Equipment, method and station for lateral wrapping of products by means of plastic film

Abstract

 A plant for wrapping products by means of plastic film comprises a line (11) for conveying the products (12) in sequence and vertical-wrapping stations (13) which are arranged along the line. Each station (13) comprises a wrapping system (14) with a strip of film arranged transversely with respect to the line so as to wrap a product which passes through the station. These wrapping systems (14) can be raised in a controllable manner so as to allow a product to pass through the station without being wrapped by the film. The various stations (13) are able to receive different types of film and can be controlled so that only the film which is required to be wrapped around a particular product is in the lowered position during passing of the product. It is thus possible to wrap products of varying height by selecting in each case the station with the film of appropriate height.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a plant, method and station for lateral wrapping of products by means of plastic film, advantageously of the heat-shrinkable type.

[0002] Among the plants for performing wrapping with plastic film known from the prior art there are those which comprise a wrapping station (sometimes referred to as "curtain" stations) in which a strip of film is stretched, in a vertical plane, transverse to the direction of movement of the product in the station. The product thus comes into contact with the strip and draws it along until it is partially wrapped by it. A pair of vertical blades are then operated in order to close the strip behind the product, weld its edges and cut it. The strip is then joined together again behind the wrapped product, so that it is ready to wrap the next product. In the case of heat-shrinkable film, the wrapped product is conveyed to a heat-shrinking station in order to complete the packing process. Since the height of the strip is related to the height of the product to be packaged (usually the strip must be folded over by a small, but not excessive amount onto the top and bottom faces of the product), in the case where it is required to package products of different height, separate packaging lines are required, i.e. one for each height, with not insignificant costs and dimensions. Alternatively, if the changes are occasional it is possible to use only one line, enduring a somewhat long line stoppage in order to replace rolls of film with those having a new height. The same problems occur if it is required to wrap the products with different types of film.

[0003] EP 0,183,676 describes a plant formed by a single station having a plurality of wrapping units. Each unit comprises two reels which are already joined together and spaced so as to form the strip of transverse film. The units are movable so that they may be inserted, from the top or from one side, transversely with respect to the product conveying line so as to replace each other inside the station at the location of cutting and welding systems which form the package in the station. The system is, however, complex and not flexible, not allowing the easy addition of other types of film.

[0004] The general object of the present invention is to provide a plant which allows the simultaneous management of different types of film rapidly and efficiently, for example in order to wrap products which have a different height or which in any case require one of such different types of film.

[0005] In view of this object, the idea according to the present invention is to provide a plant as claimed in Claim 1.

[0006] Still according to the principles of the invention, the idea is that of providing a Method for the lateral wrapping, using plastic film, of products which travel along a conveying line, comprising the steps of arranging along the line a series of lateral-wrapping stations, each designed to wrap products with a predetermined film stretched transversely with respect to the conveying line, and causing the products to pass through all the stations, raising above a passing product the film in the stations which are not equipped with the film required for that product and lowering the film in front of the product in a station equipped for wrapping that product with the desired film.

[0007] Still according to the principles of the invention, the idea is that of providing a station for lateral wrapping of products by means of plastic film, able to be passed through by a line for conveying the products in sequence and comprising a wrapping system formed by two vertical-axis rolls of film which are arranged on opposite sides so as to dispense transversely with respect to the line a strip of film stretched between the rolls, the station also comprising vertical welding blades which are located opposite each other on the two sides of the line, said blades being movable towards each other for welding and cutting the strip of film around a product made to pass through the station and against the transverse strip, characterized in that the rolls are supported in the station so as to be movable vertically in a controllable manner for displacement between a lowered operative position for wrapping a product passing through the station and a raised non-operative position for allowing a product to pass through the station without coming into contact with the transverse strip.

[0008] In order to illustrate more clearly the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared to the prior art, an example, of embodiment applying these principles will be described below, with the aid of the accompanying drawing. In the drawings:

• Figures 1 and 2 show schematic side elevation views of a plant according to the invention;
• Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a schematic side elevation, plan and front view, respectively, of a packaging station according to the invention;
• Figure 6 shows a view, similar to that of Figure 3, but with the station in a different condition.

