(19)
(11)EP 1 689 642 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
28.07.2010 Bulletin 2010/30

(21)Application number: 04791672.1

(22)Date of filing:  06.10.2004
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B65B 9/06(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/IB2004/003251
(87)International publication number:
WO 2005/035367 (21.04.2005 Gazette  2005/16)

(54)

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES WITH A FILM OF PLASTIC MATERIAL

VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUR VERPACKUNG VON ARTIKELN MIT EINER KUNSTSTOFFFOLIE

PROCEDE ET APPAREIL POUR EMBALLER DES ARTICLES AVEC UN FILM PLASTIQUE


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30)Priority: 09.10.2003 IT BO20030581

(43)Date of publication of application:
16.08.2006 Bulletin 2006/33

(73)Proprietor: C.M.C. S.p.A.
06011 Cerbara-Citta' di Castello (Perugia) (IT)

(72)Inventor:
  • PONTI, Giuseppe
    I-06011 Cerbara-Citta'di Castello (IT)

(74)Representative: Dall'Olio, Giancarlo 
Invention S.r.l. Via delle Armi 1
40137 Bologna
40137 Bologna (IT)


(56)References cited: : 
EP-A- 0 526 944
US-A- 2 257 823
US-A- 4 102 111
DE-A1- 4 117 428
US-A- 2 276 282
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION



    [0001] The present invention relates to a method for packaging articles with a film of plastic material and an apparatus which carries out this method.

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION



    [0002] Printed articles, such as books, newspapers, magazines and the like, are often packaged with a protective film of plastic material, usually transparent, for example cellophane.

    [0003] The articles are packaged by known machines having conveying means, which feed the articles, regularly spaced apart, from a wrapping station to an apparatus, which forms wraps of plastic film around the articles.

    [0004] In the above mentioned machines, the band of plastic film is fed continuously to the conveying means, aligned with the means for feeding the articles to be packaged, and operated continuously.

    [0005] The articles are transferred in a row, suitably spaced apart, above the band of plastic film, which is wound over them, by suitable folding means, thus taking a tubular form with the longitudinal edges overlapped.

    [0006] Afterwards, each wrap is closed around each single article by longitudinal welding means, acting on the overlapped edges of the plastic film, and by subsequent crosswise welding means, which make some transversal welds between adjacent articles.

    [0007] Then, the plastic film is cut between transversal welds, so as to obtain single packages.

    [0008] In the known apparatuses, the devices used for welding the longitudinal overlapped edges of the plastic film usually include a welding member, with a substantially circular welding surface, arranged in a plane longitudinal with respect to the line feeding the plastic film.

    [0009] Pressing means are situated downstream of the welding member for acting on the articles wrapped with the plastic film.

    [0010] The European Patent EP 0.220.759 describes a longitudinal welding device, in which the above mentioned welding member is carried oscillating about a horizontal axis, crosswise to the articles forward movement direction. The welding member is heated and skims the plastic band at the overlapped edges thus sealing them to each other.

    [0011] Moreover, according to another known solution, the transversal welding means are operated while moving alternately along the longitudinal feeding direction of the articles wrapped with the band of plastic film with the same speed. The band of plastic film is sealed crosswise during the forward stroke of the welding means.

    [0012] The above mentioned longitudinal and transversal welding of the plastic film requires a considerable amount of time, remarkable with respect to the duration of the entire packaging cycle.

    [0013] The welding time cannot be reduced without compromising the quality of the obtained package, which is an obvious limit to the production rate of the known wrapping machines.

    [0014] The European Patent Application EP 0 526 944 discloses an apparatus for sealing packaging paper, wherein adhesive material is used for sealing said paper. Therefore, the technical solution disclosed therein is not completely satisfactory, as the paper used for packaging purposes costs more than most of the plastic films. Moreover, the paper is not transparent, thus preventing the articles to be seen from the outside, together with any information, e.g. shipment information, printed therein. Shipment information, as well as any other desired information, must be printed directly on the packaging paper. This adds some production processes, thus increasing the packaging costs and wasting some more production time.

    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



    [0015] The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems by proposing a method, for packaging articles efficiently and rapidly, with a film of plastic material, in particular reaching a significant increase in production rate.

