_The present invention relates to a wrapping machine system for wrapping objects by means of hot sheets of heat-shrinkable material.

_At present time, see patent EP_1.013.551, systems for wrapping objects by sheets of heat shrinkable material are known wherein, summarily, by said systrems, each individual object is wrapped one after the other by means of a respective sheet of heat-shrinkable material, wherein said sheet has been previously heated to a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the heat-shrinkable material.

_These methods have a number of drawbacks.

_A first drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow to operate at high operating speeds and, therefore, they do not allow to obtain a high wrapping productivity.

_A second drawback is due to the fact that said systems do not allow to get an uniform and/or rapid heating of the sheet.

_A third drawback is due to the fact that they do not allow to get a good synchronization between the various operations to be performed and a good execution of the same operations.

_A fourth drawback is due to the fact that such system do not allow to carry out a quick format change in relation to the size of the sheet of material and/or in relation to the size of the items to be packaged and/or in relation to the type of shrink material of which the sheet is composed.

_A fifth drawback is due to the fact that these system do not allow to get an easy execution of the cutting of the sheets.

_A sixth disadvantage is due to the fact that they do not allow to perform operations in relation to the temperature of the sheets during the winding phase.

_The purpose of the present invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned drawbacks.

_The invention, which is characterized by the claims, solves the problem of creating a system for a wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of packaging thermoshrinking material around objects to be packaged, wherein said system comprises: _first objects conveying means, wherein said first objects conveying means are able to move objects longitudinally in a spaced succession; _second objects conveying means, wherein said second objects conveyor means are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said first objects conveyor means in order to form a first opening between said first and said second object conveyor means, wherein said second objects conveyor means are able to receive the objects arriving from said first objects conveyor means, and wherein said second objects conveyor means are able to move the same objects along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end; _third objects conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second object conveyor means in order to form a second opening between said second and said third object conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are able to receive an unit comprising an object and a hot sheet arriving from said second objects conveyor means; _sheets wrapping means, wherein said sheet wrapping means are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means, wherein said sheet wrapping means comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar, wherein said suspended wrapping bar is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects, in which said suspended wrapping bar is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first and said second opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bar transports the sheets of wrapping material; _control means, in which said control means are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means; in which said system is characterized by the fact that it comprises: _tape heating_feeding means; _cutting_feeding means; _first sheets heating_feeding means; _second sheets heating_feeding means; by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means are able to heat the downstream portion of a tape of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature; by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means are able to feed said heated and hot downstream portion to the cutting_feeding means; by the fact that said cutting_feeding means are able to cut said heated and hot downstream portion in order to obtain a hot sheet; by the fact that said cutting_feeding means are able to feed said last hot sheet to the first sheet heating_feeding means; by the fact that said first heating_feeding means are able to heat said last hot sheet to a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the first temperature, in order to obtain a hot sheet more heated; by the fact that said first sheet heating_feeding means are able to feed said last hot sheet to said second sheet heating_feeding means; by the fact that said second heating_feeding means are able to heat said last hot sheet to a third temperature, in which said third temperature is greater than the second temperature, in order to obtain a hot sheet more heated; characterized by the fact that said second sheet heating_feeding means are able to feed said last hot sheet to said sheets wrapping means, and characterized by the fact that the sheets wrapping means are able to wrap said last hot sheet around the object to be wrapped.

