METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A BAND ON THE WRAPPER OF CONFECTIONARY PRODUCTS

Abstract

 The method for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products and the like in a wrapping machine entails feeding a wrapping material strip (2) with a stepwise feeding and applying individual bands (3) in succession on the wrapping material strip (2) being fed in a stepwise manner. Then, a rear flap of said individual bands (3) applied on the wrapping material strip (2) is lifted and the wrapping material strip (2) is cut, in a suitable phase relationship, to define a single wrapping sheet (21), so that the rear flap of the band (3) protrudes for a free stretch with respect to the rear edge of the wrapping sheet (21) defined by the cutting line of the wrapping material strip (2).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products and the like, as well as to an apparatus for implementing said method.

Prior art

[0002] It is known that confectionery products, in particular candies and chocolates, are generally sold in individual packages of various types depending on the shape and type of the product. In order to obtain these packages, apparatuses are used, by means of which the individual products are associated with a single sheet of wrapping material and fed to a wrapping head. The wrapping head generally consists of a rotating member, which peripherally carries suitable gripping tools for the individual products to be wrapped. The individual products, at first, are partially wrapped in a respective wrapping sheet and, subsequently, are gripped by the gripping tools. The wrapping head is adapted to be caused to rotate so as to move the products through a series of operating stations, where, by means of suitable folding means, the closing of the wrapping is completed. The products are finally released in the area of an unloading station in order to be transferred to subsequent operating stations.

[0003] An apparatus for wrapping confectionery products of this type is disclosed, for example, in European patent EP 2 942 291.

[0004] A further known apparatus for wrapping confectionery products is disclosed in patent application GB 2 532 019 A.

[0005] The products to be wrapped can have a different shape, with or without a flat base. A particular type of wrapping involves the application of a band that is wrapped around the product, having, for example, the shape of a cube or a brick. This band basically fulfils the function of sealing the wrapping, but it can also be used to convey a specific image, for example in the form of a logo.

[0006] The application of the band represents a problematic phase in the wrapping process undergone by the aforementioned products. Currently, it is known to use wrapping machines, in which the aforementioned bands are obtained from a suitable strip material, which is unwound from a relative reel. The strip material is cut into individual portions with an appropriate length, which are fed to the wrapping station, where they are then looped onto the wrapped product and closed by means of a glue point.

[0007] However, apparatuses of this type are suitable for large productions, which can advantageously use significant quantities of the strip material supplied in reels for cutting the bands. When, on the other hand, limited batches of confectionery products have to be produced, based on specific requests, it is still common to resort to prior apparatuses using the application of pre-cut bands, fed from dedicated stores. In particular, these apparatuses comprise gripping means adapted to retrieve individual bands from a store and to wrap them around already wrapped products.

[0008] However, a limit affecting this prior art is the limited operating speed. This limitation is at odds with the speed achieved by current automatic machines and, therefore, negatively affects the overall productivity of the wrapping machine.

Disclosure

[0009] The task of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above, by devising a method that allows the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products and the like in a wrapping machine for said confectionery products to be carried out in an optimal manner.

[0010] Within the scope of this task, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products capable of operating precisely at a high speed, so as not to cause a reduction in the productivity required of the machine.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products capable of implementing the aforementioned method by means of a structure with a simple constructive and functional design, featuring a reliable operation, a versatile use as well as a relatively economic cost.

[0012] The cited objects are achieved, according to the present invention, by the method and the apparatus for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products and the like according to claims 1 and 6.

[0013] The method for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products and the like comprises the steps of

a. feeding a wrapping material strip with a stepwise feeding;

b. applying individual bands in succession on said wrapping material strip being fed in a stepwise manner;

c. lifting a rear flap of said individual bands applied on said wrapping material strip;

d. operating, in a suitable phase relationship, the cutting of said wrapping material strip to define a single wrapping sheet, so that said rear flap of the band protrudes for a free stretch with respect to the rear edge of said wrapping sheet defined by the cutting line of the wrapping material strip.

