SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A WRAPPING MACHINE

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] _The present invention relates to a system and method for a wrapping machine used for wrapping objects by means of sheets of heat-shrink material.

Background of the Invention

[0002] _Currently, see patent EP_1.013.551, are known methods and systems for wrapping objects by means of hot sheets of heat-shrink material, in which, briefly, by means of said methods/systems each individual object is wrapped in succession by means of a respective sheet of heat-shrink material, in which said sheet has been previously heated to a temperature greater than the softening temperature of the heat-shrink material, the heat-shrink material being transported and heated as a web, being cut into sheets after heating. _These methods/systems have a number of drawbacks.

[0003] _A first drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow to operate with high operating speeds and, therefore, they do not allow to obtain a high packing productivity.

[0004] _A second drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow the uniformly and/or quickly heating of the sheet.

[0005] _A third drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow a good synchronization between the various operations to be performed and/or between between the various operating means.

[0006] _A fourth drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow the execution of a rapid format change in relation to the size of the sheet of material and/or in relation to the size of the objects to be packaged and/or in relation to the type of heat-shrink material of the sheet.

Object of the Invention

[0007] _The object of the present invention is therefore that to solve the above mentioned drawbacks.

[0008] _The invention, which is characterized by the claims, solves the problem of creating a system for a wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type able to wrap hot sheets of packaging heat-shrink material around objects to be wrapped, said system being defined by claim 1.

[0009] _The invention, which is characterized by the claims, also solves the problem of creating a method for wrapping a product by means of a sheet of heat shrink material according to claim 16.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] _Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clear by the description that follows of some preferred forms of practical embodiment, given herein by ways of not limiting example, made with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

>_Figure 1 and 1A are schematic views of the system object of the present invention according to a first embodiment;

>_Figure 2 and 2A are schematic views of the system object of the present invention according to a second embodiment;

>_Figure 3 illustrates in particular the system of Fig. 1A and 1B;

>_Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram relating to the methods object of the present invention.

FIRST Embodiment of the System - Fig. 1 and 1A

[0011] _With reference to Figures 1 and 1A, they schematically illustrate a first embodiment of the wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type object of the present invention, in which the said system of machine is able to wrap the objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., by means of a respective sheet of heat-shrink material, Sa, Sb, Sc, etc., while said objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., reciprocally and longitudinally spaced between them, move longitudinally towards downstream and preferably with continuous motion, as indicated by arrow F1.

[0012] _This system substantially 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 longitudinal 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 said second object conveyor means 200 in order to form a second opening A2 between said second 200 and said third 300 objects conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means 300 are able to receive the objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. arriving from said second objects conveyor means 200; >_sheets wrapping means 400 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; _sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600, which are controlled by said control means 500 and _sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700, which are controlled by said control means 500.

[0013] _With reference to said first 100, said second 200 and said third 300 conveyor means, they, essentially, comprise a conveyor having a conveyor belt 110, 210, 310, in which said conveyor means 100, 200, 300, are preferably driven by a single motor M1 and a mechanical connections, or by two or three motors, in which said single motor M1 or said two or more motors are preferably brushless motors connected to the control unit 500, such way as to be operated in a phase relationship with respect the other operating means.

[0014] _With reference to the sheets wrapping means 400 they, for example, may comprise one or more suspended transporting bars 401, in which said bars 401 are brought to move along an orbit path P1 that passes through said first A1 and said second A2 opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bars 401 are for example carried by a pair of chains driven by a servo motor M2, as for example a brushless motor, which is driven and controlled by the control means 500.

[0015] _With reference to the sheet conveying_heating means 600, better described hereinafter, they are able to receive sheets Sd of heat-shrink material, in entrance, as well as able to heat the sheets Sd of heat-shrink material, and also act to feed the heated and hot sheets Sd of shrink material towards the sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700, with the direction of feed as indicated by the arrow F2.

[0016] _Said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600 are actuated by a third servomotor M3, such as a brushless servo motor driven and controlled by said control means 500.

[0017] _With reference to the sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700, better described hereinafter, they are able to receive the heated and hot sheets Sc of shrink material arriving from said sheet conveying_heating means 600 means, as well as able to feed said heated and hot sheets Sc received of shrink material towards the sheets wrapping means 400, with the direction of feed indicated by the arrow F2.

[0018] _Said sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 are actuated by means of a fourth servomotor M4, as for example a brushless servomotor driven and controlled by said control means 500.

[0019] _Furthermore, said system also comprises sheet forming_feeding means 800, such as for example a cutting_feeding unit 800, which provides to cut a continuous strip of heat-shrink material in order to form the sheets that will be fed into the sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600, in which said sheet forming_feeding means 800 are driven by a motor/actuator M5, connected to and actuated by the control unit 500.

FIRST Form System - Fig. 1 and 1A - FIRST embodiment of operating steps

[0020] _With reference to the system above described, in order to wrap a product by a sheet of heat-shrink material, as FIRST embodiment, it executes the following operating steps: a)_positioning a sheet Sd having a first temperature within said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600; b)_heating said sheet Sd by said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600; c)_when said sheet Sd has reached and/or exceeded the softening temperature, moving said heated hot sheet having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature by said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600 toward said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided to said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700; d)_positioning said sheet Sc having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature within said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700; e)_feeding said heated hot sheet Sc having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature by said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 towards the sheets wrapping means 400 in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided for said sheets wrapping means 400; f)_wrapping said heated hot sheet Sc having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature around the object to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means 400.

