WO2024042440A1 - Machine d'emballage et procédé d'emballage de produits - Google Patents

Machine d'emballage et procédé d'emballage de produits Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024042440A1
WO2024042440A1 PCT/IB2023/058293 IB2023058293W WO2024042440A1 WO 2024042440 A1 WO2024042440 A1 WO 2024042440A1 IB 2023058293 W IB2023058293 W IB 2023058293W WO 2024042440 A1 WO2024042440 A1 WO 2024042440A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
product
film
station
packaging
packaging machine
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2023/058293
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Marco Cassoli
Nicola Giuliani
Giuliano Bertusi
Original Assignee
Cps Company S.R.L.
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 Cps Company S.R.L. filed Critical Cps Company S.R.L.
Publication of WO2024042440A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024042440A1/fr

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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
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/14—Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form
    • B65B25/145—Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form packaging folded articles
    • 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
    • B65B11/28—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
    • B65B11/36—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in channel form about contents and then to close the ends of the channel by folding and finally the mouth of the channel by folding or twisting
    • 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
    • B65B11/46—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 channel form about contents and then to close the ends of the channel by folding and finally the mouth of the channel by folding or twisting
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/40—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers
    • B65B35/405—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers linked to endless conveyors
    • 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/30—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated
    • B65B43/305—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated specially adapted for boxes, cartons or carton blanks
    • 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
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/02—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
    • B65B5/024—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles for making containers from preformed blanks
    • 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
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/001—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
    • 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
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/003—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
    • 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
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/04—Machines constructed with readily-detachable units or assemblies, e.g. to facilitate maintenance
    • 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
    • B65B63/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B63/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
    • B65B63/022—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles using compressing chambers or plates moving in an endless path
    • 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
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
    • 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
    • B65B2210/00—Specific aspects of the packaging machine
    • B65B2210/02—Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G19/00—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors
    • B65G19/02—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors for articles, e.g. for containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/52—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices
    • B65G47/53—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices between conveyors which cross one another
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/52—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices
    • B65G47/64—Switching conveyors
    • B65G47/641—Switching conveyors by a linear displacement of the switching conveyor
    • B65G47/642—Switching conveyors by a linear displacement of the switching conveyor in a horizontal plane

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a packaging machine and a method for packaging products , according to the preamble of independent claim 1 .
  • the packaging machine which is the subj ect matter of the present invention is advantageously used in the field of manufacturing and marketing of plants and/or automatic systems for packaging and wrapping products .
  • the packaging machine obj ect of the present invention can advantageously be used to package products with rigid material , for example paper and/or cardboard, or with flexible material , in particular polymeric material , for example a heat-sealable polyethylene film .
  • the invention fits into the sector of production and marketing of automatic machines , in particular packaging machines with cardboard cases and/or with flexible film, of products such as , for example , rolls of toilet paper, handkerchiefs , soaps , nappies and the like .
  • film wrapping machine should be understood as a machine intended for wrapping a product P with a flexible film, in particular polymeric, for example polyethylene (PE) , preferably heat sealable.
  • PE polyethylene
  • cartoning machine called in the technical industry jargon as “cartoning machine” or “cartoner”, should be understood as a machine intended to package a product P with a sheet of paper and/or cardboard, for example a sheet of cardboard folded on itself in order to create a substantially prismatic package, for example a box.
  • the products can be packaged individually (i.e. one by one) inside a box, or in a multi-pack manner, thus realising a pack of several products, e.g. previously packaged with film, and referred to in the technical industry jargon as "multipack” or “multi-pack” .
  • Known machines such as those briefly mentioned above, are mechanically coupled with each other, e.g. by means of conveyor belts and/or similar, to create a multifunctional and flexible production system, i.e. a system capable of combining film and carton packaging operations together to process a wide variety of products .
  • a so-called automatic production line is realised .
  • the term ' production line ' is to be understood as a configuration and/or layout wherein machines ( i . e . wrappers and cartoners ) are arranged one after the other to package products according to various requirements .
  • WO2018204443 describes a machine for packaging products , optionally with cardboards and/or with flexible film, which comprises a product inlet to feed the line with products to be packaged and a product outlet port , in particular of the multipack type , arranged downstream of the inlet , along a product feed direction, and intended for unloading packaged products .
