DEVICE FOR PACKAGING CYLINDRICAL ELEMENTS

Abstract

 The invention relates to equipment for packaging cylindrical elements which comprises a loading module (1) for cylindrical elements (15), a forming module (3) in which a tube is obtained from a sheet (28) and the cylindrical elements (15) are introduced, welding means (4) for closing the tube, two clamps (5) for cutting the tube into portions and transversely welding it containing the cylindrical elements (15), an output module (6) moving the cylindrical elements (15), maintaining them grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration, and a shrink-wrapping module (7) in which the sheet (28) is shrink-wrapped over the cylindrical elements (15) by means of applying hot air, obtaining a stable package (29) having a parallelepiped configuration.

Description

Object of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to equipment for packaging cylindrical elements, which is applicable in the product packaging industry and more specifically in the field of packaging by means of shrink-wrapping a sheet over the product to be packaged itself, which allows packaging in a single piece of equipment, in a quick, effective and versatile manner, a plurality of cylindrical elements of any dimension, which package maintains a stable parallelepiped configuration, with the consequent advantages of handling and storage that this entails, in addition to preventing the deterioration of the packaged cylindrical elements upon preventing said elements from rubbing against one another once packaged, given that the packaged obtained comprises a fitted sheet maintaining the configuration of the package at all times.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Currently, in the field of the industrial product packaging or packing industry, one of the needs is to achieve that the currently existing automatic packaging equipment, usually conventional machines referred to as flow pack machines, can pack, from a reel of flat film, a group of cylindrical elements such as bars or tubes, and obtain a stable and resistant package or pack with a parallelepiped configuration and more specifically with a rectangular parallelepiped configuration, in order for said package to be able to be handled, stored and stacked in optimal conditions of use of space and easy to handle.

[0003] The main drawback of said conventional machines for their application in the packaging of groups of cylindrical elements or products consists of the fact that the package obtained is unstable, which entails that, during its handling, for example for its transport or storage, the grouped formation is broken up, relative movements between the packaged elements occurring, whereby a stable configuration allowing a simple stacking is not maintained, in addition to the fact that there is a friction between the packaged products, with the consequent risk of deterioration and damage of said products that this entails.

[0004] Furthermore, the drawback set forth in the previous paragraph is manifested in an even more pronounced manner when there is a broad range of products to be manufactured, as occurs for example in a factory dedicated to the production of bars and tubes of different sizes and measurements for the purpose of meeting the different needs of its clients, there currently being no solution which allows packaging any measurement or size of products, so this equipment is not versatile.

[0005] Currently, to obtain a fitted pack, a wrapping machine and then an oven for carrying out the operation of shrink-wrapping the sheet or film are usually installed. The problem is that this solution is not valid for wrapping groups of cylindrical elements, since the group of the bars is easily broken up when said group passes from the wrapping machine to the shrink-wrapping oven, in addition to the drawback that these two machines are two independent pieces of equipment which occupy a large amount of space in the factory.

[0006] Therefore, as has been set forth above, it is currently necessary to use two machines for performing the packaging by means of shrink-wrapping groups of cylindrical elements, a first machine in which the actual packaging is performed, obtaining a package which does not maintain a parallelepiped configuration, and a second machine in which shrink-wrapping is performed by means of heat, whereby the film is fitted over the product and the package is given its final shape.

Description of the Invention

[0007] The present invention relates to equipment for packaging cylindrical elements which allows packaging, in a single piece of equipment, by means of shrink-wrapping a sheet over the product to be packaged, a plurality of cylindrical elements such as bars or tubes, of any dimension, which package maintains the stable parallelepiped configuration, with the advantages of handling and storage that this entails, preventing the cylindrical elements from rubbing against one another once packaged, given that the packaged obtained comprises a fitted sheet maintaining the parallelepiped configuration of the package at all times.

[0008] The equipment for packaging cylindrical elements proposed by the invention comprises a loading module which is configured to house a plurality of cylindrical elements to be packaged and group said cylindrical elements in a staggered stacked arrangement, being in parallel, according to a general, preferably rectangular parallelepiped configuration.

[0009] The equipment likewise comprises a forming module configured to obtain a longitudinally open tube from a sheet and house the cylindrical elements coming from the loading module in said tube, all this by means of using the flow pack packaging technology described above.