    [0016] Another object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for carrying out the above method, with a simple, reliable and versatile structure.

    [0017] The above mentioned objects are obtained, in accordance with the contents of the' claims, by a method for packaging articles with a film of plastic material, according to claim 1. The above mentioned method is carried out by an apparatus for packaging articles with a film of plastic material, according to claim 5.

    [0018] By using the method as explained herein and the correlated machine for carrying out the method, a package is obtained, which includes an article wrapped in a sheet of plastic material having crosswise ends closed by strips of glue and longitudinal edges of the sheet also joined to each other by means of a strip of glue.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0019] The characteristic features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments, with reference to the enclosed figures, in which:
    • Figure 1 is a lateral view of the whole apparatus for packaging articles with a film of plastic material, according to the proposed method;
    • Figure 1A shows a portion of the film of plastic material;
    • Figure 1B shows an enlarged particular K of Figure 1;
    • Figure 2 is a plan view of the proposed apparatus;
    • Figure 3 is a corresponding top view of a band of the plastic film, during article packaging;
    • Figure 4 is a lateral partial view of another embodiment of the proposed apparatus.

    PREFERRED MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION



    [0020] With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates the apparatus for wrapping articles 2, such as books, newspapers, magazines and the like, with a protective film of plastic material, preferably transparent, for example cellophane.

    [0021] The articles 2 to be wrapped are fed orderly to the apparatus 1 by a conveying line 3, equipped, in known way, with suitable driving means 4.

    [0022] The apparatus 1 includes a conveying belt 5, operated continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

    [0023] A band of plastic film 6 is continuously fed on the conveying belt 5 and is drawn thereby from an inlet area of the articles 2 to be packaged. The band of plastic film 6 unwinds from a bobbin 16.

    [0024] Upstream of the area, where the articles 2 to be packaged enter the conveying belt 5, the band of plastic film 6 passes through a station C, in which an appropriate glue, suitably heated, is applied.

    [0025] The station C is located, for example, in a region corresponding to a vertical path of the band 6 extending between suitable deflecting rollers 7.

    [0026] In the station C, there are first glue applying means 8 and second glue applying means 9, for example spray nozzles of known type.

    [0027] The first glue applying means 8 are aimed at applying a strip of glue 18 along a longitudinal edge of the band of plastic film 6; the second glue applying means 9 are aimed at applying a series of zones of glue 19, regularly spaced apart crosswise to the band of plastic film 6 (see Figure 1A).

    [0028] The strip of glue 18, as well as the transversal zones of glue 19, are applied preferably on the same side of the band of plastic film 6, and in particular, on the side of the band of plastic film 6 which is to be turned to the inside of the package 2.

    [0029] The longitudinal edges of the band of plastic film 6 hit the folding means 10, aimed at wrapping the band of plastic film 6 in tubular form around the articles 2 to be packaged, transferred orderly to the conveying belt 5.

    [0030] The folding means 10 guide the edges of the band of plastic film 6 to cross above the articles 2 and to overlap substantially along the middle longitudinal axis of the conveying belt 5 (see in particular Figure 2).

    [0031] Downstream of the folding means 10, in the direction A of the conveying belt 5 forward movement, there is a rotary presser belt 11, aimed at acting on the overlapped edges of the band of plastic film 6, substantially in the area covered by the longitudinal strip of glue 18, in order to stabilize the union of the edges.

    [0032] The position of the rotary presser belt 11 can be adjusted vertically by suitable actuating means.

    [0033] Cutting means,12 are situated downstream of the rotary presser belt 11, in a region corresponding to a loop made in the conveying belt 5, defined by a series of deflecting wheels 14.

    [0034] The cutting means 12 are aimed at cutting crosswise the band of plastic film 6 in regions corresponding to joined portions of the transversal zones of glue 19, so as to obtain single packages of articles 2.

    [0035] In the present case, the cutting means 12 include a pair of counter-rotating rollers 13A, 13B, respectively upper and lower, with a suitable cutting members T provided on their peripheral surface.

    [0036] The cutting member T includes a blade 50, carried radially by the upper wheel 13A and situated between two presser elements 60A, 60B, aimed at pressing two side by side crosswise portions 19A, 19B in the zone 19. The portions 19A, 19B will be separated upon cutting the zone 19 by the blade 50.

