point (B) at a distance from said packaging point (C) substantially equal to said predefined dimension (h) of said product (P) to be packaged.

7) Packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises detection means (19) configured to detect the value of at least said predefined dimension (h) of said product (P), said detection means (19) being operatively connected to said control means (18) to provide them with said value of said predefined dimension (h).

8) Packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said detection means (19) comprise at least one of either: a user interface (20) configured to receive the value of said predefined dimension (h) of said product (P) to be packaged, or a measuring device (21) of said dimension of said product (P) to be packaged.

9) Packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said vertical movement unit (10) moves said product (P) from said pre-packaging point (B) to said packaging point (C) along a substantially vertical direction of movement, and by the fact that said predefined dimension (h) is the height.

10) Packaging machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a weight reading device (23) of said product (P).