FIRST Form System - Fig. 1 and 1A - SECOND embodiment of operating steps

[0021] _With reference to the system above described, in order to pack a product by a sheet of heat-shrink material, as second embodiment, the following operating steps are executed : a)_positioning a sheet Sd having a first temperature within said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600; b)_heating said sheet Sd by said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600; c)_when said sheet Sd has reached and/or exceeded a pre-determined second temperature, moving said heated and hot sheet by said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600 towards said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided for said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700; d)_positioning said sheet Sc within said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700; e)_feeding said heated and hot sheet Sc by said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 towards the sheets wrapping means 400 in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided for said sheets wrapping means 400; f)_wrapping said heated and hot sheet Sc around the object to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means 400.

Features Regarding FIRST embodiment of the system - FIRST and SECOND embodiment of Operative Steps.

[0022] _With reference to the operating steps relating to the first and second embodiment above described, preferably, it is provided a phase relationship in which a subsequent heated and hot rear sheet Sc is transferred by said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600 towards said sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700, a previous heated and hot sheet Sb is transferred by said sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 towards said sheet wrapping means 400.

[0023] _In this manner, the rear second heated and hot sheet Sc is disposed within said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 while the first front sheet Sb is taken over by the sheets wrapping means 400 for winding this latter around the product 10b to be wrapped.

[0024] _Again with reference to the first and to the second embodiments described above, preferably, it is provided a phase relationship in which, while a previous heated and hot sheet Sc is transferred from said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600 towards said sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700, a subsequent sheet Sc is inserted and positioned into said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600.

[0025] _In this manner, a front sheet Sc is positioned on the sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 in view of the subsequent step of feeding it to the sheets wrapping means 400 and the rear second sheet Sd is positioned on the second sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600 for the execution of the heating.

[0026] _Again with reference to the first and to the second embodiment described above, preferably, a phase relationship is provided between said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600 said sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 and said sheet wrapping means 400, in which said phase relationship is intended to limit and/or obviate the stop time of said heated and hot sheet into said sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700, in order to limit the cooling of said heated and hot sheet during its transfer from said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600 towards and until this said sheet wrapping means 400.

SECOND Embodiment of the System - Fig. 2 and 2A

[0027] _With reference to Figure 2 and 2A it shows a variant of embodiment of the system object of the present invention, in which said sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 further comprise heating means 760.

[0028] _With reference to said second embodiment of figure 2, in order to wrap a product, the following operating steps are executed: a)_positioning a sheet Sd having a first temperature within said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600; b)_heating said sheet Sd a first time by said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600; c)_when said sheet Sd has reached and/or exceeded a pre-determined second temperature moving said heated and hot sheet by said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600 towards said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided to said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700; d)_positioning said heated and hot sheet Sc within said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700; e)_heating said heated and hot sheet Sc a second time by said sheet heating means 760; f)_when said sheet Sc has reached and/or exceeded a pre-determined third temperature moving said heated and hot sheet by said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 towards the sheets wrapping means 400 in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided for said sheets wrapping means 400; g)_wrapping said heated and hot sheet Sc around the object to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means 400.

[0029] _With reference to the operational steps above described, said third temperature may be equal and/or greater than the softening temperature of the heat-shrink material, in order to wrap an object and obtain the heat shrinkage of the sheet wound around the packed object without the heating of the unit (sheet wrapped and product) within a tunnel oven for the so-called heat-shrinkage.

Temperature Sensors Means

[0030] _With reference to figures 1A and 2A, the sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600 can further comprise first temperature sensor means 650, in which said first temperature sensor means 650 are able to detect/estimate the temperature of the sheet Sc of heat-shrink material positioned within said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means 600, in which said first temperature sensor means 650 are connected with the control means 500 for the transmission of the relative signals regarding the temperature of the sheet Sc.

[0031] _Again with reference to figures 1A and 2A, said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 can further comprise second temperature sensor means 750; in which said second temperature sensor means 750 are able to detect/estimate the temperature of the sheet Sc of heat-shrink material positioned within said sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700, in which said second temperature sensor means 750 are connected with the control means 500 for the transmission of the relative signals regarding the temperature of the sheet Sc.

Conveyors Means

[0032] _With reference to the sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600, preferably, they comprise a conveyor 600 comprising a transport belt 610 which is wound in a closed loop, in which said transport belt 610 configures an upper transport branch, in which along said upper transport branch the sheet of heat-shrink material Sc/Sd is positioned, and in which along said upper transport branch said sheet Sc/Sd of heat-shrink material is heated by said transport belt 610.

[0033] _In this context, for example, the conveyor belt can be a hot belt heated by a heater 660 that provides to heat the same belt 610, in which this latter transmit heat by thermal conduction to the heat-shrink material sheet Sd.

[0034] _With reference to the sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means 700, they preferably comprise a conveyor 700 comprising a transport belt 710 of suction type which is wound in a closed loop, in which said transport belt 710 defines an upper transport branch, in which along said upper transport branch said sheet Sc of heat-shrink material is positioned, and in which, if it is required, along said upper transport branch said sheet Sc of heat-shrink material is heated by said transport belt 710.

[0035] _In this context, for example, the conveyor belt 710 can be heated by a heater 760 that provides to heat the belt 710, in which the latter transmits heat by thermal conduction to the sheet Sc/Sd of heat-shrink material.

Separator Mens

[0036] _With reference to the First and the Second system illustrated by the figures 1A and 2A, the wrapping bar 401 can be equipped with separating means 402, which are able to prevent and/or limit the contact between the front portion Sb1 and the rear portion Sb2 of the heated and hot sheet Sb during the steps of wrapping of the sheet Sb around the product 10b.

