Field of Invention
[0001] _The present invention relates to a wrapping machine system for wrapping objects
by means of hot sheets of heat-shrinkable material.
Background of the Invention
[0002] _At present time, see patent
EP_1.013.551, systems for wrapping objects by sheets of heat shrinkable material are known wherein,
summarily, by said systrems, each individual object is wrapped one after the other
by means of a respective sheet of heat-shrinkable material, wherein said sheet has
been previously heated to a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the
heat-shrinkable material.
[0003] _These methods have a number of drawbacks.
[0004] _A first drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow to operate at high operating
speeds and, therefore, they do not allow to obtain a high wrapping productivity.
[0005] _A second drawback is due to the fact that said systems do not allow to get an uniform
and/or rapid heating of the sheet.
[0006] _A third drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow to get a good synchronization
between the various operations to be performed and a good execution of the same operations.
[0007] _A fourth drawback is due to the fact that such system do not allow to carry out
a quick format change in relation to the size of the sheet of material and/or in relation
to the size of the items to be packaged and/or in relation to the type of shrink material
of which the sheet is composed.
[0008] _A fifth drawback is due to the fact that these system do not allow to get an easy
execution of the cutting of the sheets.
[0009] _A sixth disadvantage is due to the fact that they do not allow to perform operations
in relation to the temperature of the sheets during the winding phase.
Exposure of the Invention
[0010] _The purpose of the present invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned drawbacks.
[0011] _The invention, which is characterized by the claims, solves the problem of creating
a system for a wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of packaging
thermoshrinking material around objects to be packaged, wherein said system comprises:
_first objects conveying means, wherein said first objects conveying means are able
to move objects longitudinally in a spaced succession; _second objects conveying means,
wherein said second objects conveyor means are positioned downstream and at a short
longitudinal distance with respect to said first objects conveyor means in order to
form a first opening between said first and said second object conveyor means, wherein
said second objects conveyor means are able to receive the objects arriving from said
first objects conveyor means, and wherein said second objects conveyor means are able
to move the same objects along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet
end; _third objects conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are
arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second object
conveyor means in order to form a second opening between said second and said third
object conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are able to receive
an unit comprising an object and a hot sheet arriving from said second objects conveyor
means; _sheets wrapping means, wherein said sheet wrapping means are positioned in
the vicinity of said second objects conveying means, wherein said sheet wrapping means
comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar, wherein said suspended wrapping bar
is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects,
in which said suspended wrapping bar is brought to move along an orbital path that
passes through said first and said second opening, wherein said suspended wrapping
bar transports the sheets of wrapping material; _control means, in which said control
means are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means; in
which said system is characterized by the fact that it comprises: _tape heating_feeding
means; _cutting_feeding means; _first sheets heating_feeding means; _second sheets
heating_feeding means; by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means are able to
heat the downstream portion of a tape of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature;
by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means are able to feed said heated and
hot downstream portion to the cutting_feeding means; by the fact that said cutting_feeding
means are able to cut said heated and hot downstream portion in order to obtain a
hot sheet; by the fact that said cutting_feeding means are able to feed said last
hot sheet to the first sheet heating_feeding means; by the fact that said first heating_feeding
means are able to heat said last hot sheet to a second temperature, in which said
second temperature is greater than the first temperature, in order to obtain a hot
sheet more heated; by the fact that said first sheet heating_feeding means are able
to feed said last hot sheet to said second sheet heating_feeding means; by the fact
that said second heating_feeding means are able to heat said last hot sheet to a third
temperature, in which said third temperature is greater than the second temperature,
in order to obtain a hot sheet more heated; characterized by the fact that said second
sheet heating_feeding means are able to feed said last hot sheet to said sheets wrapping
means, and characterized by the fact that the sheets wrapping means are able to wrap
said last hot sheet around the object to be wrapped.