[0010] Next, the equipment comprises welding means configured to close the tube of sheet containing the cylindrical elements by means of a longitudinal weld line, thus closing the tube.

[0011] Located after the welding means, the equipment comprises at least two clamps, preferably an upper clamp and a lower clamp, said clamps having a transverse arrangement with respect to the tube and being configured to cut into portions and transversely weld said tube of sheet containing the cylindrical elements.

[0012] After the clamps, the equipment comprises an output module configured to collect and move the cylindrical elements contained in the portions of the tube of sheet, said output module being configured to maintain the cylindrical elements grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration.

[0013] The equipment comprises a shrink-wrapping or fitting module, located after the output module, said shrink-wrapping module being configured to shrink-wrap the sheet over the cylindrical elements by means of applying a curtain of hot air and achieve fitting said sheet to the cylindrical elements to be packaged, thus obtaining a stable package having a parallelepiped configuration.

[0014] The equipment is configured to package groups formed by a plurality of cylindrical elements and obtain a stable package having a preferably rectangular parallelepiped configuration, being well tightened and fitted, being capable of maintaining its parallelepiped shape for its subsequent handling and storage. It is understood that any element having an oval or elliptical cross section is also a cylindrical element, the equipment proposed by the invention also being especially applicable.

[0015] Unlike the state of the art, the equipment of the invention allows performing all the packaging operations, including the shrink-wrapping by means of heat to obtain a package with a parallelepiped and fitted configuration in a single piece of equipment, without needing the participation of different machines.

[0016] For the packaging, the equipment of the invention uses the technology referred to as flow pack technology, which obtains a tube from a flat sheet, also referred to as film, for which said tube comprises a longitudinal seal or weld line. Next and in a continuous manner, the tube is sealed and transversely cut into portions, such that packages are obtained from said portions of the tube, in which the products are packaged therein. The equipment comprises a reel holder which holds a reel of sheet for packaging the cylindrical elements. The forming module is configured to form a tube, preferably with a rectangular cross section, with the sheet coming from the reel holder.

[0017] The possibility is contemplated that the equipment comprises a cooling module, located after the shrink-wrapping module, configured to refrigerate or cool the shrink-wrapped sheet, for which the package is stopped, a packaging cycle thus ending.

[0018] Likewise, according to a preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the loading module, the forming module, the welding means, the clamps, the output module, the shrink-wrapping module and the cooling module are supported by a frame. One of the main advantages of the equipment of the invention is that it can have a single and compact frame, with the operational advantages that this entails.

[0019] Nevertheless, the possibility is contemplated that the frame comprises a fixed part and a tiltable part configured to be articulated with respect to the fixed part in an articulation shaft, in which the loading module is supported by said tiltable part. The equipment thus comprises a system for swinging or tilting the loading module, for which said loading module is located on a tiltable part of the frame. This system for swinging the loading module allows facilitating the operations of loading the cylindrical elements to be packaged, especially considering that the operational packaging or packing process starts in the loading module.

[0020] To that end, the tiltable part of the frame rotates with respect to the articulation shaft, for example by means of the collaboration of height adjustment means, which can consist of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder which retracts. The operator loads the cylindrical elements in this loading position, in which the loading module forms a tilting or descent angle facilitating the loading of the cylindrical elements in the loading module.

[0021] It is likewise contemplated that the loading module comprises two side guides configured to laterally hold the group of the cylindrical elements, in which the separation distance between said two side guides is adjustable by means of a screw. The cylindrical elements are thus loaded in a staggered manner and in the form of a rectangle, according to a section transverse to said cylindrical elements.

[0022] On the other hand, it is contemplated that the loading module comprises a rear blade located transversely to the side guides, said rear blade being configured to make contact with an end of the cylindrical elements and move said cylindrical elements towards the forming module, said rear blade being driven by longitudinal movement means.

[0023] Once the loading is performed, the loading module recovers its horizontality and the rear blade advances by means of longitudinal movement means, i.e., a linear advance system, to introduce the group of cylindrical elements in the forming module.

[0024] Thus, both the side guides and the rear blade allow the adaptation and use of the equipment with cylindrical elements to be packaged of any dimension, being very versatile equipment. The rear blade serves to align the cylindrical elements which are loaded in the loading module, such that an end of the cylindrical elements is in contact with the rear blade. On the other hand, the side guides, the separation distance of which is adjustable by means of a screw, serve to hold the cylindrical elements and achieve a group with a rectangular shape.