[0014] According to an aspect of the invention, said step of
c. lifting a rear flap of said individual bands applied on said wrapping material strip entails acting by means of sucking means upon said rear flap of said individual bands.

[0015] Advantageously, said step of
c. lifting a rear flap of said individual bands applied on said wrapping material strip entails operating said lifting of the rear flap of the band with an appropriate advance with respect to the cutting of the wrapping material strip.

[0016] Advantageously, said step of

b. applying individual bands in succession on said wrapping material strip being fed in a stepwise manner entails

b1. retrieving said individual bands in succession from a store, where said bands are arranged in a bundle;

b2. applying a glue point on the band retrieved from said store;

b3. in a suitable phase relationship, stopping the feeding of said wrapping material strip and transferring said band bearing a glue point onto said material strip.

[0017] The method according to the present invention suitably comprises the further step of
e. operating, in succession, the wrapping of said wrapping sheets on respective confectionery products and, at the same time, gluing said free rear stretch of the band on the rear portion of the band itself.

[0018] Advantageously, the method involves operating the cut of said wrapping material strip by means of a pair of counter-rotating knives.

[0019] The apparatus for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products comprises a feeding line with a stepwise feeding of a wrapping material strip; means for applying, in succession, single bands on said wrapping material strip being fed in a stepwise manner; cutting means for cutting a portion of said wrapping material strip adapted to define a single wrapping sheet carrying a single band applied on it; sucking means associated with said cutting means and adapted to lift a rear flap of said single bands applied on said wrapping material strip, said sucking means being configured to operate the lifting of said rear flap of the bands with an appropriate advance with respect to the cutting of the wrapping material strip.

[0020] Advantageously, said cutting means comprise a pair of counter-rotating knives, between which said wrapping material strip to be cut into individual portions is fed.

[0021] Preferably, said counter-rotating knives consist of respective members with a cylindrical shape, which house a blade and a counter-blade, respectively, adapted to cooperate during the step of cutting said wrapping material strip.

[0022] Advantageously, said sucking means are associated with said cutting means.

[0023] Preferably, said sucking means are configured to end with a plurality of holes on the outer surface of at least one cylindrical member.

[0024] Preferably, said holes communicate with a channel obtained inside said cylindrical member and adapted to be connected to the sucking means.

[0025] According to an aspect of the invention, said holes of the cylindrical member, by means of which said sucking means act upon the outer surface of the cylindrical member itself, are suitably angularly spaced apart from said blade, so that the lifting of the rear flap of the band takes place with an appropriate advance with respect to the cutting of the wrapping material strip.

[0026] Preferably, said means for applying, in succession, individual bands on said wrapping material strip comprise means for retrieving, in succession, said individual bands from a store, where the bands are arranged in a bundle, and for applying a glue point on the band retrieved from said store.

Brief description of the drawings

[0027] The details of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products and the like, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products associated with a machine for wrapping said confectionery products;

figure 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention from a different perspective;

figure 3 shows a perspective view of said cutting means and of said sucking means of the apparatus;

figure 4 shows a schematic section view of said cutting means and of said sucking means in an operating step.

Description of embodiments of the invention

[0028] With particular reference to these figures, the apparatus for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products according to the present invention is indicated as a whole with 1. The apparatus 1 operates in the area of the wrapping station W of a wrapping machine for the aforementioned confectionery products, which is known per se.

[0029] The wrapping machine for confectionery products comprises a feeding line 10 for feeding a wrapping material strip 2, which is unwound from a relative reel 21 carried by a pin 22 with a horizontal axis in a freely rotating manner. The feeding line 10 is operated with a stepwise feeding by means of a suitably motorized roller 11, which engages the wrapping material strip 2.

[0030] The wrapping material strip 2 is unwound on a plurality of tensioning rollers 23 and pulleys 24, which are carried by the frame of the machine in a rotary manner, so as to have a horizontal stretch in the area of a station for retrieving and applying the bands 3 intended to wrap the wrapper of confectionery products. The bands 3 are arranged in a bundle in a store 30 facing the feeding line 10 for feeding the wrapping material strip 2.