[0012] _The invention, which is characterized by the claims, solves the problem of creating
a system for a wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of packaging
shrinking material around objects to be packaged, wherein said system comprises: _first
objects conveying means, wherein said first objects conveying means are able to move
objects longitudinally in a spaced succession; _second objects conveying means, wherein
said second objects conveyor means are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal
distance with respect to said first objects conveyor means in order to form a first
opening between said first and said second object conveyor means, wherein said second
objects conveyor means are able to receive the objects arriving from said first objects
conveyor means, and wherein said second objects conveyor means are able to move the
same objects along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end; _third
objects conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are arranged downstream
and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second object conveyor means in
order to form a second opening between said second and said third object conveyor
means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are able to receive the unit comprising
an object and a hot sheet arriving from said second objects conveyor means; _sheets
wrapping means, wherein said sheet wrapping means are positioned in the vicinity of
said second objects conveying means, wherein said sheet wrapping means comprise at
least one suspended wrapping bar, wherein said suspended wrapping bar is oriented
transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects, in which
said suspended wrapping bar is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through
said first and said second opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bar transports
the sheets of wrapping material; _control means, in which said control means are able
to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means; in which said is
characterized by the fact that it comprises: _tape heating_feeding means; _cutting_feeding
means; _sheets heating_feeding means); characterized by the fact that said tape heating_feeding
means are able to heat the downstream portion of the tape of heat-shrinkable material
to a first temperature; characterized by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means
are able to feed said heated and hot downstream portion to the cutting_feeding means;
characterized by the fact that said cutting_feeding means are able to cut said heated
and hot downstream portion to obtain a hot sheet; characterized by the fact that said
cutting_feeding means are able to feed said last hot sheet to the first sheet heating_feeding
means; characterized by the fact that said heating_feeding means are able to heat
said last hot sheet to a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater
than the first temperature, in order to obtain a hot sheet more heated; characterized
by the fact that said first sheet heating_feeding means are able to feed said last
hot sheet to said sheets wrapping means; characterized by the fact that sheets wrapping
means are able to wrap said last hot sheet around the object to be wrapped.
Brief description of the Drawings
[0013] _Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from
the following description of two preferred practical embodiments, provided here purely
by way of example and without restrictive intent, made with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
>_Figure 1 and 1A illustrate schematically a first embodiment of the system object
of the present invention;
>_Figure 2 and 2A illustrate schematically a second embodiment of the system object
of the present invention.
FIRST form of Embodiment
[0014] _With reference to Figure 1, it illustrates a first embodiment of the system object
of the present invention and, more particularly, a "sleeve" type packing machine system,
wherein said system is designed to wrap hot sheets of shrinkable packaging material
around objects
10a, 10b, 10c, etc. to be packaged, wherein said objects
10a, 10b, 10c, etc. move preferably with continuous motion from upstream to downstream as indicated by
arrow
F1, wherein said system substantially comprises: >_first objects conveying means
100; >_second objects conveying means
200; >_third objects conveyor means
300; >_sheets wrapping means
400; >_control means
500; >_tape heating_feeding means
600; >_cutting_feeding means
700; >_first sheets heating_feeding means
800; >_second sheets heating_feeding means
900.
[0015] _The first objects conveying means are able are able to move objects 10a, 10b, 10c,
etc. longitudinally in a spaced succession, from upstream to downstream, with respect
to arrow F1.
[0016] _The second objects conveying means
200 are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said
first objects conveyor means
100, in order to form a first opening
A1 between said first
100 and said second
200 object conveyor means
[0017] _Said second objects conveyor means
200 are able to receive the objects
10a, 10b, 10c, etc., arriving from said first objects conveyor means
100, as well as able to move the same objects
10a, 10b, 10c, etc., along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end.
[0018] _The third objects conveyor means
300 are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from said second object
conveyor means
200, in order to form a second opening
A2 between said second
200 and said third
300 object conveyor means.
[0019] _Said third objects conveyor means
300 are able to receive the units
10a_Sa comprising an object
10a and a hot sheet
Sa arriving from said second objects conveyor means
200.
[0020] _Sheets wrapping means
400 are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means
200, and they comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar
401 oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects
10a, 10b, 10c, etc., in which said bar
401 is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first
A1 and said second
A2 opening, wherein said bar
401 transports the sheets
Sb of wrapping material.
[0021] _The control means
500 are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means,
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 e 900, as better described hereinafter, and they may comprise a control unit programmable
(CPU) or other similar devices, suitable for controlling and managing operating means,
such as, for example, actuators,
M.200 (which preferably drives the means
100, 200 and
300 by mechanical connections),
M.400, M.900, M.800, M.700 able to operate individually and in an independent manner the above mentioned operating
means
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900.
[0022] _The tape heating_feeding means
600 are positioned upstream with respect to the feeder cutting means
700.
[0023] _Said tape heating_feeding means
600 are able to heat the front portion (downstream portion)
20a of a tape
20 of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature, as well as, able to feed said
heated and hot downstream portion
20a to the cutting_feeding means
700, as for example hot rollers which heat up the belt
600 by contact. _The cutting_feeding means
700 are positioned upstream with respect to the first sheets heating_feeding means
800.