_The invention, which is characterized by the claims, solves the problem of creating a system for a wrapping machine of the "sleeve" type to wrap hot sheets of packaging shrinking material around objects to be packaged, wherein said system comprises: _first objects conveying means, wherein said first objects conveying means are able to move objects longitudinally in a spaced succession; _second objects conveying means, wherein said second objects conveyor means are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said first objects conveyor means in order to form a first opening between said first and said second object conveyor means, wherein said second objects conveyor means are able to receive the objects arriving from said first objects conveyor means, and wherein said second objects conveyor means are able to move the same objects along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end; _third objects conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are arranged downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from the said second object conveyor means in order to form a second opening between said second and said third object conveyor means, wherein said third objects conveyor means are able to receive the unit comprising an object and a hot sheet arriving from said second objects conveyor means; _sheets wrapping means, wherein said sheet wrapping means are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means, wherein said sheet wrapping means comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar, wherein said suspended wrapping bar is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects, in which said suspended wrapping bar is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first and said second opening, wherein said suspended wrapping bar transports the sheets of wrapping material; _control means, in which said control means are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means; in which said is characterized by the fact that it comprises: _tape heating_feeding means; _cutting_feeding means; _sheets heating_feeding means); characterized by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means are able to heat the downstream portion of the tape of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature; characterized by the fact that said tape heating_feeding means are able to feed said heated and hot downstream portion to the cutting_feeding means; characterized by the fact that said cutting_feeding means are able to cut said heated and hot downstream portion to obtain a hot sheet; characterized by the fact that said cutting_feeding means are able to feed said last hot sheet to the first sheet heating_feeding means; characterized by the fact that said heating_feeding means are able to heat said last hot sheet to a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the first temperature, in order to obtain a hot sheet more heated; characterized by the fact that said first sheet heating_feeding means are able to feed said last hot sheet to said sheets wrapping means; characterized by the fact that sheets wrapping means are able to wrap said last hot sheet around the object to be wrapped.

_Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the following description of two preferred practical embodiments, provided here purely by way of example and without restrictive intent, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• >_Figure 1 and 1A illustrate schematically a first embodiment of the system object of the present invention;
• >_Figure 2 and 2A illustrate schematically a second embodiment of the system object of the present invention.

_With reference to Figure 1, it illustrates a first embodiment of the system object of the present invention and, more particularly, a "sleeve" type packing machine system, wherein said system is designed to wrap hot sheets of shrinkable packaging material around objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. to be packaged, wherein said objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. move preferably with continuous motion from upstream to downstream as indicated by arrow F1, wherein said system substantially comprises: >_first objects conveying means 100; >_second objects conveying means 200; >_third objects conveyor means 300; >_sheets wrapping means 400; >_control means 500; >_tape heating_feeding means 600; >_cutting_feeding means 700; >_first sheets heating_feeding means 800; >_second sheets heating_feeding means 900.

_The first objects conveying means are able are able to move objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. longitudinally in a spaced succession, from upstream to downstream, with respect to arrow F1.

_The second objects conveying means 200 are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance with respect to said first objects conveyor means 100, in order to form a first opening A1 between said first 100 and said second 200 object conveyor means

_Said second objects conveyor means 200 are able to receive the objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., arriving from said first objects conveyor means 100, as well as able to move the same objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., along a wrapping surface which has an inlet end and an outlet end.

_The third objects conveyor means 300 are positioned downstream and at a short longitudinal distance from said second object conveyor means 200, in order to form a second opening A2 between said second 200 and said third 300 object conveyor means.

_Said third objects conveyor means 300 are able to receive the units 10a_Sa comprising an object 10a and a hot sheet Sa arriving from said second objects conveyor means 200.

_Sheets wrapping means 400 are positioned in the vicinity of said second objects conveying means 200, and they comprise at least one suspended wrapping bar 401 oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the objects 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., in which said bar 401 is brought to move along an orbital path that passes through said first A1 and said second A2 opening, wherein said bar 401 transports the sheets Sb of wrapping material.

_The control means 500 are able to control, operate and synchronize the various operative means, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 e 900, as better described hereinafter, and they may comprise a control unit programmable (CPU) or other similar devices, suitable for controlling and managing operating means, such as, for example, actuators, M.200 (which preferably drives the means 100, 200 and 300 by mechanical connections), M.400, M.900, M.800, M.700 able to operate individually and in an independent manner the above mentioned operating means 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900.