[0037] _Said separator means 402, see fig. 3, may have the form of a pendant curtain, having one side supported by and associated to the wrapping bar 401, wherein said curtain 402 is made by a material having low coefficient of friction and a low/zero grip with respect to the material of the sheet Sb, in order to enable the sheet Sb to slip over said curtain 402 during the winding phases.

FIRST Method with Single Heat - Fig. 4

[0038] _The present invention also relates to a first method for wrapping a product by means of a heat-shrink material sheet, in which, with reference to Fig. 4, said first method comprises positioned in succession _a first station S1 of sheet receiving_heating_feedings, _a second station S2 of sheets receiving_feeding, _a third station S3 of sheets receiving_wrapping, in which said method comprises the following operative steps: a)_positioning a sheet of heat-shrink material having a first temperature in the first station S1 of sheet receiving_heating_feedings; b)_heating the sheet of heat-shrink material positioned in said first station S1 of sheet receiving_heating_feedings to a second temperature having a value higher than the first temperature; c)_moving the heated and hot sheet from said first station S1 of sheet receiving_heating_feedings to the second station S2 of sheets receiving_feeding; d)_moving the heated and hot sheet from said second station S2 of sheets receiving_feeding to the third station S3 of sheets receiving_wrapping; e)_wrapping the heated and hot sheet around an object to be wrapped in the third station S3 of sheets receiving_wrapping.

[0039] _With reference to said first method, preferably, said second temperature has a value such as to maintain the sheet of heat-shrink material at a temperature equal to or greater than the softening temperature during the subsequent stages c), d) and e), in order to obtain, after the operations of wrapping of the heated and hot sheet around the product to be packaged, a heat-shrinkage against the product without a re-heating of the previous wrapped sheet, such as, for example, without the execution of a heating of the sheet into a heat shrinking tunnel.

SECOND Method with the First and Second Heating Means - Fig. 4

[0040] _The present invention also relates to a second method for packing of a product by means of a sheet of heat-shrink material, in which, with reference to Fig. 4, said second method comprises positioned in succession _a first station S1 of sheet receiving_heating_feeding; _a second station S2 of sheets receiving_heating_feeding; _a third station S3 of sheets receiving_wrapping, in which said method comprises the following operative steps: a)_positioning a sheet of heat-shrink material having a first temperature in the first station S1 of sheet receiving_heating_feedings; b)_heating the sheet of heat-shrink material positioned in said first station S1 of sheet receiving_heating_feedings to a second temperature having a value higher than the first temperature; c)_moving the eheated and hot sheet from said first station S1 of sheet receiving_heating_feedings to the second station S2 of sheets receiving_heating_feeding; d)_heating the sheet of heat-shrink material positioned in said second station S2 of sheets receiving_heating_feeding to a third temperature having a value higher than the second temperature; e)_moving the twince (two time) heated and hot sheet from said second station S2 of sheets receiving_heating_feeding to the third station S3 of sheets receiving_wrapping; f)_wrapping in the third station S3 of sheets receiving_wrapping the hot and twice (two times) heated sheet around an object to be packaged.

[0041] _With reference to said second method, preferably, said third temperature has a value such as to maintain the sheet of heat-shrink material to a temperature equal to or greater than the softening temperature during the subsequent stages e) and f), in order to obtain, after the operations of wrapping of the heated and hot sheet around the product to be packaged, a heat-shrinkable of the sheet against the products without having to re-heat it, such as, for example, without the execution of a heating of the sheet into a heating shrinking tunnel.

[0042] _With reference to the above description by means of the systems/methods of the present invention the following results are obtained.

[0043] _The relative wrapping machine can operate with high operating speeds and, therefore, it is obtained a high wrapping productivity.

[0044] _The sheet of heat-shrink material can be heated uniformly, placing the same sheet in a lying manner on the heating floor of the sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600, acted to perform the heating of said sheet (stationary or in forward moving manner) through an optimal and programmable time period by the control of the motor M3, regardless of the wrapping operations.

[0045] _In fact, the wrapping operations are performed using a prior sheet Sb (previously heated) and by means of the sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means 700 and the sheet wrapping means 400, actuated by the motors M4 and M2, wherein said motors M4 and M2 can be operated independently with respect to the motor M3 which drives said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means 600.

[0046] _More particularly, the various operating means 100/200/300, 400, 600, 700 may be driven individually, and in an independent manner between each other by means of the control unit 500 and, therefore, by means of the systems/methods object of the present invention it is possible to set an optimal synchronization between said operating means 100/200/300, 400, 600, 700 in correlation with the various operations to be performed and, in addition, it is also possible to electronically perform a quick and easy change of size in relation to the size of the sheet of shrink material and/or in relation to the size of the object to be packaged and/or in relation to the type of heat-shrink material, as well as, the posibility of changing change the parameters regarding the heating of the sheet.

[0047] _The above description of the system and of the methods are provided purely by way of example and without restrictive intent and, therefore. it is evident that said systems and said methods can be subjected to all modifications or variations suggested by experience or by the use and within the scope of the following claims. _In this context, the following claims form an integral part of the above description.