[0024] _Said cutting_feeding means
700 are able to cut said heated and hot front portion (downstream portion)
20a of heat-shrinkable material, in order to obtain a sheet
Sd of heated and hot material, as well as able to feed said heated tape
20a and/or said last heated and hot sheet
Sd towards the first sheets heating_feeding means
800.
[0025] _The first sheets heating_feeding means
800 are positioned upstream with respect to the second sheets heating_feeding means
900.
[0026] _
Said first heating_feeding means
800 are able to heat said last heated and hot sheet
Sd to a second temperature which is greater than the first temperature, in order to
obtain a sheet
Sc more heated, and they are also able to feed said last sheet
Sc to said second heating_feeding means.
[0027] _The second sheets heating_feeding means
900 are positioned upstream with respect to the sheets wrapping means
400.
[0028] _Said second sheets heating_feeding means
900 are able to heat said last heated and hot sheet
Sc to a third temperature which is greater than the second temperature, in order to
obtain a more heated sheet
Sb, and they are also able to feed said last sheet
Sb to the wrapping means
400.
[0029] _Said wrapping means
400 are able to receive the hot sheet
Sb fed by the second sheets heating_feeding means
900 and able to wrap said last heated and hot sheet
Sb around the object
10b to be wrapped.
[0030] _With reference to this system, preferably, in order to pack an object, a packaging
method is performed in which said method comprises the following steps:
a)_heating a front portion (downstream portion)
20a of the tape
20 of heatshrinking material by said tape heating_feeding means
600; b)_when said front portin (downstream portion)
20a has reached a determined first temperature, transferring of said heated and hot downstream
portion
20a from said tape heating_feeding means
600 to said cutting_feeding means
700; c)_cutting by said cutting_feeding means
700 of a downstream portion of the heated and hot continuous tape
20a, in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet
Sd having a desired longitudinal length;
d)_transferring the hot sheet
Sd obtained in this manner from said cutting_feeding means
700 to said first sheets heating_feeding means
800; e)_heating said hot sheet
Sd by said first sheets heating_feeding means
800 to a second temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet
Sc having a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the
first temperature;
f)_when said heated and hot sheet
Sc has reached said determined second temperature, transferring by said first sheets
heating_feeding means
800 said last heated and hot sheet
Sc to said second sheets heating_feeding means
900; g)_heating said last hot sheet
Sc by said second sheets heating_feeding means
900 to a third temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet
Sb having a third temperature, in which said third temperature is greater than the second
temperature;
h)_when said last heated and hot sheet
Sb has reached said determined third temperature, transferring by said second sheets
heating_feeding means
900 said last heated and hot sheet
Sb to said sheets wrapping means
400; i)_rapping said last hot sheet
Sb around the object
10b to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means
400.
Second Temperature
[0031] _Preferably, the second temperature is lower or slightly lower than the softening
and/or shrinking temperature of the heat-shrinkable material but, for some types of
materials and/or with particular thicknesses and/or for other reasons, said second
temperature may also be greater of the softening and/or shrinking temperature of the
heat-shrinkable material.
Third temperature
[0032] _Preferably, the third temperature is equal to or greater than the softening and/or
shrinking temperature, or, it may be even higher, such as for example equal to or
greater than the welding temperature of the heat-shrinkable material.
FIRST sheets heating_feeding means
800
[0033] _
With reference to said first sheets heating_feeding means
800, they preferably comprise a first conveyor
801 and a second conveyor
803.
[0034] _The first conveyor
801 is positioned below and to the right with respect to Fig. 1, and it comprise a hot
transport belt
802 which upperly configures a first operating branch, in which said operative branch
is able to heat and to transport the front portion (downstream portion) of the tape
or the sheets
Sd of hot tape which are fed by the cutting feeding means
700.
[0035] _The second conveyor
803 is positioned above and to the left with reference to FIG. 1 and it comprises a hot
conveyor belt
804 which upperly configures a second operative branch, in which said second operative
branch is able to heat and to transport the front portion (downstream portion) of
the tape or the sheets
Sd of hot tape which are fed by the cutting feeding means
700.
[0036] _By this structuring, the downstream portion
20a of the hot tape or the hot sheets
Sd is positioned between said first and said second transport branch, wherein said two
branches are mutually counterfeited and approached between them, in order to perform
the heating and feeding (transport and pull) execution of the same hot tape
20a and/or of the sheet
Sd towards downstream.