    [0037] Consequently, according to the method for packaging the articles 2, in the station C a strip of glue 18 is applied along a longitudinal edge of the band of plastic film 6, as well as in the crosswise glue zones 19 regularly spaced apart on the band of plastic film 6.

    [0038] The glue can be applied in a continuous way, at points or any other suitable way required by the use.

    [0039] Figure 4 shows a different embodiment of the apparatus, in which the first glue applying means 8 have a pair of counter-rotating wheels 15, touching the band of plastic film ,6 and fed by a suitable tank of glue 17, so as to apply a continuous strip of glue 18 along a longitudinal edge of the band of plastic film 6.

    [0040] The band of plastic film 6 with the glue applied thereto, is fed continuously to the conveying belt 5, above which the articles 2 to be packaged are transferred orderly, in respective positions defined between the transversal zones of glue 19.

    [0041] Then, the folding means 10 fold the edges of the band of plastic film 6 to form a tube around_the articles 2 to be packaged, transferred orderly onto the conveying belt 5, so as to overlap the edges of the band of plastic film 6, with the longitudinal strip of glue 18 touching the opposite edge of the band of plastic film 6.

    [0042] Then, the rotary presser belt 11 acts on the overlapped edges of the band of plastic film 6 substantially in the area with the longitudinal strip of glue 18, so as to stabilize the longitudinal joining of the edges.

    [0043] The band of plastic film 6, wrapped in tubular form around the articles 2 reaches the counter-rotating rollers 13A, 13B of the cutting means 12, which stabilize, due to the action of the small presses 60A, 60B, the joining of the portions with the transversal zones of glue 19, and cut the band 6 crosswise, by the cutting member T.

    [0044] It is to be noted that the band of plastic film 6 is cut crosswise by the blade 50 along the portions joined by the transversal zones of glue 19, and more precisely, in the middle of the zones 19, that is between the portions 19A, 19B (see Figure 3).

    [0045] Consequently, the proposed method achieves the object of packaging articles with a film of plastic material in an efficient and rapid way, in particular it reduces the packaging cycle duration, and therefore, increases considerably the productivity.

    [0046] The package obtained, shown in Figure 3 still partially joined to the plastic band, includes an article, such as a magazine, a book, a newspaper or the like, wrapped in a sheet 6 of plastic material having the ends 19A, 19B closed by strips of glue between the upper and lower parts of the sheet. The longitudinal edges of the sheet are also joined to each other by means of a strip of glue 18.

    [0047] This result is achieved, in particular, due to the fact that the longitudinal joining of the edges of the plastic film, wrapped around the articles in tubular form, and the transversal joining of the same tubular plastic film, between two adjacent articles, are obtained by the use of a suitable glue, applied to the plastic film in an appropriate working station.

    [0048] In other words, the proposed solution overcomes the technical problems of the known apparatuses, in which the longitudinal and crosswise joining of the edges of the plastic film are obtained by heat-welding in that it eliminates all the heat welding means necessary for sealing the plastic band and all the problems connected thereto, well known to those skilled in the art.

    [0049] It is also to be pointed out that this result is obtained by a simple, reliable and versatile apparatus.

    [0050] It is understood that the proposed invention has been described, with reference to the enclosed figures, as a mere, not limiting example. Therefore, it is obvious that any changes or variants applied thereto remain within the protective scope of the present technical solution, as described above and claimed below.


    Claims

    1. A method for packaging printed articles, like books, newspapers, magazines, using a protective transparent film of plastic material, in particular cellophane, including the following steps:

    - providing a protective transparent film of plastic material wound onto a bobbin (16);

    - unwinding the plastic film from the bobbin (16) to form a band (6) of plastic film;

    - continuously feeding the band (6) of plastic film along a vertical path defined between deflecting rollers (7), upstream of an inlet area of conveying means (5);

    - application of at least one strip of glue (18) along a longitudinal edge of said band of plastic film (6) during the feeding of the band (6) along said vertical path;

    - application of at least one series of zones of glue (19), regularly spaced apart, crosswise to said band of plastic film (6), during the feeding of the band (6) along said vertical path, to form transversal zones of glue (19) with side portions (19A, 19B);

    - after the application of the glue, continuously feeding the band (6) of plastic film with the glue applied to said conveying means (5);