_The tape heating_feeding means 600 are positioned upstream with respect to the feeder cutting means 700.

_Said tape heating_feeding means 600 are able to heat the front portion (downstream portion) 20a of a tape 20 of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature, as well as, able to feed said heated and hot downstream portion 20a to the cutting_feeding means 700, as for example hot rollers which heat up the belt 600 by contact. _The cutting_feeding means 700 are positioned upstream with respect to the first sheets heating_feeding means 800.

_Said cutting_feeding means 700 are able to cut said heated and hot front portion (downstream portion) 20a of heat-shrinkable material, in order to obtain a sheet Sd of heated and hot material, as well as able to feed said heated tape 20a and/or said last heated and hot sheet Sd towards the first sheets heating_feeding means 800.

_The first sheets heating_feeding means 800 are positioned upstream with respect to the second sheets heating_feeding means 900.

_Said first heating_feeding means 800 are able to heat said last heated and hot sheet Sd to a second temperature which is greater than the first temperature, in order to obtain a sheet Sc more heated, and they are also able to feed said last sheet Sc to said second heating_feeding means.

_The second sheets heating_feeding means 900 are positioned upstream with respect to the sheets wrapping means 400.

_Said second sheets heating_feeding means 900 are able to heat said last heated and hot sheet Sc to a third temperature which is greater than the second temperature, in order to obtain a more heated sheet Sb, and they are also able to feed said last sheet Sb to the wrapping means 400.

_Said wrapping means 400 are able to receive the hot sheet Sb fed by the second sheets heating_feeding means 900 and able to wrap said last heated and hot sheet Sb around the object 10b to be wrapped.

_With reference to this system, preferably, in order to pack an object, a packaging method is performed in which said method comprises the following steps: a)_heating a front portion (downstream portion) 20a of the tape 20 of heatshrinking material by said tape heating_feeding means 600; b)_when said front portin (downstream portion) 20a has reached a determined first temperature, transferring of said heated and hot downstream portion 20a from said tape heating_feeding means 600 to said cutting_feeding means 700; c)_cutting by said cutting_feeding means 700 of a downstream portion of the heated and hot continuous tape 20a, in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet Sd having a desired longitudinal length; d)_transferring the hot sheet Sd obtained in this manner from said cutting_feeding means 700 to said first sheets heating_feeding means 800; e)_heating said hot sheet Sd by said first sheets heating_feeding means 800 to a second temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet Sc having a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the first temperature; f)_when said heated and hot sheet Sc has reached said determined second temperature, transferring by said first sheets heating_feeding means 800 said last heated and hot sheet Sc to said second sheets heating_feeding means 900; g)_heating said last hot sheet Sc by said second sheets heating_feeding means 900 to a third temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet Sb having a third temperature, in which said third temperature is greater than the second temperature; h)_when said last heated and hot sheet Sb has reached said determined third temperature, transferring by said second sheets heating_feeding means 900 said last heated and hot sheet Sb to said sheets wrapping means 400; i)_rapping said last hot sheet Sb around the object 10b to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means 400.

_Preferably, the second temperature is lower or slightly lower than the softening and/or shrinking temperature of the heat-shrinkable material but, for some types of materials and/or with particular thicknesses and/or for other reasons, said second temperature may also be greater of the softening and/or shrinking temperature of the heat-shrinkable material.

_Preferably, the third temperature is equal to or greater than the softening and/or shrinking temperature, or, it may be even higher, such as for example equal to or greater than the welding temperature of the heat-shrinkable material. FIRST sheets heating_feeding means 800

_With reference to said first sheets heating_feeding means 800, they preferably comprise a first conveyor 801 and a second conveyor 803.

_The first conveyor 801 is positioned below and to the right with respect to Fig. 1, and it comprise a hot transport belt 802 which upperly configures a first operating branch, in which said operative branch is able to heat and to transport the front portion (downstream portion) of the tape or the sheets Sd of hot tape which are fed by the cutting feeding means 700.