[0037] _Preferably, the hot conveyor belts
802 and
804 are heated by a respective heated assembly
805 and
806 positioned within the respective conveyor
801 and
803.
[0038] _Furthermore, always preferably, the two conveyors
801 and
803 can be moved, spaced_out/approached, from each other, in order to decrease or increase
the space between the two operating branches, so as to be able to adjust the space
in relation to the thickness of the sheet and/or to allow a machine stop and/or for
other reasons.
SECOND sheets heating_feeding means 900.
[0039] _The second sheets heating_feeding means
900 comprise a third conveyor
901 having a heat transport belt
902, wherein said third conveyor
901 configures a heating and transport operating branch for the hot sheet
Sc of heatshrink material, as for example a conveyor similar to conveyors
801 and
803 previously cited.
[0040] _Again second sheets heating_feeding means
900 may also further comprise a heater
910, wherein said heater
910 is spaced and counterfeited with respect to said heating and transport operating
branch of said third conveyor
901.
[0041] Said further heater
910 is designed to heat the sheet
Sc when they are lying on the heating and conveying branch of said third conveyor
901, for example and preferably by means of a device having nozzles
911 able to create hot air blows
912 against said operating branch for heating and conveying of the third conveyor
901 in order, for example, to heat the sheet
Sc and to press the same sheet
Sc against the transport operating branch of the conveyor
901 improving the transport of the same sheet
Sc.
[0042] _Said hot air puffs
912 are preferably operated in phase relation with respect to the operating phases relating
to the packaging and, for example, can be operated only when the sheet
Sc is already present above the operating branch of the conveyor
901, and they may also be deactivated on command to better perform the operations of wrapping
and of receiving of the sheet.
[0043] _Said further heater
910 may comprise any device designed to heat the sheet
Sc, by conduction and/or convection and/or radiation, without departing from the inventive
concepts protected by the present invention.
[0044] _In addition, said heater
910 can be moved, spaced_out/approached, in a distanced/approachable manner with respect
to the heating and transport operating branch of the third conveyor
901, in order to space_out/approach said heating device
910 with respect to the heating and conveying operating branch of the third conveyor
901, in order to adjust the distance in relation to the size and/or type of the packaging
material, or to spaced_out/approach said heating device
910 during the execution of the packaging operations, for example, to manage and optimize
the execution of the picking operations and of the wrapping the sheet.
SECOND form of Embodiment - Figure 2
[0045] _With reference to Figure 2, it illustrates a second embodiment of a system to wrap
objects, in which, in short, with respect to the first embodiment, this second embodiment
does not comprises the use of the first sheets heating_feeding means 800.
[0046] _More particularly this second embodiment, see fig. 2, comprises: _first objects
conveying means
100.1; _second objects conveying means
200.1; _third objects conveyor means
300.1; _sheets wrapping means
400.1; _control means
500.1; _tape heating_feeding means
600.1; _cutting_feeding means
700.1; _sheets heating_feeding means
900.1.
[0047] _With reference to the first objects conveying means
100.1, to the second objects conveying means
200.1, to the third objects conveyor means
300.1, to the sheets wrapping means
400.1 and to the control means
500.1, to the tape heating_feeding means
600.1 and to the cutting_feeding means
700.1, they are substantially the same with respect to previously described means having
the same prefix as reference numbers and, therefore, it is not provided any detailed
description recalling what has already been described above.
[0048] _Said tape heating_feeding means
600.1 are able to heat the front portion
20a.1 of the tape
20.1 of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature, and they are also able to feed
said heated and hot front portion
20a.1 to the cutting_feeding means
700.1.
[0049] _The said cutting_feeding means
700.1 are able to cut said heated and hot front portion (downstream portion)
20a.1 in order to obtain a hot sheet
Sc.1, and they are also able to feed the hot portion 20a.1 and said last heated and hot
sheet
Sd.1 to sheets heating_feeding means
900.1.
[0050] _
Said heating_feeding means
900.1 are able to heat said last heated and hot sheet
Sc.1 to a second temperature which is greater than the first temperature, in order to
obtain a hot sheet
Sb.1 more heated, and they are also able to feed said last hot sheet
Sb.1 to said sheets wrapping means
400.1.
[0051] _The wrapping means
400.1 are able to wrap said last heated and hot sheet
Sb.1 around the object
10b.1 to be wrapped.