  • the known type line also comprises a packaging station with cardboards and a packaging station with film, both interposed between the inlet port and the outlet port and mechanically associated with each other by means of a suitable conveyor belt that puts them in communication .
  • the cartoner machine precedes the film wrapping machine .
  • the stations are arranged one after the other, this results in a packaging line that is bulky in terms of linear extension, as it requires large spaces to be assembled .
  • the machine of the known type in order to make di f ferent types of packs ( i . e . packs with film and/or with cardboards ) , also compri ses a product sorting unit P arranged between the packing station with cardboards (upstream) and the packing station with film ( downstream) and mechanically associated with these stations , e . g . by means of conveyor belts .
  • the sorting unit allows products supplied at the inlet to be fed directly to the film wrapping station, e . g . bypass ing the cartoning station, depending on production requirements .
  • the sorting unit is belt-driven and therefore also bulky .
  • a hybrid production line for wrapping and cartoning one or more products is also known from document EP2991904B1 .
  • the line comprises an inlet for feeding a stream of products , a trans fer device conf igured to receive products from said inlet and trans fer them onto a first path or a second path distinct from each other, a first cartoning machine comprising a first conveyor for transporting cardboards onto said first path, and a second plastic film wrapping machine comprising a second conveyor coupled to a wrapping machine for applying a film in film onto said second path of articles .
  • the trans fer device is configured to trans fer products from the inlet , to the first or second conveyor, and load said products into cardboards on the first conveyor or place said products on the second conveyor for packaging with film, bypassing the carton wrapping machine .
  • a wrapping machine and a cartoning machine are coupled in parallel .
  • first path and the second path are coupled to a third path, which j oins the paths so that the products from the first or second path follow the same path on a third conveyor, to which both the products at the end of the film wrapping machine and those from the cartoning machine flow.
  • This third path comprises a third machine for the application of a tertiary packaging and a fourth machine for the application of a further wrapping with a plastic film. Overall, therefore, the hybrid line is bulky .
  • the main drawback lies in the fact that, to carry out the two different packaging processes, i.e. cartoning and film wrapping, the space required along a linear extension is high overall.
  • a further drawback lies in the fact that the machine and the known-type line have a large number of conveyor belts required to connect the operating stations of the known-type lines, with a considerable increase in costs, space occupied, machine complexity and the number of mechanical components required.
  • a further drawback lies in the fact that known lines, i.e. cartoning machines and wrappers, are usually supplied by different manufacturers, resulting in considerable logistical and coordination difficulties in supplying the machines within the set delivery time.
  • a further drawback lies in the fact that the well-known machines are arranged in sequence, i.e. to form a production line, resulting in a very bulky and not very compact machine .
  • a further drawback is that the known-type lines do not allow an operator to move easily between the various operating stations and conveyor belts, to carry out monitoring and/or maintenance operations.
  • a further drawback lies in the fact that known-type lines have only one unloading outlet for packaged products, so products that differ in shape, consistency and size are penalised by passing through only one outlet. In other words, there is no possibility to treat the two primary package types (i.e. film and cardboards) in a dedicated manner.
  • a further drawback lies in the fact that the separate management of the functions of the machines (wrapper and cartoner) , i.e. the functions of one machine to the exclusion of the other and vice versa, is complex to perform.
  • a further drawback lies in the fact that lines of known types can only be effectively tested by an operator when they are fully installed because each component has its own control unit.
  • a further scope of the present invention is to provide an automatic packaging machine that is improved and/or different from conventional packaging lines.
  • a further scope of the present invention is to provide an automatic packaging machine that is compact and/or space-saving ( e . g . in a plan view) .
  • a further scope of the present invention is to provide an automatic packaging machine that is constructively and operationally completely reliable .
  • a further scope of the present invention is to provide an automatic packaging machine that is flexible , i . e . capable of processing wrapped products or carton products in a single machine , without the use of long conveyor belts , and in particular without mechanically combining several packaging stations ( e . g . film and cartoning stations ) to form a packaging system or line .
  • a further scope of the present invention is to provide an automatic packaging machine which allows an operator to perform monitoring and maintenance operations easily and conveniently on the consumable material , i . e . film reel and cardboard blanks .
  • a further scope of the present invention is to provide an automatic packaging machine which enables a higher production output to be achieved than with conventional production systems , i . e . a machine capable of increasing the speed of packs produced in the unit of time ( e . g . packs/hour ) compared to commercially available production lines .