[0031] In the area of said station for retrieving and applying the bands 3 there are means 4 for applying, in succession, the individual bands 3 on the wrapping material strip 2. Said means comprise a device 40 for retrieving and transferring the bands 3 provided with suction cup gripping means 41, connected to appropriate suction means. The device 40 for retrieving and transferring the straps 3 is adapted to be operated so as to angularly rotate between a position for retrieving a single band 3 from said store 30 and a position for transferring the same strap 3 onto the wrapping material strip 2.

[0032] It should be pointed out that, when transferring the band 3 onto the wrapping material strip 2, the feeding line 10 is properly stopped.

[0033] During the angular movement from said position for retrieving the band 3 from the store 30 to said position for transferring the band 3 onto the wrapping material strip 2, the device 40 for retrieving and transferring the bands 3 intercepts a spraying member 42 adapted to apply a glue point on the band 3 retrieved from the store 30. In particular, the glue point is applied on the front flap of the band 3, according to the feeding direction of the wrapping material strip 2. By so doing, the band 3 is fixed on the wrapping material strip 2.

[0034] The wrapping material strip 2 carrying the bands 3 linearly applied in succession is then fed to cutting means 5 for cutting the individual portions of said strip 2 adapted to respectively define a single wrapping sheet 25. Said cutting means 5 comprise a pair of counter-rotating knives 50, 51, between which the wrapping material strip 2 to be cut into said individual portions is fed. The counter-rotating knives 50, 51 consist of respective members with a substantially cylindrical shape, which house a blade 52 and a counter-blade 53, respectively, adapted to cooperate during the step of cutting the wrapping material strip 2. Said cylindrical members are located downstream of the feeding roller 11 of the feeding line 10 for feeding the wrapping material strip 2.

[0035] The counter-rotating knives 50, 51 are suitably motorised to accompany the feeding of the wrapping material strip 2 carrying the bands 3 applied on it.

[0036] According to the invention, the cutting means 5 are associated with sucking means 6 configured to lift the rear flap of the bands 3 applied on the wrapping material strip 2. In particular, said sucking means 6 are configured to end with a plurality of holes 60 on the outer surface of the cylindrical member forming the first rotating knife 50. The holes 60 communicate with a channel 61 obtained inside the cylindrical member and adapted to be connected to said sucking means.

[0037] It should be pointed out that the holes 60 of the cylindrical member, by means of which the sucking means 6 act upon the outer surface of the cylindrical member itself, are suitably angularly spaced apart from the blade 52, so that the lifting of the rear flap of the band 3 takes place with an appropriate advance with respect to the cutting of the wrapping material strip 2. In this way, as specified below, the rear flap of the band 3 protrudes for a free stretch with respect to the rear edge of the wrapping sheet 25 defined by the cutting line.

[0038] The method for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products can be best understood upon perusal of the following description.

[0039] The confectionery products to be wrapped are fed in stepwise manner, one after the other, to the wrapping station of the wrapping machine. In a suitable phase relationship, the wrapping sheets carrying respective wrapping bands applied on them are fed to the wrapping station.

[0040] The wrapping sheets are obtained by cutting respective portions of the wrapping material strip, on which the aforementioned wrapping bands were previously applied in succession.

[0041] According to a prerogative of the present invention, the bands applied on the wrapping sheets have the rear flap properly protruding for a free stretch with respect to the rear edge of the wrapping sheet defined by the cutting line.

[0042] On this protruding stretch of the rear flap, in the wrapping station, a glue point adapted for sealing the wrapping of the band is applied.

[0043] This result is obtained thanks to the inventive idea of lifting the rear flap of the band applied on the wrapping material strip with an appropriate advance with respect to the cutting of the wrapping material strip. In this way, the rear flap of the band protrudes for a free stretch with respect to the rear edge of the wrapping sheet defined by the cutting line. This frees a stretch of the front flap of the band suited to be joined, by means of a glue point, to the rear portion of the band wrapped on the product.