[0052] _With reference to this system, preferably, in order to wrap an object, a wrapping
process is performed which comprises the following steps:
a)_heating the front portion (downstream portion)
20a.1 of the tape
20.1 of heatshrinking material by said tape heating_feeding means
600.1; b)_when said front portion (downstream portion)
20a.1 has reached a determined first temperature, transferring said heated and hot front
portion (downstream portion)
20a.1 from said tape heating_feeding means
600.1 to said cutting_feeding means
700.1; c)_cutting by said cutting_feeding means
700.1 a downstream portion of the heated and hot continuous tape
20a.1, in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet
Sc.1 having a desired longitudinal length;
d)_transferring the last hot sheet
Sc.1 obtained in this manner from said cutting_feeding means
700.1 to said sheets heating_feeding means
900.1;
e)_heating said hot sheet
Sc.1 by said sheets heating_feeding means
900.1 to a second temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet
Sb.1 having a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the
first temperature;
f)_when said last heated and hot sheet
Sb.1 has reached said determined second temperature, transferring by said sheets heating_feeding
means
900.1 said hot last heated sheet
Sb.1 to said sheets wrapping means
400.1; g)_wrapping said last hot sheet
Sb.
1 around the object
10b.1 to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means
400.1.
[0053] _Preferably, the second temperature is equal to or greater than the softening and/or
shrink temperature, or it may be even higher, such as for example equal to or greater
than the welding temperature of the same material.
Sheets heating_feeding means 900.1.
[0054] _The heating means
900.1 comprise a conveyor
901.1 having a hot conveyor belt
902.1, wherein said conveyor
901.1 forms a respective heating and transport operating branch for the sheet
Sc.1, such as for example a conveyor similar to the conveyors
801, 803 and
901 of the first embodiment.
[0055] _Said heating means
900.1 can also further comprise a heater
910.1, wherein said heater
910.1 is arranged spaced and counterfeited with respect to said heating and conveying operating
branch of said conveyor
901.1.
[0056] _Said additional heater
910.1 is designed to heat the sheets
Sc.1 when they are lying on the heating and transport operating branch of said third conveyor
901.1, for example by means of a device having nozzles
911.1 able to create hot air blows
912.1 against said operating branch for heating and conveying of the conveyor
901.1 in order to, for example, heat and press the same sheet
Sc.1 against the transport operating branch of the conveyor
901.1 improving the transport of the same sheet
Sc.1.
[0057] _Said hot air puffs
912.1 are preferably operated in phase relation with respect to the operating phases relating
to the packaging and, for example, can be operated only when the sheet
Sc.1 is already present above the operating branch of the conveyor
901.1, and they may be also deactivated on command to better perform the operations for
wrapping or for receiving of the sheets.
[0058] _Said further heater
910.1 may comprise any device designed to heat the sheet
Sc.1, by conduction and/or convection and/or radiation, without departing from the inventive
concepts protected by the present invention.
[0059] _In addition, said heater
910.1 can be made movable, space_out/approach with respect to the heating and transport
operating branch of the third conveyor
901.1, in order to spaced_out/approach said heating device
910.1 with respect to the heating and conveying operating branch of the third conveyor
901.1, in order to adjust the distance in relation to the size and/or type of the packaging
material, or to space_out/approach said heating device
910.1 in phase relation with the packaging operating steps, such as for managing and optimizing
the execution of the operations of wrapping of the sheet.
First Temperature
[0060] _With reference to the first and second embodiments, preferably, said first temperature
is greater than the ambient temperature and, again preferably, lower or slightly lower
than a temperature which would not allow to cut said tape
20/20.1, as for example a temperature between a minimum of 60°C and a maximum of 110°C and,
in any case, a first temperature that allows to easily cut the heated tape without
complications.
[0061] _More in particular said first temperature will be selected in relation to the type
of packaging material, in relation to the thickness of the same material, as well
as in relation to the cutting means which will be used.
Heating_feeding means 600
[0062] _Still with reference to the first and second embodiments, preferably, the tape heating_feeding
means
600/600.1 comprise a path for the tape having a snake like shape.
Sheets wrapping means 400
[0063] _With reference to the first and second embodiments, preferably, the sheets wrapping
means
400/400.1 comprise separating means
402/402.1, in which said separating means
402/402.1 are able to preventing and/or limiting the contact between the front portion
Sb1/
Sb1.
1 and the rear portion
Sb2/Sb2.1 of the heated and hot sheet
Sb/Sb.1 during the steps of wrapping of the hot sheet
Sb/Sb.1 around the product
10b/10b.1.