  • a further purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic packaging machine that can be easily and quickly tested after assembly in the factory .
  • a packaging machine for packaging a product P with flexible material or with a cardboard along a process path, comprising an inlet of the product and configured to feed said machine with products to be packaged; a first outlet of product P arranged downstream of said inlet along the path and configured to discharge products wrapped with film from the machine ; a second product outlet arranged downstream of said inlet along the path; and configured to unload packaged products with cardboards ; said second outlet being arranged in parallel with said first outlet so that the path is bi furcated; at least a film wrapping station configured to wrap at least one product with a flexible film and arranged in sequence to said inlet ; at least one cartoning station configured to pack products in cardboards ; at least a trans fer unit arranged downstream of said film packaging station and configured to move the products ; wherein said cartoning station is arranged downstream of said film packaging station in such a way that a product P to be packed always first passes through said film wrapping station and subsequently through said cartoning station; and wherein a
  • the resulting machine unlike a line , is particularly compact and has an essential ly two-dimensional layout , which is particularly versatile within a production plant .
  • the machine comprises an electronic control unit for synchronously controlling at least the machine axes of an actuation unit for conveying the product through the film packaging station; the transfer unit for conveying the product from the film packaging station into the carton; and the actuator for handling the cardboards in the cartoning station .
  • the same control unit controls the actuators of both packaging stations , as opposed to a hybrid line in which the at least two respective control units have to be synchronised after the machine has been assembled in the use facility .
  • a machine is controlled so that the product P moves intermittently and the machine axes are correspondingly controlled in an ' indexed ' manner, i . e . performs timed stops of a constant and predetermined time , along the work path and, correspondingly, the machine axes have a locked relative timing and are parameteri zed so that , when the production rate of the machine needs to be varied e . g . in products per minute , the speeds and dwell times are automatically recalculated so that the correct phasing, product stops and actuator movement speeds are maintained so that the product runs intermittently along the process path .
  • Thi s constant , predetermined phase also identi fies , by assigning the machine ' s production rate , a corresponding gap between two consecutive P products processed by the same handling actuator .
  • chutes /conveyors and other cumbersome devices normally used for machines or lines that process P-products continuously can be avoided .
  • the overall dimensions can be further reduced .
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the machine illustrated in figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 shows a plan view from above of the machine illustrated in figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a linear conveyor for feeding a film wrapping station according to the present invention
  • FIG. 5 shows a perspective detail view of a film wrapping station, with some parts removed to better highlight others , according to the present invention
  • FIG. 6 shows a first perspective detail view of a trans fer unit , with some parts removed to better highlight others , according to the present invention .
  • the automatic packaging machine according to the present invention is intended for pack products, for example toilet rolls, handkerchiefs, nappies and the like, with flexible film or with a cardboard.
  • wrapper is to be understood as meaning an automatic packaging machine intended for wrapping products with film, preferably a flexible film, such as for example a heat-sealable polymeric film (e.g. polyethylene PE) and/or paper treated with heat- sealable lacquers and/or paper sealed with hot or cold glue depending on the various types of product P to be wrapped. Therefore, in the following, reference will be made indistinctly to wrapped products, indicating the same type of packaging.
  • a flexible film such as for example a heat-sealable polymeric film (e.g. polyethylene PE) and/or paper treated with heat- sealable lacquers and/or paper sealed with hot or cold glue depending on the various types of product P to be wrapped.
  • cartoning machine shall mean an automatic packaging machine intended for packaging products with rigid material, in particular folded material, such as paper and/or cardboard and/or similar.
  • rigid material such as paper and/or cardboard and/or similar.
  • the machine according to the present invention is advantageously used in the technical field of manufacturing and marketing of automatic packaging systems and/or plants .
  • the packaging machine 10 is intended for packaging products wrapped with polymeric film, preferably flexible film, or products packed with rigid material , e . g . cardboard .
  • the packaging machine 10 in question allows for packaging a wrapped product P or, alternatively, a cartonised product P, but not both .
  • Figure 1 illustrates a packaging machine 10 for packaging a product P with flexible material or with a cardboard along a bi furcated process path R comprising a frame 100 .
  • the frame 100 comprises a base 101 having a prevailing substantially hori zontal extension, i . e . parallel to the ground .
  • the base 101 of the frame 100 comprises feet and/or brackets 102 intended to be placed in support on the ground, advantageously to enable stable positioning of the packaging machine 10 on the ground surface .
