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TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention regards an apparatus for drying a web of packaging material that can be moved along a work path, in particular one in which the web passes through a sanitizing and/or sterilizing bath.

The apparatus described herein comprises:

- a device for squeezing the web having a first pressure roller and a second pressure roller, which are rotatable about respective axes of rotation parallel to one another, are arranged in opposed positions with respect to the work path, and are configured to compress the web of packaging material that passes through them; and

- a drying device having a first air-delivery head and a second airdelivery head, which are arranged in opposed positions with respect to the work path and are configured to deliver a flow of air against respective opposite sides of the web of packaging material.

The first roller or the second roller is mounted so that it can move both closer to the work path, in particular to set itself on the work path and press the web of packaging material against the second roller or the first roller, and away from the work path so as to be set at a distance from the latter and not interfere with the web of packaging material, which can thus move along the work path without interfering with the squeezing device.

Moreover, the first delivery head and the second delivery head may be configured for switching between an operative drying configuration, in which they are configured to deliver the flows of air in an ideal direction incident with respect to the web of packaging material, and an inoperative configuration, in which the first delivery head and the second delivery head are configured to deliver the flow of air away from the web of packaging material.

An actuator is connected both to the squeezing device to move the first roller or the second roller and to the drying device to configure the first and second delivery heads in an operative configuration or else in an inoperative configuration. In this way, the position of the two rollers is linked to the configuration of the two delivery heads, and the two devices operate simultaneously on the web to be dried.

In the present description, as likewise in the claims annexed thereto, some terms and expressions are to be considered, except where otherwise explicitly indicated, as having the meaning given in the ensuing definitions.

The term “parallel” is meant to refer to a substantial parallelism between two elements, comprising both the ideal case, where these elements are arranged with respect to one another so as to form a zero angle, and more frequent cases, where the two elements are arranged with respect to one another so as to form a nonzero but in any case negligible angle or an angle that is not important for the purposes of operation of the present disclosure.

By “varying” the position of an object is meant that it is possible both to translate the first object rigidly and rotate it about an axis of rotation and to apply a combination of the two actions of rigid translation and rotation.

In an apparatus or unit for processing an object that advances in a direction of feed along a work path, a first workstation is said to be “upstream” of a second workstation when the first workstation precedes the second workstation with reference to the direction of feed of the object; instead, the second workstation is considered “downstream” of the first workstation in so far as it follows the first workstation once again with reference to the direction of feed of the object.

In this context, the present applicant has noted that as production goes ahead and increases, in particular when a certain number of hours of operation of the apparatus is exceeded, there is an increase in the likelihood that within the containers obtained starting from the sanitized and/or sterilized web of packaging material there remain undesired traces of the substances of the sanitizing and/or sterilizing bath referred to above. In particular, the present applicant has noted that the air-drying device tends, as the number of hours of operation of the apparatus increases, to lose effectiveness in its function of removal of the substances of the sanitizing and/or sterilizing bath i.e., of drying of the web.

As a consequence of the foregoing, the present applicant has found that it is important to improve the reliability in time of the apparatus for drying the web of packaging material so as to minimize and possibly rule out the possibility of there remaining traces of the sanitizing and/or sterilizing substances inside the containers. The present applicant has hence felt the need to extend the effectiveness of the air-drying device, or better still to render it independent of how production proceeds or increases.

In this connection, the present applicant has noted that the rollers of the squeezing device are normally made of rubber and are hence subject to wear during operation of the apparatus so that the actuator moves these rollers so as to compensate for the reduction in material due to wear and not to adversely affect the pressure exerted by the squeezing device on the web of packaging material. However, as a result of the link between the position of two rollers and the configuration of the two delivery heads, the compensation exerted by the actuator on the movement of the two rollers also brings about a variation in the operative and inoperative configurations of the first and second delivery heads. This variation leads, in particular, the delivery heads to deliver the flow of air in directions different from the one ideally incident with respect to the web.