Claims

1. System for a wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of packaging heat-shrink material around objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) to be packaged, wherein said system comprises:

- first objects conveyor means (100), which are able to move the objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) longitudinally in a spaced succession;

- second objects conveyor means (200), which 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, which are able to receive the objects (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) arriving from said first objects conveyor means (100) and 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), which are arranged 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, wherein said third objects conveyor means (300) are able to receive the objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) arriving from said second objects conveyor means (200);

- sheets wrapping means (400), which are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveyor means (200) and which comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar (401), which 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) which are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means,

characterized by the fact that it comprises:

- sheets heater-feeder conveyor means (600) for feeding and heating separate sheets of heat-shrink material, which are actuated by a third servomotor (M3), driven and controlled by said control means (500);

- sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) for feeding said sheets, which are actuated by means of a fourth servomotor (M4) driven and controlled by said control means (500);

- wherein said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600) are able to heat the sheets of heat-shrink material;

- said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600) are able to feed the heated and hot sheets of heat-shrink material towards said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700);

- said sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) are able to receive the heated and hot sheets of heat shrink material from said sheets heater-feeder conveyor means (600);

- said sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) are able to feed the received heated hot sheets of heat-shrink material towards the sheet wrapping means (400).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the following operative steps:

a) positioning a sheet (Sd) having a first temperature within said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600);

b) heating said sheet (Sd) by said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600);

c) when said sheet (Sd) has reached and/or exceeded the softening temperature, moving said heated and hot sheet having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature by said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600) toward said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided to said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700);

d) positioning said sheet (Sc) having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature within said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700);

e) feeding said heated hot sheet (Sc) having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature by said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) towards the sheets wrapping means (400) in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided for said sheets wrapping means (400);

f) wrapping said heated hot sheet (Sc) having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature around the object to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means (400).

3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the following operative steps:

a) positioning a sheet (Sd) having a first temperature within said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600);

b) heating said sheet (Sd) by said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600);

c) when said sheet (Sd) has reached and/or exceeded a pre-determined second temperature, moving said heated and hot sheet by said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600) towards said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided to said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700);

d) positioning said sheet (Sc) within said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700);

e) feeding said heated and hot sheet (Sc) by said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) towards the sheets wrapping means (400) in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided for said sheets wrapping means (400);

f) wrapping said heated hot sheet (Sc) around the object to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means (400).

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a phase relationship in which while a subsequent heated and hot rear sheet (Sc) is transferred by said sheets heater-feeder conveyor means (600) towards said sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) a previous heated and hot sheet (Sb) is transferred by said sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) towards said sheet wrapping means (400).

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a phase relationship in which while a previous heated and hot sheet (Sc) is transferred from said sheets heater-feeder conveyor means (600) towards said sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) a subsequent sheet (Sc) is inserted and positioned into said sheets heater-feeder conveyor means (600).

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a phase relationship between said sheets heater-feeder conveyor means (600), said sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) and said sheet wrapping means (400), in which said phase relationship is intended to limit and/or obviate the stop of said heated and hot sheet into said sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700).

7. System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said sheet receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) further comprise heating means (760) and characterized in that the following operational steps are executed:

a) positioning a sheet (Sd) having a first temperature within said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600);

b) heating said sheet (Sd) a first time by said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600);

c) when said sheet (Sd) has reached and/or exceeded a pre-determined second temperature moving said heated hot sheet by said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600) towards said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided to said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700);

d) positioning said heated and hot sheet (Sc) within said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700);

e) heating said heated and hot sheet (Sc) a second time by said sheet heating means (760);

f) when said sheet (Sc) has reached and/or exceeded a pre-determined third temperature moving said heated hot sheet by said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) towards the sheets wrapping means (400) in phase relation with respect to the operative steps provided for said sheets wrapping means (400);

g) wrapping said heated hot sheet (Sc) around the object to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means (400).

8. System according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said third temperature is equal to and/or higher than the softening temperature.

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sheets heater-feeder conveyor means (600) further comprise first temperature sensor means (650), which are able to detect/estimate the temperature of the sheet (Sc) of heat-shrink material positioned within said sheet heater-feeder conveyor means (600), wherein said first temperature sensor means (650) are connected with the control means (500).

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) further comprise second temperature sensor means (750) which are able to detect/estimate the temperature of the sheet (Sc) of heat-shrink material positioned within said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) wherein said second temperature sensor means (750) are connected with the control means (500).

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sheets heater-feeder conveyor means (600) comprises a conveyor comprising a transport belt (610) which is wound in a closed loop, said transport belt (610) defining an upper transport branch along which the sheet of heat-shrink material is positioned and along which said sheet of heat-shrink material is heated.

12. System according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that said transport belt (610) is of suction type.

13. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sheets receptor-feeder conveyor means (700) comprise a conveyor having a transport belt (710) which is wound in a closed loop and which defines an upper branch of transport, wherein the sheet of heat-shrink material is positioned along said upper branch of transport.

14. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it further comprises separating means (402) which are able to prevent and/or limit the contact between the front portion (Sb1) and the rear portion (Sb2) of the heated hot sheet (Sb) during the steps of wrapping the sheet (Sb) around the product (10b).

15. System according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that said separator means (402) comprise an element with the shape of a pendant curtain having one side supported by the wrapping bar (401).

16. Method for wrapping a product by means of a sheet of heat shrink material, comprising:

- a first station (S1) of sheet receiving - heating - feeding;

- a second station (S2) of sheets receiving - feeding;

- a third station (S3) of sheets receiving - wrapping;

- wherein said method for feeding and heating separate sheets of heat-shrink material comprises the following operative steps:

a) positioning a sheet of heat-shrink material having a first temperature in the first station (S1) of sheet receiving - heating - feedings;

b) heating the sheet of heat-shrink material positioned in said first station (S1) of sheet receiving - heating - feedings to a second temperature having a value higher than the first temperature;

c) moving the heated hot sheet from said first station (S1) of sheet receiving - heating - feedings to the second station (S2) of sheets receiving - feeding;

d) moving the hot heated sheet from said second station (S2) of sheets receiving - feeding to the third station (S3) of sheets receiving - wrapping;

e) wrapping in the third station (S3) of sheets receiving - wrapping the hot heated sheet around an object to be packaged.