    - orderly transferring of a series of printed articles (2) to be packaged to said conveying means (5), above said band of plastic film (6) with the glue applied which is supplied to the same conveying means (5), respectively in positions delimited between said transversal zones of glue (19);

    - folding of longitudinal edges of said band of plastic film (6) over said printed articles to assume a tubular form around said printed articles (2) being packaged overlapping said longitudinal edges of said band of plastic film (6), with said longitudinal strip of glue (16) remaining between said opposite edges of the band (6);

    - joining said edges of the band of plastic film (6) along said longitudinal strip of glue (18) and joining said transversal zones of glue (19);

    - pressing said overlapped longitudinal edges of the band, by means of a rotary presser belt (11), in correspondence of the longitudinal strip of glue for stabilizing the longitudinal joining of the longitudinal edges,

    the method being characterized in that it includes the step of:

    - pressing said side portions (19A, 19B) of the transversal zones of glue (19), by means of two dresser elements (60A, 60B) carried by an upper roller (13A) of a pair of counter-rotating rollers (13A, 13B) situated downstream of said rotary presser belt (11), for stabilizing the crosswise joining of the side portions (19A, 19B) and, at the same time, crosswise cutting said band of plastic film (6), by means of a radial blade (50) carried by said upper roller (13A) between said two presser elements (60A, 60B), between the pressed side portions (19A, 19B) of the transversal zones of glue (19), in order to obtain single packages of articles.


     
    2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal strip of glue (18) and said transversal zones of glue (19) are applied to the same side of said band of plastic film (6) .
     
    3. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said longitudinal strip of glue (18) and said transversal zones of glue (19) are applied to this side of said band of plastic film (6), which is to be turned to the inside of the package of articles (2) .
     
    4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal atrip of glue (18) is applied continuously along one of said longitudinal edges of said band of plastic film (6).
     
    5. An apparatus for packaging articles with a film of plastic material, including:

    conveying means (5), on which a band of plastic film (6) is fed continuously;

    a glue application station (C), where a suitable glue is applied;

    first glue applying means (8), located at said glue application station for applying at least one strip of glue (18) along a longitudinal edge of said band of plastic film (6);

    second glue applying means (9), located at said glue application station for applying at least one serves of crosswise zones of glue (19), regularly spaced apart to the band of plastic film (6) to form transversal zones of glue (19) with side portions (19A, 198);

    stationary folding means (10) for folding longitudinal edges of said band of plastic film (6) over said articles to assume tubular form around the articles (2) being packaged and moving along the conveying means (5), with the longitudinal edges of said band of plastic film (6) overlapped so that said longitudinal strip of glue (18) remains between said opposite longitudinal edges of the band (6);

    a rotary presser belt (11), downstream of said folding means (10), for pressing said overlapped edges of the band in correspondence of the longitudinal strip of glue (18) for stabilizing the longitudinal joining of the longitudinal edges;

    said apparatus being characterized in that it further includes:

    a pair of counter-rotating rollers (13A, 13B), an upper roller (13A) and a lower roller (13B), situated downstream of said rotary presser belt (11), said upper roller (13A) carrying a radial blade (50) and two presser elements (60A, 60B), the blade (50) being situated between the two presser elements (60A, 60B), said two presser elements (60A, 60B) being provided for pressing the side portions (19A, 19B) of said transversal zones of glue (19), stabilizing the joining of the side portions (19A, 19B) and the blade (50) for crosswise cutting said band of plastic film (6) between said pressed side portions (19A, 19B) to obtain single packages of articles.


     


    Ansprüche

    1. Eine Verfahren zur Verpackung von gedruckten Artikeln, wie Büchern, Zeitungen, Zeitschriften, mit einer schützenden transparenten Folie aus Kunststoff, insbesondere Zellophan, das die folgenden Schritte umfaßt:

    - die Bereitstellung einer schützenden transparenten Folie aus Kunststoff, die auf eine Rolle (16) gewickelt ist;

    - das Abwickeln der Folie von der Rolle (16), um ein Band (6) der Kunststoff-Folie zu bilden;

    - die kontinuierliche Zuführung des Bandes (6) aus Kunststoff-Folie entlang eines vertikalen Pfades, der zwischen Umlenkrollen (7) gebildet wird, stromaufwärts von einem Einlaßbereich der Fördereinrichtung (5);