[0025] Given that the position of the side guides is variable, it is contemplated that they have a comb configuration configured to fit with a complementary configuration of the rear blade.

[0026] The possibility is contemplated that the forming module comprises two upper shoes configured to fit, at the upper part, the sheet over the cylindrical elements to be packaged, allowing a correct formation of the tube of sheet and achieving a tube with a rectangular cross section.

[0027] The welding means are thus configured to perform the longitudinal weld line through the separation space of said two upper shoes, since the upper shoes leave a free area between them, through which the welding of the longitudinal edge of the tube of sheet is performed. When the welding means perform the longitudinal welding it is achieved that the cylindrical elements to be packaged are located inside the tube.

[0028] It is likewise contemplated that the forming module comprises two side flat bars, extending to the clamps, said side flat bars being configured to maintain the cylindrical elements grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration, for the purpose of preventing the group of cylindrical elements from breaking up during the longitudinal welding process. It is also contemplated that the side flat bars are movable to be fitted over the sheet, collaborating in maintaining the rectangular shape of the tube of sheet while its longitudinal edge is sealed.

[0029] The possibility is contemplated that the output module comprises a conveyor belt or band and side containment means, which can consist of side rollers configured to hold the group and maintain the rectangular shape, i.e., configured to maintain the cylindrical elements grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration, in which the separation of said side containment means is adjustable by means of a screw.

[0030] When the clamps perform the welding and the transverse cutting of the tube of sheet, the closing of the package at both ends is achieved, after which the output module collects the closed package with the cylindrical elements therein.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the shrink-wrapping module comprises at least one nozzle with an adjustable orientation configured to discharge hot air to the four sides of the pack.

[0032] The possibility is likewise contemplated that the cooling module comprises a second conveyor belt and second side containment means configured to laterally contain the package, in which the separation of said second side containment means is adjustable by means of a screw.

[0033] Finally, the package coming from the curtain of hot air reaches the cooling module which comprises a second conveyor belt or band collecting the shrink-wrapped package and stopping it for its cooling. During this operation, the package is still held by its sides by means of said second side containment means, which are also adjustable in height by means of the screw used to adjust the side containment means of the output module, according to the dimensions of the cylindrical elements to be packaged. After a sufficient cooling time, the cooling module takes the finished package out of the equipment and the cycle ends.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the second side containment means consists of side rollers which are covered, i.e., externally coated, with silicone, for the purpose of preventing the hot sheet from adhering to said second side containment means.

Description of the Drawings

[0035] To complement the description which is being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, in which the following has been depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a stable package with a rectangular parallelepiped configuration of a plurality of cylindrical elements, obtained by means of the equipment proposed by the invention.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of the package depicted in Figure 1, in which the staggered arrangement of the cylindrical elements, as well as the rectangular cross section of the package itself, can be seen.

Figure 3 shows a schematic elevational view of the equipment of the invention, a detail corresponding to the position of the cylindrical elements in the forming module having been depicted according to the cross section identified with section line A-A.

Figure 4 shows a schematic detail, according to a cross section, of the cylindrical elements to be packaged located in the loading module of the equipment, the screw which allows adjusting the separation of the side guides comprised in said loading module being able to be seen.

Figure 5 shows a schematic detail of the equipment according to an elevational view, in which the loading module has been depicted in a loading position in which it is tilted with respect to a fixed part of the frame of the equipment.

Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the upper shoes comprised in the equipment of the invention.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0036] In view of the mentioned figures, it can be observed how in one of the possible embodiments of the invention the equipment for packaging cylindrical elements proposed by the invention comprises a loading module (1) configured to house a plurality of cylindrical elements (15) to be packaged and group said cylindrical elements (15) in a staggered stacked arrangement, according to a general rectangular parallelepiped configuration.

[0037] The loading module (1) comprises two side guides (11) configured to laterally hold the group of the cylindrical elements (15), in which the separation distance between said two side guides (11) is adjustable by means of a screw (13). On the other hand, the loading module (1) comprises a rear blade (12) located transversely to the side guides (11), said rear blade (12) being configured to make contact with an end of the cylindrical elements (15) and move said cylindrical elements (15) towards the forming module (3), said rear blade (12) being driven by longitudinal movement means (14).