17. Method for wrapping a product by means of a sheet of heat shrink material according to claim 16, wherein said second station (S2) is also provided with sheet heating means (760),
characterized by the fact that after the operative steps a) and b), the method comprises the following steps:

c) moving the hot sheet from said first station (S1) of sheet receiving - heating - feedings to said second stations (S2);

d) heating the sheet of heat-shrink material positioned in said second station (S2) to a third temperature having a value higher than the second temperature;

e) moving the hot sheet heated at least two times from said second station (S2) to the third station (S3) of sheets receiving - wrapping;

f) wrapping in the third station (S3) the hot sheet heated at least two times around an object to be packaged.

Ansprüche

1. System für eine Verpackungsmaschine zum manschettenartigen Umhüllen von zu verpackenden Gegenständen (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) mit einer erwärmten, von einem Band abgeschnittenen Folie aus Heißschrumpfmaterial, umfassend:

- erste Fördermittel (100), die geeignet sind, die Gegenstände (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) mit Abstand nacheinander in Längsrichtung vorwärts zu transportieren;

- zweite Fördermittel (200), die mit einem kurzen Längsabstand in Förderrichtung vor den ersten Fördermitteln (100) so angeordnet sind, dass eine erste Öffnung (A1) zwischen den ersten Fördermitteln (100) und den zweiten Fördermitteln (200) gebildet wird, welche geeignet sind, die von den ersten Fördermitteln (100) kommenden Gegenstände (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) zu übernehmen und diese entlang einer Umhüllungsfläche mit einem Eingangsende und einem Ausgangsende zu transportieren;

- dritte Fördermittel (300), die mit einem kurzen Längsabstand in Förderrichtung vor den zweiten Fördermitteln (200) so angeordnet sind, dass eine zweite Öffnung (A2) zwischen den zweiten Fördermitteln (200) und den dritten Fördermitteln (300) gebildet wird, welche geeignet sind, die von den zweiten Fördermitteln (200) kommenden Gegenstände (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) zu übernehmen;

- Folienumhüllungsmittel (400), die in der Nähe der zweiten Fördermittel (200) angeordnet sind und wenigstens eine aufgehängte Umhüllungsstange (401) haben, die quer zur Förderrichtung für die Gegenstände (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) angeordnet ist und sich auf einer Umlaufbahn bewegt, die durch die erste Öffnung (A1) und die zweite Öffnung (A2) verläuft und die die Folienabschnitte (Sa, Sb, Sc) aus Umhüllungsmaterial transportiert;

- Steuerungsmittel (500) zum Steuern, Betreiben und Synchronisieren der verschiedenen Antriebseinrichtungen,

gekennzeichnet durch:

- Folienwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) zum Vorschub und Erwärmen einzelner Folienabschnitte aus Heißschrumpfmaterial, die von einem dritten Servomotor (M3) angetrieben und von den Steuerungsmitteln (500) gesteuert werden;

- Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) zum Vorschub der Folienabschnitte, die von einem vierten Servomotor (M4) angetrieben und von den Steuerungsmitteln (500) gesteuert werden, wobei

- die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) geeignet sind, die Folienabschnitte aus Heißschrumpfmaterial zu erwärmen und diese in Richtung auf die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) zu transportieren,

- welche geeignet sind, die erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnitte von den Folienwärmungs- und Zuführmitteln (600) zu übernehmen und die übernommenen, erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnitte aus Heißschrumpfmaterial in Richtung auf die Folienumhüllungsmittel (400) zu transportieren.

2. System nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch die folgenden Betriebsschritte:

a) Positionieren eines Folienabschnittes (Sd) mit einer ersten Temperatur auf den ersten Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmitteln (600);

b) Erwärmen des Folienabschnittes (Sd) durch die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600);

c) wobei dann, wenn dieser Foilenabschnitt (Sd) die Erweichungstemperatur erreicht und/oder überschritten hat, dieser erwärmte und heiße Folienabschnitt mit einer Temperatur, die gleich oder höher als die Erweichungstemperatur ist, durch die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) in Richtung auf die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) in Phase mit den Betriebsschritten der Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) transportiert wird;

d) Positionieren des Folienabschnittes (Sc) mit einer Temperatur, die gleich oder höher als die Erweichungstemperatur ist, auf die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700);

e) Vorschub des erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnittes (Sc) mit einer Temperatur, die gleich oder höher als die Erweichungstemperatur ist, durch die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) und in Phase mit den Betriebsschritten der Folienumhüllungsmittel (400) in Richtung auf die Folienumhüllungsmittel (400);

f) Umhüllen des erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnittes (Sc) mit einer Temperatur, die gleich oder höher als die Erweichungstemperatur ist, um den von den Umhüllungsmitteln (400) zu umhüllenden Gegenstand.

3. System nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch die folgenden Betriebsschritte:

a) Positionieren eines Folienabschnittes (Sd) mit einer ersten Temperatur auf den ersten Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmitteln (600);

b) Erwärmen des Folienabschnittes (Sd) durch die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600);

c) wobei dann, wenn dieser Folienabschnitt (Sd) eine vorbestimmte, zweite Temperatur erreicht und/oder überschritten hat, dieser erwärmte und heiße Folienabschnitt durch die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) in Richtung auf die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) in Phase mit den Betriebsschritten der Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) transportiert wird;

d) Positionieren dieses Folienabschnittes (Sd) auf den Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmitteln (700);

e) Vorschub des erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnittes (Sc) durch die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) in Phase mit den Betriebsschritten der Folienumhüllungsmittel (400) in Richtung auf die Folienumhüllungsmittel (400);

f) Umhüllen des erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnittes (Sc) um den von den Umhüllungsmitteln (400) zu umhüllenden Gegenstand.

4. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch ein Phasenverhältnis, durch das während des Transports eines folgenden, erwärmten und heißen hinteren Folienabsclinittes (Sc) durch die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) in Richtung auf die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) ein zuvor erwärmter und heißer Folienabschnitt (Sb) durch die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) in Richtung auf die Folienumhüllungsmittel (400) transportiert wird.

5. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch ein Phasenverhältnis, durch das während des Transports eines zuvor erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnittes (Sc) durch die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) in Richtung auf die Folienübemahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) ein nachfolgender Folienabschnitt (Sb) in die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) transportiert und dort positioniert wird.

6. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch ein Phasenverhältnis zwischen den Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmitteln (600), den Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmitteln (700) und den Folienumhüllungsmitteln (400), das geeignet ist, einen Stopp des erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnittes in die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) zu begrenzen und/oder zu verhindern.

7. System nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) weiterhin Heizmittel (760) aufweisen, wobei die folgenden Betriebsschritte durchgeführt werden:

a) Positionieren eines Folienabschnittes (Sd) mit einer ersten Temperatur auf den ersten Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmitteln (600);

b) Erwärmen des Folienabschnittes (Sd) durch die Folienerweiterungs- und Zuführmittel (600) ein erster Mal;

c) wobei dann, wenn dieser Folienabschnitt (Sd) eine vorbestimmte, zweite Temperatur erreicht und/oder überschritten hat, dieser erwärmte und heiße Folienabschnitt durch die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) in Richtung auf die Folientibernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) in Phase mit den Betriebsschritten der Folientibernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) transportiert wird;

d) Positionieren dieses Folienabschnittes (Sd) auf die Folienlibernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700);

e) Erwärmen des erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnitts (Sc) ein zweites Mal durch die Folienheizmittel (760);

f) wobei dann, wenn dieser Folienabschnitt (Sc) eine vorbestimmte dritte Temperatur erreicht und/oder überschritten hat, dieser erwärmte und heiße Folienabschnitt durch die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) in Phase mit den Betriebsschritten der FolienUmhüllungsmittel (400) in Richtung auf diese transportiert wird;

g) Umhüllen des erwärmten und heißen Folienabschnittes (Sc) um den von den Umhüllungsmitteln (400) zu umhüllenden Gegenstand.

8. System nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die dritte Temperatur gleich oder höher als die Erweichungstemperatur ist.

9. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmittel (600) weiterhin einen ersten Temperatursensor (650) haben, der in der Lage ist, die Temperatur des Folienabschnittes (Sc) aus Heißschrumpfmaterial zu erfassen oder zu schätzen, den Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmitteln (600) zugeordnet und mit den Steuerungsmitteln (500) verbunden ist.

10. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüchen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) weiterhin einen zweiten Temperatursensor (750) haben, der in der Lage ist, die Temperatur des Folienabschnittes (Sc) aus Heißschrumpfmaterial zu erfassen oder zu schätzen, den Folienerwärmungs- und Zuführmitteln (600) zugeordnet und mit den Steuerungsmitteln (500) verbunden ist.

11. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Folienerwärmungs- und Zufuhrmittel (600) einen Förderer mit einem Endlos-Förderband (610) aufweisen, das ein oberes Trum hat, auf dem das Heißschrumpfmaterial positioniert und erwärmt wird.

12. System nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Förderband (610) ein Ansaugband ist.

13. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Folienübernahme- und Vorschubmittel (700) einen Förderer mit einem Endlos-Förderband (710) aufweisen, das ein oberes Trum hat, auf dem das Heißschrumpfmaterial positioniert und erwärmt wird.

14. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieses weiterhin Trennmittel (402) aufweist, die einen Kontakt zwischen dem vorderen Bandabschnitt (Sb1) und dem hinteren Bandabschnitt (Sb2) während des Umhüllens des Gegenstandes (10b) mit dem Folienabschnitt (10b) verhindern und/oder einschränken.

15. System nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Trennmittel (402) ein Element in Form eines hängenden Vorhangs haben, von dem ein Ende an der Umhüllungsstange (401) angebracht ist.

16. Verfahren zum Umhüllen eines Gegenstandes mit einem Folienabschnitt aus Heißschrumpfmaterial, umfassend:

- eine erste Station (S1) für Aufnahme, Erwärmen und Zuführen der Folienabschnitte,

- eine zweite Station (S2) für Aufnahme und Zufuhr der Folienabschnitte,

- eine dritte Station (S3) zur Aufnahme und Umhüllung der Folienabschnitte,

- wobei das Verfahren zum Zuführen und Erwärmen getrennter Folienabschnitte aus Heißschrumpfmaterial die folgenden Schritte aufweist:

a) Positionieren eines Folienabschnitts aus Heißschrumpfmaterial mit einer ersten Temperatur in der ersten Station (S1) für Aufnahme, Erwärmen und Zuführen der Folienabschnitte,

b) Erwärmen des Folienabschnitts aus Heißschrumpfmaterial, der in der ersten Station (S1) für Aufnahme, Erwärmen und Zuführen positioniert ist, auf eine zweite Temperatur, die höher ist als die erste Temperatur,

c) Transport des erwärmten, heißen Folienabschnitts von der ersten Station (S1) für Aufnahme, Erwärmen und Zuführen der Folienabschnitte in die zweite Station (S2) für Aufnahme und Zufuhr der Folienabschnitte,

d) Transport der erwärmten, heißen Folienabschnitte von der zweiten Station (S2) für Aufnahme und Zufuhr der Folienabschnitte in die dritte Station für Aufnahme und Umhüllung,

e) Umhüllung der erwärmten, heißen Folienabschnitte um den zu verpackenden Gegenstand in der dritten Station (S3) zur Aufnahme und Umhüllung.