_The second conveyor 803 is positioned above and to the left with reference to FIG. 1 and it comprises a hot conveyor belt 804 which upperly configures a second operative branch, in which said second operative branch is able to heat and to transport the front portion (downstream portion) of the tape or the sheets Sd of hot tape which are fed by the cutting feeding means 700.

_By this structuring, the downstream portion 20a of the hot tape or the hot sheets Sd is positioned between said first and said second transport branch, wherein said two branches are mutually counterfeited and approached between them, in order to perform the heating and feeding (transport and pull) execution of the same hot tape 20a and/or of the sheet Sd towards downstream.

_Preferably, the hot conveyor belts 802 and 804 are heated by a respective heated assembly 805 and 806 positioned within the respective conveyor 801 and 803.

_Furthermore, always preferably, the two conveyors 801 and 803 can be moved, spaced_out/approached, from each other, in order to decrease or increase the space between the two operating branches, so as to be able to adjust the space in relation to the thickness of the sheet and/or to allow a machine stop and/or for other reasons.

_The second sheets heating_feeding means 900 comprise a third conveyor 901 having a heat transport belt 902, wherein said third conveyor 901 configures a heating and transport operating branch for the hot sheet Sc of heatshrink material, as for example a conveyor similar to conveyors 801 and 803 previously cited.

_Again second sheets heating_feeding means 900 may also further comprise a heater 910, wherein said heater 910 is spaced and counterfeited with respect to said heating and transport operating branch of said third conveyor 901.

Said further heater 910 is designed to heat the sheet Sc when they are lying on the heating and conveying branch of said third conveyor 901, for example and preferably by means of a device having nozzles 911 able to create hot air blows 912 against said operating branch for heating and conveying of the third conveyor 901 in order, for example, to heat the sheet Sc and to press the same sheet Sc against the transport operating branch of the conveyor 901 improving the transport of the same sheet Sc.

_Said hot air puffs 912 are preferably operated in phase relation with respect to the operating phases relating to the packaging and, for example, can be operated only when the sheet Sc is already present above the operating branch of the conveyor 901, and they may also be deactivated on command to better perform the operations of wrapping and of receiving of the sheet.

_Said further heater 910 may comprise any device designed to heat the sheet Sc, by conduction and/or convection and/or radiation, without departing from the inventive concepts protected by the present invention.

_In addition, said heater 910 can be moved, spaced_out/approached, in a distanced/approachable manner with respect to the heating and transport operating branch of the third conveyor 901, in order to space_out/approach said heating device 910 with respect to the heating and conveying operating branch of the third conveyor 901, in order to adjust the distance in relation to the size and/or type of the packaging material, or to spaced_out/approach said heating device 910 during the execution of the packaging operations, for example, to manage and optimize the execution of the picking operations and of the wrapping the sheet.

_With reference to Figure 2, it illustrates a second embodiment of a system to wrap objects, in which, in short, with respect to the first embodiment, this second embodiment does not comprises the use of the first sheets heating_feeding means 800.

_More particularly this second embodiment, see fig. 2, comprises: _first objects conveying means 100.1; _second objects conveying means 200.1; _third objects conveyor means 300.1; _sheets wrapping means 400.1; _control means 500.1; _tape heating_feeding means 600.1; _cutting_feeding means 700.1; _sheets heating_feeding means 900.1.

_With reference to the first objects conveying means 100.1, to the second objects conveying means 200.1, to the third objects conveyor means 300.1, to the sheets wrapping means 400.1 and to the control means 500.1, to the tape heating_feeding means 600.1 and to the cutting_feeding means 700.1, they are substantially the same with respect to previously described means having the same prefix as reference numbers and, therefore, it is not provided any detailed description recalling what has already been described above.

