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.
[0003] _These methods/systems have a number of drawbacks.
[0004] _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.
[0005] _A second drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow the uniformly and/or
quickly heating of the sheet.
[0006] _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.
[0007] _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
[0008] _The object of the present invention is therefore that to solve the above mentioned
drawbacks.
[0009] _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, 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 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
objects 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: _sheets heater_feeder conveyor means and _sheets receptor_feeder conveyor
means, by the fact that said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means are able to heat the
sheets of heat-shrink material; by the fact that said sheets heater_feeder conveyor
means are able to feed the heated and hot sheets of heat-shrink material towards said
sheets receptor_feeder conveyor means; by the fact that said sheet receptor_feeder
conveyor means are able to receive the heated and hot sheets of heat-shrink material
from said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means; by the fact that said sheet receptor_feeder
conveyor means are able to feed the received heated and hot sheets of heat-shrink
material towards the sheet wrapping means.
[0010] _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,
in which said method is characterized by the fact of comprising in succession comprises:
_a first station of sheets receiving_heating_feeding; _a second station of sheets
receiving_feeding; _a third station of sheets receiving_wrapping; said method is also
characterized by the fact of comprising the following operative steps: a)_positioning
a sheet of heat-shrink material having a first temperature in the first station of
sheet receiving_heating_feeding; b)_heating the sheet of heat-shrink material positioned
in said first station of sheet receiving_heating_feeding to a second temperature having
a value higher than the first temperature; c)_moving the heated and hot sheet from
said first station of sheet receiving_heating_feeding to the second station of sheets
receiving_feeding; d)_moving the heated and hot sheet from said second station of
sheets receiving_feeding to the third station of sheets receiving_wrapping; e)_wrapping
the heated and hot sheet around an object to be packagen the third station of sheets
receiving_wrapping.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0011] _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
[0012] _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.
[0013] _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.
[0014] _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.
[0015] _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.
[0016] _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.
[0017] _Said sheets heater_feeder conveyor means
600 are preferably actuated by a third servomotor
M3, such as a brushless servo motor driven and controlled by said control means
500.
[0018] _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.
[0019] _Said sheet receptor_feeder conveyor means
700 are preferably actuated by means of a fourth servomotor
M4, as for example a brushless servomotor driven and controlled by said control means
500.
[0020] _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
[0021] _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
[0022] _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.
[0023] _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.
[0024] _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.
[0025] _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.
[0026] _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.
[0027] _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
[0028] _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.
[0029] _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.
[0030] _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
[0031] _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.
[0032] _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
[0033] _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.
[0034] _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.
[0035] _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.
[0036] _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
[0037] _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.
[0038] _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
[0039] _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.
[0040] _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
[0041] _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.
[0042] _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.
[0043] _With reference to the above description by means of the systems/methods of the present
invention the following results are obtained.
[0044] _The relative wrapping machine can operate with high operating speeds and, therefore,
it is obtained a high wrapping productivity.
[0045] _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.
[0046] _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.
[0047] _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.
[0048] _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.
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 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 the objects (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) 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: >_sheets heater_feeder conveyor means (600) and >_sheet receptor_feeder
conveyor means (700), _by the fact that said sheet heater_feeder conveyor means (600) are able to heat the sheets of heat-shrink
material; _by the fact that said sheets 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); _by the fact that 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);
_by the fact that 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 previous 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 previous 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), by the fact that 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), and by the fact that 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); by the fact that 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); and by the fact that 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; by the fact that said transport belt (610) defines an upper transport branch; by the fact that along said upper transport branch the sheet of heat-shrink material is positioned;
by the fact that along said upper transport branch 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 comprising a
transport belt (710) which is wound in a closed loop; by the fact that said transport belt (710) defines an upper branch of transport; by the fact that 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), in which said separating means (402)
are able to preventing and/or limiting the contact between the front portion (Sb1)
and the rear portion (Sb2) of the heated hot sheet (Sb) during the steps of wrapping
of 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 characterized by the fact that it comprises: _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;
and characterized by the fact that 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 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 characterized by the fact that it comprises: _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; and characterized by the fact that 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 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 hot heated at least two times 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 sheet heated
at least two times around an object to be packaged.