17. Verfahren zum Umhüllen eines Gegenstandes mit einem Folienabschnitt aus Heißschrumpfmaterial, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

- in der zweiten Station (S2) die Folienabschnitte zwischen den Schritten für Aufnahme und Zufuhr erwärmt werden,

- wobei das Verfahren nach den Schritten a) und b) die nachstehenden Schritte umfasst:

c) Transport des erwärmten, heißen Folienabschnitts von der ersten Station (S1) für Aufnahme, Erwärmen und Zuführen der Folienabschnitte in die zweite Station (S2) für Aufnahme, Erwärmung und Zufuhr der Folienabschnitte,

d) Erwärmen des Folienabschnitts aus Heißschrumpfmaterial, der in der zweiten Station (S2) für Aufnahme, Erwärmung und Zufuhr positioniert ist, auf eine dritte Temperatur, die höher ist als die zweite Temperatur,

e) Transport des wenigstens zweimal erwärmten, heißen Folienabschnitts von der zweiten Station (S2) für Aufnahme, Erwärmung und Zufuhr der Folienabschnitte in die dritte Station (S3) für Aufnahme und Zufuhr der Folienabschnitte,

f) Umhüllung der wenigstens zweimal erwärmten, heißen Folienabschnitte um den zu verpackenden Gegenstand in der dritten Station (S3) zur Aufnahme und Umhüllung.

Revendications

1. Système pour une machine d'emballage apte à envelopper sous forme d'un manchon avec des sections de film découpées dans un ruban de matériau thermo-rétrécissable et chauffées autour des objets (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) à envelopper, ledit système comprenant :

- des premiers moyens de convoyage (100) aptes à transporter dans le sens longitudinal les objets (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) se succédant par intervalles ;

- des seconds moyens de convoyage (200) positionnés en aval et avec une petite distance longitudinale aux premiers moyens de convoyage (100) pour former une première fente (A1) entre lesdits premiers moyens de convoyage (100) et lesdits seconds moyens de convoyage (200) aptes à recevoir les objets (10a, 10b, 10c) amenés par les premiers moyens de convoyage (100) et aptes à les transporter le long d'une surface d'enveloppement munie d'une entrée et d'une sortie ;

- des troisièmes moyens de convoyage (300) positionnés en aval et avec une petite distance longitudinale aux seconds moyens de convoyage (200) pour former une seconde fente (A2) entre lesdits seconds moyens de convoyage (200) et lesdits troisièmes moyens de convoyage (300) aptes à recevoir les objets (10a, 10b, 10c) amenés par les seconds moyens de convoyage (200) ;

- moyens d'enveloppement des sections de film (400) positionnés au voisinage des seconds moyens de convoyage (200) et comprenant au moins une barre suspendue d'enveloppement (401), orientée dans le sens transversal à la direction d'avancement des objets (10a, 10b, 10c etc.) et mise en mouvement le long d'une voie orbitale passant à travers ladite première fente (A1) et à travers ladite seconde fente (A2), ladite barre (401) étant apte à transporter les sections (Sa, Sb, Sc) de matériau d'emballage ;

- des moyens de commande (500) aptes à piloter, actionner et synchroniser les divers moyens d'opération,

caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend :

- des moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) aptes à alimenter et à chauffer l'une après l'autre les sections de matériau thermo-rétrécissable, entraînés par un troisième servomoteur (M3) et pilotées par lesdits moyens de commande (500),

- des moyens de convoyage, de réception, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) aptes à alimenter lesdites sections, entraînés par un quatrième servomoteur (M4) et pilotés par lesdits moyens de commande (500),

- lesdits moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) étant aptes à chauffer les sections de matériau thermo-rétrécissable et à alimenter lesdites sections chauffées et chaudes de matériau thermo-rétrécissable vers les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700);

- lesdits moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) étant aptes à recevoir lesdites sections chaudes de matériau thermo-rétrécissable par les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) et à les alimenter vers les moyens d'enveloppement (400).

2. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par les étapes suivantes :

a) positionner une section (Sd) ayant une première température dans les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) ;

b) chauffer la section (Sd) par les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600),

c) dès que la température d'amollissement a été atteinte et/ou dépassée, transporter ladite section (Sd) chaude ayant une température égale ou plus haute que la température d'amollissement par lesdits moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) en phase d'opération vers lesdits moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) déterminée par les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) ;

d) positionner lesdites sections (Sc) ayant une température égale ou plus haute que la température d'amollissement dans les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700),

e) alimenter lesdites sections chaudes (Sc) ayant une température égale ou plus haute que la température d'amollissement dans les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) en phase d'opération vers les moyens d'enveloppement (400);

f) envelopper dans les moyens d'enveloppement (400) les objets avec les sections chaudes (Sc) ayant une température égale ou plus haute que la température d'amollissement.

3. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par les étapes suivantes :

a) positionner une section (Sd) à une première température dans les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) ;

b) chauffer ladite section (Sd) par les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) ;

c) dès que ladite section (Sd) a atteint et/ou dépassé une seconde température prédéterminée, alimenter ladite section chaude par les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) vers les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) en phase avec les étapes déterminées par les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) ;

d) positionner ladite section (Sc) dans les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) ;

e) alimenter ladite section chaude (Sc) par les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) vers les moyens d'enveloppement (400) et en phase avec ceux-ci ;

f) envelopper l'objet par ladite section chaude (Sc) dans les moyens d'enveloppement (400).