[0064] _Again preferably, said separator means
402/402.1 comprise a curtain-shaped element
402/402.1 associated with the wrapping bar
401/401.1 and, moreover, if necessary, said separator means
402/402.1 may be hot in order to heat the sheet
Sb2/Sb.1 during the transport and wrapping operations of the same sheet
Sb2/Sb2.1.
Advantages
[0065] _With reference to the above description by the system object of the present invention,
with respect to the known art, the following results are obtained.
[0066] _The tape cutting steps used to obtain the sheet are improved, as the cutting takes
place with a tape having a temperature slightly lower than the softening and/or shrinking
temperature, and therefore a temperature in which said tape is still rigid and it
is not sticky/soggy.
[0067] _The heating process to obtain the hot sheet is improved, as said heating takes place
by means of two or more distinct and separate steps of heating (as first step the
downstream portion of the tape is heated and then the cutted hot sheet is heated the
by one or more steps), allowing to modulate the heating by means of a plurality of
separate individual heat steps until the desired temperature is reached.
[0068] _The heating times of the sheet are improved and reduced, as the sheet obtained after
cutting is not at room temperature but at a higher temperature, preferably at a temperature
slightly lower than the softening and/or shrinking temperature.
[0069] _The lengths of the path or of the paths for heating of the sheet are improved and
reduced, as the sheet obtained after cutting is not at the room temperature but at
a higher temperature.
[0070] _The wrapping steps are improved, as during said steps the sheet can be heated, for
example in order to maintain and/or increase the temperature for the same sheet.
[0071] _The characteristics relating to the change of format in relation to the size of
the sheet and/or in relation to the dimensions of the objects to be wrapped are improved,
as it is possible to operate on a plurality of operating steps (and not on a single
phase) in order to obtain the segment heated to the desired temperature.
[0072] _The characteristics relating to the change in setting in relation to the type and/or
thickness of the wrapping film material are improved, as it is possible to operate
on a plurality of operating steps (and not on a single operating phase) in order to
obtain the sheet heated at the temperature desired.
[0073] _The wrapping operations are improved, as during said operations the operating means
can be operated independently of each other, in order to optimize the wrapping operations.
[0074] _The wrapping operations are improved, as during said operations the sheet in course
of wrapping can be heated, for example in order to maintain and/or increase the temperature
for the same sheet.
[0075] _The characteristics relating to the size change in relation to the size of the sheet
and/or in relation to the dimensions of the objects to be wrapped are improved, as
it is possible to operate on a plurality of operating means in order to obtain the
sheet heated to the desired temperature.
[0076] _The characteristics relating to the change in setting in relation to the type and/or
thickness of the packaging film material are improved, as it is possible to operate
on a plurality of operating means in order to obtain the sheet heated to the desired
temperature.
1. System for a wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of packaging
thermoshrinking material around objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) to be packaged, wherein said system comprises: >_first objects conveying means (100), wherein said first objects conveying means (100) are able to move objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) longitudinally in a spaced succession; >_second objects conveying means (200), wherein said second objects conveyor means (200) are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said
first objects conveyor means (100) in order to form a first opening (A1) between said first (100) and said second (200) object conveyor means, wherein said second objects conveyor means (200) are able to receive the objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) arriving from said first objects conveyor means (100), and wherein said second objects conveyor means (200) are able to move the same objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end; >_third objects
conveyor means (300), wherein said third objects conveyor means (300) are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second
object conveyor means (200) in order to form a second opening (A2) between said second (200) and said third (300) object conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means (300) are able to receive an unit comprising an object (10a) and a hot sheet (Sa) arriving from said second objects conveyor means (200); >_sheets wrapping means (400), wherein said sheet wrapping means (500) are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means (200), wherein said sheet wrapping means (400) comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar (401), wherein said suspended wrapping bar (401) is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects
(10a, 10b, 10c, etc.), in which said suspended wrapping bar (401) is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first (A1) and said second (A2) opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bar (401) transports the sheets (Sa, Sb, Sc) of wrapping material; >_control means (500), in which said control means (500) are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means; characterized by the fact that it comprises: >_tape heating_feeding means (600); >_cutting_feeding means (700); >_first sheets heating_feeding means (800); >_second sheets heating_feeding means (900); by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means (600) are able to heat the downstream portion (20a) of a tape (20) of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature; by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means (600) are able to feed said heated and hot downstream portion (20a) to the cutting_feeding means (700); by the fact that said cutting_feeding means (700) are able to cut said heated and hot downstream portion (20a) in order to obtain a hot sheet (Sd); by the fact that said cutting_feeding means (700) are able to feed said last hot sheet (Sd) to the first sheet heating_feeding means (800); by the fact that said first heating_feeding means (800) are able to heat said last hot sheet (Sd) to a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the first
temperature, in order to obtain a hot sheet (Sc) more heated; by the fact that said first sheet heating_feeding means (800) are able to feed said last hot sheet (Sc) to said second sheet heating_feeding means (900); by the fact that said second heating_feeding means (900) are able to heat said last hot sheet (Sc) to a third temperature, in which said third temperature is greater than the second
temperature, in order to obtain a hot sheet (Sb) more heated; characterized by the fact that said second sheet heating_feeding means (900) are able to feed said last hot sheet (Sb) to said sheets wrapping means (400) and characterized by the fact that the sheets wrapping means (400) are able to wrap said last hot sheet (Sb) around the object (10b) to be wrapped.