_Said tape heating_feeding means 600.1 are able to heat the front portion 20a.1 of the tape 20.1 of heat-shrinkable material to a first temperature, and they are also able to feed said heated and hot front portion 20a.1 to the cutting_feeding means 700.1.

_The said cutting_feeding means 700.1 are able to cut said heated and hot front portion (downstream portion) 20a.1 in order to obtain a hot sheet Sc.1, and they are also able to feed the hot portion 20a.1 and said last heated and hot sheet Sd.1 to sheets heating_feeding means 900.1.

_Said heating_feeding means 900.1 are able to heat said last heated and hot sheet Sc.1 to a second temperature which is greater than the first temperature, in order to obtain a hot sheet Sb.1 more heated, and they are also able to feed said last hot sheet Sb.1 to said sheets wrapping means 400.1.

_The wrapping means 400.1 are able to wrap said last heated and hot sheet Sb.1 around the object 10b.1 to be wrapped.

_With reference to this system, preferably, in order to wrap an object, a wrapping process is performed which comprises the following steps: a)_heating the front portion (downstream portion) 20a.1 of the tape 20.1 of heatshrinking material by said tape heating_feeding means 600.1; b)_when said front portion (downstream portion) 20a.1 has reached a determined first temperature, transferring said heated and hot front portion (downstream portion) 20a.1 from said tape heating_feeding means 600.1 to said cutting_feeding means 700.1; c)_cutting by said cutting_feeding means 700.1 a downstream portion of the heated and hot continuous tape 20a.1, in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet Sc.1 having a desired longitudinal length; d)_transferring the last hot sheet Sc.1 obtained in this manner from said cutting_feeding means 700.1 to said sheets heating_feeding means 900.1; e)_heating said hot sheet Sc.1 by said sheets heating_feeding means 900.1 to a second temperature in order to obtain a heated and hot sheet Sb.1 having a second temperature, in which said second temperature is greater than the first temperature; f)_when said last heated and hot sheet Sb.1 has reached said determined second temperature, transferring by said sheets heating_feeding means 900.1 said hot last heated sheet Sb.1 to said sheets wrapping means 400.1; g)_wrapping said last hot sheet Sb.1 around the object 10b.1 to be wrapped by said sheets wrapping means 400.1.

_Preferably, the second temperature is equal to or greater than the softening and/or shrink temperature, or it may be even higher, such as for example equal to or greater than the welding temperature of the same material.

_The heating means 900.1 comprise a conveyor 901.1 having a hot conveyor belt 902.1, wherein said conveyor 901.1 forms a respective heating and transport operating branch for the sheet Sc.1, such as for example a conveyor similar to the conveyors 801, 803 and 901 of the first embodiment.

_Said heating means 900.1 can also further comprise a heater 910.1, wherein said heater 910.1 is arranged spaced and counterfeited with respect to said heating and conveying operating branch of said conveyor 901.1.

_Said additional heater 910.1 is designed to heat the sheets Sc.1 when they are lying on the heating and transport operating branch of said third conveyor 901.1, for example by means of a device having nozzles 911.1 able to create hot air blows 912.1 against said operating branch for heating and conveying of the conveyor 901.1 in order to, for example, heat and press the same sheet Sc.1 against the transport operating branch of the conveyor 901.1 improving the transport of the same sheet Sc.1.

_Said hot air puffs 912.1 are preferably operated in phase relation with respect to the operating phases relating to the packaging and, for example, can be operated only when the sheet Sc.1 is already present above the operating branch of the conveyor 901.1, and they may be also deactivated on command to better perform the operations for wrapping or for receiving of the sheets.

_Said further heater 910.1 may comprise any device designed to heat the sheet Sc.1, by conduction and/or convection and/or radiation, without departing from the inventive concepts protected by the present invention.