    - das Auftragen von wenigstens einem Streifen eines Klebers (18) entlang einer Längskante des Bandes aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) während der Zuführung des Bandes (6) entlang des besagten vertikalen Pfades;

    - das Auftragen von wenigstens einer Reihe von gleichmäßig beabstandeten Zonen des Klebers (19) quer zum besagten Band der Kunststoff-Folie (6) während der Zuführung des Bandes (6) entlang des vertikalen Pfades, um transversale Kleberzonen (19) mit seitlichen Bereichen (19A, 19B) zu bilden;

    - die kontinuierliche Zuführung des Bandes (6) der Kunststoff-Folie nach dem Auftragen des Klebers, wobei sich der Kleber auf der besagten Fördereinrichtung (5) befindet;

    - die geordnete Zuführung einer Reihe von Druckerzeugnissen (2), die zu verpacken sind, auf die besagte Fördereinrichtung (5) oberhalb des Bandes der Kunststoff-Folie (6), wobei der Kleber, der derselben Fördereinrichtung (5) zugeführt wurde, aufgetragen ist, jeweils in abgegrenzte Positionen zwischen den besagten transversalen Zonen mit Kleber (19);

    - das Falten der Längskanten des besagten Bandes aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) über die besagten Druckerzeugnisse, um eine Schlauchform um die zu verpackenden besagten Druckerzeugnisse (2) zu bilden, die die besagten Längskanten des besagten Bandes aus Kunststoff-Foüe (6) überlappt, wobei der besagte Längsstreifen des Klebers (10) zwischen den besagten entgegengesetzten Kanten des Bandes (6) verbleibt;

    - das Zusammenfügen der besagten Ränder des Bandes aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) entlang des Längsstreifens des Klebers (18) und das Zusammenfügen der besagten transversalen Zonen des Klebers (19);

    - das Beaufschlagen der besagten überlappenden Längskanten des Bandes mittels eines sich drehenden Preßbandes (11) in Übereinstimmung mit dem Längsstreifen des Klebers, um eine Stabilisierung des Zusammenfügens der Längskanten in Längsrichtung zu bewirken,

    wobei das Verfahren dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß es den folgenden Schritt umfaßt:

    - das Beaufschlagen der besagten seitlichen Bereiche (19A, 19B) der transversalen Zonen des Klebers (19) mittels zweier Preßelemente (60A, 60B), die von einer oberen Walze (13A) eines Paares von sich gegenläufig drehenden Walzen (13A, 13B) getragen werden, die stromabwärts des besagten sich drehenden Preßbandes (11) angeordnet sind, um eine Stabilisierung der kreuzweisen Verbindung der seitlichen Bereiche (19A, 19B) zu bewirken, und gleichzeitig das kreuzweise Schneiden des besagten Bandes aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) mittels einer radialen Klinge (50), die an der besagten oberen Walze (13A) zwischen den besagten beiden Preßelementen (60A, 60B) angeordnet ist, zwischen den zusammengedrückten seitlichen Bereichen (19A, 19B) der transversalen Zonen des Klebers (19), um einzelne Pakete der Artikel zu erhalten.


     
    2. Ein Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der besagte Längsstreifen des Klebers (18) und die besagten transversalen Zonen des Klebers (19) auf die gleiche Seite des besagten Bandes der Kunststoff-Folie (6) aufgebracht werden.
     
    3. Ein Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der besagte Längsstreifen des Klebers (18) und die besagten transversalen Zonen des Klebers (19) auf diese Seite des besagten Bandes der Kunststoff-Folie (6) aufgebracht werden, die zur Innenseite des Paketes von Artikeln (2) gedreht werden soll.
     
    4. Ein Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der besagte Längsstreifen des Klebers (18) kontinuierlich entlang einer der besagten Längskanten des besagten Bandes der Kunststoff-Folie (6) aufgebrach wird.
     