2. System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises the following steps: a)_heating a downstream portion (20a) of the tape (20) of heatshrinking material by said tape heating_feeding means (600); b)_when said downstream portion (20a) has reached a determined first temperature, transferring said heated and hot downstream
portion (20a) from said tape heating_feeding means (600) to said cutting_feeding means (700); c)_cutting by said cutting_feeding means (700) a downstream portion of the heated and hot continuous tape (20a), in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet (Sd) having a desired longitudinal length; d)_transferring the hot sheet (Sd) obtained in this manner from said cutting_feeding means (700) to said first sheets heating_feeding means (800); e)_heating said hot sheet (Sd) by said first sheets heating_feeding means (800) to a second temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet (Sc) having a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the
first temperature; f)_when said heated and hot sheet (Sc) has reached said determined second temperature, transferring by said first sheets
heating_feeding means (800) said last heated and hot sheet (Sc) to said second sheets heating_feeding means (900); g)_heating said last hot sheet (Sc) by said second sheets heating_feeding means (900) to a third temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet (Sb) having a third temperature, in which said third temperature is greater than the second
temperature; h)_when said last heated and hot sheet (Sb) has reached said determined third temperature, transferring by said second sheets
heating_feeding means (900) said last heated and hot sheet (Sb) to said sheets wrapping means (400); i)_wrapping said last hot sheet (Sb) around the object (10b) to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means (400).
3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said second temperature is lower than the softening and/or shrinking temperature
of the heat-shrinking material.
4. System according to anyone of the claims from 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that said third temperature is equal or greater than the softening and/or
shrinking temperature of the heat-shrinking material.
5. System according to anyone of the claims from 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that said third temperature is equal or greater than the welding temperature of heat-shrink
material.
6. System according to anyone of the claims from 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that said first sheets heating_feeding means (800) comprise: >_a first conveyor (801) having a heat transport belt (802), wherein said first conveyor (801) configures a first operating branch of heating and transport for the hot sheet (Sd) of heatshrinking material and >_a second conveyor (803) having a heat transport belt (804), in which said second conveyor (803) configures a second transport operating branch which is in front of said operating
branch and by the fact that the hot sheets (Sd) of heat-shrinkable material are disposed between said first conveying branch and
said second conveying branch in order to perform the heating and the feeding operations
for the same sheets (Sd).
7. System according to anyone of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that said second sheets heating_feeding means (900) comprise a third conveyor (901) having a heat transport belt (902), wherein said first conveyor (901) configures a operating branch of heating and transport for the hot sheet (Sd) of heatshrink material.