In view of the foregoing, the present applicant has hence realized that the movement of the rollers and the variation of configuration of the two delivery heads must be simultaneous but independent of one another. The present applicant has therefore found that using a first actuator to govern the movement of at least one of the two rollers and a second actuator, different from the first actuator, to govern the variation of configuration of the two delivery heads makes it possible, on the one hand, to move the rollers so as to take into account their wear during operation of the apparatus, and on the other, to keep unaltered the ideal direction in which the delivery heads deliver the flow of air onto the web to be dried.

According to a first aspect, the present invention concerns an apparatus for drying a web of packaging material, in particular a web that can be moved along a work path.

The apparatus preferably comprises a squeezing device. The squeezing device preferably comprises at least one first roller and one second roller, which can be rotated about respective axes of rotation, preferably parallel to one another, and are preferably arranged in opposed positions with respect to said work path. Preferably, at least one between said first roller and said second roller is mobile between an operative position, in particular one in which said first and second rollers compress said web, and an inoperative position, in particular one in which said first and second rollers do not compress said web.

The apparatus preferably comprises a drying device. The drying device preferably comprises a first delivery head and a second delivery head, which are preferably arranged in opposed positions with respect to said work path, are preferably designed to deliver respective flows of air and that may preferably be configured between an operative drying configuration, in particular one in which said first and second delivery heads are configured to direct the respective flows of air in respective directions incident with respect to said work path, and an inoperative configuration, in particular one in which said first and second delivery heads are configured to direct the respective flows of air in respective directions not incident with respect to said work path.

The apparatus preferably comprises a first actuator connected to said at least one of said first and second rollers, in particular to move it between said operative position and said inoperative position.

The apparatus preferably comprises a second actuator connected to said first and second delivery heads, in particular for switching them from the inoperative configuration to the operative drying configuration, and vice versa.

Thanks to the aforesaid characteristics, the air-drying device may be controlled in an optimal way so that it can guarantee an effectiveness of operation that is constant in time.

According to a second aspect, the present invention concerns a machine for forming containers filled with a liquid and sealed, starting from a web of packaging material moved along a work path.

The machine preferably comprises a tank, for example one designed to contain a bath, in particular a sanitizing and/or sterilizing bath, in which part of said work path extends.

The machine preferably comprises a drying apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, preferably set downstream of said tank, for drying said web of packaging material.

The machine preferably comprises a forming and filling unit, preferably set downstream of said drying apparatus.

Thanks to the aforesaid characteristics, the air-drying device may be controlled in an optimal way so that it can guarantee an effectiveness of operation that is constant in time.

According to a third aspect, the present invention concerns a process for forming containers filled with a liquid and sealed, starting from a web of packaging material, preferably moved along a work path.

The process preferably comprises the step of feeding said web immersed in a bath, in particular a sanitizing and/or sterilizing bath.

The process preferably comprises the step of compressing said web between at least one first roller and one second roller, which are preferably rotatable about respective axes of rotation, are preferably parallel to one another, and are preferably arranged in opposed positions with respect to said work path, in particular for drying said web by means of compression.

The process preferably comprises the step of delivering flows of air against opposite sides of said web by means of a first delivery head and a second delivery head, which are preferably arranged in opposed positions with respect to said work path and are set in an operative drying configuration, in particular for drying said web by means of direct blowing of air.

Preferably, in particular when the movement of said web along said work path is stopped, the process comprises the step of driving a first actuator to bring at least one of said first and second rollers into an inoperative position so as to interrupt said compression of said web.

Preferably, in particular when the movement of said web along said work path is stopped, the process comprises the step of driving a second actuator to set said first and second delivery heads into an inoperative configuration so as to interrupt said direct blowing on said web.

The process preferably comprises the step of carrying out a procedure of filling, sealing, and forming on said dried web, in particular to obtain said containers.

Thanks to the aforesaid characteristics, it is possible to interrupt and then resume the process of forming and filling of the containers always managing to guarantee optimal drying of the web.

According to one or more of the aforesaid aspects, the present invention may comprise one or more of the characteristics described in what follows. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus comprises a pressure regulator. Preferably, the pressure regulator is connected to at least one of said first and second rollers. Preferably, the pressure regulator is configured for adjusting a pressure exerted by said squeezing device on said web of packaging material.