    5. Eine Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Artikeln mit einer Folie aus Kunststoff, umfassend:

    eine Fördereinrichtung (5), der ein Band einer Kunststoff-Folie (6) kontinuierlich zugeführt wird;

    eine Klebeauftrags-Station (C), bei der ein geeigneter Kleber aufgetragen wird;

    erste Klebeauftragsmittel (8), die an der besagten Klebeauftrags-Station angeordnet sind, um wenigstens einen Streifen eines Klebers (18) entlang einer Längskante des besagten Bandes aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) aufzutragen;

    zweite Klebeauftragsmittel (9), die an der besagten Klebeauftrags-Station angeordnet sind, um wenigstens eine Reihe von regelmäßig beabstandeten quer verlaufenden Zonen des Klebers (19) auf das besagte Band aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) aufzutragen, um auf diese Weise transversale Zonen des Klebers (19) mit seitlichen Bereichen (19A, 19B) zu bilden;

    stationäre Faltungsmittel (10) zum Falten der Längskanten des besagten Bandes aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) über die besagten Artikel, um eine Schlauchform um die zu verpackenden Artikel (2) zu bilden, und die sich entlang der Fördereinrichtung (5) bewegen, wobei sich die Längskanten des besagten Bandes aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) derart überlappen, daß ein Längsstreifen des besagten Klebers (18) zwischen den sich gegenüberliegenden Längskanten des Bandes (6) verbleibt;

    ein sich drehendes Preßband (11), das stromabwärts der besagten Faltungsmittel (10) angeordnet ist, um die sich überlappenden Kanten des Bandes in Übereinstimmung mit dem Längsstreifen des Klebers zu beaufschlagen und so eine Stabilisierung des Zusammenfügens der Längskanten in Längsrichtung zu bewirken;

    wobei die besagte Vorrichtung dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß sie ferner umfaßt:

    ein Paar sich gegenläufig drehender Walzen (13A, 13B), eine obere Walze (13A) und eine untere Walze (13B), die sich stromabwärts des besagten rotierenden Preßbandes (11) befinden, wobei die obere Walze (13A) eine radiale Klinge (50) und zwei Preßelemente (60A, 60B) trägt, wobei die Klinge (50) zwischen den beiden Preßelementen (60A, 60B) angeordnet ist und wobei die beiden besagten Preßelemente (60A, 60B) für das Anpressen der seitlichen Bereiche (19A, 19B) der besagten transversalen Zonen des Klebers (19) vorgesehen sind, um das Zusammenfügen der seitlichen Bereiche (19A, 19B) zu stabilisieren, und die Klinge (50) dem kreuzweisen Schneiden des besagten Bandes aus Kunststoff-Folie (6) zwischen den besagten seitlichen Bereichen (19A, 19B) dient, um einzelne Pakete von Artikeln zu erhalten.


     


    Revendications

    1. Procédé pour emballer des articles imprimés, comme des livres, des journaux, des magazines, en utilisant un film transparent protecteur en matière plastique, en particulier de la cellophane, comprenant les étapes suivantes consistant à :

    prévoir un film transparent protecteur en matière plastique enroulé sur une bobine (16) ;

    dérouler le film plastique de la bobine (16) pour former une bande (6) de film plastique ;

    alimenter de manière continue la bande (6) de film plastique le long d'une trajectoire verticale définie entre des rouleaux de déflexion (7), en amont d'une zone d'entrée des moyens de transport (5) ;

    appliquer au moins une bande de colle (18) le long d'un bord longitudinal de ladite bande de film plastique (6) pendant l'alimentation de la bande (6) le long de ladite trajectoire verticale ;

    appliquer au moins une série de zones de colle (19) régulièrement espacées, transversalement par rapport à ladite bande de film plastique (6) pendant l'alimentation de la bande (6) le long de ladite trajectoire verticale, afin de former des zones transversales de colle (19) avec des parties latérales (19A, 19B) ;

    après l'application de la colle, alimenter de manière continue la bande (6) de film plastique avec la colle appliquée sur lesdits moyens de transport (5) ;

    transférer dans l'ordre une série d'articles imprimés (2) à emballer vers lesdits moyens de transport (5), au-dessus de ladite bande de film plastique (6) avec la colle appliquée qui est alimentée vers les mêmes moyens de transport (5), respectivement dans des positions délimitées entre lesdites zones transversales de colle (19) ;