  • the frame 100 further comprises a central shoulder 103 having a predominantly substantially vertical extension, mechanically connected to the base 101 and configured to support groups and/or units and/or functional stations of the packaging machine 10 .
  • suitable coupling housings e . g . holes and/or similar ) are provided on the central shoulder 103 in such a way that previously assembled groups and/or units and/or functional stations ( described in detail below) of the packaging machine 10 can be assembled, thereby obtaining a compact and space-saving packaging machine 10 .
  • the frame 100 assumes a so-called cantilever shape .
  • the machine ' s functional groups can be easily preassembled in special assembly stations and subsequently mounted on frame 100 . Their removal by an operator is quick and easy as these functional groups are each independently mounted on frame 100 , without the need to disassemble groups and then access others .
  • the frame 100 is made of a rigid material , for example metal , such as steel or similar .
  • the frame 100 is preferably made by sheet metal laser cutting and subsequent j oining, for example by welding and/or bolting .
  • the packaging machine 10 further comprises an inlet 2 of the product P .
  • the bi furcated process path R is the path along which the products move within the packaging machine 10 , in particular from the inlet 2 towards outlets ( described in detail below) arranged downstream of the inlet 2 .
  • the inlet 2 is configured to feed the packaging machine 10 with products to be packaged, and preferably comprises a conveyor belt 21 .
  • the conveyor belt 21 comprises at least one conveyor belt 210, preferably rectilinear and configured to move the loaded products (e.g. manually or by means of automatic systems, in particular a robot and/or similar) along a direction X substantially parallel to the extension of the conveyor belt 210 and the conveyor belt 21.
  • the products are arranged in an orderly manner, for example in sequence one after the other (i.e.
  • the inlet 2 further comprises an infeed unit 22, arranged at the end of the conveyor belt 21 and mechanically associated therewith and constrained to the frame 100, configured to receive the products from the belt 21 and move them along an elbow path G having an end direction different from the direction X of the infeed products.
  • said final direction of movement is transverse with respect to the direction X, i.e. preferably arranged at 90° and defines a first change of direction of the process path R.
  • the unit 22 comprises a linear transfer device 220 having a first process direction Y aligned with that of the belt 21 (i.e. X) and a diverter 221 for intercepting the product P transversely to the first process direction Y (thereby creating the elbow path) and bringing it aboard gripping means 520 (illustrated in detail below and visible in figures 4 and 5) along a direction Z.
  • the linear transfer device 220 is preferably arranged in a position close to the belt 21 and comprises movable elements 2200 arranged between them spaced at regular steps , configured in prominence to push the product P along the linear trans fer device 220 following a straight guide aligned with the direction Y up to a predetermined working position wherein the diverter 221 acts .
  • the diverter 221 pushes the products by means of a relief such as a step or a pin ( as in the figure ) instead of transporting them solely by surface friction ( e . g . as is the case in a conventional conveyor belt of a known type ) .
  • the moving elements 2200 serve to obj ecti fy the position of a product P .
  • the position and orientation during transport of a product P is safe and reliable regardless of its shape , si ze and structural consistency (such as nappies , handkerchiefs , wipes and the like ) .
  • the linear distance between one moving element and the next is pre-set initially, e . g . manually by an operator, depending on the si ze of the product P to be packed .
  • the movable elements 2200 comprise slender, long-linear elements , for example rods and/or pins and/or similar, preferably made of a metal material and movable along a slide rai l 2201 formed on the linear trans fer device 220 and aligned with the first process direction Y .
  • the movable elements 2200 are driven by an actuating unit 2202 of the packaging machine 10 , for example by means of a kinematic chain comprising at least an electric motor mechanically coupled to at least a gearbox - preferably of the planetary type - in turn mechanically coupled to a rotating wheel - for example a toothed pulley or a sprocket - which rotatably drives at least a transmission mechanism with flexible means - for example a belt or a chain - configured to rotatably move at least two axes .
  • a kinematic chain comprising at least an electric motor mechanically coupled to at least a gearbox - preferably of the planetary type - in turn mechanically coupled to a rotating wheel - for example a toothed pulley or a sprocket - which rotatably drives at least a transmission mechanism with flexible means - for example a belt or a chain - configured to rotatably move at least two axes .