[0009] With reference to the figures, Figure 1 shows a plant, denoted generally by 10, for wrapping products by means of plastic film.

[0010] The plant 10 comprises a line 11 for conveying in sequence products 12 to be wrapped with film. The products may be formed by packs of material arranged on a pallet so as to form a parallelepiped. For example, the packs may consists of bricks, paper-mill products, etc.

[0011] The conveying line is essentially of the known type and therefore will not be described or shown here in detail. It generally comprises a support surface on which the products are placed in order to be conveyed through the plant between a loading zone and an unloading zone. The line may advantageously be formed, for example, by means of a belt or chain conveyor.

[0012] The conveying line 10 passes in sequence through vertical-wrapping stations 13 which are arranged along the line. As will be described in greater detail blow, each station has a "curtain" type system for performing lateral wrapping of a product 12 which passes through the station. The wrapping system 14 has a strip of film 25 which is arranged transverse to the line so as to wrap a product which passes through the station. The wrapping systems 14 are motor-driven so as to be movable vertically in a controllable manner for displacement between a lowered operative position (such as that shown for the first left-hand station in Figure 1) for wrapping a passing product in the station and a raised non-operative position (such as that shown for the other stations in Figure 1) for allowing a product to pass through the station without coming into contact with the strip of film.

[0013] Advantageously an overhead conveyor 15 (for example with a travel path 16 along which a shuttle 17 moves) is provided above the stations for conveying rolls of replacement film 19 to the stations. The conveyor moves advantageously above and along the product conveying line, making use of the space above the stations. As will become clear below, with a plant with stations having a structure according to an advantageous possible embodiment of the present invention it is possible to minimize the space occupied in the vertical direction by the stations when the replacement reels must pass through. As a result the plant may be used with the overhead conveyor also in the case of a room with a low height, unlike other known solutions.

[0014] Advantageously, the plant 10 comprises means 19 for controlling the plant which control operation of the plant and in particular the vertical displacement of the wrapping system of each station so as to select the station which must wrap the film around a product passing on the line. The control means 19 (for example a known electronic system with a suitably programmed microcontroller) is able to receive selection commands from an operator or from a system for electronic detection of the arriving product.

[0015] In particular, in the case where the stations are each equipped with a film suitable for a different product height or height range, a sensor 20 may be provided ahead of the series of stations 13 in order to detect the height of the arriving product, said sensor sending this height information to the control means 19 which are thus able to decide which station contains the most suitable film for wrapping the particular product and consequently lower only the film of this station, allowing the product to pass freely through the other stations.

[0016] By way of example, Figure 1 shows the plant upon arrival of a product with a height suitable for processing by the first station, while Figure 2 shows the plant upon arrival of a product with a height suitable for processing by the third station along the line. Advantageously the film used by the plant is of the heat-shrinkable type. In this case, the conveying line 11, after the wrapping stations, reaches or passes through a known heat-shrinking station 21.

[0017] In order to form the system for lateral wrapping of the products, each station comprises advantageously two rolls of film 22 which are supported on their vertical axis and arranged on opposite sides of the conveying line. The portions of film which are unwound from the two rolls of the station are joined together to form the strip of film which is stretched transversely with respect to the conveying line. In this way, when the rolls are in the lowered position, the product comes into contact with the transverse strip of film and continuing its travel draws the film along with it and is partially wrapped on the sides. Vertical welding blades 23 are arranged opposite each other on the two sides of the line and are movable towards each other for cutting and welding the strip of film around the product which passes through the station. During their movement towards each other the blades weld the film onto the rear part of the product (thus closing it around the product), cut the wound film and join together again the two portions in order to form again the transverse strip for wrapping the next product.

[0018] Figures 3 to 6 show in greater detail an advantageous structure of a station 13 according to the invention and designed to be passed through by the line 11 for conveying the products in sequence.

[0019] As can be clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5, the station for forming the wrapping system 14 comprises two rolls of film 22 which are rotatably supported by their vertical axis 24 and arranged on opposite sides of the conveying lines so as to dispense transversely with respect to the line the strip of film 25 stretched between the rolls. Advantageously, each roll is supported by a motor-driven carriage 26 which travels vertically along lateral uprights 25 which form part of the fixed structure of the station. Preferably, the two carriages are driven by a same electric motor 28 via a suitable known mechanism so as to move in synchronism during their travel upwards and downwards between the said operative and non-operative positions.