    plier les bords longitudinaux de ladite bande de film plastique (6) sur lesdits articles imprimés pour prendre une forme tubulaire autour desdits articles imprimés (2) qui sont emballés en faisant chevaucher lesdits bords longitudinaux de ladite bande de film plastique (6), avec ladite bande longitudinale de colle (18) qui reste entre lesdits bords opposés de la bande (6) ;

    assembler lesdits bords de la bande de film plastique (6) le long de ladite bande longitudinale de colle (18) et assembler lesdites zones transversales de colle (19) ;

    comprimer lesdits bords longitudinaux chevauchés de la bande, au moyen d'une courroie presseuse rotative (11), en correspondance à la bande longitudinale de colle pour stabiliser l'assemblage longitudinal des bords longitudinaux,

    le procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes consistant à :

    comprimer lesdites parties latérales (19A, 19B) des zones transversales de colle (19), au moyen de deux éléments presseurs (60A, 60B) supportés par un rouleau supérieur (13A) d'une paire de rouleaux tournant à contresens (13A, 13B) situés en aval de ladite courroie presseuse rotative (11), pour stabiliser l'assemblage transversal des parties latérales (19A, 19B) et, en même temps, couper transversalement ladite bande de film plastique (6), au moyen d'une lame radiale (50) supportée par ledit rouleau supérieur (13A) entre lesdits deux éléments presseurs (60A, 60B), entre les parties latérales comprimées (19A, 19B) des zones transversales de colle (19), afin d'obtenir des emballages uniques d'articles.


     
    2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite bande longitudinale de colle (18) et lesdites zones transversales de colle (19) sont appliquées sur le même côté de ladite bande de film plastique (6).
     
    3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite bande longitudinale de colle (18) et lesdites zones transversales de colle (19) sont appliquées sur ce côté de ladite bande de film plastique (6), qui doit être tourné vers l'intérieur de l'emballage d'articles (2).
     
    4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite bande longitudinale de colle (18) est appliquée de manière continue le long de l'un desdits bords longitudinaux de ladite bande de film plastique (6).
     
    5. Appareil pour emballer des articles avec un film en matière plastique, comprenant :

    des moyens de transport (5), sur lesquels une bande de film plastique (6) est alimentée de manière continue ;

    une station d'appfication de colle (C), où une colle appropriée est appliquée ;

    des premiers moyens d'application de colle (8), positionnés au niveau de ladite station d'application de colle pour appliquer au moins une bande de colle (18) le long d'un bord longitudinal de ladite bande de film plastique (6) ;

    des seconds moyens d'application de colle (9), positionnés au niveau de ladite station d'application de colle pour appliquer au moins une série de zones transversales de colle (19), régulièrement espacées de la bande de film plastique (6) afin de former des zones transversales de colle (19) avec des parties latérales (19A, 19B) ;

    des moyens de pliage fixes (10) pour plier les bords longitudinaux de ladite bande de film plastique (6) sur lesdits articles pour prendre une forme tubulaire autour des articles (2) qui sont emballés et se déplacer le long des moyens de transport (5), avec les bords longitudinaux de ladite bande de film plastique (6) chevauchés de sorte que ladite bande longitudinale de colle (18) reste entre lesdits bords longitudinaux opposés de ladite bande (6) ;

    une courroie presseuse rotative (11), en aval desdits moyens de pliage (10), pour comprimer lesdits bords chevauchés de la bande en correspondance à la bande longitudinale de colle (18) pour stabiliser l'assemblage longitudinal des bords longitudinaux ;

    ledit appareil étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre :

    une paire de rouleaux tournant à contresens (13A, 13B), un rouleau supérieur (13A) et un rouleau inférieur (13B), situés en aval de ladite courroie presseuse rotative (11), ledit rouleau supérieur (13A) supportant une lame radiale (50) et deux éléments presseurs (60A, 60B), la lame (50) étant située entre les deux éléments presseurs (60A, 60B), lesdits deux éléments presseurs (60A, 60B) étant prévus pour comprimer les parties latérales (19A, 19B) desdites zones transversales de colle (19), stabilisant l'assemblage des parties latérales (19A, 19B), et la lame (50) pour couper transversalement ladite bande de film plastique (6) entre lesdites parties latérales comprimées (19A, 19B) pour obtenir des emballages individuels d'articles.


     




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    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



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    Patent documents cited in the description