In one or more embodiments, the apparatus comprises a sensor. Preferably, the sensor is connected to least one of said first and second rollers. Preferably, the sensor is configured to detect a pressure value indicating a pressure exerted by said squeezing device on said web of packaging material.

In one or more embodiments, the apparatus comprises a control unit. Preferably, the control unit is connected to said first actuator and is preferably designed to control said first actuator for moving said at least one of said first and second rollers, preferably as a function of said pressure value detected by said sensor.

In one or more embodiments, the apparatus comprises an arrest system configured to stop a movement of said first and second delivery heads, preferably according to a pre-set position of said first and second delivery heads with respect to said work path.

Thanks to the aforesaid characteristics, it is always possible to guarantee that the delivery heads will set themselves in a pre-set position with respect to the web.

In one or more embodiments, the apparatus comprises at least one motion-transmission member. Preferably, the motion-transmission member operatively connects said second actuator to said first and second delivery heads.

In one or more embodiments, said arrest system comprises an arrest member, preferably set in an arrest position for blocking the movement of said transmission member, in particular once said first and second delivery heads reach said pre-set position.

Thanks to the aforesaid characteristics, it is always possible to guarantee that the delivery heads will set themselves in a pre-set position with respect to the web.

In one or more embodiments, said arrest position of said arrest member is adjustable to vary said pre-set position of said first and second delivery heads with respect to said work path. Thanks to the aforesaid characteristics, the air-drying device may easily be adapted to the requirements of the specific applications.

In one or more embodiments, each one between said first actuator and said second actuator is selected from among a rotative electric motor, a linear electric motor, a pneumatic rotative motor, and a fluid cylinder.

In one or more embodiments, at least one of said first and second delivery heads is designed to rotate about an axis of rotation, in particular so as to direct said flow of air in a direction incident or not incident with respect to said work path. Preferably, said axis of rotation is transverse to said work path. In a similarly preferred way, said axis of rotation is substantially parallel to said work path.

In one or more embodiments, at least one of said first and second delivery heads comprises a fixed main body and a delivery end designed to deliver the respective flow of air. Preferably, said delivery end is mobile with respect to said main body, in particular so as to direct said flow of air in a direction incident or not incident with respect to said work path.

In one or more embodiments, at least one of said first and second delivery heads comprises a fixed main body and at least one air-deflecting element. Preferably, the air-deflecting element is mobile with respect to said main body.

In one or more embodiments, the process comprises the step of driving said first actuator to bring said at least one of said first and second rollers into an operative position, in particular so as to compress said web of packaging material.

In one or more embodiments, the process comprises the step of driving said second actuator to set said first and second delivery heads in said operative drying configuration, in particular so as to deliver said flows of air against said opposite sides of said web.

In one or more embodiments, the process comprises the step of restarting advance of said web along said work path.

In one or more embodiments, the process comprises detecting a pressure value indicating a pressure exerted against said web by at least one of said first and second rollers.

In one or more embodiments, driving said first actuator comprises controlling said first actuator as a function of said detected pressure value. In one or more embodiments, the process comprises controlling said first actuator to move at least one of said first and second rollers away by a pre-defined amount from said work path, in particular when said detected pressure value is higher than a maximum pressure value.

In one or more embodiments, the process comprises controlling said first actuator to move at least one of said first and second rollers closer by a pre-defined amount to said work path, in particular when said detected pressure value is lower than a minimum pressure value.

In one or more embodiments, the process includes defining said operative drying configuration as a function of a pre-set position of said first and second delivery heads along said work path.

In one or more embodiments, defining said operative drying configuration includes varying said pre-set position of said first and second delivery heads with respect to said work path.

In one or more embodiments, defining said operative drying configuration includes adjusting an arrest position of an arrest member configured to limit a movement of said first and second delivery heads, preferably governed by said second actuator.

In one or more embodiments, setting said first and second delivery heads in an inoperative configuration includes moving said first and second delivery heads to direct the respective flows of air in respective directions not incident with respect to said work path.