  • each group and/or unit and/or functional station of the packaging machine 10 will be understood to be actuated by actuation means substantially similar to those briefly mentioned above .
  • the diverter 221 which is part of the actuation means 2022 as it moves the product P during the wrapping operation, comprises at least one pusher 2210 , configured to push and divert the product P entering the film wrapping station 5 , along a direction Z preferably orthogonal to the direction Y to form the elbow portion of the path R .
  • the products are moved inside the packaging machine 10 with a single trans fer device and in a compact manner, i . e . without requiring long straight paths of movement ( i . e . belts ) , since the stations of the packaging machine 10 are close to each other and directly communicating .
  • the packaging machine 10 further comprises at least one film wrapping station 5 configured to wrap at least one product P with a flexible film and arranged in sequence to the infeed unit 22 belonging to the inlet 2 .
  • the film is made of polymeric material, in particular of a heat-sealable type, for example polyethylene (PE) and/or similar.
  • the film wrapping station 5 comprises an area in which the product P is wrappable by the film, e.g. a carousel 51, having a prevailing substantially axial extension along an axis V substantially parallel to the axis X, comprising a support structure 510 configured to support gripping means 520, adjusting means 530, and having the ability to rotate discretely about the axis V, for example in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow F as illustrated in the attached Figure 5.
  • the carousel 51 is moved by a motor 52 forming part of the actuation unit 2202 for controlling the position of the product P during wrapping process.
  • the support structure 510 comprises a platform 5100 arranged substantially vertically, i.e. orthogonal to the axis V, and provided with a substantially circular shape, e.g. made of a metal material, preferably obtained by sheet metal laser cutting .
  • the platform 5100 and the carousel 51 have a structure referred to in the technical industry jargon as a 'revolver' .
  • the axis V is substantially horizontal, preferably transverse to the direction Z along which the product P arrives from the feeding unit 22.
  • the product P to be packaged for example in the form of paper rolls or stacks of paper towels and/or similar, is introduced into at least one seat C of the carousel 51 by the pusher 2210 (direction Z) .
  • the gripping means 510 are mechanically connected to the carousel 51 and configured to receive the product P at the head of the row between suitable stop walls of the at least one seat C, so as to stop the product P in a correct and predetermined posit ion relative to the carousel 51 .
  • the product P at the head of the row can be inserted at the correct time by the pusher 2210 into the at least one seat C of the carousel 51 which is waiting to the left of the carousel 51 and which is at a suitable height to receive the product P .
  • the products P are paper rolls , these are positioned with their axes parallel to the feeding direction .
  • the gripping means 520 comprise longitudinal walls 521 , 522 substantially parallel to and facing each other, and transverse walls 523 , 524 substantially parallel to and facing each other, configured to make a seat C to receive a product P in a gripping configuration ( i llustrated in more detail below) .
  • the adj ustment means 530 comprise at least one slide rail 531 mechanically constrained to the structure 5100 and configured to be slidably traversed by at least one cart 532 .
  • the runners 531 are mechanically connected to the gripping means 520 and by moving along the runner 531 vary the linear distance between the longitudinal walls 521 and 522 .
  • the adj ustment means 530 further comprise manoeuvring screws 532 mechanically constrained to the structure 5100 and configured to slide along brackets 5320 mechanically connected to the transverse walls 523 , 524 .
  • the film packaging station 5 further comprises at least one film reel 540 of flexible packaging material , for example a heat-sealable film having a width correlated with the length of the products P, and arranged in an elevated position relative to the carousel 51 with its axis parallel to the axis V of the carousel 51 .
  • at least one film reel 540 of flexible packaging material for example a heat-sealable film having a width correlated with the length of the products P, and arranged in an elevated position relative to the carousel 51 with its axis parallel to the axis V of the carousel 51 .
  • the position of the reel 540 parallel to the unwind axis has its side in a fixed position and closely related to that o f an end stop or equivalent means of feeding the product P e . g . the elbow defined by the pusher 2210 and of the support structure 510 of the carousel 51 , which together constitute the " zero" reference of the packaging machine 10 .
  • the station 5 further comprises at least two flexible film deflection rollers 550 mechanically connected to the frame 100 of the packaging machine 10 , arranged between the film reel 540 and the carousel 51 and configured to deflect the flexible film according to a predetermined path .
  • the film i s arranged in a desired orientation and suitable for wrapping a product P housed in a seat C of the carousel 51 .