[0038] Given that the position of the side guides (11) is variable, as has been depicted in the preferred embodiment of Figure 4, the side guides have a comb configuration configured to fit with a complementary configuration of the rear blade (12).

[0039] The equipment comprises a forming module (3) configured to obtain a longitudinally open tube from a sheet (28) and house the cylindrical elements (15) coming from the loading module (1) in said tube, by means of using the flow pack packaging technology, which comprises obtaining a tube from a flat sheet (28), for which said tube comprises a longitudinal weld line, such that next and in a continuous manner, the tube is sealed and transversely cut into portions, such that packages (29) are obtained from said portions of the tube, in which the products (15) are packaged therein. The equipment comprises a reel holder (2) which holds a reel of sheet (28) for packaging the cylindrical elements (15). The forming module (3) is configured to form a tube, preferably with a rectangular cross section, with the sheet (28) coming from the reel holder (2).

[0040] As can be seen in Figures 3 and 6, the forming module (3) comprises two upper shoes (18) configured to fit, at the upper part, the sheet (28) over the cylindrical elements (15) to be packaged, allowing a correct formation of the tube of sheet (28) and achieving a tube with a rectangular cross section. The welding means (4) are configured to make the longitudinal weld line through the separation space of said two upper shoes (18).

[0041] Likewise, the forming module (3) comprises two side flat bars (17), extending to the clamps (5), said side flat bars (17) being configured to maintain the cylindrical elements (15) grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration, for the purpose of preventing the group of cylindrical elements (15) from breaking up during the longitudinal welding process.

[0042] Next, the equipment comprises welding means (4) configured to close the tube of sheet (28) containing the cylindrical elements (15) by means of a longitudinal weld line. After the welding means (4), the equipment comprises two clamps (5) having a transverse arrangement with respect to the tube and configured to cut into portions and transversely weld said tube of sheet (28) containing the cylindrical elements (15).

[0043] After the clamps (5), the equipment comprises an output module (6) configured to collect and move the cylindrical elements (15) contained in the portions of the tube of sheet (28), said output module (6) being configured to maintain the cylindrical elements (15) grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration.

[0044] The output module (6) comprises a conveyor belt (20) and side containment means (21), which consist of side rollers configured to maintain the cylindrical elements (15) grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration, in which the separation of said side containment means (21) is adjustable by means of a screw (19).

[0045] The equipment comprises a shrink-wrapping module (7), located after the output module (6), said shrink-wrapping module (7) being configured to shrink-wrap the sheet (28) over the cylindrical elements (15) by means of applying a curtain of hot air and achieve fitting said sheet (28) to the cylindrical elements (15) to be packaged, thus obtaining a stable package (29) having a parallelepiped configuration.

[0046] The shrink-wrapping module (7) comprises four nozzles (22) located at the upper and lower part, as well as on both the right and left sides, of the package (29), said nozzles (22) having an adjustable orientation and being configured to discharge hot air. When a package (29) traverses the shrink-wrapping module (7), said package (29) comes into contact with a curtain of hot air at a controlled speed, depending on the size of the package (29) and the thickness of the sheet (28). Furthermore, there is a thermocouple for controlling the temperature of the air at the outlet of the nozzles. With this heat, the sheet (28) is shrink-wrapped, being fitted to the product to be packaged. The stream of hot air can be generated by a pump (27), it is heated in a heater (26) and traverses a valve (25) to control the time of channeling the hot air over the package (29).

[0047] Likewise, the equipment comprises a cooling module (8), located after the shrink-wrapping module (7), configured to refrigerate or cool the shrink-wrapped sheet (28), for which the package (29) is stopped, a packaging cycle thus ending. The cooling module (8) comprises a second conveyor belt (23) and second side containment means (24) configured to laterally contain the package (29), in which the separation of said second side containment means (24) is adjustable by means of a screw (19). Said second side containment means (24) consist of side rollers externally coated with silicone, for the purpose of preventing the hot sheet (28) from adhering to said second side containment means (24).