[0044] The method according to the present invention achieves the object of optimally operating the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products.

[0045] In particular, the method according to the invention makes it possible to wrap confectionery products with pre-cut bands at a high speed, so as not to cause a reduction in the productivity required of the machine.

[0046] The apparatus described herein by way of example can be subject to numerous changes and variations depending on the different needs.

[0047] In the actual use of the invention, the materials used as well as the shape and the dimensions can be of any kind depending on the needs.

[0048] If the technical features mentioned in each claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the understanding of the claims and, as a consequence, they do not have any limiting value regarding the purpose of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A method for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products and the like in a wrapping machine comprising the steps of

a. feeding a wrapping material strip (2) with a stepwise feeding;

b. applying individual bands (3) in succession on said wrapping material strip (2) being fed in a stepwise manner;

c. lifting a rear flap of said individual bands (3) applied on said wrapping material strip (2);

d. operating, in a suitable phase relationship, the cutting of said wrapping material strip (2) to define a single wrapping sheet (25), so that said rear flap of the band (3) protrudes for a free stretch with respect to the rear edge of said wrapping sheet (25) defined by the cutting line of the wrapping material strip (2).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of c. lifting a rear flap of said individual bands (3) applied on said wrapping material strip (2) entails acting by means of sucking means upon said rear flap of said individual bands (3).

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said step of
c. lifting a rear flap of said individual bands (3) applied on said wrapping material strip (2) entails operating said lifting of the rear flap of the band (3) with an appropriate advance with respect to the cutting of the wrapping material strip.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of b. applying individual bands (3) in succession on said wrapping material strip (2) being fed in a stepwise manner entails

b1. retrieving said individual bands (3) in succession from a store (30), where said bands (3) are arranged in a bundle;

b2. applying a glue point on the band (3) retrieved from said store (30);

b3. in a suitable phase relationship, stopping the feeding of said wrapping material strip (2) and transferring said band (3) bearing a glue point onto said material strip (2).

5. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises the further step of e. operating, in succession, the wrapping of said wrapping sheets (25) on respective confectionery products and, at the same time, gluing said free rear stretch of the band (3) on the rear portion of the band (3) itself.

6. An apparatus for the application of a band on the wrapper of confectionery products and the like in a wrapping machine comprising

a feeding line (10) with a stepwise feeding of a wrapping material strip (2);

means for applying, in succession, single bands (3) on said wrapping material strip (2) being fed in a stepwise manner;

cutting means (5) for cutting a portion of said wrapping material strip (2) adapted to define a single wrapping sheet (25) carrying a single band (3) applied on it;

sucking means (6) associated with said cutting means (5) and adapted to lift a rear flap of said single bands (3) applied on said wrapping material strip (2), said sucking means (6) being configured to operate the lifting of said rear flap of the bands (3) with an appropriate advance with respect to the cutting of the wrapping material strip (2).

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said cutting means (5) comprise a pair of counter-rotating knives (50, 51), between which said wrapping material strip (2) to be cut into individual portions is fed.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said counter-rotating knives (50, 51) consist of respective members with a cylindrical shape, which house a blade (52) and a counter-blade (53), respectively, adapted to cooperate during the step of cutting said wrapping material strip (2).

9. The apparatus of claims 7 and 8, wherein said sucking means (6) are configured to end with a plurality of holes (60) on the outer surface of at least one cylindrical member, said holes (60) communicating with a channel (61) obtained inside said cylindrical member and adapted to be connected to the sucking means.

10. The apparatus of any one of the claims from 6 to 9, wherein said means for applying, in succession, individual bands (3) on said wrapping material strip (2) comprise means for retrieving, in succession, said individual bands (3) from a store (30), where the bands (3) are arranged in a bundle, and for applying a glue point on the band (3) retrieved from said store (30).

Drawing