8. System for a wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of packaging
shrinking material around objects (10a.1, 10b.1, 10c.1, etc.) to be packaged, wherein said system comprises: >_first objects conveying means (100.1), wherein said first objects conveying means (100.1) are able to move objects (10a.1, 10b.1, 10c.1, etc.) longitudinally in a spaced succession; >_second objects conveying means (200.1), wherein said second objects conveyor means (200.1) are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said
first objects conveyor means (100.1) in order to form a first opening (A1.1) between said first (100.1) and said second (200.1) object conveyor means, wherein said second objects conveyor means (200.1) are able to receive the objects (10a.1, 10b.1, 10c.1, etc.) arriving from said first objects conveyor means (100.1), and wherein said second objects conveyor means (200.1) are able to move the same objects (10a.1, 10b.1, 10c.1, etc.) along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end; >_third objects
conveyor means (300.1), wherein said third objects conveyor means (300.1) are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second
object conveyor means (200.1) in order to form a second opening (A2.1) between said second (200.1) and said third (300.1) object conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means (300.1) are able to receive the unit comprising an object (10a.1) and a hot sheet (Sa.1) arriving from said second objects conveyor means (200.1); >_sheets wrapping means (400.1), wherein said sheet wrapping means (400.1) are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means (200.1), wherein said sheet wrapping means (400.1) comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar (401.1), wherein said suspended wrapping bar (401.1) is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects
(10a.1, 10b.1, 10c.1, etc.), in which said suspended wrapping bar (401.1) is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first (A1.1) and said second (A2.1) opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bar (401.1) transports the sheets (Sb.1) of wrapping material; >_control means (500.1), in which said control means (500.1) are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means; characterized by the fact that it comprises: >_tape heating_feeding means (600.1); >_cutting_feeding means (700.1); >_sheets heating_feeding means (900.1); characterized by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means (600.1) are able to heat the downstream portion (20a.1) of the tape (20.1) of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature; characterized by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means (600.1) are able to feed said heated and hot downstream portion (20a.1) to the cutting_feeding means (700.1); characterized by the fact that said cutting_feeding means (700.1) are able to cut said heated and hot downstream portion (20a.1) to obtain a hot sheet (Sc.1); characterized by the fact that said cutting_feeding means (700.1) are able to feed said last hot sheet (Sc.1) to the first sheet heating_feeding means (900.1); characterized by the fact that said heating_feeding means (900.1) are able to heat said last hot sheet (Sc.1) to a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the first
temperature, in order to obtain a hot sheet (Sc.1) more heated; characterized by the fact that said first sheet heating_feeding means (900.1) are able to feed said last hot sheet (Sc.1) to said sheets wrapping means (400.1); characterized by the fact that sheets wrapping means (400.1) are able to wrap said last hot sheet (Sb.1) around the object (10b.1) to be wrapped.
9. System according to claim 08, characterized by the fact that it comprises the following steps: a)_heating a downstream portion (20a.1) of the tape (20.1) of heatshrinking material by said tape heating_feeding means (600.1); b)_when said downstream portion (20a.1) has reached a determined first temperature, transferring said heated and hot downstream
portion (20a.1) from said_tape heating_feeding means (600.1) to said cutting_feeding means (700.1); c)_cutting by said cutting_feeding means (700.1) a downstream portion of the heated and hot continuous tape (20a.1), in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet (Sc.1) having a desired longitudinal length; d)_transferring the last hot sheet (Sc.1) obtained in this manner from said cutting_feeding means (700.1) to said sheets heating_feeding means (900.1); e)_heating said hot sheet (Sc.1) by said sheets heating_feeding means (900.1) to a second temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet (Sb.1) having a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the
first temperature; f)_when said last heated and hot sheet (Sb.1) has reached said determined second temperature, transferring by said sheets heating_feeding
means (900.1) said hot last heated sheet (Sb.1) to said sheets wrapping means (400.1); g)_wrapping said last hot sheet (Sb.1) around the object (10b.1) to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means (400.1).
10. System according to anyone of the claims 08 to 09, characterized by the fact that said second temperature is equal or greater than the softening and/or
shrinking temperature of the heat-shrinking material.
11. System according to anyone of the claims from 08 to 10, characterized by the fact that said second temperature is equal or greater than the welding temperature of heat-shrink
material.
12. System according to anyone of the claims from 08 to 11, characterized by the fact that said sheets heating_feeding means (900.1) comprises a third conveyor (901.1) having a heat transport belt (902.1), wherein said first conveyor (901.1) configures a operating branch of heating and transport for the hot sheet (Sc.1) of heatshrinkable material.
13. System according to any one of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said first temperature is greater than the room temperature and by the fact that said first temperature is little lower than a temperature which would not allow to
cut said hot tape (20a/20a.1).
14. System according to one of the preceding citations, characterized by the fact that said first temperature is between a minimum of 40°C and a maximum of 70°C.
15. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sheets wrapping means (400/400.1) comprise separating means (402/402.1), in which said separating means (402/402.1) are able to preventing and/or limiting the contact between the front portion (Sb1/Sb1.1) and the rear portion (Sb2/Sb2.1) of the heated and hot sheet (Sb/Sb.1) during the steps of wrapping of the hot sheet (Sb/Sb.1) around the product (10b/10b.1).
16. System according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that said separator means (402/402.1) are hot anf thus able to heat the sheet (Sb2/Sb.2) during the transport and the wrapping of the same sheet (Sb2/Sb2.1).