In one or more embodiments, setting said first and second delivery heads in an inoperative configuration includes moving a part of said first and second delivery heads to direct the respective flows of air in respective directions not incident with respect to said work path.

In one or more embodiments, said procedure of filling, sealing, and forming comprises curling said web about a main axis along which said work path extends, in particular to obtain a tube.

In one or more embodiments, said procedure of filling, sealing, and forming comprises sealing along said main axis said web curled to form a tube.

In one or more embodiments, said procedure of filling, sealing, and forming comprises filling said tube with a product.

In one or more embodiments, said procedure of filling, sealing, and forming comprises providing on said tube sealing bands transverse to said main axis that define on said tube single semi-finished containers, sealed and filled with the product.

In one or more embodiments, said procedure of filling, sealing, and forming comprises separating, via cutting, said single semi-finished containers from said tube.

It is pointed out that some steps of the method described above may be independent of the order of execution referred to, except where there is expressly indicated as necessary a sequentiality or simultaneity between two or more steps. Moreover, some steps may be optional. Moreover, some steps may be carried out in a repetitive way, or else may be carried out in series or in parallel with other steps of the method.

Further characteristics of the present invention will emerge clearly from the ensuing description, with reference to the annexed drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of the apparatus described herein;

- Figure 2 illustrates actuator means of the apparatus described herein for controlling movement of the squeezing rollers and of the airdelivery heads;

- Figure 3 illustrates a detail of the actuator means of Figure 2; and

- Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a machine for forming and filling containers filled with a liquid and sealed.

In the ensuing description, various specific details are illustrated aimed at enabling an in-depth understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be provided without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, or materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not illustrated or described in detail so that various aspects of the embodiment will not be obscured.

The references provided herein are used merely for convenience and hence do not define the sphere of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

With reference to Figure 1, the apparatus described herein - designated as a whole by the reference number 10 - comprises a tank 2, containing a sanitizing and/or sterilizing bath 4, and means for supplying a continuous web 100 of packaging material moved along a work path K that passes though the bath 4. The web 100 supplied along the work path K is immersed in the bath 4 to be sanitized and/or sterilized.

The apparatus described herein further comprises a device 20 for squeezing the web 100, which comprises a first pressure roller 21 and a second pressure roller 22, which are arranged in opposed positions with respect to the work path K and can be driven for compressing the web 100 that passes through them. The two rollers 21, 22 are rotatable about respective axes of rotation II, 12 parallel to one another so as to accompany, with their rotation, movement of the web 100 along the path K.

The second roller 22 is moreover mounted oscillating about an axis of oscillation 13 between an operative position, illustrated with solid line in Figure 1, in which the second roller 22 sets itself on the work path K and presses the web 100 of packaging material against the first roller 21, and an inoperative position, in which the second roller 22 is set at a distance from the work path K so that the two rollers 21, 22 do not compress the web 100.

The two rollers 21, 22 operate to compress the web 100 leaving the bath 4 to squeeze it and render uniform the layer of liquid on its surface.

The apparatus described herein further comprises an air-drying device 40, which comprises two air-delivery heads 41, 42, which are arranged in opposed positions with respect to the work path K and can be operated to deliver flows of air against two respective opposite sides 100A, 100B of the web 100 of packaging material.

The two delivery heads 41, 42 comprise a respective delivery end or mouth 41 A, 42A for outflow of air and are both connected to an air-supply system (not illustrated). The air used is heated to favour evaporation of the liquid that wets the opposite sides 100A, 100B of the web 100.

The two delivery heads 41, 42 are mounted oscillating about respective axes of oscillation 14, 15 and can be driven in a movement of oscillation between an operative configuration (illustrated by a solid line in Figure 1), where the two heads 41, 42 are oriented towards the web 100 to deliver the flows of air against it, and an inoperative configuration (illustrated by a dashed line in Figure 1), where the two delivery heads 41, 42 are oriented to deliver the flows of air in respective directions away from the web 100, i.e., in respective directions not incident with respect to the web 100 itself or to its work path K.