  • the film unwound from the reel 540 is conveyed by known means along a descending path between the product P at the head of the conveyor 23 and the seat C of the carousel 51 hori zontally aligned with it , in such a way that , while the product P is inserted into the seat C, the same product P is laterally wound, by 180 ° ( figure 3 ) , by a predetermined length of film, which is separated from the film upstream by known cutting means.
  • the product P is fed to enter the film wrapping station 5 in a transverse direction to a direction in which the film is unwound from its film reel 540 and the reel is arranged posterior to the cranked portion of the process path R i.e.
  • the seats C are each formed by a pair of longitudinal walls 521, 522 cooperating with the opposite side portions of the product P and comprising two transverse walls 523, 524 cooperating with the opposite ends of the product P.
  • the carousel 51 is provided with four angularly equidistant seats C (i.e. arranged offset from each other by a substantially 90° angle so as to form a cross-shaped structure) and is activated by cyclic rotations of, for example, ninety degrees clockwise F, so that two seats C are cyclically in opposite horizontal positions, one in the already considered left position for loading the product P and the other in the opposite right position for unloading the product P already partially wound, as detailed below. After each rotation of ninety degrees, e.g.
  • a seat C passes from the left position, corresponding to nine o'clock, to the raised position, corresponding to twelve o'clock, while another seat C passes from the unloaded position, corresponding to three o ' clock, to the lower position, corresponding to six o ' clock .
  • packaging machine 10 has only one input 2 , and therefore there is no possibility for the products to follow numerous di f ferent paths once they are loaded onto the conveyor 21 belt .
  • the loading of the incoming products is unambiguously identi fied, simple and fast with considerable savings in terms of time and complexity of the packaging machine 10 .
  • the packaging machine 10 further comprises at least one cartoning station 7 configured to pack the products in boxes .
  • the cartoning station 7 is arranged downstream of the film wrapping station 5 in such a way that a product P to be packaged always first passes through the film wrapping station 5 and then through the cartoning station 7 .
  • the proces s path R is bi furcated downstream of the area in which the product P is wrappable by a film in order to send the wrapped product P to an outlet 3 or to send the unwrapped product P to the cartoning station 7 .
  • the cartoning station 7 is connected in series with the film wrapping station 5 .
  • the product P can exit directly through outlet 3 without passing through the cartoning station 7 .
  • a product P to be packaged with a cardboard pass through the film wrapping station 5 without undergoing any type of wrapping process and is then conveyed to cartoning station 7 to be cartonised .
  • the product P first passes through the film wrapping station 5 and then, i f desired, through the cartoning station 7 .
  • a product P to be packaged can be either film-wrapped or placed in a box ( i . e . , cartoned and/or hardback) depending on the packaging requirements , but never in both packaging modes .
  • the packaging machine 10 further comprises at least one trans fer unit 8 arranged downstream of the film wrapping station 5 and configured to move the products towards the cartoning station 7 .
  • the packaging machine 10 Upon exiting the film-wrapped packaging station 5 , the packaging machine 10 comprises a moving stop 6 ( Figure 2 ) configured to be movable , e . g . manually or motorised, between an open position in which the filmwrapped product P proceeds towards the outlet 3 and an intercept position, in which the product P exiting the station 5 without film is stopped to be so moved via the trans fer unit 8 .
  • a moving stop 6 Figure 2
  • Figure 2 configured to be movable , e . g . manually or motorised, between an open position in which the filmwrapped product P proceeds towards the outlet 3 and an intercept position, in which the product P exiting the station 5 without film is stopped to be so moved via the trans fer unit 8 .
  • the trans fer unit 8 connects the film wrapping station 5 with the cartoning station 7 , moving the products from the film wrapping station 5 to the cartoning station 7 along an S-shaped path, depending on the packaging requirements , forming a first and a second elbow ( figure 6 ) .
  • the unit 8 comprises a linear conveyor 81 , with a motor 8202 , having a first process direction H transverse to the exit products direction J from the film wrapping station 5 , a second diverter unit 82 , with a motor 8203 , for intercepting the product P transverse to the first process direction H (thereby creating an S-shaped portion of the path R) and pushing it against a compactor unit 83.
  • the unit 8 further comprises a third diverter unit 84, configured to push the product P previously compacted by the compactor unit 83 inside rigid packages (i.e. boxes) suitably arranged along the movement direction S of said diverter unit 84.