[0020] As can be clearly seen in Figure 6, where the carriage is shown in a position close to the highest position, the carriages are advantageously arranged close to the base of the rolls in order to support the respective roll in a projecting manner, for example by means of a bottom bracket 29 and a top bracket 30, if present, which may be provided in order to stabilize the axis 24 of rotation of the roll. The carriages may thus raise the rolls with their top end above the top end of the lateral uprights. This allows the height of the stations to be reduced when the rolls are in the lowered position, while allowing good elevation of the rolls above the passing products. This is particularly advantageous for allowing the passage of the overhead conveyor of the roll replacement system.

[0021] It should be noted that, when the film has been used up, the overhead conveyor, if arranged in the centre of the product conveying line, may thus pass between the empty rolls even when the carriages are in their completely raised position.

[0022] Still advantageously, the top arm for supporting the axis of the roll may project from a support 31 which may be released in relation to the carriage so that it can be adjusted heightwise, in order to allow rapid adaptation of the station to a change in height of the film (i.e. the width of the film in a direction transverse to the strip which is unrolled) being processed by it. In this way, it is also possible to provide stations which are all identical and adapt them to process a given film format depending on the specific requirements of the plant, also with any desired order of the various heights of film along the line.

[0023] Advantageously, known mechanisms32 for guiding and tensioning the film may also be provided, coupled to each carriage.

[0024] As already mentioned above, the station also comprises vertical blades 23 located opposite each other on both sides of the line. These blades, which are advantageously arranged on the opposite side of the uprights with respect to the carriages for raising the film, comprise a known controlled-heating electric circuit for welding the portions of film which are brought into contact when the blades are closed towards each other, as shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 4, after the product has passed through. Advantageously, the structure of the station comprises a cross beam 33 between the uprights, along which the cutting and welding blades 23 travel in a controllable manner (by means of a motor 34 with a suitable known drive system) so as to move between the spaced apart non-operative position (shown in solid lines in Figure 5) for allowing the passage of a product and the operative position close to each other (shown in broken lines in Figure 5) for welding the film folded around the product and held between the blades.

[0025] According to the method of the invention, firstly a series of lateral wrapping stations are arranged along a conveying line, each being designed to wrap the products with a predetermined film stretched transversely with respect to the conveying line. Then the products are made to pass through all the stations, raising above a passing product the film in the stations which are not equipped with the desired film for that product and lowering the film in front of the product in a station equipped to wrap that product with the desired film. In this way rapid and efficient processing of products which require different films may be easily achieved, using a minimum amount of space and with it minimum complexity of the plant.

[0026] At this point it is clear how the predefined objects are achieved with a plant according to the invention which offers a high degree of flexibility in operational terms, low format change-over times and small dimensions, also in the vertical direction. Stations according to the invention may be easily used along lines which require a rapid throughput of products without interference. Moreover, the stations according to the invention may be easily adapted to operate in sequence along conveying lines of different types, size and length, while still having a relatively low space requirement.

[0027] A method as described above for the lateral wrapping of products with plastic films results in a high degree of flexibility and the possibility of using simultaneously also a large number of different films.

[0028] Obviously, the above description of an embodiment applying the innovative principles of the present invention is provided by way of example of these innovative principles and must therefore not be regarded as limiting the scope of the rights claimed herein. For example, the stations are advantageously each equipped with a film for wrapping a different product height or height range and the film in the stations is therefore lowered or raised depending on whether or not the product arriving at the station has a height for which the station is equipped.

[0029] However, other characteristic features of the film may be varied among the stations, depending on the specific packaging requirements. For example, it is possible to envisage films with different colours or different physical or chemical properties. With the plant according to the invention it is in any case possible to select rapidly the desired film for each specific type of product in arrival. Selection may be manual or performed by means of suitable automatic or semi-automatic devices, also depending on specific and predetermined characteristics which are detected in the arriving product.