During normal operation of the apparatus described herein it may happen that the web 100 is stopped, in which case the two delivery heads 41, 42 are set in the aforesaid inoperative configuration so as not to direct the hot air delivered thereby against the web 100 that is stationary. In this way, the hot air is prevented from damaging the web. Possibly, also the second roller 22 may be brought into its inoperative position.

According to an important characteristic of the apparatus described herein, as emerges from Figure 2, this comprises a first actuator 50 for controlling the movement of oscillation of the second roller 22 between its inoperative position and its operative position, and a second actuator 60 for controlling the movement of oscillation of the two delivery heads 41, 42 between their inoperative configuration and their operative configuration.

It may be noted that, in general, the two delivery heads may be configurable in any way between an operative drying configuration, in which they are set to direct the respective flows of air in a direction incident with respect to the work path K, and an inoperative configuration, in which they are set to direct the respective flows of air in a direction not incident with respect to the work path K.

In one or more preferred embodiments such as the one illustrated, the apparatus comprises a sensor 52 for detecting a value indicating the pressure exerted by the second roller 22 against the web 100, and a control unit 80 configured for controlling the actuator 50 as a function of a signal coming from the sensor 52 to bring the second roller 22 from the inoperative position into the operative position, which is such that the second roller 22 exerts a pre-set pressure on the web 100.

During normal operation of the apparatus 10, the actuator 50 can moreover be controlled to move at least one of the two rollers 21, 22 away by a pre-defined amount from said work path K when the detected pressure value is higher than a maximum pressure value, and the first actuator 50 can, instead, be controlled to move at least one of the two rollers 21, 22 closer to the work path K, for example also in this case by a pre-defined amount, when said detected pressure value is lower than a minimum pressure value.

In this way, it is always possible to guarantee an effective action of the two rollers 21, 22 on the web 100. With reference to Figure 3, the second actuator 60 is connected to the two delivery heads 41, 42 via gearing. A first gear 62 is fixed with respect to the second delivery head 42, and a second gear 64 is fixed with respect to the first delivery head 41 and meshes with the gear 62. The actuator 60 is axially aligned with the gear 64.

Driving of the actuator 60 brings about rotation of the two gears 62, 64 and hence the movement of oscillation of the delivery heads 41, 42 about the axes 14, 15.

The gear 62 has an eyelet 62A, which extends along a circular stretch L and is engaged by a stop pin 66 that slides therein.]

The eyelet 62A and the pin 66 define an arrest system for stopping in a pre-set position movement of the two delivery heads 41, 42 from the inoperative configuration to the operative configuration.

The stop pin 66 may be position-adjusted along the stretch L to enable variation of the aforesaid pre-set position according to the requirements of the specific applications.

Associated in a fixed way with respect to each gear 62, 64 there is an indicator 67 set on a respective scale 68, to provide the operator with an immediate indication of the actual positions assumed by the delivery heads 41, 42.

The first actuator 50 and the second actuator 60 may be selected from among any of the following devices: a rotative electric motor, a linear electric motor, a pneumatic rotative motor, a fluid cylinder, etc.

With reference to Figure 4, the apparatus 10 may be provided in a machine for forming and filling containers filled with a liquid and sealed, starting from a web 100 of packaging material.

The apparatus 10 is set upstream of a forming and filling unit 15 that operates on the dried web 100 and is provided for carrying out the steps of:

- curling the web 100 about a main axis I to obtain a tube 200;

- sealing along the main axis I the web 100 curled to form a tube, via a longitudinal-sealing band 204 that joins the opposite longitudinal edges 1001, 100II of the web 100;

- providing on the tube 200, in succession, sealing bands 208 transverse to the main axis I, which define on the tube 200 single semifinished containers 300, sealed and filled with the liquid 202; and - separating via cuting the single semi-finished containers 300 from the tube 200.

The forming and filling unit 15 may be of a known type, and consequently will not be described herein in detail so as not to burden the present treatment.

The containers 300 may subsequently be subjected to operations of forming and folding to obtain the final predefined conformation.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what has been illustrated herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the annexed claims.