  • the boxes are opened in the direction S so that the diverter unit 84, upon actuating, brings the product P inside the opened box.
  • the directions along which the product P is pushed and diverted by the groups 82, 83 and 84 are transverse to each other, i.e. preferably arranged at 90°.
  • the motors of the linear conveyor 81 and of the assemblies 82, 83, 84 are synchronised and phased with each other via their respective machine axes in such a way as to advance intermittently, e.g. alternately, to perform the 'S' path to the inside of the casing K.
  • the moving elements 8200 move in a continuous manner, e.g. they move the product P along a straight line and, at the end of the product P's travel, they lower to travel along a return branch to push a new product P.
  • the linear conveyor 81, the second and third diverter assemblies 82, 84 and the movable elements 8200 are structurally and functionally substantially the same as those previously described for the belt 23 of the inlet 2 and will therefore not be further described herein.
  • the compactor assembly 83 is arranged in front of the second diverter assembly 82 and configured to receive in mechanical stop, against a stop wall M, at least one side of the product P to be compacted .
  • the compactor 83 comprises at least one presser 830 movable along a substantially vertical axis B between a raised configuration in which the presser 830 does not touch a surface of the product P, and a lowered configuration in which the presser 830 compresses the product P to make it accessible within a box .
  • a third diverter 84 by means of a motor 8204 , pushes the product P along a direction D ( thus forming the S portion of the bi furcated path R) and inserts it inside a cardboard box positioned substantially aligned with the axis D .
  • the trans fer unit 8 is configured to move , along a transverse direction H with respect to the direction J, the film-wrapped product P towards the cartoning station 7 or to send the non- f ilm-wrapped product P towards the outlet 3 ( described in detail below) .
  • the trans fer unit 8 moves an outgoing product P from the film wrapping station 5 , which has not been wrapped with film, to the cartoning station 7 , or alternatively allows it to be crossed by the product P in order to be discharged through the outlet 3 .
  • the cartoning station 7 comprises a magazine 71 of folded cardboard blanks ( i . e . sheets ) , preferably arranged aligned with the shoulder 103 , and configured to hold the cardboard blanks and make them available to a picking mechanism 72 .
  • the magazine 71 comprises , for example , a substantially straight conveyor belt configured to feed the picking mechanism 72 , provided with a corresponding actuator .
  • the folded sheets of cardboard arranged on the conveyor belt of the magazine 71 move substantially parallel to the film flow direction, carried out by the film reel 540 .
  • the conveyor belt of unfolded cardboard sheets is mechanically separated and distinct from the incoming product flow 2 , preferably by means of the shoulder 103 of the frame 100 ( as observed in the attached Figures 1 and 2 ) .
  • the magaz ine 71 may advantageously be obtained in a substantially elevated position relative to the carton packaging station 7 .
  • the picking mechanism 72 is disposed between the magazine 71 and the cartoning station 7 and is configured to put the magazine 71 and the cartoning station 7 into communication by picking at least one cardboard blanks from the magazine 71 , wherein the blanks are in a flattened configuration, and by means of a rotation disposes said sheet in a position aligned with the products to be packaged with carton according to an open configuration in which the sheets assume a substantial ly prismatic shape ( i . e . box-shaped) .
  • the carton continues via a corresponding actuator in an intermittent motion to the station where it receives product P .
  • These actuators at station 7 are synchronised with each other via the respective machine axes .
  • the product P After the product P has been pushed into the box, it exits via a further output 4 , arranged in parallel with output 3 configured to unload film-wrapped products exiting the packaging machine 10 .
  • the outlet 3 is arranged aligned with the film wrapping station 5.
  • a film-wrapped product P is unloaded from the packaging machine 10 quickly and without having to take any additional routes and/or pass through any additional workstations before exiting the packaging machine 10 .
  • the packaging machine 10 further comprises , following the bi furcation of the process path R the outlet 4 of the product P arranged downstream of said inlet 2 , and configured to unload packaged products with cardboards .
  • the outlet 4 is independent of the outlet 3 , in particular the outlet 4 is arranged in parallel with the outlet 3 , and preferably aligned with the cartoning station 7 .
  • the shoulder 103 is arranged between the outlets 3 and 4 along the direction of the trans fer device 8 .