[0030] The number of stations which can be used may obviously be of any number and different from that shown by way of example in the drawings. There is no limit to the number of stations which can be used in sequence along the conveying line. Moreover, although a substantially straight conveying line is preferable, other configurations may be envisaged, also in order to make use of spaces with a particular form and reduce the dimensions of the plant in certain directions.

Claims

1. Plant for lateral wrapping of products by means of plastic film, comprising a line for conveying the products in sequence and a plurality of vertical-wrapping stations arranged in sequence along the line, each station comprising a wrapping system (14) with a strip of film (25) arranged transverse to the line so as to wrap a product which passes through the station and vertical welding blades (23) which are arranged opposite each other on the two sides of the line and which are movable towards each other for cutting and welding the strip of film around a product which passes through the station and against the transverse strip, the wrapping systems (14) being movable vertically in a controllable manner for displacement between a lowered operative position for wrapping a product passing through the station and a raised non-operative position for allowing a product to pass through the station without coming into contact with the transverse strip, control means (19) of the plant performing the vertical displacement of the wrapping systems (14) between the lowered operative position and the raised non-operative system so as to select the station which must wrap the film around a product passing along the line.

2. Plant according to Claim 1, characterized in that the wrapping system (14) comprises two rolls of film (22) which are supported by their vertical axis and arranged on opposite sides of the conveying line and have portions of film which are unrolled from them and which are joined together to form a strip of film (25) stretched transversely with respect to the conveying line.

3. Plant according to Claim 2, characterized in that the station comprises a structure with uprights (27) which are lateral with respect to the conveying line, the rolls (22) being supported by means of motor-driven carriages (26) which travel vertically along the lateral uprights so as to move the rolls between the said operative position and non-operative positions.

4. Plant according to Claim 3, characterized in that the carriages (26) are arranged close to the base of the rolls in order to be able to raise the rolls with their top end above the lateral uprights.

5. Plant according to Claim 3, characterized in that the structure comprises a cross beam (33) between the uprights (27), along which the cutting and welding blades (23) travel in a controllable manner so as to move between a spaced apart non-operative position for allowing the passage of a product and an operative position close together for welding the film held between the blades.

6. Plant according to Claim 1, characterized in that each station is equipped with a film of different height so that each station is suitable for wrapping products with a correspondingly different height or height range.

7. Plant according to Claim 1, characterized in that the film is heat-shrinkable and the conveying line, after the wrapping station, reaches or passes through a heat-shrinking station (21).

8. Plant according to Claim 1, characterized in that a sensor (20) is present along the conveying line, ahead of the first of the plurality of stations, said sensor detecting the height of a product arriving along the line and being connected to the control means in order to perform the selection of the station from the plurality of stations depending on said height detected.

9. Plant according to Claim 1, characterized in that an overhead conveyor (15) for conveying replacement rolls to the stations is arranged above the stations.

10. Method for the lateral wrapping, using plastic film, of products which travel along a conveying line, comprising the steps of arranging along the line a series of stations for lateral wrapping and welding of the film, each designed to wrap the products with a predetermined strip of film stretched transversely with respect to the conveying line and to cut and weld the strip of film around a product which passes through the station and against the strip, and causing the products to pass through all the stations, raising above a passing product the film in the stations which are not equipped with the film required for that product and lowering the film in front of the product in a station equipped for wrapping that product with the desired film.

11. Method according to Claim 9, wherein the stations are each equipped with a film for wrapping a different product height or height range and the film in the stations is lowered or raised depending on whether or not the product arriving at the station has a height for which the station is equipped.

12. Station for the lateral wrapping of products by means of plastic film, able to be passed through by a line for conveying the products in sequence, comprising a wrapping system (14) formed by two rolls of film (22) with a vertical axis which are arranged on opposite sides so as to dispense transversely with respect to the line a strip of film (25) stretched between the rolls, the station also comprising vertical welding blades (23) which are located opposite each other on the two sides of the line, said blades (23) being moveable with respect to each other for welding and cutting the strip of film around a product made to pass through the station and against the transverse strip, characterized in that the rolls (22) are supported in the station so as to be movable vertically in a controllable manner so as to be displaced between a lowered operative position for wrapping a product passing through the station and a raised non-operative position for allowing a product to pass through the station without coming into contact with the transverse strip.

Drawing