[0048] As has been depicted in Figures 3 and 5, the loading module (1), the forming module (3), the welding means (4), the clamps (5), the output module (6), the shrink-wrapping module (7) and the cooling module (8) are supported by a frame (30) comprising a fixed part (30') and a tiltable part (30") configured to be articulated with respect to the fixed part (30') in an articulation shaft (10), in which the loading module (1) is supported by said tiltable part (30"), as has been depicted in Figure 5, which allows facilitating the operations of loading the cylindrical elements (15) to be packaged, especially considering that the operational packaging or packing process starts in the loading module (1). To that end, the tiltable part (30") of the frame (30) rotates with respect to the articulation shaft (10), by means of the collaboration of height adjustment means (9), which consist of a hydraulic cylinder which retracts, so that an operator loads the cylindrical elements (15) in this loading position, depicted in said Figure 5, in which the loading module (1) forms a tilting angle (16) facilitating the loading of the cylindrical elements (15) in the loading module (1).

[0049] In view of this description and set of figures, the person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments of the invention which have been described can be combined in many ways within the object of the invention. The invention has been described according to several preferred embodiments thereof, but for the person skilled in the art it will be evident that many variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments without exceeding the object of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements, characterized in that comprises:

- a loading module (1) configured to house a plurality of cylindrical elements (15) to be packaged and group said cylindrical elements (15) in staggered stacked arrangement according to a general parallelepiped configuration,

- a forming module (3) configured to obtain a longitudinally open tube from a sheet (28) and house the cylindrical elements (15) coming from the loading module (1) in said tube,

- welding means (4) configured to close the tube of sheet (28) containing the cylindrical elements (15) by means of a longitudinal weld line,

- at least two clamps (5), located after the welding means (4), said at least two clamps (5) having a transverse arrangement and being configured to cut into portions and transversely weld the tube of sheet (28) containing the cylindrical elements (15),

- an output module (6), located after the clamps (5), configured to move the cylindrical elements (15) contained in the portions of the tube of sheet (28), said output module (6) being configured to maintain the cylindrical elements (15) grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration, and

- a shrink-wrapping module (7), located after the output module (6), configured to shrink-wrap the sheet (28) over the cylindrical elements (15) by means of applying hot air, obtaining a stable package (29) having a parallelepiped configuration.

2. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cooling module (8), located after the shrink-wrapping module (7), configured to cool the shrink-wrapped sheet (28).

3. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to claim 2, characterized in that the loading module (1), the forming module (3), the welding means (4), the clamps (5), the output module (6), the shrink-wrapping module (7) and the cooling module (8) are supported by a frame (30).

4. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to claim 3, characterized in that the frame (30) comprises a fixed part (30') and a tiltable part (30") configured to be articulated with respect to the fixed part (30') in an articulation shaft (10), wherein the loading module (1) is supported by said tiltable part (30").

5. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the loading module (1) comprises two side guides (11) configured to laterally hold the cylindrical elements (15), wherein the separation distance between said two side guides (11) is adjustable by means of a screw (13).

6. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to claim 5, characterized in that the loading module (1) comprises a rear blade (12) located transversely to the side guides (11), said rear blade (12) being configured to make contact with an end of the cylindrical elements (15) and move said cylindrical elements (15) towards the forming module (3), being said rear blade (12) driven by longitudinal movement means (14).

7. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the forming module (3) comprises two upper shoes (18) configured to fit, at the upper part, the sheet (28) over the cylindrical elements (15) to be packaged, the welding means (4) making the longitudinal weld line through the separation space of said two upper shoes (18).

8. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to claim 7, characterized in that the forming module (3) comprises two side flat bars (17), extending to the clamps (5), configured to maintain the cylindrical elements (15) grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration.

9. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the output module (6) comprises a conveyor belt (20) and side containment means (21) configured to maintain the cylindrical elements (15) grouped according to a general parallelepiped configuration, wherein the separation of said side containment means (21) is adjustable by means of a screw (19).

10. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the shrink-wrapping module (7) comprises at least one nozzle (22) with an adjustable orientation configured to discharge hot air to the four sides of the pack.

11. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to any of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the cooling module (8) comprises a second conveyor belt (23) and second side containment means (24) configured to laterally contain the package (29), wherein the separation of said second side containment means (24) is adjustable by means of a screw (19).

12. Equipment for packaging cylindrical elements according to claim 11, characterized in that the second side containment means (24) consist of side rollers externally coated with silicone.

Drawing