_In addition, said heater 910.1 can be made movable, space_out/approach with respect to the heating and transport operating branch of the third conveyor 901.1, in order to spaced_out/approach said heating device 910.1 with respect to the heating and conveying operating branch of the third conveyor 901.1, in order to adjust the distance in relation to the size and/or type of the packaging material, or to space_out/approach said heating device 910.1 in phase relation with the packaging operating steps, such as for managing and optimizing the execution of the operations of wrapping of the sheet.

_With reference to the first and second embodiments, preferably, said first temperature is greater than the ambient temperature and, again preferably, lower or slightly lower than a temperature which would not allow to cut said tape 20/20.1, as for example a temperature between a minimum of 60°C and a maximum of 110°C and, in any case, a first temperature that allows to easily cut the heated tape without complications.

_More in particular said first temperature will be selected in relation to the type of packaging material, in relation to the thickness of the same material, as well as in relation to the cutting means which will be used.

_Still with reference to the first and second embodiments, preferably, the tape heating_feeding means 600/600.1 comprise a path for the tape having a snake like shape.

_With reference to the first and second embodiments, preferably, the sheets wrapping means 400/400.1 comprise separating means 402/402.1, in which said separating means 402/402.1 are able to preventing and/or limiting the contact between the front portion Sb1/Sb1.1 and the rear portion Sb2/Sb2.1 of the heated and hot sheet Sb/Sb.1 during the steps of wrapping of the hot sheet Sb/Sb.1 around the product 10b/10b.1.

_Again preferably, said separator means 402/402.1 comprise a curtain-shaped element 402/402.1 associated with the wrapping bar 401/401.1 and, moreover, if necessary, said separator means 402/402.1 may be hot in order to heat the sheet Sb2/Sb.1 during the transport and wrapping operations of the same sheet Sb2/Sb2.1.

_With reference to the above description by the system object of the present invention, with respect to the known art, the following results are obtained.

_The tape cutting steps used to obtain the sheet are improved, as the cutting takes place with a tape having a temperature slightly lower than the softening and/or shrinking temperature, and therefore a temperature in which said tape is still rigid and it is not sticky/soggy.

_The heating process to obtain the hot sheet is improved, as said heating takes place by means of two or more distinct and separate steps of heating (as first step the downstream portion of the tape is heated and then the cutted hot sheet is heated the by one or more steps), allowing to modulate the heating by means of a plurality of separate individual heat steps until the desired temperature is reached.

_The heating times of the sheet are improved and reduced, as the sheet obtained after cutting is not at room temperature but at a higher temperature, preferably at a temperature slightly lower than the softening and/or shrinking temperature.

_The lengths of the path or of the paths for heating of the sheet are improved and reduced, as the sheet obtained after cutting is not at the room temperature but at a higher temperature.

_The wrapping steps are improved, as during said steps the sheet can be heated, for example in order to maintain and/or increase the temperature for the same sheet.

_The characteristics relating to the change of format in relation to the size of the sheet and/or in relation to the dimensions of the objects to be wrapped are improved, as it is possible to operate on a plurality of operating steps (and not on a single phase) in order to obtain the segment heated to the desired temperature.

_The characteristics relating to the change in setting in relation to the type and/or thickness of the wrapping film material are improved, as it is possible to operate on a plurality of operating steps (and not on a single operating phase) in order to obtain the sheet heated at the temperature desired.

_The wrapping operations are improved, as during said operations the operating means can be operated independently of each other, in order to optimize the wrapping operations.

_The wrapping operations are improved, as during said operations the sheet in course of wrapping can be heated, for example in order to maintain and/or increase the temperature for the same sheet.

_The characteristics relating to the size change in relation to the size of the sheet and/or in relation to the dimensions of the objects to be wrapped are improved, as it is possible to operate on a plurality of operating means in order to obtain the sheet heated to the desired temperature.

_The characteristics relating to the change in setting in relation to the type and/or thickness of the packaging film material are improved, as it is possible to operate on a plurality of operating means in order to obtain the sheet heated to the desired temperature.