4. Système selon une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend une relation de phase selon laquelle, pendant qu'une successive section arrière chauffée (Se) est transférée par les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) vers les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700), une section chauffée précédemment (Sc) est transférée par les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) vers les moyens d'enveloppement (400).

5. Système selon une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend une relation de phase selon laquelle, pendant une section chaude précédente (Sc) est transférée par les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) vers les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700), une section successive (Sc) est insérée et positionnée dans les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600).

6. Système selon une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend une relation de phase entre les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600), les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) et les moyens d'enveloppement (400), selon laquelle ladite relation de phase est apte à limiter et/ou à éviter l'arrêt de la section chaude dans les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700).

7. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que lesdits moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) comprennent en outre des moyens de chauffage (760) et que les étapes suivantes sont exécutées :

a) positionner une section (Sd) à une première température dans les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600),

b) chauffer ladite section (Sd) par les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) ;

c) dès que ladite section (Sd) a atteint et/ou dépassé une seconde température prédéterminée, alimenter ladite section chaude par les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) vers les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) en phase avec les étapes déterminées par les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) ;

d) positionner ladite section (Sc) dans les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) ;

e) chauffer une deuxième fois ladite section chaude (Sc) par les moyens de chauffage (760) ;

f) dès que ladite tranche (Sd) a atteint et/ou dépassé une troisième température prédéterminée, alimenter ladite section chaude par les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) vers les moyens d'enveloppement (400) en phase avec les étapes déterminées par ceux-ci ;

g) envelopper l'objet avec ladite section chaude (Sc) dans les moyens d'enveloppement (400).

8. Système selon la revendication 7, caractérisé par le fait que la troisième température est égale et/ou plus haute que la température d'amollissement.

9. Système selon une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que lesdits moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) comprennent en outre des premiers moyens détecteurs de température (650) aptes à détecter/estimer la température des sections (Sc) de matériau thermo-rétrécissable positionnées dans les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600), lesdits moyens détecteurs de température (650) étant reliés au moyens de commande (500).

10. Système selon une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que lesdits moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) comprennent en outre des seconds moyens détecteurs de température (750) aptes à détecter/estimer la température des sections (Sc) de matériau thermo-rétrécissable positionnées dans les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700), lesdits moyens détecteurs de température (750) étant reliés au moyens de commande (500).

11. Système selon une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que les moyens de convoyage, de chauffage et d'alimentation (600) comprennent un convoyeur avec une courroie de transport sans fin (610) possédant un brin supérieur le long duquel la section de matériau thermo-rétrécissable est positionnée et chauffée.

12. Système selon la revendication 11, caractérisé par le fait que ladite courroie de transport (610) est de type à aspiration.

13. Système selon une des revendication précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que les moyens de convoyage, de transfert et d'alimentation (700) comprennent un convoyeur avec une courroie de transport sans fin (710) possédant un brin supérieur le long duquel la section de matériau thermo-rétrécissable est positionnée et chauffée.

14. Système selon une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend en outre des moyens de séparation (402) aptes à éviter et/ou limiter un contact entre la partie avant (Sb1) et la partie arrière (Sb2) de la section chaude (Sb) pendant les étapes d'enroulement de la section (Sb) autour de l'objet (10b).

15. Système selon la revendications 14, caractérisé par le fait que les moyens de séparation (402) comprennent un élément sous forme d'un rideau suspendu dont une extrémité est portée par le barre d'enveloppement (401).

16. Procédé pour envelopper un objet par une section de matériau thermo-rétrécissable, comprenant :

- une première station (S1) de réception, de chauffage et d'alimentation des sections de matériau thermo-rétrécissable ;

- une seconde station (S2) de réception et d'alimentation des sections ;

- une troisième station (S3) de réception et d'enveloppement des sections,

- ledit procédé pour alimenter et chauffer des sections séparées de matériau thermo-rétrécissable comprenant les étapes suivantes :

a) positionner une section de matériau thermo-rétrécissable ayant une première température dans la première station (S1) de réception, de chauffage et d'alimentation des sections de matériau thermo-rétrécissable ;

b) chauffage de la section de matériau thermo-rétrécissable positionnée dans ladite première station (S1) de réception, de chauffage et d'alimentation à une seconde température plus haute que la première température ;

c) transporter la section chaude de la première station (S1) de réception, de chauffage et d'alimentation des sections de matériau thermo-rétrécissable à la seconde station (S2) de réception et d'alimentation des sections ;

d) transporter les sections chaudes de la seconde station (S2) de réception et d'alimentation des sections à la troisième station (S3) de réception et d'enveloppement de sections,

e) envelopper la section chaude autour de l'objet dans la troisième station (S3) de réception et d'enveloppement de sections.

17. Procédé pour envelopper un objet avec une section de matériau thermo-rétrécissable, caractérisé par le fait que

- dans la seconde station (S2) les sections sont chauffées entre les étapes de réception et d'alimentation,

- ledit procédé comprend entre les étapes a) et b) les étapes suivantes :

c) transporter les sections chaudes de la première station (S1) de réception, de chauffage et d'alimentation des sections de matériau thermo-rétrécissable à la seconde station (S2) de réception et d'alimentation des sections ;

d) chauffage de la section de matériau thermo-rétrécissable positionnée dans ladite seconde station (S2) de réception, de chauffage et d'alimentation à une troisième température plus haute que la seconde température ;

e) transporter la section chauffée au moins deux fois de la seconde station (S2) de réception, de chauffage et d'alimentation à la troisième station (S2) de réception et d'enveloppement des sections ;

f) envelopper les objets dans la troisième station (S3) de réception et d'enveloppement avec les sections chauffées au moins deux fois.

Drawing