  • the film reel 540 is arranged in a predetermined position ( as i llustrated in the attached Figure 1 ) relative to the product inlet 2 of the product P .
  • a predetermined position as i llustrated in the attached Figure 1
  • an operator can easily access the film reel 540 ( or, for example , other functional assemblies of the packaging machine 10 ) unobstructed by conveyor belts and/or other components of the packaging machine 10 .
  • the film reel 540 and the access to the cardboard blanks magazine 71 are arranged downstream of the inlet 2 o f the process path R and furthermore are both opposed to the first outlet 3 and the second outlet 4 with respect to the process path R .
  • they are located in corresponding vacated positions of the elbows of the process path R towards the wrapping area and towards the product insertion P he cardboards K, respectively .
  • Both of these elbows are advantageously in the same direction, as illustrated in the figures . This makes the loading of consumables , e . g . film reel and cardboard blanks , simple , quick, and easy for an operator .
  • the packaging machine 10 provides a single electronic control unit (e . g . a single CPU and/or PLC or any other electronic device for acquiring, processing and sending data known to the technician in the art and therefore not further described) , which is assembled, programmed and tested for all possible configurations of product P to be packaged .
  • a single electronic control unit e . g . a single CPU and/or PLC or any other electronic device for acquiring, processing and sending data known to the technician in the art and therefore not further described
  • the CPU and/or PLC controls the various machine axes 10 for both the film wrapping station 5 ( i . e . the wrapper ) and the cartoning station 7 ( i . e . the cartoning machine ) .
  • the machine axes controlled by the CPU are at least those of the actuator unit 2202 for transporting the product P through the wrapping station; the transfer unit 8 for transporting the product P from the wrapping area into the cartoner; the actuator for handling the cardboards K in the cartoning station 7.
  • at least some of these machine axes, e.g. of the diverters defining the changes of direction e.g. 'cranking' of the product is controlled along the bifurcated process path R to have an intermittent movement e.g. reciprocating.
  • the product P advances intermittently along the process path R i.e. at a plurality of locations along the path R the product P is in temporary dwell for a predefined time.
  • the product P is temporarily stopped at least before proceeding to the wrapping area and immediately before being inserted into the case e.g. via the diverter assembly 84.
  • the product P is at a standstill while against the movable stop 6 and the empty pack is at a standstill while receiving the product P.
  • the packaging machine 10 is particularly compact as it is possible to avoid carousels, chutes etc.
  • each actuator has a control axis with a duty cycle and cycle speed. All axes are angularly i.e. 'indexed' to a main axis with their respective stages so that when the main axis is changed to change the production rate of the packaging machine 10 e . g .
  • the speeds and phases of the actuators are recalculated to maintain the synchronisation and timing of the movements and, consequently, the stops of the product P along the process path R .
  • the electronic equivalent of a mechanical transmission is realised whose gear ratio is constant and the output speed is calculable on the basis of the input speed .
  • the method in question comprises at least the steps of :
  • a stop wall is mounted by a technician in an appropriate position to block the product P exiting the film wrapping station 5 while waiting for the arrival of the mobile element in prominence 8200 .
  • the stop 6 is dismounted and the trans fer unit 8 remains stationary in a position that allows the product P to reach the outlet 3 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

Machine d'emballage comprenant une station d'emballage de film amont (5) et une station de mise en carton aval (7), une entrée (2) et deux sorties (3, 4). Un produit (P) doit passer à travers la station d'emballage de film (5) pour atteindre la station de mise en carton (7).
PCT/IB2023/058293 2022-08-23 2023-08-18 Machine d'emballage et procédé d'emballage de produits WO2024042440A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202200017496 2022-08-23
IT102022000017496 2022-08-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024042440A1 true WO2024042440A1 (fr) 2024-02-29

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070125242A1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-06-07 Dall Omo Davide Machine for the production of groups of rolls of products
EP2991904B1 (fr) * 2013-04-30 2017-12-06 WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC Machine d'emballage
US20200339291A1 (en) * 2017-12-22 2020-10-29 Pulsar S.R.L. Apparatus for the treatment of articles

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070125242A1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-06-07 Dall Omo Davide Machine for the production of groups of rolls of products
EP2991904B1 (fr) * 2013-04-30 2017-12-06 WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC Machine d'emballage
US20200339291A1 (en) * 2017-12-22 2020-10-29 Pulsar S.R.L. Apparatus for the treatment of articles

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